When is the SBI Clerk Prelims exam usually held?

Prelims usually comes four to seven weeks after the registration window closes. The notification gives a tentative month, and the exact dates appear later on SBI's careers page and the call letter.

Recent Prelims dates

How the exam is spread out

Prelims is held over a few days with several shifts per day, because lakhs of candidates apply. Your date, shift and venue appear on your call letter. Requests for a change of centre, date or session are not entertained.

What this means for your preparation

• The window is short. In 2026 the gap between the last date of registration and Prelims was under four weeks. If you start only after the notification, you will be short of time.
• Prepare in a cycle-neutral way. The Prelims syllabus (English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning) has stayed the same for several cycles. Year-round practice pays off whichever month the exam falls in.
• Clash with other exams. IBPS and other bank exams often fall in the same months. Keep an eye on overlapping dates when planning.