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IBPS RRB vs SBI PO
IBPS RRB: 80 questions, 80 marks, 45 minutes. SBI PO: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes. Both test Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
| IBPS RRB PO & Clerk Prelims | SBI PO Prelims | |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection | State Bank of India |
| Questions | 80 | 100 |
| Marks | 80 | 100 |
| Time | 45 min | 60 min |
| Seconds a question | 34 | 36 |
| Marking | +1 for each correct answer, −0.25 for each wrong answer. Separate cutoffs for each section. | 1 mark for each correct answer; a wrong answer costs a quarter of the question's marks, and a blank costs nothing. SBI's notice gives a total of 100 marks for the 100 questions, so each question carries 1 mark. |
| Sections | Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability | English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability |
| Languages | English, Hindi | English, Hindi |
| Next exam | 21 – 22 Nov 2026 (tentative) | Group exercise and interviews from 18 Nov 2026 (psychometric test held 31 Oct) (tentative) |
| Last cut-off (UR) | Not published | Not published |
| Mocks on RankVyuh | 10 full (2 free) | 4 full (2 free) |
Which should you prepare for?
- Both test Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
- Dates: IBPS RRB 21 – 22 Nov 2026 (tentative); SBI PO Group exercise and interviews from 18 Nov 2026 (psychometric test held 31 Oct) (tentative). If they are weeks apart, prepare the shared sections first and the exam-specific ones in the last weeks before each.
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 RRB and SBI PO together?
- Yes. Both test Quantitative Aptitude / Maths, Reasoning. Prepare those once, then the sections only one of them has.
- Which has negative marking, IBPS RRB or SBI PO?
- IBPS RRB: +1 for each correct answer, −0.25 for each wrong answer. Separate cutoffs for each section. SBI PO: 1 mark for each correct answer; a wrong answer costs a quarter of the question's marks, and a blank costs nothing. SBI's notice gives a total of 100 marks for the 100 questions, so each question carries 1 mark.
- What are the age limits for IBPS RRB and SBI PO?
- 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 RRBs-XV (Officers Scale I/II/III and Office Assistants), dated 01-09-2026. Age-limit calculator · All comparisons