IBPS Clerk 2026 – Exam Pattern, Syllabus & Preparation

IBPS conducts the Common Recruitment Process for clerical cadre posts (Customer Service Associates) in participating public sector banks. Selection is through a Preliminary exam and a Main exam; there is no interview.

IBPS Clerk Syllabus Practice BITS Latest Notifications

Eligibility
Selection process
Exam pattern
Syllabus
Subject-wise preparation
Mock tests
Previous papers
Current affairs & banking awareness
FAQs

IBPS Clerk Eligibility

Educational qualification: A graduate degree in any discipline from a recognised university, as specified in the notification.
Language: Candidates are expected to know the official language of the State / UT for which they apply, as set out in the notification.
Age and other conditions: Age limits, relaxations and the cut-off date are set in each year's notification.

Check the latest official notification before applying. Eligibility conditions, age limits and relaxations are published in each notification on ibps.in.

IBPS Clerk Selection Process

Preliminary Examination – Online objective test. Qualifying — marks are not counted in the final merit.
Main Examination – Online objective test. There is no interview; only Main exam marks are used for the final merit and provisional allotment.
Local Language Proficiency Test – Proficiency in the specified local language of the State / UT applied for, tested after the Main exam where required by the notification.

IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern

IBPS Clerk Preliminary Examination

IBPS Clerk Preliminary Examination pattern
Subject	Questions	Marks	Duration
English Language	30	30	20 minutes
Numerical Ability	35	35	20 minutes
Reasoning Ability	35	35	20 minutes
Total	100	100	1 hour

IBPS Clerk Main Examination

IBPS Clerk Main Examination pattern
Subject	Questions	Marks	Duration
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

Note: Each test is separately timed. For each wrong answer in the objective tests, one quarter (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted.

Exam pattern and selection process may vary by recruitment notification. Candidates should check the latest official notification. This pattern is from the IBPS CRP CSA-XVI notification dated 01.08.2026 (vacancies of 2027-28). Sections, question counts and timings are revised from time to time, so confirm the current pattern on ibps.in before you apply or prepare.

IBPS Clerk Syllabus

The syllabus page lists every subject with its chapters and topics, which stage tests it and a preparation tip.

📄 IBPS Clerk Syllabus – Prelims & Mains, subject-wise

Subject-wise Preparation for IBPS Clerk

Each subject links to its practice BITS, a timed subject mock test and study material where CompeteBits has them.

Reasoning Ability

Prelims & Mains

Tests logical thinking under time pressure. Puzzles and seating arrangements carry the most weight, especially in the Mains.

Practice BITS (50) Mock test Study material Syllabus topics

Numerical Ability

Prelims

The Clerk-level Prelims name for the quantitative section: the same arithmetic, series and DI topics at a slightly easier level.

Practice BITS (11) Mock test Study material Syllabus topics

Quantitative Aptitude

Mains

Arithmetic, number series, quadratic equations and data interpretation. Calculation speed decides most of the score.

Practice BITS (103) Mock test Study material Syllabus topics

English Language

Prelims & Mains

Reading comprehension, grammar and vocabulary. Reading comprehension usually carries the largest share of the section.

Practice BITS (23) Mock test Study material Syllabus topics

General / Financial / Banking Awareness

Mains

A Mains-only section on banking, the economy and current affairs. It needs no calculation, so good preparation saves time for other sections.

Practice BITS (100) Mock test Study material Syllabus topics

All subjects on one page: IBPS Clerk practice questions (bit bank).

IBPS Clerk Mock Tests

Free timed tests with instant results. Taking a test needs a free account.

IBPS Clerk Previous Year Question Papers

Memory-based reconstructions of the paper held on 4 September 2022 (English 30, Quantitative 35, Reasoning 35). Reproduced for candidates' study and reference; no answer key is published.

Current Affairs & Banking Awareness

Banking Awareness RBI, banking terms, payments & institutions Current Affairs Monthly news for the General Awareness section Current Affairs Quiz Monthly quiz with instant score Banking Quick Reference Key banking facts on one page Indian Banks Banks by category with head offices

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are there in the IBPS Clerk Preliminary exam?

The Preliminary examination has 100 questions carrying 100 marks — English Language 30, Numerical Ability 35 and Reasoning Ability 35 — with 20 minutes for each section (1 hour in all).

What is the IBPS Clerk Main exam pattern?

Under the CRP CSA-XVI notification the Main examination has 160 questions carrying 200 marks in 125 minutes: General/Financial Awareness (40 questions, 50 marks, 20 minutes), General English (40, 40, 35 minutes), Reasoning Ability (40, 60, 35 minutes) and Quantitative Aptitude (40, 50, 35 minutes).

Is there negative marking in the IBPS Clerk exam?

Yes. For each wrong answer, one quarter (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted.

Is there an interview in IBPS Clerk?

No. IBPS Clerk selection is through the Preliminary and Main exams; only Main exam marks are used for the final merit, followed by the Local Language Proficiency Test where required.

Other Bank Exams

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Disclaimer: CompeteBits is not affiliated with IBPS or any bank. Exam details may change; verify the latest information in the official notification.