IBPS Clerk Preliminary Examination Syllabus 2026
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
The IBPS Clerk Preliminary Examination is the first stage of the IBPS Clerk (Customer Service Associate) recruitment process. It is an online objective examination comprising three sections: English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. Each section has separate sectional timing of 20 minutes. Candidates must qualify the Preliminary Examination to become eligible for the Main Examination. The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination are not considered for the final merit list. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Duration
60 Minutes (20 Minutes per Section)
Marking
1 mark is awarded for every correct answer. The Preliminary Examination carries a total of 100 marks.
Negative marking
0.25 (one-fourth) of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for every incorrect answer. There is no penalty for unanswered questions.
Exam Pattern
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
Subject-wise Syllabus
English Language
Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks, Spotting Errors, Sentence Improvement, Para Jumbles, Sentence Rearrangement, Word Swap, Phrase Replacement, Vocabulary, Synonyms & Antonyms, Idioms & Phrases
Numerical Ability
Number Series, Simplification, Approximation, Quadratic Equations, Data Interpretation, Data Sufficiency, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Average, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Partnership, Time & Work, Pipes & Cistern, Time, Speed & Distance, Boat & Stream, Mixture & Alligation, Ages, Permutation & Combination, Probability
Reasoning Ability
Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Syllogism, Inequality, Alphabet Series, Number Series, Order & Ranking, Input-Output, Machine Input, Logical Reasoning, Statement & Conclusion
Preparation Tips
- Master Simplification, Number Series, and Puzzles as they carry significant weight.
- Read newspapers daily to improve English comprehension and vocabulary.
- Practice sectional mock tests with a timer to improve speed.
- Revise arithmetic formulas and reasoning shortcuts regularly.
- Analyze every mock test to identify weak areas.
- Solve previous years' IBPS Clerk Preliminary papers to understand the exam pattern and question trends.