SBI PO 2023 Notification Out: Every year, the SBI PO 2023 exam is conducted by the State Bank of India (SBI) to select eligible candidates for the Probationary Officers (PO) vacancies in different branches of the State Bank of India. SBI PO Recruitment 2023 Notification has been released along with SBI PO Online Registration and Exam Dates. SBI PO is one of the most coveted jobs in the Banking industry and a dream job for millions of aspirants across India. SBI PO 2023 Apply Online process has been extended till 03rd October 2023 at www.sbi.co.in.
SBI PO is considered a premium job opportunity in the banking sector because of the following reasons:
• Brand value of SBI and reputation associated with SBI PO post
• Lucrative pay scale which is highest among PSU Banks
• Growth opportunities where even a PO can progress to the level of Chairperson
• Job satisfaction and social prestige
The SBI PO exam consists of 3 phases – Prelims, Mains and GD/ Interview round. Candidates must pass each exam to get shortlisted and progress to the next stage. The final selection will be based on merit. Before beginning with your preparation, you should get an idea about the latest updates, selection procedure, eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, previous year cut off etc. Please go through this article to get all the important information for the SBI PO 2023 Exam.
SBI PO 2023 Notification Out
The SBI PO Notification 2023 has been released by the State Bank of India on 06th September 2023 to recruit 2000 vacancies for Probationary Officers (PO) in different offices of SBI in India. The official notification pdf has been released on the SBI Career page of the SBI official website i.e. sbi.co.in. SBI PO 2023 Exam Dates, Online Application & other details are released along with its official notification. The candidates selected are liable to be posted anywhere in India. The official notification PDF for SBI PO 2023 exam is mentioned below for reference.
SBI PO Notification 2023- Click to Download PDF
SBI PO Recruitment 2023 Exam Summary
State Bank of India has announced 2000 Probationary Officer vacancies through SBI PO Notification 2023 for which a three-phase selection process (Prelims, Mains, Interview) will be conducted. All important points related to the SBI PO Recruitment 2023 exam are highlighted below:
| SBI PO Recruitment 2023- Overview | |
| Conducting Body | State Bank of India |
| Post Name | Probationary Officers |
| Periodicity | Annually |
| Exam Level | National |
| Vacancy | 2000 |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Mode of Exam | Online (CBT) |
| Online Registration | 7th September to 03rd October 2023 |
| Exam Rounds | 3 (Prelims + Mains + Interview) |
| SBI PO Salary | Rs. 65,780- Rs. 68,580 per Month |
| Job Location | Across India |
| Official Website | www.sbi.co.in |
SBI PO 2023 Important Dates
State Bank of India (SBI) has announced the SBI PO Recruitment 2023 Online Registration & tentative Exam Dates along with the release of the SBI PO Notification 2023 on 06th September 2023. SBI PO Online Registration 2023 is available from 7th to 03rd October 2023. We have updated all important dates for the SBI PO 2023 Exam as announced through the SBI PO Notification here-
| SBI PO 2023 Exam Schedule | |
| SBI PO Activity | Dates |
| SBI PO Notification 2023 | 06th September 2023 |
| Online Registration Starts From | 07th September 2023 |
| Last date for SBI PO Apply Online | 03rd October 2023 |
| Last Date to Pay Fee | 03rd October 2023 |
| Conduct of Pre- Examination Training | To be notified |
| SBI PO Admit Card 2023 | 10-12 days before exam date |
| SBI PO Exam Date 2023 | November 2023 |
| SBI PO Mains Exam Date 2023 | December 2023/ January 2024 |
SBI PO Exam Date 2023
SBI PO 2023 prelims examination is scheduled to be conducted in the month of November 2023 and the mains examination will be conducted from December 2023 to January 2024. The detailed exam schedule for both prelims and mains examination will be released along with the respective admit cards.
SBI PO Exam Date 2023- Click to Check
SBI PO Vacancy 2023
SBI PO 2023 Vacancy has been announced along with SBI PO Notification 2023. For FY 2023-24, the State Bank of India has announced a total vacancy of 2,000 posts of Probationary Officers. Let’s have a look at the break-up of this year’s SBI PO Vacancy.
| SBI PO Vacancy 2023 | |
| Category | Vacancy |
| SC | 300 |
| ST | 150 |
| OBC | 540 |
| EWS | 200 |
| GEN | 810 |
| Total | 2000 |
SBI PO Vacancy (PwD Category)
| Category | Vacancy | Backlog | Total |
| LD | 20 | — | 20 |
| VI | 20 | — | 20 |
| HI | 20 | 16 | 36 |
| d & e | 20 | 16 | 36 |
*VI: Vision Impairment
*HI: Hearing Impairment
*LD: Learning Disabilities
SBI PO 2023 Online Application
The online application process for SBI PO Exam 2023 has started from 07th September 2023 as mentioned in SBI PO notification 2023. The last date to apply online for the SBI PO 2023 Exam is 03rd October 2023. Before proceeding with the registration and application process, all candidates are requested to go through the complete guide for the SBI PO Online Application.
SBI PO 2023 Apply Online- Click to Check
SBI PO 2023 Application Fee
The category-wise fee structure for the SBI PO 2023 online application is given below. Fee/Intimation charges once paid will NOT be refunded on any account nor can they be held in reserve for any other examination or selection. The application fee for SC/ST/PWD category candidates is Nil and Rs. 750/ for General and other categories of candidates. The application fee must be paid online itself. To know more check the complete guide for the SBI PO Application.
| SNo. | Category | Application Fee |
| 1 | SC/ST/PWD | Nil |
| 2 | General and Others | Rs. 750/- (App. Fee including intimation charges) |
SBI PO 2023 Eligibility Criteria
The candidate must fulfill the following two criteria to be eligible for the SBI PO 2023 Exam:
SBI PO Educational Qualification (as on 31/12/2023)
The candidate must be a graduate in any discipline from a recognized University or any equivalent qualification recognized as such by the Central Government. Those who are in the Final year/Semester of their Graduation may also apply provisionally subject to the condition that, if called for an interview, they must produce proof of having passed the graduation examination. Candidates with an Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) certificate must ensure that the date of passing the IDD is as mentioned in notification. Candidates with Chartered Accountant certification may also apply.
SBI PO Age Limit (as on 01/04/2023)
The candidate must be 21 Years to 30 Years i.e. candidates must have been born between 02.04.1993 and 01.04.2002 (both dates inclusive)
| Category | Age relaxation |
| Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes | 5 years |
| Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) (SC/ ST) | 15 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) (OBC) | 13 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) (Gen/EWS) | 10 years |
| Ex Servicemen, Commissioned officers including Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs)/ Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) who have rendered 5 years military service and have been released on completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within 6 months from the last date of receipt of application) otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency or physical disability attributable to military service or invalidment. | 5 years |
SBI PO 2023 Selection Process
The SBI PO recruitment exam is the most premier among the public-sector bank exams in India. It is considered a little difficult compared to the bank entrance exams conducted by IBPS. The recruitment process for Probationary Officers at SBI consists of 3 stages:
1. Preliminary Examination
2. Main Examination
3. GD/Interview
SBI PO Recruitment 2023- Important Points
The candidates should keep in mind the following points related to the SBI PO selection process:
• Biometric Verification: To ensure an error-free and secure selection procedure for SBI PO 2023, the bank may digitally capture the thumb impression of the candidate. This is done to verify the genuineness of the candidates. Any inconsistency in the biometric verification will lead to rejection of the candidature and punitive legal actions. Candidates are thus advised not to apply any kind of external matter like ink, Mehandi, chemicals etc. on their hands.
• Number of Attempts: The maximum number of chances are fixed for each category. Candidates who have used up all the chances are not eligible to apply. Appearing in the Preliminary Exam is not counted as an attempt but appearing in the Mains Exam is counted.
| Category | Number of Chances |
|---|---|
| General/ EWS | 4 |
| General/ EWS (PWD) | 7 |
| OBC/ OBC(PWD) | 7 |
| SC/SC(PWD)/ST/ST(PWD) | No restriction |
SBI PO 2023 Exam Pattern
The SBI PO selection process consists of 3 stages. The written examinations are conducted online, followed by an interview round. The structure of exams is as follows:
Phase-1: SBI PO Preliminary Examination
This is an online examination where the candidates must solve the question paper in one 1 hour for 100 marks. A negative marking of ¼ marks for each incorrect answer will be applicable. The test consists of 3 sections. Candidates must know that the sectional cut-off in the Preliminary Exam has been removed and the overall score of all the sections will be considered for selection to the next round. The cut-off or minimum passing marks for each section is decided by the Bank each year depending on the difficult of the test. The section-wise division of the marks is given below:
| SBI PO 2023 Prelims Exam Pattern | ||||
| S.No. | Name of Tests(Objective) | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| 2 | Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 Hour | |
Click Here to View Detailed SBI PO Exam Pattern 2023
SBI PO 2023 Syllabus
While SBI issues only the broad subjects, they can be further subdivided into individual topics, based on the questions that have appeared in the exams over the past few years. Every stage of the exam is a very important stage in the selection process. So without knowing the SBI PO syllabus and exam pattern, you cannot make your study plan in a proper manner. The SBI PO syllabus 2023 for the prelims and the main exam are mostly similar with slight changes. So thoroughly go through the complete SBI PO syllabus and make note of it without any mistakes.
SBI PO Prelims Exam Syllabus
SBI PO Prelims exam consists of 3 sections: Reasoning Ability, English Language & Numerical Ability.
| SBI PO 2023 Prelims Syllabus | ||
| English Syllabus | Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus | Reasoning Syllabus |
| Reading Comprehension | Simplification/ Approximation | Alphanumeric Series |
| Fill in the blanks | Profit & Loss | Directions |
| Cloze Test | Mixtures & Alligations | Logical Reasoning |
| Para jumbles | Permutation, Combination & Probability | Data Sufficiency |
| Vocabulary | Work & Time | Ranking & Order |
| Paragraph Completion | Sequence & Series | Alphabet Test |
| Multiple Meaning /Error Spotting | Simple Interest & Compound Interest | Seating Arrangement |
| Sentence Completion | Surds & Indices | Coded Inequalities |
| Tenses Rules | Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere | Puzzle |
| Time & Distance | Syllogism | |
| Data Interpretation | Blood Relations | |
| Ratio & Proportion | Coding-Decoding | |
| Number Systems | Input-Output | |
| Percentage | Tabulation | |
Click Here to View SBI PO 2023 Syllabus [Prelims + Mains + Interview]
SBI PO Previous Year Question Paper PDF with Solution
SBI PO 2023 Exam Preparation
SBI PO preparation must be done in a systematic manner, keeping the latest exam pattern in mind. Since the syllabus covers a lot of topics, it is important to choose the right study material and platform so that you can understand the concepts and practice a wide variety of questions as well. Candidates can prepare through SBI PO Online Coaching and SBI PO Mock Tests provided by our expert faculties.
SBI PO Online Coaching 2023- Click to Join
SBI PO Mock Test 2023- Click to Practice
SBI PO 2023 Salary Structure
As per the notification, the starting basic pay of a Probationary Officer (PO) is Rs 41,960/- (with 4 advance increments) in the scale of 36000-1490/7-46430-1740/2-49910-1990/7-63840 applicable to Junior Management Grade Scale-I.
The official will also be eligible for D.A, H.R.A/ Lease rental, C.C.A, Medical and other allowances & perquisites as per rules in force from time to time. The total compensation per annum on CTC basis be a minimum of 8.20 lacs and maximum of 13.08 lacs depending on place of posting and other factors.
Check SBI PO Salary Structure, Allowances & Perks
SBI PO Exam Analysis
To help candidates get an idea of the exam level, questions, difficulty level and good attempts of the SBI PO exam, we are providing here the overall and section-wise exam analysis & review of the SBI PO 2020-21 Prelims Exam of all the shifts held online on 4th, 5th & 6th January 2021. The SBI PO Prelims exam was conducted online in the Objective type MCQ format.
Quantitative Aptitude: The Quantitative Aptitude section was of a moderate to difficult level with the questions lengthy and time-consuming. Check the table below to know the detailed analysis of the Quant section:
| Topic | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Data Interpretation | 15 | Moderate |
| Missing No. Series | 5 | Moderate |
| Quadratic Equation | 5 | Easy |
| Miscellaneous Word Problems | 10 | Moderate |
| Total | 35 | Moderate |
Reasoning Ability: The Reasoning Ability section was time-consuming and of an easy to moderate difficulty level. Check the table below to know the detailed analysis of the Reasoning section:
| Topics | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Puzzles and Seating Arrangement | 20 | Moderate |
| Coding-Decoding | 1 | Easy |
| Direction Sense Test | 3 | Moderate |
| Blood Relation | 4 | Easy |
| Syllogism | 4 | Easy |
| Alphabet based | 1 | Easy |
| Comparison Based | 2 | Easy |
| Total | 35 | Easy-Moderate |
English Language: The English Language section was of an easy difficulty level. Check the table below to know detailed analysis of English section::
| Topic | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Reading Comprehension | 5 | Moderate |
| Error Detection | 6 | Easy |
| Sentence Correction | 5 | Easy |
| Single Filers | 7 | Easy |
| Cloze Test | 5 | Easy |
| Match the following based Sentence Formation | 2 | Easy |
| Total | 30 | Easy |
SBI PO 2023 Exam Centre
While filling the online application form, applicants are required to enter their preferred exam centres for SBI PO 2023, based on their convenience. However, the Bank may allot an exam centre other than the choices made by a candidate if there is non-availability of seats at preferred venues. All the applicants have to provide 1 preference each for the Prelims exam and the Main exam.
The list of Centres for the SBI PO 2023 Prelims Exam:
| State Code | States/UT | Exam Centres for Prelims Exam |
| 11 | Andaman & Nicobar | Port Blair |
| 12 | Andhra Pradesh | Chirala, Chittoor, Guntur, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore, Ongole, Puttur, Rajahmundhry, Srikakulam, Tirupati, Vijaywada, Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagaram |
| 13 | Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar, Naharlagun |
| 14 | Assam | Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Kokrajhar, Silchar Tezpur |
| 15 | Bihar | Arrah, Aurangabad, Bihar Sharif, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Hajipur, Muzaffarpur Patna, Purnea, Samastipur, Siwan |
| 16 | Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| 17 | Chhattisgarh | Bhilai, Bilaspur, Raipur |
| 18 | Goa | Panaji, Verna |
| 19 | Gujarat | Ahmedabad, Anand, Gandhinagar, Himmatnagar, Jamnagar, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara |
| 20 | Haryana | Ambala, Bahadurgarh, Hissar, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Palwal, Sonipat, Yamunanagar |
| 21 | Himachal Pradesh | Baddi, Bilaspur, Dharamshala, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, Una |
| 22 | Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Srinagar |
| 23 | Jharkhand | Bokaro, Dhanbad, Hazaribag, Jamshedpur, Ranchi |
| 24 | Karnataka | Belgaum, Bengaluru, Bidar, Gulbarga, Hubli, Mangalore, Mysore, Shimoga, Udipi |
| 25 | Kerala | Alappuzha, Kannur, Kochi, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrichur, Thiruvananthapuram |
| 26 | Lakshwadeep | Kavaratti |
| 27 | Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Satna, Sagar, Ujjain |
| 28 | Maharashtra | Amaravati, Aurangabad, Chandrapur, Dhule Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Latur, Mumbai/ Thane/Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nasik, Pune, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Satara |
| 29 | Manipur | Imphal |
| 30 | Meghalaya | Ri-Bhoi, Shillong |
| 31 | Mizoram | Aizawal |
| 32 | Nagaland | Kohima |
| 33 | Delhi -NCR | Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurgaon |
| 34 | Odisha | Angul, Balasore, Bargarh, Baripada, Berhampur (Ganjam), Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Sambalpur |
| 35 | Puducherry | Puducherry |
| 36 | Punjab | Amritsar, Bhatinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Pathankot, Patiala, Phagwara, Sangrur |
| 37 | Rajasthan | Ajmer, Alwar, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur |
| 38 | Sikkim | Gangtok |
| 39 | Tamilnadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Krishnagiri, Madurai, Nagercoil, Namakkal, Perambalur, Salem, Thanjavur, Thiruchirapalli, Tirunelvelli, Thoothukodi, Vellore |
| 40 | Telangana | Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Warangal |
| 41 | Tripura | Agartala |
| 42 | Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Aligarh, Allahabad, Bareilly, Bulandshahar, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Unnao, Varanasi |
| 43 | Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haldwani, Haridwar, Roorkee |
| 44 | West Bengal | Asansol, Berhampur (West Bengal), Bardhaman, Durgapur, Hooghly, Howrah, Kalyani, Greater Kolkata, Siliguri |
The list of Centres for the SBI PO 2023 Mains Exam:
| State Code | States/UT | Exam Centre for Mains Exam |
| 11 | Andaman & Nicobar | Port Blair |
| 12 | Andhra Pradesh | Guntur, Kurnool, Vijaywada, Vishakhapatnam |
| 13 | Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar |
| 14 | Assam | Guwahati, |
| 15 | Bihar | Arrah, Hajipur, Patna |
| 16 | Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| 17 | Chhattisgarh | Raipur |
| 18 | Goa | Panaji |
| 19 | Gujarat | Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar |
| 20 | Haryana | Bahadurgarh, Hissar |
| 21 | Himachal Pradesh | Shimla, Solan, |
| 22 | Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu, Srinagar |
| 23 | Jharkhand | Jamshedpur, Ranchi |
| 24 | Karnataka | Bengaluru |
| 25 | Kerala | Kochi,Thiruvananthapuram |
| 26 | Lakshwadeep | Kavaratti |
| 27 | Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Indore |
| 28 | Maharashtra | Aurangabad, Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai/ Thane/ Navi Mumbai |
| 29 | Manipur | Imphal |
| 30 | Meghalaya | Shillong |
| 31 | Mizoram | Aizawal |
| 32 | Nagaland | Kohima |
| 33 | Delhi -NCR | Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurgaon |
| 34 | Odisha | Bhubaneswar, |
| 35 | Puducherry | Puducherry |
| 36 | Punjab | Bhatinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Patiala |
| 37 | Rajasthan | Jaipur |
| 38 | Sikkim | Gangtok |
| 39 | Tamilnadu | Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelvelli |
| 40 | Telangana | Hyderabad |
| 41 | Tripura | Agartala |
| 42 | Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Allahabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Varanasi |
| 43 | Uttarakhand | Dehradun |
| 44 | West Bengal | Hooghly, Kalyani, Greater Kolkata |
SBI PO 2023 Pre-Exam Training
State Bank of India may arrange pre-examination training for SC/ST/Religious Minority Community candidates at certain centres as per the guidelines issued by the Government of India. The initiative has been taken to assist such aspirants in preparations if they cannot afford to enrol themselves at coaching centres. The highlights of SBI PO Pre-exam training is given below.
SBI PO Pre-exam training is usually a 6-day program.
Pre-exam training for SBI PO 2023 is a kind of an orientation program for reserved and minority category candidates.
In the training sessions, candidates are taught some important questions and topics.
The pre-exam training is conducted across India at different centres.
Candidates belonging to the above categories can avail of the training at their own cost by indicating the same against the relevant column while applying online. Please find below an indicative list of training centres:
| North India | South India | East India | West India |
| Agra | Bangalore | Agartala | Ahmedabad |
| Allahabad | Chennai | Aizwal | Akola |
| Bareilly | Coimbatore | Asansol | Aurangabad |
| Chandigarh | Ernakulam | Bhubaneswar | Indore |
| Dehradun | Gulbarga | Berhampur (Ganjam) | Bhopal |
| Gorakhpur | Hubli | Dibrugarh | Jabalpur |
| Jaipur | Hyderabad | Gangtok | Mumbai |
| Kanpur | Madurai | Guwahati | Nagpur |
| Lucknow | Mysore | Imphal | Panaji (Goa) |
| Meerut | Port Blair | Itanagar | Pune |
| NewDelhi | Tirupati | Kohima | Raipur |
| Srinagar | Vishakhapatnam | Kolkata | Vadodara |
| Varanasi | Vijayawada | Patna | |
| Purnea | |||
| Ranchi | |||
| Sambalpur | |||
| Silchar | |||
| Siliguri | |||
| Shillong |
SBI may add additional centres or may remove some of the centres indicated for training. Candidates opting for pre-examination training should download their call letter for training by entering their registration number and password/ date of birth from Bank’s website. No hard copy of the call letter will be sent by post.
SBI PO 2023 Admit Card & Call Letter
Candidates must download the SBI PO 2023 admit card from the official website of the bank as the hard copy of the SBI PO Admit Card will not be sent to the candidate via post. To login on to the official website, the candidates will require the following:
1. Registration No/Roll No
2. Date of Birth/ Password
The admit card or call letter for SBI PO 2023 will be issued in 3 phases:
• Online Preliminary Examination
• Online Mains Examination
• Group Exercise and Interview
SBI PO 2023 Result
All results pertaining to SBI PO 2023 will be made available on the official website of the State bank of India, the governing body for the SBI PO exam. The SBI PO Result 2023 will be released after each phase of the exam has been completed. SBI PO Prelims Result decides the candidates’ eligibility for the SBI PO Mains exam. A cumulative score of the mains exam and the interview process is considered to prepare the final merit list of selected students. The merit list is prepared in descending order of marks obtained by candidates. Candidates who make it to the merit list will be given the appointment letter by the Bank of Candidate’s choice.
SBI PO 2023 Cut-Off
SBI PO Cut-Off for year 2023 will be declared by the State Bank of India after the result of each phase has been declared. The Cut-Off for the preliminary phase of examination will be declared after the result for the same has been declared. Similarly, a cut-off for SBI PO Mains Exam will be declared after the result for the same has been declared by the State Bank of India.
To know the expected SBI PO Cut-Off, one must be aware of the Cut-Off for SBI PO 2022. Let’s have a look at the same.
SBI PO Prelims Cut Off 2022
| SBI PO Prelims Cut Off 2022 | |
| Category | Cut-Off Marks |
| GEN | 59.50 |
| SC | 52.50 |
| ST | 47.75 |
| OBC | 58.25 |
| EWS | 59.50 |
| LD | 46.25 |
| VI | 50.50 |
| HI | 21.50 |
| D & E | – |
Click Here to View SBI PO Previous Year Cut-Off