SBI PO Cut-Off: How It Works at Each Phase
SBI does not fix the cut-off in advance. It is the score of the last candidate called in your category.
The SBI PO cut-off is the lowest score that still gets you to the next phase in your category. SBI does not fix it in advance. It falls out of the merit list once SBI knows how many candidates it wants to call: about 10 times the vacancies after Prelims and up to about 3 times after Mains.
This page explains how each phase's cut-off is set and where you see it. It shows no numbers. On 19 October 2026 SBI's careers page carried no cut-off PDF for the 2025 or 2026 cycles, only roll-number lists and a personal marks lookup. Any table of SBI PO cut-offs you find elsewhere is not an SBI document.
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How the cut-off works at each phase
Rules from SBI's 2026 Prelims and Mains Information Handouts (the instruction booklets SBI issues with call letters).
Prelims
Sectional cut-off?
No. Only the aggregate counts
Who goes through
About 10 times the vacancies in each category, from the top of the category merit list
Mains objective and descriptive
Sectional cut-off?
Yes. A minimum score in each of the four objective tests and in the descriptive paper
Who goes through
Up to about 3 times the vacancies in each category, if you also clear the minimum aggregate
Final selection
Sectional cut-off?
Phase III marks must qualify
Who goes through
Mains and Phase III combined in a 75:25 ratio
| Phase | Sectional cut-off? | Who goes through |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | No. Only the aggregate counts | About 10 times the vacancies in each category, from the top of the category merit list |
| Mains objective and descriptive | Yes. A minimum score in each of the four objective tests and in the descriptive paper | Up to about 3 times the vacancies in each category, if you also clear the minimum aggregate |
| Final selection | Phase III marks must qualify | Mains and Phase III combined in a 75:25 ratio |
Four terms you need
- Category-wise cut-off
- A separate cut-off for each reservation category (General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST and the PwBD groups). SBI draws a merit list per category and calls the top candidates in each.
- Sectional cut-off
- A minimum score in one section. Prelims has none. Mains has one for each test, including the descriptive paper, so one weak section can end your attempt even with a high total.
- Overall (aggregate) cut-off
- The total score of the last candidate called in your category. In Prelims this is the only cut-off that exists.
- Final cut-off
- The combined Mains plus Phase III score of the last person selected in a category. It is a weighted score, so it cannot be compared directly with Mains marks.
Why the number moves every year
Because the cut-off is the score of the last person called, three things move it: the number of vacancies in your category, how many people sit the exam, and how hard that year's paper is. A cycle with more vacancies calls more people, so the last score called is lower. A harder paper pulls every score down together.
That is why a past cut-off is a weak target. A score that cleared Prelims one year can fall short the next with no change in your ability. Aim for a margin above any figure you have heard, not for the figure itself.
Data interpretation and arithmetic in the exam style. No signup.
Where to find your own cut-off status
- 1
Check the roll-number result
After each phase SBI posts a PDF of roll numbers shortlisted for the next phase on its careers page. If your roll number is listed, you cleared the cut-off.
- 2
Open the marks lookup
Below the result, SBI links a page called Marks Secured by the Candidates. Enter your roll or registration number, date of birth and the CAPTCHA to see your own marks.
- 3
Read the result notice, not a screenshot
Cut-off figures shared on social media are copied from candidates' screens and cannot be checked. Use your own login.
How the exam tests this
The cut-off rules change how you should attempt each paper.
- check_circlePrelims has no sectional cut-off, so the aggregate is all that counts. Spend time where you score fastest, while still attempting every section.
- check_circleMains has a cut-off in every test and in the descriptive paper. The common trap is building a high score in Data Analysis and Reasoning while leaving English or General Awareness thin. That candidate is out whatever the total.
- check_circleA wrong answer costs one quarter of the question's marks. Guessing to lift a borderline score usually lowers it.
- check_circleThe descriptive paper is typed and has its own minimum. Treat it as a test you can fail, not as bonus marks.
Figures on other sites
Sites that publish SBI PO cut-off tables usually collect them from candidates' marks screens. They may be accurate, but SBI has not published them as a document, so this page does not repeat them. Your own marks lookup is the only source you can rely on for your result.
FAQs
Does SBI release the SBI PO cut-off officially?expand_more
SBI publishes roll-number result lists and a personal marks lookup on its careers page. On 19 October 2026 it listed no separate cut-off PDF for the 2025 or 2026 PO cycles.
Is there a sectional cut-off in SBI PO Prelims?expand_more
No. SBI's 2026 Prelims handout says there will be no sectional cut-off. Shortlisting is on aggregate marks, category-wise, at about 10 times the vacancies.
Is there a sectional cut-off in SBI PO Mains?expand_more
Yes. You need a minimum score in each of the four objective tests and in the descriptive paper. Then up to about 3 times the category-wise vacancies are called to Phase III, subject to a minimum aggregate.
Do Prelims marks count in the SBI PO final cut-off?expand_more
No. Prelims only screens. The final merit list combines Mains and Phase III in a 75:25 ratio.
What is a safe score for SBI PO?expand_more
There is no fixed safe score because the cut-off depends on vacancies, the number of candidates and paper difficulty in that cycle. Aim for a clear margin above recent levels, with no weak section in Mains.
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