What the IBPS SO cut-off means
There are three qualifying bars. In the prelims you have to clear each of the four tests separately. In the Mains you need a minimum score in every test and a sufficiently high score in Professional Knowledge, because every Mains test except Professional Knowledge is qualifying and merit is drawn up on Professional Knowledge. The interview has its own pass mark. The final merit list then combines your Mains and interview scores 80:20.
Prelims cut-off (all four tests)
The prelims is a screening test with two versions. IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer candidates take Quantitative Aptitude; Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari candidates take General Awareness with special reference to the banking industry instead. Either way, you have to reach IBPS’s minimum in each of the four tests, and IBPS then shortlists an adequate number of candidates in each category for the Mains.
| Test | Questions / marks | Cut-off rule |
|---|---|---|
| English Language (all posts) | 25 / 25 | Must clear — minimum set by IBPS |
| Reasoning (all posts) | 25 / 25 | Must clear — minimum set by IBPS |
| Quantitative Aptitude (IT, AFO, HR, Marketing) | 25 / 25 | Must clear — minimum set by IBPS |
| General Awareness – banking (Law, Rajbhasha) | 25 / 25 | Must clear — minimum set by IBPS |
| Professional Knowledge (all posts, post-specific) | 25 / 50 | Must clear — minimum set by IBPS |
| Total | 100 / 125 · 80 min | Category-wise shortlist for Mains |
Source: clause D(I)(a) of the CRP SPL-XVI notification. Each candidate takes four tests, each timed separately at 20 minutes. The notification doesn’t give the cut-off marks themselves. Only Mains marks are used for the interview shortlist and the final merit list, so prelims marks only decide who reaches the Mains.
Interview pass mark, by category
This is the only category-wise cut-off that IBPS prints in the notification. The interview carries 100 marks, and the minimum qualifying mark is at least 40%, or 35% for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates. It is the same for all six posts.
Source: clause I of the notification. These are minimums (“not less than”), so IBPS can set the bar higher. If you don’t reach the minimum, your interview score isn’t disclosed.
Mains cut-off: every test, plus Professional Knowledge
Clause F of the notification says you need a minimum score in each test of the Main exam and a sufficiently high score in Professional Knowledge to be shortlisted for the interview. IBPS fixes these cut-offs depending on the number of vacancies. Like the prelims, the Mains has versions by post: the third test and the last paper change.
Source: clauses D(I)(b) and F of the notification. The Mains carries 225 marks in 155 minutes for every post. The notification says all tests except Professional Knowledge are qualifying and merit is listed on Professional Knowledge scores; it doesn’t say separately how the 25-mark descriptive paper is counted, so we don’t guess.
What decides the cut-off
IBPS doesn’t fix the marks in advance. According to the notification, these four things shape where the line falls:
Number of vacancies
Cut-offs are decided “depending on the number of vacancies available”. The indicative total is 1,043 (updated 27 Aug 2026): IT 376, AFO 370, Law 125, Rajbhasha 102, HR 60 and Marketing 10.
Category-wise shortlisting
IBPS shortlists an adequate number of candidates in each category, based on its requirements, so the cut-off differs by category.
Normalisation
If the exam runs in more than one session, corrected scores are normalised using the equi-percentile method and calculated to two decimal places.
Negative marking
Every wrong objective answer costs a quarter of that question’s marks, and cut-offs apply to this corrected score. Questions you leave blank cost nothing.
How the final merit list works
Only Mains marks count for the interview shortlist and for the final merit list. Your final score combines the Mains (80%) and the interview (20%). You must qualify in both and rank high enough on merit to be considered for provisional allotment to a bank, which is done on a merit-cum-preference basis against the actual vacancies the banks report.
Two more rules decide close cases. If two or more candidates have the same score, the older candidate is placed higher. Reserved-category candidates who make it on the General standard are treated as General candidates. IBPS may also keep a reserve list of about 20% of the vacancies in each category for each post, if enough candidates are available. It lapses one year after provisional allotment (or at the next fresh allotment, if earlier), and being on it doesn’t guarantee allotment.
See how the Mains is scoredPrepare for IBPS SO with your own daily plan
Daily targets for Reasoning, English, Quant & banking awareness, plus daily current affairs.
Clear the qualifying tests, then win on Professional Knowledge
A weak English or Reasoning score can end your IBPS SO attempt even if your subject knowledge is strong, because every test has its own minimum. JobSafal doesn’t have IBPS SO mock tests or PYQ sets yet, and it doesn’t cover post-specific Professional Knowledge. What your IBPS SO plan does give you is daily targets for the general sections — Reasoning, English, Quant and banking awareness — so they stay safe while you study your own subject.
Aptitude practice
Regular practice in Reasoning and English, plus Quant for IT, AFO, HR and Marketing.
Daily plan
Short daily targets that leave room for your Professional Knowledge study.
Accuracy habits
Practise deciding when to skip, since every wrong objective answer costs a quarter of the question’s marks.
Banking awareness
Daily current affairs and banking news — a test of its own for Law and Rajbhasha candidates.
