Why this guide has no cut-off table
You will find many "SBI Clerk cut-off" tables online. We checked SBI's own result pages for the 2024 and 2025 cycles. They publish the roll numbers of selected candidates and a page where each candidate can see their own marks, but no official state-wise cut-off table. The tables on coaching websites are compiled from candidates' scorecards and reports, and figures for the same state and year often differ between sites, sometimes widely.
Rather than copy numbers we cannot confirm, this guide explains how the cut-off is formed and how to set a personal target that does not depend on any one website.
How the Prelims cut-off is formed
From the 2026 notification:
- There are no minimum qualifying marks in Prelims, sectionally or overall.
- Candidates are arranged in descending order of aggregate marks, and about 10 times the vacancies in each category are shortlisted for Mains, subject to availability.
- Since you apply for one state, this works state-wise and category-wise.
So the Prelims "cut-off" is simply the score of the last candidate who fits inside roughly 10 x vacancies for that state and category. It is a rank, not a pass mark set in advance.
Example: if a state has 300 vacancies in a category, around 3,000 candidates of that category may be called for Mains. If 40,000 candidates of that category wrote Prelims in that state, you need to be roughly in the top 7.5% of them.
How the final cut-off is formed
- The merit list is drawn state-wise and category-wise from the Main exam aggregate alone. Prelims marks are not added.
- Candidates must also clear a minimum aggregate percentage in Mains decided by the bank, with 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/XS/DXS.
- Eligible trained SBI apprentices get 5 bonus marks added to their Mains aggregate.
- The final cut-off for your state and category is the Mains score of the last selected candidate.
A wait list of up to 50% of vacancies is kept, released quarterly against non-joining and resignations for one year. So candidates a little below the final cut-off can still be selected later.
Why cut-offs vary so much by state and year
| Factor | Effect on cut-off |
|---|---|
| Number of vacancies | More vacancies in your state and category means a lower cut-off, other things equal |
| Number of applicants | More serious candidates per seat means a higher cut-off |
| Paper difficulty | A harder paper pulls all scores, and the cut-off, down |
| States in the table | The states with vacancies change year to year, which moves candidates between states |
| Category | Each category has its own merit list, so cut-offs differ within the same state |
This is why last year's cut-off for your state is a weak guide to this year's.
How to set your own target score
- Use percentiles, not raw marks. Most mock series show your percentile among test-takers. If your state's selection is roughly the top few percent of candidates, aim to be consistently in the top 5% of a large mock series.
- Look at the vacancy table. Compare your state's vacancies this year with last year's. Fewer vacancies means set a higher target.
- Build a margin. Your mock average, not your best mock, should be above your target, because exam-day nerves cost marks.
- Use real data after the result. Check your own marks on SBI's "marks secured" page and compare them with peers from your state and category to calibrate for the next attempt.
If you do read online cut-off tables
- Check whether the site says where the numbers came from: an official SBI document, scorecards or estimates.
- Compare at least two sources. If they differ by more than a few marks, treat both as rough.
- Never use one year's figure as a promise. A target set only on last year's number can leave you short.
- Ignore anyone who claims "insider" cut-offs or guaranteed selection. SBI's notification says it does not endorse or associate with any coaching platform or person claiming guaranteed selection or insider guidance.
A worked example of setting a target
Meena is applying for her home state in the General category. She has written 20 Prelims mocks.
- Her last five mock scores average 68, and her best is 74.
- In the mock series she uses, a score of 68 puts her around the top 10% of test-takers.
- Her state's vacancies this year are lower than last year's, so she expects the competition per seat to rise.
Her decision: set a target average around the top 5% of the series, keep accuracy above 90%, and add one more puzzle set per mock. She does not chase her best score; she raises her average.
The numbers will differ for you. The method is what transfers: use your average, your percentile and this year's vacancies, not someone else's cut-off table.
Questions about this
Does SBI publish official cut-offs for the Clerk exam?
SBI's result pages for recent cycles list the roll numbers of selected candidates and let each candidate see their own marks. We did not find an official state-wise cut-off table on those pages; tables online are compiled by coaching sites.
Is there a sectional cut-off in SBI Clerk?
No. As per the 2026 notification, there are no sectional minimums in Prelims or Mains. Mains has a minimum aggregate percentage set by the bank.
Why is my state's cut-off higher than another state's?
Cut-offs depend on vacancies, the number and quality of applicants, and paper difficulty in each state and category. Each state has its own merit list.