Is there a sectional cut-off in SBI Clerk Prelims or Mains?

No sectional cut-off is prescribed in SBI Clerk. This is one of the main differences from many other bank exams.

What the 2026 notification says

The notification also says section-wise marks will not be maintained.

So what is "the cut-off" people talk about?

When people say "SBI Clerk cut-off", they mean the overall score of the last candidate shortlisted (Prelims) or selected (Mains) in a State and category. It is not set in advance. It depends on the number of vacancies, the number of candidates and how difficult the paper was, so it differs across states and categories every year.

How to use this in your strategy

• Play to your strengths. Without sectional cut-offs, a very strong Reasoning score can make up for a weaker English score.
• Do not ignore any section. A near-zero section still drags your total down, and sectional time cannot be shifted to other sections.
• Mains needs balance. Financial Awareness (50 marks) is often the quickest section to score in if you have revised well.