The SBI Clerk Prelims Exam 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on 26th and 27th September 2026 for the recruitment of 9,124 Junior Associate vacancies, including regular and backlog vacancies. The examination will be conducted in multiple shifts, and the SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 will be updated after the examination to provide details on the difficulty level, good attempts, and section-wise question distribution.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026
The SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 will be updated after the examination is conducted on 26th and 27th September 2026. The analysis will cover the overall difficulty level, good attempts, and the questions asked from English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability across different shifts. Candidates will be able to use the shift-wise analysis to understand the nature of the paper and the level of competition.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026: Good Attempts
The SBI Clerk Prelims good attempts 2026 will be updated after the examination based on the difficulty level, number of questions asked from different topics, and candidate feedback from the respective shifts. The good attempts will indicate the approximate number of questions candidates could attempt with reasonable accuracy.
| Section | Good Attempts |
|---|---|
| English Language | TBA |
| Numerical Ability | TBA |
| Reasoning Ability | TBA |
| Overall | TBA |
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026: Difficulty Level
The SBI Clerk Prelims difficulty level 2026 will be updated after the examination based on the questions asked across shifts. The difficulty level may vary slightly between shifts, and the overall assessment will consider the English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability sections.
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| English Language | TBA |
| Numerical Ability | TBA |
| Reasoning Ability | TBA |
| Overall | TBA |
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026: Sectional Analysis
The SBI Clerk Prelims sectional analysis 2026 will provide the topic-wise distribution of questions asked in English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. The section-wise analysis will be updated after candidates’ feedback and the examination review are available for the respective shifts.
SBI Clerk Prelims English Language Analysis 2026
The English Language section analysis will cover topics such as Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Error Detection, Fillers, Sentence Rearrangement, Word Swap, and other vocabulary or grammar-based questions asked in the examination.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | TBA |
| Cloze Test | TBA |
| Error Detection | TBA |
| Sentence Rearrangement/Para Jumble | TBA |
| Fillers | TBA |
| Word Swap/Word Rearrangement | TBA |
| Phrase Replacement | TBA |
| Other Topics | TBA |
| Total | TBA |
SBI Clerk Prelims Reasoning Ability Analysis 2026
The Reasoning Ability section analysis will include questions from Puzzles and Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Inequality, Alphanumeric Series, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense, and other reasoning topics.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | TBA |
| Alphanumeric/Word Series | TBA |
| Syllogism | TBA |
| Inequality | TBA |
| Blood Relation | TBA |
| Direction Sense | TBA |
| Coding-Decoding | TBA |
| Other Topics | TBA |
| Total | TBA |
SBI Clerk Prelims Numerical Ability Analysis 2026
The Numerical Ability section analysis will cover questions from Simplification, Arithmetic, Data Interpretation, Number Series, and other topics asked in the examination. The topic-wise distribution will be updated after the exam based on the questions reported from different shifts.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Simplification/Approximation | TBA |
| Arithmetic | TBA |
| Data Interpretation | TBA |
| Number Series | TBA |
| Quadratic Equations | TBA |
| Caselet DI | TBA |
| Other Topics | TBA |
| Total | TBA |
SBI Clerk Prelims Previous Year Exam Analysis
The SBI Clerk Prelims previous year exam analysis helps candidates understand the recurring question patterns, difficulty level, and topic-wise distribution observed in earlier examinations. The consolidated data below covers the major trends from the last five years, giving candidates a reference point for understanding the nature of the Prelims examination. The actual 2026 analysis may differ depending on the difficulty level and question distribution across shifts.
SBI Clerk Prelims Previous Year Difficulty Level
The SBI Clerk Prelims examination has generally remained in the Easy to Moderate range in previous years, although the difficulty level can vary across shifts. Reasoning Ability and English Language have often included several manageable questions, while Numerical Ability may become more time-consuming due to calculation-intensive questions.
| Section | Previous Year Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| English Language | Easy to Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate |
SBI Clerk Prelims Previous Year Good Attempts
Good attempts in the SBI Clerk Prelims depend on the difficulty level of the shift, question distribution, and the candidate’s speed and accuracy. Based on previous-year trends and shift-wise analyses, candidates have generally targeted a high number of accurate attempts in the Prelims examination.
| Section | Good Attempts |
|---|---|
| English Language | 21-26 |
| Reasoning Ability | 25-30 |
| Numerical Ability | 21-27 |
| Overall | 72-84 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Previous Year Reasoning Ability Analysis
Puzzles and Seating Arrangement have consistently formed a major part of the Reasoning Ability section. Questions from Syllogism, Inequality, Alphanumeric Series, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense, and other short reasoning topics have also appeared across previous shifts.
| Topics | Trend in Last Five Years |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 15-20 |
| Alphanumeric/Word Series | 3-5 |
| Syllogism | 3-5 |
| Inequality | 3-4 |
| Blood Relation | 2-4 |
| Direction Sense | 1-5 |
| Coding-Decoding | 1-5 |
| Meaningful Word/Word Formation | 1-2 |
| Pair Formation | 1 |
| Other Miscellaneous Topics | 1-3 |
| Total | 35 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Previous Year Numerical Ability Analysis
The Numerical Ability section has regularly included Simplification, Arithmetic, Data Interpretation, and Number Series. Different forms of Data Interpretation, including Table, Bar Graph, Line Graph, and Caselet DI, have appeared in previous examinations. Arithmetic questions have covered topics such as Percentage, Profit and Loss, Average, Time and Work, and Simple and Compound Interest.
| Topics | Trend in Last Five Years |
|---|---|
| Simplification | 7-15 |
| Arithmetic | 8-15 |
| Data Interpretation | 5-15 |
| Number Series | 0-5 |
| Caselet DI | 0-5 |
| Quadratic Equations | 0-5 |
| Total | 35 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Previous Year English Language Analysis
The English Language section has consistently included Reading Comprehension along with grammar and vocabulary-based questions. Cloze Test, Error Detection, Sentence Rearrangement, Fillers, Word Swap, Phrase Replacement, and other word-based questions have also appeared across different years and shifts.
| Topics | Trend in Last Five Years |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 7-10 |
| Cloze Test | 3-8 |
| Error Detection | 4-5 |
| Sentence Rearrangement/Para Jumble | 4-5 |
| Fillers | 2-6 |
| Word Swap/Word Rearrangement | 3-5 |
| Phrase Replacement | 0-5 |
| Mis-spelt/Word-based Questions | 0-5 |
| Word Usage/Vocabulary | 1-3 |
| Total | 30 |
What can Regular SBI Clerk Candidates Learn from the Backlog Exam?
The SBI Clerk Backlog Exam 2026 provides a useful indication of the type of questions candidates may encounter while preparing for the regular SBI Clerk Prelims. While the exact questions and difficulty level can differ between shifts, the 16 September paper highlights the importance of strong basics, speed, accuracy and effective question selection.
Candidates should not prepare by simply memorising the questions reported from the backlog examination. Instead, they should use the analysis to identify recurring topics and strengthen their ability to solve different variations of those concepts.
1. Strengthen Puzzle and Seating Arrangement Practice
The Reasoning section included several puzzle and seating arrangement sets, including sequence-based, day-based, comparison-based and parallel-row arrangements. Candidates should therefore practise different formats rather than focusing on one type of puzzle. During practice, candidates should also work on identifying which set can be solved quickly. In the actual examination, spending too much time on a difficult puzzle can reduce the time available for easier miscellaneous questions.
2. Prioritise Simplification and Calculation Speed
The Numerical Ability section included 12 Simplification questions, along with DI and arithmetic. Candidates appearing for the regular exam should revise simplification, approximation, percentage calculations, fractions, squares, cubes and common calculation shortcuts. The focus should be on solving familiar questions quickly while maintaining accuracy. Candidates should avoid spending excessive time on lengthy calculations when other scoring questions are available.
3. Practise Multiple DI Formats
The backlog paper included Table DI, Bar Graph DI and Caselet DI. Candidates should therefore revise different DI formats instead of relying only on one type. Practice should include questions involving percentages, ratios, averages, comparisons and other basic arithmetic operations so that candidates can handle variations in the DI sets.
4. Revise High-Frequency English Topics
The English section covered Reading Comprehension, Error Detection, Para Jumbles, Phrase Replacement, Misspelt Words and Sentence Rearrangement. Candidates should revise these areas while continuing regular reading practice. For the remaining preparation period, candidates can focus on grammar rules, vocabulary, sentence structure and quick comprehension. Accuracy should remain the priority, particularly in questions involving grammar and word usage.
5. Prepare According to the 20-Minute Sectional Limit
Since each section of the SBI Clerk Prelims has a separate time limit, candidates cannot compensate for a slow section by using extra time from another section. The backlog paper reinforces the need to have a clear section-wise approach before entering the examination. Candidates should take sectional mocks and practise completing each section within 20 minutes. The objective should be to maximise accurate attempts rather than attempting every question.
SBI Clerk Regular Exam 2026, Preparation Strategy After the Backlog Exam
Candidates appearing for the regular SBI Clerk Prelims should treat the backlog paper as a reference point rather than a prediction of the exact upcoming paper. The questions, sets and difficulty level can vary across examination dates and shifts, so preparation should remain broad.
| Section | What to Focus On | How to Prepare |
| Reasoning Ability Quiz | Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Inequality, Series | Practise different puzzle formats and take timed sectional tests |
| Numerical Ability Quiz | Simplification, DI, Arithmetic | Improve calculation speed and practise mixed DI sets |
| English Language Quiz | RC, Error Detection, Para Jumbles, Phrase Replacement, Vocabulary | Revise grammar and vocabulary and practise timed English sets |
| Overall | Speed, Accuracy, Question Selection | Take full-length and sectional mocks under the 20-minute sectional limits |
FAQs
Q1: What was the difficulty level of the SBI Clerk Backlog Exam 2026?
A1: The overall difficulty level of the SBI Clerk Backlog Exam 2026 held on 16 September was Easy to Moderate.
Q2: What was the good attempt for the SBI Clerk Backlog Exam 2026?
A2: The estimated good attempt for the 16 September Shift 1 exam was 74–83 questions, subject to accuracy and other factors.
Q3: Which topics were asked in the SBI Clerk Backlog Exam 2026?
A3: Reasoning included puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism and inequality. Numerical Ability included simplification, DI and arithmetic, while English included RC, error detection, para jumbles and phrase replacement.
Q4: Can regular SBI Clerk candidates use the backlog exam analysis for preparation?
A4: Yes. Candidates appearing for the regular SBI Clerk Prelims can use the backlog exam analysis to identify important topics, understand the question pattern and improve speed and accuracy.
Q5: What should candidates focus on before the SBI Clerk Prelims 2026?
A5: Candidates should focus on revision, sectional practice, mock tests, calculation speed, accuracy and effective question selection within the 20-minute sectional time limit.
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.
