Exam pattern at a glance
The latest official pattern is the one in LIC’s AAO (Generalist) notification of 16.08.2025 (32nd batch). It is an online exam in two phases, followed by an interview and a pre-recruitment medical exam. Prelims only screens; mains and interview marks build the final merit list.
Prelims exam pattern
Three objective tests, each with its own 20-minute timer — 100 questions in one hour. English is qualifying, so ranking is on 70 marks. You must clear the minimum in every test, and about 20 times the vacancies in each category are shortlisted for mains.
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min | English & Hindi |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 min | English & Hindi |
| English Language (qualifying) | 30 | 30 | 20 min | English |
| Total | 100 | 70 counted | 1 hour | No negative marking |
Minimum marks per test in 2025: Reasoning 18, Quant 18, English 10 (SC/ST/PwBD: 16, 16, 9). LIC’s prelims result of 29.10.2025 shortlisted 7,760 Generalist candidates for mains.
Mains exam pattern
Mains is where marks start to count. You need the minimum score in each test and a minimum aggregate; about three times the vacancies in each category are then called for interview, in order of mains rank.
| Part | Taken by | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective tests (4) | All mains candidates | 120 | 300 | 2 h |
| English Descriptive Paper | All mains candidates (evaluated only if the objective part is cleared) | 2 | 25 (qualifying) | 30 min |
| Interview | About 3× vacancies, on mains rank | — | 60 | — |
Mains — test-wise breakdown
Each test is timed separately. The Main exam runs 2 hours 30 minutes in all, but LIC told candidates to expect about four hours or more at the venue for verification, biometric capture and log-in. In 2025, mains candidates reported at 7:00 am for a 9:00 am start and had to carry their Aadhaar card for authentication.
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time | Minimum (Others / SC-ST-PwBD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 90 | 40 min | 45 / 40 |
| General Knowledge, Current Affairs | 30 | 60 | 20 min | 30 / 27 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 90 | 40 min | 45 / 40 |
| Insurance and Financial Market Awareness | 30 | 60 | 20 min | 30 / 27 |
| English Language Descriptive Paper (emails, reports, situation analysis & précis) | 2 | 25 | 30 min | 10 / 9 |
| Objective total | 120 | 300 | 120 min | + descriptive 25 (qualifying) |
Descriptive paper, interview & medical
Mains ends with a short typed paper in English, and clearing mains leads to an interview and then a medical exam before appointment.
English Descriptive · Communication Skills
Typed on the computer immediately after the objective tests. LIC says any type of question from emails, reports, situation analysis and précis writing may be asked. It is qualifying only and is evaluated only for candidates who clear the objective part.
Interview & medical exam
Interview marks are added to mains marks for the final merit; ties go to the candidate with the higher qualification, then to the older candidate. There is no waiting list. Those in the final merit list take a pre-recruitment medical exam and are appointed if found fit.
No negative marking, stage by stage
LIC AAO (Generalist) has no penalty for wrong answers. Your score in each objective test is the number of questions you answer correctly, equated across sessions and reported to two decimal places.
| Exam stage | Penalty per wrong answer |
|---|---|
| Prelims (all three tests) | None |
| Mains objective tests (all four) | None |
| Mains descriptive paper | Not an objective test — qualifying only |
| Unattempted questions | No marks, no penalty |
Prelims marks are used only to shortlist for mains. Mains objective marks decide the interview shortlist, and mains plus interview marks make the final merit list. If the exam runs in more than one session, scores are equated using the equi-percentile method. LIC’s handout still advises against random guessing. The separate AAO (Specialist) prelims in 2025 did carry a ¼-mark penalty, so check the rules for your post in the next notification.
Crack LIC AAO with your own daily plan
Daily targets, PYQ-style practice sets & timed mocks — built around the LIC AAO pattern.
Rehearse the exam pattern
Knowing the pattern is step one. JobSafal lets you practise it in timed tests, so separately timed sections feel familiar on exam day.
Timed mocks
Full-length LIC AAO mocks in a timed test interface.
Attempts & accuracy analysis
See how many questions you attempted and got right, section by section, after every mock.
Section-wise practice
Drill one section at a time to fix the weak links the pattern exposes.
PYQ-style practice sets
Six timed sets to check your speed and accuracy before the real exam.
