IBPS Clerk 2026: what we know
The prelims were scheduled for 10–11 October 2026 as per the IBPS calendar. IBPS does not publish difficulty ratings or good-attempt figures, so we don’t offer a verdict on how the paper went. The prelims result is expected in November 2026 (tentative), and the Main exam is scheduled for 27 December 2026 (IBPS calendar).
What this page covers
Test-wise paper
Test names, questions, marks and timings are from the notification; each test is separately timed, and the prelims information handout says each question has five options with one correct answer. The English tests are in English only; the others are offered in English, Hindi and the language(s) listed for your state/UT. IBPS publishes only test names, so the topic lists below are commonly tested areas, not an official syllabus.
Prelims · English Language
30 Q · 30 marks · 20 min · English only. Commonly tested: reading comprehension, error spotting, fillers and para jumbles.
Prelims · Numerical Ability
35 Q · 35 marks · 20 min. Commonly tested: simplification and approximation, number series, quadratic equations, data interpretation and arithmetic.
Prelims · Reasoning Ability
35 Q · 35 marks · 20 min. Commonly tested: puzzles and seating arrangement, syllogism, inequalities, blood relations and coding-decoding.
Mains · General / Financial Awareness
40 Q · 50 marks · 20 min. Commonly tested: current affairs, banking and financial awareness, and static general knowledge.
Mains · General English
40 Q · 40 marks · 35 min · English only. Commonly tested: reading comprehension, vocabulary, error detection and sentence-level questions.
Mains · Reasoning Ability
40 Q · 60 marks · 35 min. Commonly tested: puzzles and seating arrangement, syllogism, inequalities, input-output and coding-decoding.
Mains · Quantitative Aptitude
40 Q · 50 marks · 35 min. Commonly tested: data interpretation, number series, quadratic equations and arithmetic word problems.
What a wrong answer costs
Every test deducts one-fourth of a question’s marks for each wrong answer, in both prelims and Mains; a question left blank costs nothing. Because marks per question differ between Mains tests, so does the penalty. Worked out from the official marks and question counts:
| Test | Marks per question | Penalty per wrong answer |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims · English Language | 1.00 | 0.25 |
| Prelims · Numerical Ability | 1.00 | 0.25 |
| Prelims · Reasoning Ability | 1.00 | 0.25 |
| Mains · General / Financial Awareness | 1.25 | 0.3125 |
| Mains · General English | 1.00 | 0.25 |
| Mains · Reasoning Ability | 1.50 | 0.375 |
| Mains · Quantitative Aptitude | 1.25 | 0.3125 |
The Mains figures assume marks are spread equally across a test’s questions — IBPS states only test totals. IBPS does not publish good-attempt numbers, so we don’t show any.
Normalisation & cut-offs
Scores from different sessions, if held, are normalised using the equi-percentile method, with scores taken up to two decimals. In the prelims you must clear the cut-off in each of the three tests — the information handout adds a minimum on the total as well — and IBPS shortlists candidates for Mains category-wise, depending on vacancies. In the Mains you need a minimum score in each test and a minimum total; cut-offs are decided state/UT-wise depending on the vacancies, and Mains scores aren’t shared until provisional allotment is complete. IBPS shows cut-offs in candidates’ result logins rather than in a separate document.
Crack IBPS Clerk with your own daily plan
Daily targets, PYQ practice sets & timed mocks — to the latest pattern.
Turn the paper structure into your next mock
Knowing where the marks and penalties sit only helps if you practise to it. JobSafal turns the IBPS Clerk tests into daily targets and timed practice, so accuracy becomes a habit before the exam.
Test-wise plan
Daily targets across English, Numerical Ability/Quant, Reasoning and Financial Awareness.
Full CBT mocks
Real-interface mocks with rank comparison.
Sectional drills
Work on the test your mocks flag as weak.
PYQ practice sets
See how earlier IBPS Clerk papers asked each test.
