SBI Clerk Local Language Test 2026: Rules, Pattern & Exemption

The short answer. If you are provisionally selected as an SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) and you cannot produce a Class 10 or Class 12 mark sheet or certificate showing that you studied your opted local language, you must pass SBI's local language proficiency test before you join. If you can produce that document, you are exempt and you never sit the test. The test is held after provisional selection (that is, after the Mains result) and before joining, in the state you applied for, and SBI has not published a date. If you do not qualify, you are not offered the appointment, no matter how high your Mains score is.

That is the whole rule in four lines, but the details decide who gets caught out. The mark sheet has to name the language. The language you opted for in the application has to match the one on the mark sheet. The test has its own pattern, and SBI leaves several things unpublished, including the pass mark. This page walks through all of it for candidates applying to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Odisha, the circles where Telugu, Kannada and Odia are the languages that matter.

The rules below come from the SBI Junior Associate advertisement for 2026-27 (Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17, dated 11 August 2026) and the SC/ST/OBC special drive advertisement (CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16). For the wider picture of the recruitment, read our SBI Clerk 2026 exam guide and our SBI Clerk notification breakdown.

What is the SBI local language test?

The local language proficiency test (LPT, sometimes written LLPT) checks that a Junior Associate can read, write, speak and understand the official language of the state they will work in. It is a pass or fail qualifying test, and the marks do not get added to your Prelims or Mains score.

Who is exempt?

SBI exempts candidates who can prove, through school records, that they studied the opted language. The rule is short, and most of the confusion around it comes from people reading more into it, or less, than it actually says.

The 10th or 12th rule

A candidate who produces a Class 10 or Class 12 mark sheet or certificate showing that they studied the specified opted local language is not required to take the language test. Two points in that sentence matter.

First, it says "Class 10 or Class 12". It does not say both, and earlier years' advertisements were narrower, so check that you are reading the 2026-27 text. One of the two documents is enough, as long as it shows the language.

Second, it says "studied", not "scored well in" or "studied as your first language". The test of exemption is whether the language appears in your school record as something you studied. For a Telangana candidate who opted for Telugu, a Class 10 mark sheet listing Telugu as a subject is the document SBI is asking for. For a Karnataka candidate, it is a mark sheet listing Kannada. For an Odisha candidate, it is a mark sheet listing Odia.

There is a second wording in the selection section of the advertisement, which describes the test as being for candidates who have not studied any of the specified local languages of the state in Class 10 or 12. In the usual case, the two sentences point the same way. They can diverge for someone who studied one listed language at school but opted for another in the application. The safe approach, and our reading rather than an SBI clarification, is to opt for the language that is printed on your Class 10 or 12 mark sheet.

Documents to keep ready

SBI's notice asks you to produce the mark sheet or certificate. Beyond that, here is what we advise our students to keep in a single folder, because verification days leave little time to hunt for papers.

• Your Class 10 mark sheet, original and photocopies, with the opted language visible as a subject.
• Your Class 12 mark sheet, original and photocopies, in case the Class 10 sheet does not show the language clearly.
• A school or board certificate stating the language studied, if your mark sheet lists subjects in a way that does not name the language (for example, only a subject code).
• Proof of any name change, if the name on your school records differs from the name on your application.
• Your call letter and photo ID, as for any stage of the recruitment.

Only the first two items are what the notice itself names. The rest are practical steps we recommend. Always confirm the final list against the instructions SBI sends you at the time of document verification.

Edge cases

The advertisement does not walk through special situations, so the cases below are our reading of its plain words. Where it matters for your job, ask SBI through its official query channels before you rely on any of these.

CBSE and ICSE students. The exemption turns on whether you studied the language and whether the document shows it, not on which board issued it. A CBSE or ICSE mark sheet that lists Telugu, Kannada or Odia as a language subject should serve the same purpose as a state board sheet. The risk is the opposite case: some students studied a regional language in school but opted out of it in the board exam, or took it as an internal subject that does not appear on the final mark sheet. If the language is not on the document, the document does not prove it.

Hindi medium students. Medium of instruction and language studied are two different things. A student who attended a Hindi medium school but also studied Telugu, Kannada or Odia as a language subject has the language on the mark sheet and is covered. A student who studied only Hindi and English, even in a school located in the state, is not covered by this rule.

Second or third language. Nothing in the rule says the language must be your first language. If you studied Kannada as a second or third language in Class 10 and it appears on the mark sheet, the plain wording covers you. Candidates who moved states mid-school, or who studied a regional language only up to Class 8 or 9, should note that the rule names Class 10 and Class 12 specifically. Earlier classes do not count.

Writing the exam in Hindi or another medium. The language in which you write the Prelims or Mains has nothing to do with the language test. Writing the exam in Telugu, Kannada or Odia does not exempt you, and writing it in English or Hindi does not oblige you to sit the test. Only the Class 10 or 12 document decides it.

Languages by state

At the time of application you opt for one state or union territory and one language from the list SBI gives for it. Where the list has two options, you pick one. The circles that matter for Telugu, Kannada and Odia are below.

Two cautions on this table. Andhra Pradesh seats have appeared in the SC/ST/OBC special drive for 2026-27, so check which of the two advertisements you are applying under before assuming seats exist in your circle. And the exam medium is a separate list from the local language: Urdu, for example, is both an exam medium and a test language for Telangana, but a candidate in a state with a language that is not an exam medium still needs to prove that language. Our guide to banking exams in India explains how SBI's circle-wise structure differs from the state-wise approach used by IBPS.

Candidates can apply for vacancies in one state or union territory only, and there is no provision for inter-circle or inter-state transfer for Junior Associates recruited under these advertisements, with limited exceptions inside Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. That makes the choice of state and language a decision you live with, not just a form field.

Test pattern

SBI's advertisement for 2026-27 gives the test three parts.

The three rows add up to 50 marks, though SBI does not print a total. The non-verbal test works from written passages, with an objective part (questions with options) and a subjective part (written answers). The verbal test carries 20 marks, and SBI does not describe its format. Many readers assume it is spoken, which is a sensible guess from the name, but it is a guess.

What SBI does say is that a minimum in each test is "as decided by the Bank", with a 5 percent relaxation for SC, ST, OBC, PwBD and ex-servicemen categories. It does not publish an actual pass mark, a schedule or a description of the verbal test. Because the format is partly unpublished, prepare for genuine working ability in the language (reading, writing, speaking and understanding) and not for a target score on a known paper.

The test is held at a centre decided by the Bank in the state you applied for, and the candidate bears their own expenses. The written exams can be taken from any notified centre, but the language test cannot.

SBI Clerk Mains was tentatively scheduled for 23 November 2026, so the test would follow the Mains result and the provisional selection list. Because SBI gives no date for the language test itself, a candidate who needs it should treat the weeks before the Mains result as preparation time, and not wait to be called.

Preparing for Telugu

Telugu is the opted language for candidates in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh who did not study it in Class 10 or 12. It is written in its own script, and words tend to grow long because suffixes attach to a root. Verb endings change with the person you are addressing and with respect, so "randi" (please come) differs from the form you would use for a friend.

Start with the script. Spend the first two weeks reading and writing the vowels and consonants until you can sound out any signboard. Do not try to learn vocabulary in English letters alone, because the test works from written passages.

Learn the banking glossary. These terms appear in every branch conversation and form.

Practise translation both ways. Take a sentence in English, write it in Telugu, then translate your own Telugu back and compare. A few to start with:

• Please sign here. → దయచేసి ఇక్కడ సంతకం చేయండి. (dayachesi ikkada santakam cheyandi)
• Please fill in this form and submit it at the counter. → దయచేసి ఈ ఫారం నింపి కౌంటర్ వద్ద సమర్పించండి. (dayachesi ee form nimpi counter vadda samarpimchandi)
• Your account balance is five thousand rupees. → మీ ఖాతాలో ఐదు వేల రూపాయల నిల్వ ఉంది. (mee khaataalo aidu vela roopaayala nilva undi)
• Please come tomorrow. → దయచేసి రేపు రండి. (dayachesi repu randi)

Watch the formal and spoken registers. Written Telugu in a newspaper or a bank notice is more formal than the way people talk at a counter. Read a Telugu newspaper editorial for the written style, and listen to regional news and talk to people for the spoken style. The test asks for both.

Preparing for Kannada

Kannada is the only listed language for Karnataka, so every candidate there who did not study Kannada in Class 10 or 12 will face it. If you already read Telugu, the Kannada script will look familiar, because the two scripts share a common ancestry, but do not assume the letters match. They do not, and mixing them up is a very common slip.

Treat the script as a project in week one. Learn the vowels and consonants, then the way consonants combine with vowel signs, and write every word you learn by hand.

Build the glossary.

Practise translation both ways.

• Please sign here. → ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಸಹಿ ಮಾಡಿ. (dayavittu illi sahi maadi)
• Please fill in this form and submit it at the counter. → ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಈ ಅರ್ಜಿಯನ್ನು ಭರ್ತಿ ಮಾಡಿ ಕೌಂಟರ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿ. (dayavittu ee arjiyannu bharti maadi counterinalli sallisi)
• Your account balance is five thousand rupees. → ನಿಮ್ಮ ಖಾತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಐದು ಸಾವಿರ ರೂಪಾಯಿ ಶಿಲ್ಕು ಇದೆ. (nimma khaateyalli aidu saavira roopaayi shilku ide)
• Please come tomorrow. → ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ನಾಳೆ ಬನ್ನಿ. (dayavittu naale banni)

Mind the gap between written and spoken Kannada. The written language and everyday speech differ noticeably, so a candidate who has only heard Kannada may struggle with a formal passage, and one who has only read it may stumble in conversation. Read a Kannada newspaper daily and speak aloud to someone who is fluent, even for ten minutes.

Use Bengaluru's ordinary language as a classroom. Bus boards, hoardings, receipts and ATM screens in Karnataka carry Kannada. Read them on purpose. It is the cheapest immersion you can get.

Preparing for Odia

Odia is the only listed language for Odisha. Its script is rounded, and several letters look alike at first glance, so slow daily writing practice matters more early on than reading speed. Candidates from outside Odisha who plan to apply there should give themselves the longest runway of the three languages, because there is no script overlap with Telugu or Kannada to lean on.

Learn the script in sequence. Vowels first, then consonants, then the way consonants join in conjuncts. Copy a short paragraph by hand each day and compare it letter by letter with the printed version.

Build the glossary.

Practise translation both ways.

• Please sign here. → ଦୟାକରି ଏଠାରେ ଦସ୍ତଖତ କରନ୍ତୁ। (dayaakari ethaare dastakhata karantu)
• Please fill in this form and submit it at the counter. → ଦୟାକରି ଏହି ଆବେଦନ ପତ୍ର ପୂରଣ କରି କାଉଣ୍ଟରରେ ଜମା ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ। (dayaakari ehi aabedana patra puruna kari counterare jamaa diantu)
• Your account has five thousand rupees. → ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଖାତାରେ ପାଞ୍ଚ ହଜାର ଟଙ୍କା ଅଛି। (aapanankara khaataare paancha hajaara tankaa achhi)
• Please come tomorrow. → ଦୟାକରି କାଲି ଆସନ୍ତୁ। (dayaakari kaali aasantu)

Add listening early. Because the verbal test format is not published, assume you may be asked to speak. Listen to Odia news bulletins and try to repeat sentences aloud, even if you only follow half of them at first.

A note on all three glossaries. These tables are practice material, not an official bank vocabulary. Spoken banking language in all three states borrows many English words (cheque, loan, branch and form are used as they are in everyday speech), so learn the native terms for reading passages and the common loanwords for conversation. If you can, have a fluent speaker check your written practice, because small spelling errors are hard to spot on your own.

Mistakes to avoid

• Assuming the exam medium exempts you. Writing the Mains in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada or Odia does nothing for the language test. Only a Class 10 or 12 document showing the opted language does.
• Opting for a language that is not on your mark sheet. In states with two options, such as Telangana, choose the one printed on your school record, so that both of SBI's exemption sentences cover you.
• Not checking the mark sheet before you apply. Open your Class 10 and 12 sheets now and confirm the language is named as a subject. Finding out at document verification is too late to fix anything.
• Waiting for the call before you start learning. SBI publishes no date for the test, and failing it means no appointment. If you are not exempt, start now.
• Preparing only to read. The test covers reading, writing, speaking and understanding, and the format of the verbal part is unpublished. Practise all four skills, not just comprehension.

Does the test apply to SBI PO?

On the published notice, no. The SBI PO 2026 notification (Advertisement No. CRPD/PO/2026-27/09) lists three phases: Prelims, Mains, and the Psychometric Test, Group Exercise and Interview. A local language test is not one of them, and the notice says the job location is anywhere in India, so PO recruitment is not organised by state or language circle the way the Clerk recruitment is.

That is the position as stated in the PO notice, and you should read its eligibility and selection sections yourself before relying on this page. The picture is different for SBI's Circle Based Officer recruitment, which is run by circle and carries a circle-specific local language test. If you are comparing exams, our SBI Clerk vs IBPS Clerk comparison and the banking exams overview show where language rules apply and where they do not.

The IBPS Regional Rural Bank exams also have a local language requirement, with a proficiency test for those who cannot show they studied the language. If you are considering both SBI Clerk and RRB posts, see our pages on IBPS RRB Officer Scale I and the IBPS RRB Office Assistant post.

Common Questions Students Ask

1. Is the SBI Clerk local language test compulsory for everyone?

No. It is compulsory only for provisionally selected candidates who cannot produce a Class 10 or Class 12 mark sheet or certificate showing they studied the opted local language. Candidates who can produce one are exempt.

2. Is a Class 12 mark sheet enough, or do I need Class 10?

The 2026-27 rule names Class 10 or Class 12, so one document showing the opted language is enough. Keep both ready in case one of them does not show the language clearly.

3. What happens if I fail the local language test?

You are not offered the appointment. The test is a qualifying stage, and a high Mains score does not make up for failing it.

4. What is the pass mark?

SBI does not publish one. The advertisement says only that a minimum in each test is as decided by the Bank, with a 5 percent relaxation for SC, ST, OBC, PwBD and ex-servicemen categories.

5. If I write the exam in Hindi, can I skip the test?

No. The exam medium and the local language are separate. Only a Class 10 or 12 document showing the language you opted for exempts you.

6. When and where is the test held, and who pays?

It is held after provisional selection and before joining, at a centre decided by the Bank in the state you applied for. SBI gives no date in the advertisement, and the candidate bears their own expenses.

Language support with us

Sreedhar's College for Competitive Exams has been helping banking aspirants through every stage of the SBI Clerk process, from Prelims to the final documents. Our results page lists more than 24,000 selections since 1995 across banking, SSC, railways and police exams, and our SBI Clerk course covers the written stages that decide whether you reach the language test at all.

We have also run language classes for selected candidates before: in March 2026 our notice board announced Tamil classes in Vijayawada for SBI Clerk and IBPS selected candidates posted to Tamil Nadu. Whether Telugu, Kannada or Odia classes are on the calendar depends on the batch, so check our E-Notice Board or ask our counsellors when you enrol. You can compare batch timings and fees on our courses and fees page, or start with our online courses if you prefer to prepare from home.

If you are unsure whether you are exempt, open your Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets today and look for the language name. That one check tells you whether this page applies to you.