Sectional Cut-Offs in Banking Exams: How to Clear Them in 2025

Think about this: You've worked diligently for months, scored a high aggregate in your bank exam, and are already preparing for the next phase. But then, when the results come out, you're shocked, you didn't make it through since you were short by half a mark in the English section.

This is a common tale. Thousands of bank aspirants go through the same ordeal every year due to sectional cut-offs in bank examinations. Unlike most other competitive examinations, where the combined score is the only criterion, bank examinations like IBPS PO, SBI PO, and RBI Assistant ask the aspirants to clear both the combined cut-off and the sectional cut-off in each section.

So what are sectional cut-offs in bank exams all about? Why do they take place? And most importantly, how do you overcome them without compromising your overall performance? This blog is going to walk you through step by step with examples, analysis, and recommendations, and also how websites such as Skoodos Bridge can assist you in getting the right coaching recommendation for this experience.

What Are Sectional Cut-Offs in Bank Exams?

Basically, sectional cutoff means the marks you must secure at least in all subjects/sections of a bank exam.

Let's assume that the exam consists of three sections, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability, and you must at least score the recommended cutoff for each section. Even if your total score is more than the common cutoff, not scoring the sectional requirement in one subject alone will eliminate you.

This rule applies across most major banking exams, including:

• IBPS PO & Clerk
   
• SBI PO & Clerk
   
• RBI Grade B & Assistant
   
• Regional Rural Banks (RRB) exams

In other words: banking exam sectional cutoffs ensure that you’re not only good overall but also balanced across skills.

Why Do Banking Exams Have Sectional Cut-Offs?

The banking profession demands that the candidates have well-rounded skill sets. A banker cannot be excellent at numbers and horrible at communication, or a good reasoner but a bad data interpreter. Sectional cutoffs are designed to filter out candidates who have unbalanced skill sets.

Main reasons for sectional cutoffs:

• Well-rounded Skill Assessment – Does not permit candidates to lack in reasoning, numerical ability, and communication.
   
• Unfair Selection – Prevents candidates from compensating for an extremely weak area by being immensely high in another.
   
• Job Relevance – Banking careers necessitate analytical ability, numeracy, and sound comprehension skills.
   

Banking Exam Pattern and Sectional Cut-Offs

For a better understanding of cutoffs, let us see a common IBPS PO Prelims exam pattern.

• English Language – 30 questions, 30 marks, 20 minutes, average cut-off 7–10 marks

• Quantitative Aptitude – 35 questions, 35 marks, 20 minutes, average cut-off 8–11 marks

• Reasoning Ability – 35 questions, 35 marks, 20 minutes, average cut-off 9–12 marks

• Total – 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes, cut-off varies each year

*Indicative values based on previous years.*

Notice how even though the exam has a total score of 100, you need to clear all three sections individually.

Category-Wise Break-Up of Cut-Offs

Cut-offs, sectional, and overall usually differ category-wise (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS). To illustrate, consider the IBPS PO Prelims 2022.

• For the General category, the cut-off stood at 9.75 in English, 10.25 in Quant, 9.75 in Reasoning, with an overall cut-off of 49.75.

• For the OBC category, the cut-off was 6.75 in English, 7.25 in Quant, 6.25 in Reasoning, and an overall of 46.75.

• For the SC category, the scores were 6.75 in English, 6.25 in Quant, 6.25 in Reasoning, leading to an overall of 40.75.

• For the ST category, the cut-off reached 6.75 in English, 6.25 in Quant, 6.25 in Reasoning, with an overall of 33.25.
   

This shows that while overall cutoff plays a big role, the sectional cutoffs differ only slightly, emphasising the importance of not ignoring any subject.

SBI PO Cutoff: How It Keeps Changing

The SBI PO test is famous for its changing cutoff system. While IBPS does not give sectional cutoffs in the prelims round in some years, SBI does not do so either. But for the Mains exam, it gives sectional and overall cutoffs.

To exemplify, the SBI PO Mains 2021 sectional cutoffs were:

• English Language – 21 marks
• Data Analysis & Interpretation – 18 marks
• Reasoning & Computer Aptitude – 19 marks
• General/Economic/Banking Awareness – 16 marks

This makes it clear: you can’t risk ignoring any subject area, regardless of the bank exam you’re targeting.

How to Clear Sectional Cut-Off in Banking Exams

Since we now know what cutoffs are, let's move on to the largest question aspirants have: How do I consistently clear sectional cutoffs?

1. Learn Weightage and Pattern

Begin with a solid understanding of the exam syllabus and question pattern. For instance:

• Reasoning usually involves puzzles and seating arrangements.
• Quantitative Aptitude is arithmetic and DI-based.
• English includes comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary.

Weightage knowledge aids prudent preparation.

2. Solve Sectional Mock Tests with Timers

As all sections have a timed duration, solving section-wise mock tests will be a replica of the actual exam environment. This will allow you to practice speed as well as accuracy.

3. Get Rid of Weak Points Early

Avoid waiting until the last month to strategise to fix your weak subject. If English reading is your weak point, practice editorials and cloze tests a few months before the attempt.

4. Choose Attempts over Accuracy

Moderate cut-offs are common. Assuming the cut-off for Quant is 9 marks, getting 80% of 15 questions attempted is more secure than doing all 35 with reckless guessing.

5. Consider Previous Year Cut-offs

Monitoring trends allows sensible targets to be established. For example, IBPS PO cut-offs over the previous five years prove only a 1–2 mark difference in sectional cut-offs.

Common Mistakes Aspirants Make

• Ignoring English: Many students underestimate English, focusing too much on Quant and Reasoning. But missing English cutoffs is the most common reason for disqualification.
   
• Over-attempting: Trying to attempt every question without accuracy leads to negative marking.
   
• Neglecting sectional practice: Practising only overall mock tests without sectional focus leaves aspirants unprepared for time-limited sections.
   

Skoodos Bridge: Guiding You to the Appropriate Coaching

While independent study is necessary, guided coaching usually turns out to be the best way to send competitive cut-offs packing. But with institutes boasting success here and there, how do you make a decision?

This is where Skoodos Bridge comes to your rescue.

• It allows students to compare various banking exam coaching institutes based on location, instruction quality, and previous performance.
• Aspirants can find professional coaching centres that specialise in sectional strategies,be it mastering tough reasoning questions or strengthening English basics.
• With real information and reviews, Skoodos Bridge saves time and allows you to invest in the right institute for your preparation journey.

For students desiring to crack overall and sectional cutoffs, the appropriate mentorship and environment can be the determining factor, and Skoodos Bridge takes you there.

Conclusion

Clearing a bank exam is not just about being high overall, but consistently good in all the sections. Sectional cutoffs are the reality one needs to prepare for as an individual candidate, and neglecting them will only lead you astray despite good overall performance.

The silver lining? It is perfectly possible to clear sectional and overall cutoffs with the right strategy, sound practice, and guidance of good coaching schools.

And in order to receive the most suitable coaching guidance for bank exams, Skoodos Bridge helps you choose the right one without any ambiguity. Be it additional guidance in Quant, English, or Reasoning, you can find institutes that suit your requirements best.

Are you ready to move forward in your banking career? Discover the best coaching centres on Skoodos Bridge today and treat yourself to the holistic preparation that you deserve.
 

FAQs

Q1. What are sectional cutoffs in bank exams?

They are the marks one must score in each section (English, Quant, Reasoning, etc.) of the test, aside from the general cutoff.

Q2. How to clear sectional cutoff in banking exams?

Practice sectional mock tests, improve weak areas, and be accurate instead of trying all the questions.

Q3. What is the minimum sectional cutoff for IBPS?

It is different every year, but usually 7–11 marks in every section in prelims based on the category.

Q4. Is the sectional cutoff for SBI PO?

Yes, particularly in the Mains exam, SBI employs sectional cutoffs for English, Quant, Reasoning, and General Awareness.

Q5. I have crossed the overall cutoff but failed to get selected. Why?

Primarily due to the fact that you failed to meet the sectional cutoff in one or more of your sections, which is mandatory to be considered eligible.

Q6. Are sectional cutoffs uniform across all categories?

No, they are different for different categories (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS). Reserved categories have marginally lower cutoffs normally.

Q7. Are sectional cutoffs in all bank exams?

All RBI and IBPS tests do, but SBI changes year by year and stage by stage.