The State Bank of India Circle Based Officer (SBI CBO) Exam 2026 was conducted on 14th March 2026 to recruit experienced banking professionals for the Circle Based Officer post across different SBI circles. The exam included both objective and descriptive sections, covering English Language, Banking Knowledge, General Awareness/Economy, and Reasoning & Computer Aptitude. The paper aimed to evaluate candidates’ understanding of banking operations, financial awareness, analytical ability, and communication skills.
SBI CBO Exam Analysis 2026
Based on candidate feedback and initial analysis, the overall difficulty level of the SBI CBO 2026 exam was moderate. Most sections contained concept-based and practical banking questions, especially in the Banking Awareness and General Awareness portions. The exam tested candidates on banking terminology, financial systems, current affairs, and logical reasoning, making it balanced for candidates with prior banking experience.
SBI CBO Difficulty Level 2026
The section-wise difficulty level of the SBI CBO Exam 2026 ranged from easy to moderate across most sections, while a few questions in General Awareness and Reasoning required deeper understanding. Overall, candidates found the exam manageable with sufficient time to attempt most questions. The detailed section-wise difficulty level is provided below.
| Section | Difficulty Level |
| English Language | Easy to Moderate |
| Banking Knowledge | Easy to Moderate |
| General Awareness / Economy | Moderate |
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | Moderate |
| Overall | Moderate |
SBI CBO Exam Section-Wise Analysis 2026
The SBI CBO Exam 2026 consists of four objective sections followed by a descriptive test. Each section evaluates a specific skill set required for banking professionals. The section-wise analysis including topics asked and number of questions will be updated once the exam is completed.
English Language
The English Language section mainly checked candidates’ reading ability, grammar understanding, and vocabulary usage. The questions were mostly straightforward, but they required careful reading and attention to detail. Reading Comprehension formed a noticeable portion of the section, while grammar-based questions such as error detection and sentence improvement were also present.
| Topic | No. of Questions |
| Reading Comprehension | 9 |
| Cloze Test | Updating Soon |
| Misspelt Word | 1 |
| Spotting Error | 2 |
| Rearrangement | 3 |
| Word Swap | 3 |
| Cloze Test | Updating Soon |
| Sentence Improvement | 5 |
| Total | 30 |
GA & Banking Awareness Analysis
The General Awareness and Banking Awareness section focused on current affairs related to banking, financial systems, and important national and international developments. Many questions were asked from digital banking initiatives, financial schemes, and banking terminology.
| Topic |
| Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) |
| NPCI – Total Subsidiaries |
| International Airport |
| Book & Author |
| Committee – Narasimham |
| UPI Circle |
| Hypothecation |
| UPI – 1, 2, 3 Features |
| International Peace Day |
| PSL (Priority Sector Lending) |
| Repo Rate Direct Questions |
| MSME Loan Related Questions |
| Taxable Amount |
| Documents Required for Loan |
| Risk Parameters |
| Man of the Tournament – World Cup |
| Kisan Credit Card |
| PMEGP Subsidy |
| NRE/NRO Related Questions |
| Nominee Addition Related Questions |
| NPA Related Questions |
| Indian Domestic Card by NPCI |
Computer Aptitude & Reasoning
The Computer Aptitude and Reasoning section included questions from logical reasoning topics along with basic computer awareness. Candidates reported that the questions were relatively easy and based on familiar reasoning patterns such as inequalities, input-output, and syllogisms.
| Topic | No. of Questions |
| Coded Inequalities | 5 |
| Input-Output | 5 |
| Coded Direction | 3-4 |
| Chinese Coding (Symbol Based) | 3-4 |
| Coded Syllogism | 5 |
| Total | 20 |
SBI CBO Descriptive Paper
The descriptive paper tested candidates’ writing ability through letter writing and essay writing. The topics were mostly related to banking operations and current financial developments. According to candidates, the section was moderate in difficulty and most were able to complete both questions within the given time.
Letter Writing Topics
- Letter to the Zonal Manager (Sales) regarding an issue related to a credit card
- Letter to the Bank Manager requesting the organization of a loan awareness program
Essay Writing Topics (Choose One – 200–250 Words)
- Rapid Digitalization in India’s Financial Sector
- Working of Banks for Four Days a Week
- Third Topic – Updating Soon
SBI PO Previous Year Exam Analysis
Based on the feedback from candidates who appeared in the 2025, 2024, and 2022 exams, the overall difficulty level generally ranged from moderate to moderate-tough. Some sections like Banking Knowledge and General Awareness were comparatively more challenging in certain years, while English Language and Reasoning mostly remained manageable. By reviewing the previous year’s analysis, candidates can build an effective preparation strategy for the upcoming SBI PO exam.
SBI PO Difficulty Level Trend
Over the last few exam cycles, the overall difficulty level of the SBI PO exam has remained mostly moderate, although certain sections such as Banking Knowledge and General Awareness occasionally become tougher. Understanding this trend can help candidates prioritize sections during preparation.
| Year | English Language | Banking Knowledge | General Awareness / Economy | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | Overall Difficulty |
| 2025 | Easy – Moderate | Easy – Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| 2024 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate – Difficult | Moderate | Moderate |
| 2022 | Easy – Moderate | Moderate – Tough | Moderate – Tough | Moderate – Tough | Moderate – Tough |
SBI PO Good Attempts Trend
The number of good attempts varies each year depending on the overall difficulty of the paper. When the exam difficulty increases, the expected good attempts usually decrease slightly. Candidates should focus on accuracy along with attempts to maximize their chances of clearing the cut-off.
| Year | English Language (30 Qs) | Banking Knowledge (40 Qs) | General Awareness (30 Qs) | Reasoning & Computer (20 Qs) | Overall Good Attempts |
| 2025 | 20 – 23 | 26 – 30 | 18 – 21 | 12 – 15 | 76 – 89 |
| 2024 | 18 – 21 | 24 – 28 | 16 – 19 | 12 – 14 | 70 – 82 |
| 2022 | 17 – 20 | 22 – 26 | 14 – 18 | 10 – 13 | 63 – 77 |
Section-wise Comparison of SBI PO Previous Year Exams
The SBI PO exam consists of multiple sections designed to evaluate candidates’ language proficiency, reasoning ability, banking knowledge, and awareness of the economy and current affairs. A comparison of the past three years shows that while the overall structure remains the same, the difficulty level and focus topics vary slightly each year. The major sections asked in the exam include:
- English Language
- Banking Knowledge
- General Awareness / Economy
- Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
| Section | 2025 Difficulty | 2024 Difficulty | 2022 Difficulty |
| English Language | Easy–Moderate | Moderate | Easy–Moderate |
| Banking Knowledge | Easy–Moderate | Moderate | Moderate–Tough |
| General Awareness / Economy | Moderate | Moderate–Difficult | Moderate–Tough |
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate–Tough |
English Language Section Analysis
The English Language section in the SBI PO exam generally evaluates candidates’ grammar knowledge, reading ability, and vocabulary skills.
- In the 2025 exam, the English section was reported to be Easy to Moderate, with questions mainly based on grammar and comprehension.
- In 2024, the difficulty level slightly increased and was considered moderate, mainly due to reading comprehension and sentence arrangement questions.
- Meanwhile, the 2022 exam had an Easy to Moderate English section, although candidates mentioned that the reading comprehension passages were slightly lengthy.
| Year | Difficulty | Topics Asked | No. of Questions |
| 2025 | Easy – Moderate | Reading Comprehension, Error Detection, Sentence Rearrangement, Word Rearrangement, Double Fillers | RC (7), Error Detection (3–4), Sentence Rearrangement (4), Word Rearrangement (4), Double Fillers (4–5) |
| 2024 | Moderate | Reading Comprehension, Word Swap, Sentence Arrangement, Error Detection | RC, Word Swap, Sentence Arrangement, Error Detection |
| 2022 | Easy – Moderate | Reading Comprehension, Fill in the Blanks, Error Detection, Phrase Replacement | RC, Fillers, Phrase Replacement, Error Detection |
Banking Knowledge Section Analysis
The Banking Knowledge section is one of the most important parts of the SBI PO exam as it evaluates candidates’ understanding of banking concepts, financial regulations, and industry terminology.
- In 2025, candidates reported that the section was Easy to Moderate, with questions related to banking schemes and regulatory terms.
- In 2024, the section maintained a Moderate difficulty level with conceptual banking questions.
- However, in 2022, the section was considered Moderate to Tough, mainly because of questions from Basel norms and priority sector lending.
| Year | Difficulty | Important Topics Asked |
| 2025 | Easy – Moderate | LRS, Lead Bank Scheme, KYC, NI Act, KCC, SEZ, FATCA, SSY Minimum Amount, DICGC, Nomination, MANI |
| 2024 | Moderate | AML Full Form, UIDAI Full Form, PSL, Current Ratio, Nominee, Drawer & Drawee, VISA, SLR, CRR Interest, SARFAESI Act, DICGC Claim Amount, TDS |
| 2022 | Moderate – Tough | PSL, Basel Norms, BCSBI, Basic Banking Concepts |
General Awareness / Economy Section Analysis
The General Awareness / Economy section focuses on current affairs, government schemes, economic developments, and financial awareness.
- In 2025, the section was reported to be Moderate, with questions related to national initiatives and economic updates.
- In 2024, the section was considered Moderate to Difficult, mainly due to questions related to international economic reports and financial systems.
- In 2022, candidates also found the section Moderate to Tough, as it included questions from global organizations and government schemes.
| Year | Difficulty | Important Topics Asked |
| 2025 | Moderate | WAVE, 52nd CJI, Padma Vibhushan, Dhyanchand, Iron Ore Production, GIFT City, Khelo India, GST Slab, NAMASTE, Gati Shakti, GDP |
| 2024 | Moderate – Difficult | GDP, COP Summit, ASEAN Countries, Inflation (CPI), World Outlook Report, NEFT, RTGS |
| 2022 | Moderate – Tough | PM SVANidhi Scheme, World Bank, Self Help Groups |
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude Section Analysis
The Reasoning & Computer Aptitude section tests candidates’ logical thinking and analytical abilities.
- In 2025, the section was reported to be Moderate, with questions from coded reasoning and logical sequences.
- In 2024, the section also remained Moderate, focusing on coding-decoding and input-output questions.
- However, in 2022, candidates reported that the section was Moderate to Tough, as some questions from input-output and reasoning patterns were slightly tricky.
| Year | Difficulty | Topics | No. of Questions |
| 2025 | Moderate | Coded Blood Relation, Input Output, Coded Inequality, Number Symbol Coding, Coded Direction, Coded Syllogism | Blood Relation (2–3), Input Output (3), Inequality (3–4), Coding (3–4), Direction (1–2), Syllogism (3) |
| 2024 | Moderate | Distance & Direction, Coding Decoding, Input Output, Blood Relation, Inequality, Syllogism | Direction (2), Coding (5), Input Output (5), Blood Relation (3), Inequality (3), Syllogism (2) |
| 2022 | Moderate – Tough | Machine Input Output, Blood Relation, Direction Sense, Coding Decoding | Input Output, Coding, Blood Relation, Direction |
SBI PO Descriptive Test Analysis
The descriptive test evaluates candidates’ writing skills and usually includes essay writing and letter writing. The difficulty level is generally easy to moderate, but topics may vary every year.
| Year | Difficulty | Essay Topics | Letter Writing Topics |
| 2025 | Easy – Moderate | Uses of AI, Benefits of Olympics in India | Letter to Cyber Department for Internet Banking Fraud, Letter to Municipality for Sewage Treatment / Solar Light Installation |
| 2024 | Moderate | Social Media Impact, Challenges of Rural Banking Industry, Mental Health Awareness | Letter to Bank Manager for Bank Statement, Letter for Minor to Major Account Change |
| 2022 | Moderate | Skill Development | Formal Letter to Bank Manager regarding account changes |
Hi, I’m Tripti, a senior content writer at Oliveboard, where I manage blog content along with community engagement across platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. With 3+ years of experience in content and SEO optimization related to banking exams, I have led content for popular exams like SSC, banking, railway, and state exams.
