SBI PO Selection Process 2026, Check Prelims, Mains, Interview & Final Merit

As you are all aware with the notification of SBI PO for 1,500 posts has been released and candidates should be familiar with the SBI PO Selection Process 2026 before starting their preparation. The recruitment process consists of three major stages such as Preliminary Examination, Mains Examination, and Phase III, which includes the Psychometric Test, Group Exercise, and Interview.

SBI PO Selection Process 2026

Every year there are lakhs of candidates are compete for a limited number of vacancies in SBI PO which makes one of the most competitive banking exams in country. With the SBI PO 2026 is out and the candidates should understand the complete selection procedure and prepare strategically for each stage to improve their chances of final selection.

The SBI PO recruitment process is conducted in the following stages:

• Phase I – Preliminary Examination
• Phase II – Mains Examination (Objective + Descriptive Test)
• Phase III – Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview
• Final Merit List and Selection

Phase I: SBI PO Prelims Exam

The SBI PO Prelims is first stage of SBI PO Selection Process. It is conducted to shortlist candidates for the Mains Examination. In prelims exam there are major 3 subjects such as English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability.

Important Points:

• Online objective test
• Sections: English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability
• 1/4th Negative marking for wrong answers
• Qualifying in nature
• Marks are not counted in the final merit list

Phase II – SBI PO Mains Exam (Objective + Descriptive Test)

Those candidates who qualify the Prelims are eligible to appear for the Mains exam. The SBI PO Mains exam includes both Objective and Descriptive Tests.

Objective Test Sections:

• Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
• Data Analysis & Interpretation
• General/Economy/Banking Awareness
• English Language

Descriptive Test:

• Essay Writing
• Letter Writing

Important Points:

• Higher difficulty level than Prelims
• Tests banking awareness and analytical skills
• Mains marks are considered for final merit

Phase III – Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview

Candidates shortlisted in the Mains examination are called for the third stage. In this stage, the candidate’s personality, communication skills, leadership qualities, and suitability for a banking career are evaluated.

Components of Phase III:

• Psychometric Test
• Group Exercise
• Personal Interview

Important Points:

• Assesses personality and decision-making skills
• Questions are based on banking, current affairs, academics, and personal background
• Group Exercise and Interview carry a total of 50 marks
• Marks obtained in this stage are considered for final selection

Final Merit List & Selection

The final merit list of SBI PO is prepared based on the marks obtained in the Mains Examination and Phase III (Group Exercise & Interview). The Prelims Examination marks are not included in the final result. Candidates with the highest combined scores are selected as SBI Probationary Officers.

SBI PO Final Merit Calculation 2026

SBI announced after the final merit list by combining the normalized scores of the Mains and Phase III. Since the Mains carries 75% weightage, it plays the most important role in determining the final selection.

The Normalization Process in SBI PO

SBI uses a normalization process to make sure all candidates are treated fairly, since the exam is held in different shifts and difficulty levels may vary.

Step 1: Raw Score Calculation

Your raw score is calculated using the marking system firstly:

• +1 mark for each correct answer
• –0.25 mark for each wrong answer

Example:

• If you got 65 correct and 15 wrong:
• Raw Score = 65 – (15 × 0.25) = 61.25

Step 2: Shift Comparison

SBI checks how all students performed in your shift.

They find:

• Average score of the shift (mean)
• How spread out the scores are (standard deviation)
• This helps understand whether your shift was easy or tough.

Step 3: Percentile System

• Instead of using only raw marks, SBI checks your percentile.
• Percentile means how many candidates scored less than you.

Example: If your percentile is 85, it means you performed better than 85% of candidates in your shift.

Step 4: Final Adjusted Score

Your percentile is matched with the standard level of difficulty level. If your shift was tough then your score may increase. If the shift was easy then most probably it may adjust slightly.

This adjusted score is called the normalized score.

Why Normalization is Used

• To ensure fairness across all shifts
• To balance easy and difficult question papers
• To give equal opportunity to all candidates