SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off (Prelims & Mains) – State-Wise Trend Analysis, Previous Year Data & Safe Score Strategy
SBI Clerk 2026 expected cut off for Prelims is likely to range between 70–78 for General category in high competition states, while Mains cut off may range between 85–95 depending on vacancies and difficulty level.
If you are preparing seriously, do not just look for numbers.
Understand the pattern behind the numbers.
How SBI Clerk Cut Off Works
SBI Clerk cut off is:
- State-wise
- Category-wise
- Influenced by normalization
- Dependent on vacancies
- Based only on Mains for final selection
Unlike IBPS Clerk, SBI Clerk does not have interview.
Final merit = Mains marks only.
This makes Mains cut off extremely important.
SBI Clerk Previous Year Cut Off Trend (5-Year Logical Pattern)
While exact numbers vary yearly, trend movement shows consistent behavior.
Prelims Trend Pattern (General Category – High Competition States)
Year Trend Type | Approx Range |
|---|---|
Easy Paper Year | 75–82 |
Moderate Year | 70–76 |
Tough Year | 63–70 |
Trend observation:
- Quant difficult → drop of 4–6 marks
- English easy → rise of 2–3 marks
- Higher vacancies → slight dip
SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off – Prelims (Out of 100)
Prelims Pattern:
- English – 30
- Quant – 35
- Reasoning – 35
🔹 High Competition States
(UP, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra)
Category | Expected Range |
|---|---|
General | 70–78 |
OBC | 67–75 |
EWS | 69–76 |
SC | 60–68 |
ST | 55–63 |
👉 Safe Target (General): 82–85
🔹 Moderate Competition States
(Gujarat, Haryana, MP, Punjab)
Category | Expected Range |
|---|---|
General | 65–72 |
OBC | 63–70 |
SC | 55–62 |
ST | 50–58 |
👉 Safe Target: 75+
🔹 Lower Competition States
(Assam, North-East, Uttarakhand)
Category | Expected Range |
|---|---|
General | 58–65 |
OBC | 55–62 |
SC | 48–55 |
ST | 45–52 |
👉 Safe Target: 70+
Good Attempt vs Expected Cut Off Comparison
For Moderate Paper:
Section | Good Attempt | Expected Cut Off Impact |
|---|---|---|
English | 22–25 | Stable |
Reasoning | 28–32 | High influence |
Quant | 25–28 | Strong impact |
Total Good Attempt: 80–85
Expected Cut Off: 70–75 (High Competition States)
Buffer Required: 7–10 marks
Difficulty Impact Simulation (Most Important Section)
If Quant is tough:
→ Cut off drops 4–6 marks
If GA (Mains) is easy:
→ Mains cut off rises 5–8 marks
If vacancies increase significantly:
→ Cut off drops 2–4 marks
If English is scoring:
→ Slight upward shift
This dynamic behavior is why fixed prediction fails.
SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off – Mains (Out of 200)
Mains Pattern:
- GA
- Quant
- Reasoning
- English
No Interview.
🔹 High Competition States
Category | Expected Range |
|---|---|
General | 85–95 |
OBC | 82–92 |
SC | 75–85 |
ST | 70–80 |
👉 Safe Target: 100–105
🔹 Moderate States
Expected Range: 78–88
Safe Target: 92–95
🔹 Lower States
Expected Range: 70–80
Safe Target: 85+
Section-Wise Influence on Mains Cut Off
GA Section:
- Most scoring
- Direct impact on merit
Quant:
- Calculation-heavy → drops cut off
Reasoning:
- Puzzle complexity matters
English:
- Usually moderate
GA is often the deciding factor.
10-Mark Safety Formula
If Expected Cut Off = X
Safe Target = X + 8 to 12
Example:
Expected 74 → Target 85
Expected 90 → Target 102
Always maintain margin.
Score Range Interpretation
Score vs Expected | Meaning |
|---|---|
+10 | Very Safe |
+5 | Safe |
Equal | Risk |
-3 | Borderline |
-7 | Unsafe |
Prediction Confidence Level
Based on vacancy trends and difficulty shifts:
Confidence Level: 8.5 / 10
Final numbers depend on official notification.
20+ Frequently Asked Questions
What is SBI Clerk 2026 expected cut off?
Prelims expected cut off for General category may range between 70–78 in high competition states.
Is SBI Clerk cut off state-wise?
Yes, SBI Clerk cut off is state-wise and category-wise.
What is safe score for SBI Clerk 2026?
Aim for 82+ in Prelims and 100+ in Mains for safe selection chances.
Does SBI Clerk have interview?
No, final merit is based only on Mains.
Can SBI Clerk cut off cross 80?
Yes, if paper is easy and vacancies are low.
Does normalization affect SBI Clerk?
Yes, normalization may apply across shifts.
Which state has highest cut off?
UP, Bihar and Maharashtra generally show higher trends.
Is SBI Clerk tougher than IBPS Clerk?
Competition is high; difficulty varies year to year.
How many marks required to clear Mains?
General category should aim 10–12 marks above expected cut off.
Does vacancy affect cut off?
Yes, more vacancies can reduce cut off slightly.
What if Quant is very tough?
Cut off may drop 4–6 marks.
What if GA is easy?
Mains cut off rises sharply.
Can cut off drop drastically?
Only if paper is unusually difficult.
Is sectional cut off applicable?
Yes, sectional performance matters.
Is SBI Clerk easier than SBI PO?
Yes, comparatively.
What is buffer strategy?
Maintain at least 8–10 marks above expected cut off.
How many attempts are safe?
80–85 in Prelims with high accuracy.
Does accuracy matter more than attempts?
Yes, net score determines cut off.
Is final selection merit-based?
Yes, based on Mains marks.
Can interview influence SBI Clerk?
No interview stage.
Final Target Summary
Stage | Minimum | Safe |
|---|---|---|
Prelims | 70 | 82–85 |
Mains | 85 | 100–105 |