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SBI Clerk Cutoff Trends 2026: Prelims & Mains Analysis

SBI Clerk Cut-off: Last 5 Years Trends for Prelims & Mains - State-wise & Category-wise

SBI Clerk cutoff trends & analysis

Understanding the cutoff trends of the SBI Clerk exam is essential for candidates preparing for the upcoming 2026 cycle. Analysing the last five years of Prelims and Mains cutoffs helps you identify the difficulty level, competition pattern, and score you must target to secure selection. 

This post covers the year-wise SBI Clerk cutoffs for both Prelims and Mains, category-wise variations, and the overall trend from the past five years. Whether you are a first-time aspirant or someone improving your attempt, these insights will help you set clear score targets and refine your preparation strategy.

SBI Clerk Prelims Cut Off 2025

SBI Clerk Prelims 2025 was held on 20, 21 and 27 September for 6,589 vacancies distributed across states. The total marks of the online exam were 100, and approximately ten times the number of candidates were shortlisted for the main exam.

State GEN OBC EWS SC ST
Andaman & Nicobar67.541.2567.56367.5
Andhra Pradesh60.7560.7560.7560.7560.75
Arunachal Pradesh66.557.7566.55066.5
Assam73.755273.7569.7576
Bihar6659.25747474
Chhattisgarh6862.2572.2572.2572.25
Delhi7256.257678.2578.25
Goa55.7531.2555.754755.75
Gujarat72.56172.572.572.5
Haryana66.576.575.7576.576.5
Himachal Pradesh74.7578.576.2581.2581.25
Jammu & Kashmir77.2569757381.75
Jharkhand6565.2575.2575.2575.25
Karnataka6161616161
Kerala63.547.57436.574
Madhya Pradesh7354818181
Maharashtra65.55565.565.565.5
Manipur61.7561.7561.752761.75
Meghalaya44.25675754.7567
Nagaland64.2564.2564.2564.2564.25
Odisha66.554.2575.57575.5
Punjab70.2580.7576.2580.7580.75
Rajasthan69.7565777777
Sikkim69.2562.7575.2571.577.5
Tamil Nadu52525242.7552
Telangana52.552.552.552.552.5
Uttar Pradesh7261.7579.2579.579.5
Uttarakhand66.7566.574.257779.5
West Bengal7467.7574.7565.7581.5

SBI Clerk Mains Cut Off 2025

SBI Clerk Mains 2025 was conducted on 21 November, featuring a comprehensive assessment of 200 marks. The exam tested candidates across multiple sections, determining final selection based on overall performance and merit.

State GEN
Andaman & Nicobar79.50
Andhra Pradesh94.50
Assam79
Bihar87
Chhattisgarh82
Delhi90
Gujarat83.50
Haryana89.25
Himachal Pradesh88.50
Jammu & Kashmir90
Jharkhand83
Karnataka78.5
Kerala84.75
Madhya Pradesh90
Maharashtra82
Meghalaya76.75
Manipur89.75
Mizoram70
Odisha85.75
Punjab93.50
Rajasthan88.25
Sikkim85.75
Tamil Nadu97.75
Tripura80.75
Telangana84
Uttar Pradesh88.25
Uttarakhand86.25
West Bengal86.75

SBI Clerk Prelims Cut Off 2024

The SBI Clerk Prelims exam 2024 took place on February 2025 to fill 14191 state-wise vacancies. The prelims carried 100 marks, and nearly ten times the vacancies were shortlisted for the mains.

State GEN OBC EWS SC ST
Andhra Pradesh68.7568.7556.568.7568.75
Arunachal Pradesh68.7568.7556.568.7568.75
Assam60.7558.2540.255830.75
Bihar47.2544.7539.2547.2547.25
Chhattisgarh29.529.529.529.5
Chandigarh65.256065.2555.2545.25
Delhi676249.5060.7556.75
Gujarat474725.754747
Haryana6453.5646464
Himachal Pradesh68.5060.7566.7561.2566.5
Jammu66.5051.7526.25
Jharkhand42.2539.2542.2542.2538.5
Karnataka72.570.562.2572.572.5
Kerala6453.7539.7564
Madhya Pradesh49.2549.2549.2549.2549.25
Maharashtra44.7544.754044.7544.75
Meghalaya54.7554.7553.554.7554.75
Manipur373737375.25
Odisha64.255541.564.2552
Punjab60.2549.7560.255755
Rajasthan59.5574759.559.5
Sikkim39.7539.7538.539.75
Tamil Nadu55.5055.5055.5055.5036.75
Telangana6060606060
Tripura64
Uttar Pradesh61.755645.7561.7561.75
Uttarakhand64.7551.2553.7563.7555.75
West Bengal61.2551.7542.7545.75

SBI Clerk Mains Cut Off 2024

SBI Clerk Mains 2024 was conducted on 10th & 12th April, 2025, featuring a comprehensive assessment of 200 marks. The exam tested candidates across multiple sections, determining final selection based on overall performance and merit.

State General
Assam77.5
Arunachal Pradesh70
Andaman & Nicobar71
Andhra Pradesh90.25
Bihar80.5
Chhattisgarh75
Chandigarh89.5
Delhi87
Gujarat77
Haryana87.5
Himachal Pradesh85.5
Jammu84
Jharkhand77.25
Kerala84.25
Karnataka83
Ladakh70
Meghalaya74.5
Maharashtra82
Madhya Pradesh80.5
Mizoram71
Manipur76.5
Nagaland70
Odisha85.25
Punjab74.5
Rajasthan85
Sikkim71.5
Tamil Nadu89
Tripura79.5
Telangana81.25
Uttar Pradesh82.75
Uttarakhand84.5
West Bengal82

SBI Clerk Prelims Cut Off 2023

The SBI Clerk Prelims exam 2023 took place on January 5, 6, 11, and 12, 2024, to fill 8773 state-wise vacancies. The prelims carried 100 marks, and nearly ten times the vacancies were shortlisted for the mains.

State General
Andhra Pradesh56.50
Arunachal Pradesh41.00
Assam65.00
Bihar51.00
Chhattisgarh62.50
Delhi57.25
Gujarat51.50
Haryana58.00
Himachal Pradesh64.00
Jammu66.00
Jharkhand56.50
Karnataka56.00
Kerala76.25
Madhya Pradesh67.50
Maharashtra71.75
Meghalaya34.25
Odisha77.00
Punjab68.50
Rajasthan57.25
Sikkim58.50
Tamil Nadu65.50
Telangana42.50
Tripura61.00
Uttar Pradesh60.50
Uttarakhand63.50
West Bengal80.00

SBI Clerk Mains Cut Off 2023

SBI Clerk Mains 2023 was conducted on 25 February and 4 March,  2024. The exam carried a total of 200 marks and assessed candidates in multiple sections. Final selection was based on the candidates' overall performance and merit in the examination.

State / UT General
Andaman & Nicobar Islands74.75
Assam76.75
Bihar78.00
Delhi81.75
Gujarat76.75
Haryana80.75
Himachal Pradesh80.75
Jammu & Kashmir79.50
Karnataka75.25
Ladakh UT70.00
Madhya Pradesh80.75
Maharashtra86.50
Manipur-
Odisha85.25
Punjab81.75
Rajasthan80.00
Tamil Nadu84.25
Telangana76.75
Tripura77.75
Uttar Pradesh80.75
Uttarakhand80.75
West Bengal86.50

Factors Affecting SBI Clerk Cut-off

Exam Difficulty Level: A difficult question paper generally leads to lower scores among candidates, which can result in a lower cut off for that year.

Number of Candidates Appearing: Higher participation increases competition, making it more challenging to secure a selection and often pushing the cut off upward.

Total Vacancies: The number of available posts plays a key role. Fewer vacancies usually lead to a higher cut off due to increased competition for limited seats.

Variation Across Shifts: Since the exam is conducted in multiple shifts, differences in difficulty levels can influence scores after normalisation.

Candidates’ Overall Performance: When a large number of candidates score well, the cut off tends to increase because of stronger competition.

Reservation Categories: Separate vacancies and competition levels for different categories result in varying cut off marks across categories.

Changes in Exam Pattern: Modifications in the syllabus, question format, or marking scheme can impact performance and affect the final cut off.

Score Normalisation: SBI uses a normalization process to ensure fairness across shifts, which may increase or decrease final scores.
Previous Cut Off Trends: Historical cut off data often provides an indication of likely cut off ranges and influences expectations for future exams.

Repeaters/Experienced Aspirants: A larger number of well-prepared repeat candidates can improve the overall performance level, leading to a higher cut off.

Cut-off Calculation & Normalisation Process Explained

The State Bank of India (SBI) conducts the SBI Clerk exam in multiple shifts. Since the difficulty level of each shift may vary, SBI uses a normalisation process to ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly.

Why is Normalisation Required?
When an exam is held across several shifts, some candidates may face a tougher paper while others may get a comparatively easier one. Normalisation helps remove this imbalance and ensures that no candidate gains an unfair advantage due to the shift allotted to them.

How Does SBI Normalise Scores?
SBI follows the Equi-percentile Normalisation Method, a statistical technique that compares candidates based on their percentile ranks rather than raw marks. The process generally involves:

  • Calculating the percentile of each candidate within their shift.
  • Comparing equivalent percentiles across all shifts.
  • Converting raw marks into normalised scores based on the overall performance of candidates.

Shift-Wise Performance Comparison
Candidates are first ranked within their respective shifts according to their raw scores. These rankings are then adjusted to a common scale. As a result, a candidate who appears in a tougher shift may receive a higher normalised score than someone who scored slightly more marks in an easier shift.

Standardisation of Scores
After normalisation, scores are converted to a uniform scale, allowing SBI to compare candidates from different shifts fairly. These standardised scores are then used for merit preparation and cut-off determination.

How is the Final Cut Off Decided?
After the normalisation process is completed, SBI prepares the final cut off by considering:

  • Total vacancies available
  • Category-wise reservation norms
  • Overall candidate performance
  • Competition level in the examination
This approach ensures that the cut off reflects actual competition rather than differences in shift difficulty.

Effect of Normalisation on Candidates
Normalisation can either increase or decrease a candidate's final score. Therefore, raw marks alone do not determine selection chances. Candidates from tougher shifts may benefit from the process, while those from easier shifts may see slight score adjustments.

Expected SBI Clerk Cut-off : 2026 Exam

Predicting the SBI Clerk cut off for the upcoming recruitment cycle requires a close analysis of recent years’ trends, as SBI releases separate cut offs for each state and category.

The official cut off data from the previous recruitment cycle, in which the Mains examination was conducted in November 2025 and the scorecards were released in March 2026, indicates that competition has increased significantly at both the Prelims and Mains stages. Many states recorded higher qualifying marks, reflecting stronger candidate performance and growing competition among aspirants.

Relying strictly on the previous year's cut-off can be risky because normalisation across multiple shifts can shift your final score up or down. To ensure a comfortable margin for selection, aim for these targets during your mock tests:

For Prelims: Aim for a consistent mock score of 78–82+ in high-cut-off states, and 72+ in moderate zones.

For Mains: Your target mock score should be 95–105+ out of 200. Scoring 10 to 12 marks above the baseline expected cut-off gives you an excellent cushion heading into the Language Proficiency Test (LPT) and final merit listing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SBI Clerk have sectional cut-off in prelims and mains examination?

No, SBI Clerk does not have sectional cut-offs in either the prelims or mains examinations. Selection is based entirely on your overall aggregate score in each stage. Candidates only need to clear the total cut-off mark set by SBI to qualify for the next round.

What is a safe score for SBI Clerk Prelims and Mains in 2026?

The safe score ranges between 62–75 marks for Prelims and 80–95 marks for Mains. Because recruitment is entirely state-wise, these scores vary depending on localized vacancy numbers, overall difficulty levels, and shift normalization. High-demand states like Delhi and Uttar Pradesh generally settle at the higher end of these brackets.

Will the SBI Clerk 2026 cut off increase compared to last year?

The cut-off is expected to increase slightly or remain stable, continuing a multi-year rising trend driven by intensifying student competition. However, the exact final numbers depend entirely on the total state-wise vacancies announced and the overall difficulty level of the shifts.

Which state usually has the highest SBI Clerk cut off?

Delhi, Kerala, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh usually record the highest SBI Clerk cut-offs across most exam cycles. These states experience intense competition due to a massive applicant pool, pushing Prelims benchmarks above 75–80 marks and Mains scores past the 90–95 mark.

What factors affect the SBI Clerk cut off every year?

The number of vacancies, exam difficulty, normalisation factor and applicant volume are the primary factors that determine the SBI Clerk cut-off each year. Because recruitment is state-wise, regional vacancy shifts cause massive variations.