IBPS Clerk 2026 Exam Pattern
IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern 2026 – Prelims & Mains Section Wise Marks & Time
Check IBPS Clerk 2026 exam pattern with Prelims & Mains structure, section-wise marks, time duration, negative marking and selection process.
IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern 2026
IBPS Clerk CRP CSA-XVI has two online examinations: Preliminary and Main. Prelims is used for shortlisting; Main Examination scores are used for final merit and provisional allotment. There is no interview. The Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT), where applicable, is qualifying in nature.
Last verified: 15 September 2026 against the official CRP CSA-XVI notification.
Exam Pattern Overview
Stage | Sections | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Prelims | 3 | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Mains | 4 | 160 | 200 | 125 minutes |
IBPS Clerk Prelims Pattern
Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Each section is separately timed. Candidates cannot use unused time from one section in another section.
IBPS Clerk Mains Pattern
Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
General/Financial Awareness | 40 | 50 | 20 minutes |
General English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
Reasoning Ability | 40 | 60 | 35 minutes |
Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 50 | 35 minutes |
Total | 160 | 200 | 125 minutes |
The current Mains pattern has four sections. It does not list Computer Aptitude as a separate section.
Negative Marking
For every wrong answer, IBPS deducts one-fourth of the marks assigned to that question. An unanswered question has no penalty. Therefore, a one-mark question carries a 0.25-mark penalty, while a 1.5-mark question carries a 0.375-mark penalty.
Cut-Off, Normalisation and Final Merit
Candidates must meet the qualifying requirements prescribed by IBPS. Where an examination is held in multiple sessions, corrected scores may be normalised using the equi-percentile method. Prelims marks are not added to final merit. Main scores are converted out of 100 for provisional allotment, subject to State/UT, category, vacancy and eligibility rules.
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Language and LLPT
The English test is available in English. Other tests may be available in English, Hindi and applicable regional languages according to the State/UT language table in the notification. Candidates must satisfy the local-language requirement; exemption may apply when valid Class 10 or higher proof shows that the selected local language was studied.
Official and Related Resources
Worked Example: Calculate Your Mock-Test Score
For a practice set of one-mark questions with a one-fourth penalty, suppose you answer 24 correctly, answer 6 incorrectly and leave 5 unanswered. The score is 24 − (6 × 0.25) = 22.5 marks. Accuracy is 24 ÷ 30 × 100 = 80%; unanswered questions are excluded from this accuracy calculation. This is a practice illustration, not a prediction of the examination cut-off.
Measure | Calculation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
Attempts | 24 + 6 = 30 | Questions for which an answer was submitted. |
Penalty | 6 × 0.25 = 1.5 marks | Deduction for the six wrong one-mark answers. |
Net score | 24 − 1.5 = 22.5 | Use the actual marks assigned to each question when analysing another test. |
Accuracy | 24 ÷ 30 = 80% | Track this alongside speed; more attempts do not automatically improve a score. |
Practise Within the Sectional Timer
Complete each practice section within its own allotted time. For example, in a 20-minute section, a learner might use the opening minutes for familiar questions, the middle portion for manageable sets and the final portion for review. Adjust that approach using your own mock results. Do not build a plan that depends on transferring unused time to the next section.
After a mock, record the question types you skipped, time lost on difficult sets and preventable errors. Reattempt those questions without a timer first; then repeat a comparable timed set. Keep your preparation score separate from IBPS qualifying and allotment decisions.