What the LLPT is
The Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) is Phase III of SBI Junior Associate selection. SBI wants clerks who can serve customers in the language of the state they work in. The 2026 notification says candidates applying for a state should be proficient in "reading, writing, speaking and understanding" the specified local language of that state.
The test is held after you qualify in the Main exam and are provisionally selected, but before joining. The notification is blunt: candidates who fail to qualify "will not be offered appointment".
Who has to take it and who is exempt
| Your situation | LLPT needed? |
|---|---|
| Your Class 10 or Class 12 mark sheet or certificate shows you studied the language you opted for | No, you are exempt |
| You speak the language at home but did not study it as a subject in Class 10 or 12 | Yes |
| You studied the language only in college or a private course | Yes, the exemption mentions only Class 10 or 12 |
The exemption depends on documents, not on your fluency. Keep the mark sheet that shows the language subject ready for verification.
LLPT pattern
As per the 2026 notification:
| Test | Section | Passages | Questions | Max marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-verbal test | Objective | 3 | 15 | 15 |
| Non-verbal test | Subjective | 3 | 15 | 15 |
| Verbal test | Verbal | Not specified | Not specified | 20 |
Candidates must score the minimum qualifying marks decided by the bank in each individual test, with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/XS/DXS candidates. The qualifying marks are not published in the notification.
In plain terms, the non-verbal part is passage-based and tests reading and writing through objective and written answers. The notification does not describe the format of the verbal part. Since SBI asks for proficiency in speaking and understanding, prepare as if you will have to talk and answer questions in the language.
Where it is held and who pays
You can take Prelims and Mains at any notified centre, but the language test is held at a centre in the state you applied for, decided by the bank, and you attend at your own expense. If you live far from that state, budget for the trip.
Languages listed in the 2026 vacancy table
Where more than one language is listed, you choose one while applying, and that is the language you will be tested in.
| State/UT | Language(s) |
|---|---|
| Gujarat | Gujarati |
| Karnataka | Kannada |
| Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan | Hindi |
| Odisha | Odia |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Urdu / Hindi |
| Ladakh | Urdu / Ladakhi / Bhoti (Bodhi) |
| Tamil Nadu | Tamil |
| Telangana | Telugu / Urdu |
| West Bengal | Bengali / Nepali |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Hindi / English |
| Sikkim | Nepali / English |
| Uttar Pradesh | Hindi / Urdu |
| Maharashtra | Marathi |
| Goa | Konkani |
| Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland | English |
| Assam | Assamese / Bengali / Bodo |
| Manipur | Manipuri / English |
| Meghalaya | English / Garo / Khasi |
| Mizoram | Mizo |
| Tripura | Bengali / Kokborok |
How to prepare if you need the LLPT
- Start reading the script early. If you cannot read the script fluently, give it 20 minutes a day from the start of your preparation, not after Mains.
- Read simple newspapers or children's books in the language, then try short news items. The test uses passages.
- Write short answers of three to four lines about a passage you have read. The subjective part needs written answers.
- Speak daily. Practise everyday banking conversations: opening an account, asking for a cheque book, a loan enquiry.
- Learn banking words in the language: account, deposit, withdrawal, loan, interest, branch.
Choosing your state with the LLPT in mind
You apply for one state only and cannot transfer out for at least 5 years. If you are torn between your home state and a state with more vacancies, weigh the language honestly. A state where you cannot pass the LLPT is not an option, however many vacancies it has.
If your home state has no vacancies in a given year, a neighbouring state whose language you know well is usually the better choice.
LLPT timeline and checklist
- At application: opt for one language from those listed for your state. Check whether your Class 10 or 12 mark sheet shows that language.
- Before Mains: if you will need the test, keep 20 minutes a day for reading and speaking practice. Do not leave it until after the result.
- After the final result: watch SBI's careers page and your registered email for the LLPT schedule and centre.
- On test day: carry your call letters, photo ID and the documents asked for in the intimation.
- If exempt: carry the mark sheet showing the language for document verification.
Questions about this
Who is exempt from the SBI Clerk language test?
Candidates who produce a Class 10 or Class 12 mark sheet or certificate showing they studied the specified local language they opted for. Others must pass the test.
What happens if I fail the LLPT?
As per the notification, candidates who fail to qualify the language test are not offered appointment, even after clearing Mains.
When is the local language test held?
After the Main exam result and provisional selection, but before joining, at a centre in the state you applied for, at your own expense.
What is the LLPT pattern?
As per the 2026 notification: a non-verbal objective part (3 passages, 15 questions, 15 marks), a non-verbal subjective part (3 passages, 15 questions, 15 marks) and a verbal test of 20 marks.
Is there a relaxation in LLPT qualifying marks for reserved categories?
Yes. As per the 2026 notification, SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/XS/DXS candidates get a 5% relaxation on the minimum qualifying marks set by the bank for each test.