How to Calculate Your SBI Clerk Score: Prelims vs Mains – A Complete Guide

 

The SBI Clerk exam is one of the most competitive banking exams in India. Thousands of candidates appear every year with the goal of securing a position in the prestigious State Bank of India. One of the most important things to understand during your preparation is how to calculate your score for both Prelims and Mains exams. Knowing how to calculate your score helps you assess your performance and strategize accordingly.

In this blog, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of calculating your SBI Clerk score for both the Prelims and Mains exams. We’ll also explain the marking scheme, how to calculate the overall score and sectional scores, and provide expert tips for maximizing your score in the upcoming exams.

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1. Understanding the SBI Clerk Marking Scheme

Before we get into calculating your score, it’s crucial to understand the marking scheme for both the Prelims and Mains exams:

• Prelims Exam:

  • Total marks: 100

  • Number of questions: 100

  • Duration: 1 hour

  • Negative marking: 0.25 marks for every wrong answer

  • No penalty for unanswered questions.

• Mains Exam:

  • Total marks: 200

  • Number of questions: 190 (including both objective and descriptive)

  • Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes

  • Negative marking: 0.25 marks for every wrong answer

  • Descriptive test: Qualifying in nature, no negative marking.

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2. Calculating Your SBI Clerk Prelims Score

The SBI Clerk Prelims exam consists of three sections:

1. English Language

2. Reasoning Ability

3. Numerical Ability

Each section is allotted a specific number of questions, and you need to calculate your marks based on your correct answers, incorrect answers, and unanswered questions. Here's how you can calculate your Prelims score:

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Correct Answers:

   • For each correct answer, you get 1 mark.

   • Multiply the number of correct answers by 1 to get your total marks for correct answers.

2. Incorrect Answers:

   • For each wrong answer, you lose 0.25 marks.

   • Multiply the number of incorrect answers by 0.25 and subtract that value from your total score.

3. Unanswered Questions:

   • There is no penalty for unanswered questions, so you do not need to deduct anything for them.

Formula to Calculate Prelims Score:

$\text{Score} = (\text{Number of Correct Answers} \times 1) - (\text{Number of Incorrect Answers} \times 0.25)$

Example:

• Suppose you answer 50 questions correctly, 10 questions incorrectly, and leave 40 questions unanswered.

• Correct answers: 50 x 1 = 50 marks

• Incorrect answers: 10 x 0.25 = 2.5 marks

• Unanswered questions: No marks deducted.

• Prelims Score = 50 - 2.5 = 47.5 marks

Your SBI Clerk Prelims score would be 47.5 marks.

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3. Calculating Your SBI Clerk Mains Score

The SBI Clerk Mains exam is more comprehensive and includes multiple sections:

1. General/Financial Awareness

2. General English

3. Quantitative Aptitude

4. Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude

5. Descriptive Test (Letter Writing & Essay)

The Mains exam has an additional Descriptive Test, which is qualifying and doesn’t affect the overall score. However, you must perform well in the objective sections to maximize your final score.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Correct Answers:

   • For each correct answer in the objective sections, you get 1 mark.

   • Multiply the number of correct answers by 1 to get your total marks for correct answers.

2. Incorrect Answers:

   • For each wrong answer, you lose 0.25 marks.

   • Multiply the number of incorrect answers by 0.25 and subtract that value from your total score.

3. Descriptive Test:

   • The Descriptive Test is qualifying in nature, meaning you must score above the minimum qualifying marks (usually 20-30 marks).

   • Your score in the Descriptive Test does not affect your final score, but you must clear it to be eligible for selection.

Formula to Calculate Mains Score:

$\text{Score} = (\text{Number of Correct Answers} \times 1) - (\text{Number of Incorrect Answers} \times 0.25)$

Example:

• Suppose you answer 80 questions correctly, 5 questions incorrectly, and leave 15 questions unanswered in the Mains exam.

• Correct answers: 80 x 1 = 80 marks

• Incorrect answers: 5 x 0.25 = 1.25 marks

• Unanswered questions: No marks deducted.

• Mains Score = 80 - 1.25 = 78.75 marks

Your SBI Clerk Mains score would be 78.75 marks.

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4. Final SBI Clerk Score Calculation (Prelims + Mains)

To calculate your final SBI Clerk score, you need to combine your Prelims and Mains scores. The Prelims score is used for shortlisting candidates for the Mains exam. The Mains score is the final score used for your ranking in the exam.

Formula for Final Score:

• Final Score = Prelims Score + Mains Score

• Your Descriptive Test score is qualifying and doesn’t contribute to your final score calculation.

Example:

• Prelims Score: 47.5

• Mains Score: 78.75

• Final Score = 47.5 + 78.75 = 126.25

Your final SBI Clerk score would be 126.25 marks.

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5. Important Tips for Maximizing Your SBI Clerk Score

Here are some expert tips to help you improve your SBI Clerk score:

1. Practice Time Management: Use time-bound mock tests to enhance your speed and accuracy.

2. Improve Accuracy: Focus on increasing your accuracy, especially in Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning.

3. Sectional Practice: Pay attention to General Awareness and Descriptive Writing in Mains, as these can boost your overall score.

4. Focus on Strengths: Play to your strengths and solve the sections that you are most comfortable with first.

5. Regular Mock Tests: Take daily mock tests to familiarize yourself with the exam pattern and improve your problem-solving speed.

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6. Conclusion: Calculate Your SBI Clerk Score with Confidence

Now that you know how to calculate your SBI Clerk score for both Prelims and Mains, you can track your progress and assess how well you’re performing. By understanding the marking scheme and following a strategic approach, you can aim for a high score that ensures you clear both sectional and overall cut-offs in the SBI Clerk 2025 exam.

Start practicing now, focus on the key sections, and optimize your exam strategy to secure your place in the final list!

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