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IBPS PO vs SBI Clerk
IBPS PO: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes. SBI Clerk: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes. Both test English, Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
| IBPS PO Prelims | SBI Clerk Prelims | |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection | State Bank of India |
| Questions | 100 | 100 |
| Marks | 100 | 100 |
| Time | 60 min | 60 min |
| Seconds a question | 36 | 36 |
| Marking | A wrong answer costs a quarter of that question's marks. IBPS publishes section totals, so we spread marks evenly within each section. | 1 mark for each correct answer; a quarter of a mark is deducted for each wrong answer, and a blank costs nothing. |
| Sections | English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability | English Language, Numerical Ability, Reasoning Ability |
| Languages | English, Hindi | English, Hindi |
| Next exam | Not announced | November 2026; prelims result awaited (tentative) |
| Last cut-off (UR) | 49.21 / 100 (IBPS PO 2025 Prelims cutoff (for Mains shortlist), UR) | Not published |
| Mocks on RankVyuh | 9 full (2 free) | 4 full (2 free) |
Which should you prepare for?
- Both test English, Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
Neither is "easier": cut-offs move with vacancies and candidates every year. Take a free mock of each and compare your two reports; the gap to each exam's last cut-off is the honest answer.
FAQ
- Can I prepare for IBPS PO and SBI Clerk together?
- Yes. Both test English, Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning. Prepare those once, then the sections only one of them has.
- Which has negative marking, IBPS PO or SBI Clerk?
- IBPS PO: A wrong answer costs a quarter of that question's marks. IBPS publishes section totals, so we spread marks evenly within each section. SBI Clerk: 1 mark for each correct answer; a quarter of a mark is deducted for each wrong answer, and a blank costs nothing.
- What are the age limits for IBPS PO and SBI Clerk?
- See each exam's official notification; the age-limit calculator on RankVyuh checks your date of birth against it.
Sources: official notifications of Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (website ) and State Bank of India (website ); IBPS Detailed Notification, CRP PO/MT-XVI, dated 01-07-2026 (registration 01-07-2026 to 21-07-2026). Age-limit calculator · All comparisons