IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026: Prelims and Mains Exam Pattern
Last updated: 2026-11-13 · MockMentor
IBPS Clerk has two objective exams. There is no descriptive paper and no interview.
Prelims pattern
| Test | 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 |
You must clear the cut-off in each test.
Mains pattern
| Test | 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 |
- Negative marking: a quarter of the marks of a question for each wrong answer, in both exams.
- Only Mains marks count for the final list. They are converted to a score out of 100 for allotment.
Syllabus
IBPS does not publish a topic-wise syllabus. These topics appear regularly.
| Section | Main topics |
|---|---|
| English | Reading comprehension, cloze test, error spotting, sentence improvement, para jumbles, fillers |
| Numerical Ability / Quant | Simplification, approximation, number series, quadratic equations, data interpretation, arithmetic |
| Reasoning | Puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism, inequality, coding-decoding, blood relations; computer aptitude questions often appear here in Mains |
| General / Financial Awareness | Current affairs, banking terms, RBI policy, Government schemes, budget, static GK |
Read next: cut-off and salary.
Source: IBPS: CRP CSA-XVI notification (1 August 2026) and vacancy update of 29 September 2026.
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