Exams   »   IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 Starts, 23 Aug Shift 1 and 2, Check Difficulty Level and Good Attempts

The IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026 Shift 2 was conducted on 23 August 2026 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Earlier, Shift 1 was held from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Candidates who appeared for Shift 2 can now check the detailed IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026, covering the overall difficulty level, good attempts, section-wise analysis, and questions asked. The analysis also compares Shift 2 with Shift 1 to provide a clear picture of the overall exam trend.

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 23 Aug 2026 For Shift 1 and 2

The analysis is based on the feedback shared by candidates and the questions reported after the examination. The IBPS PO 2026 Prelims examination is being conducted on 22 and 23 August 2026 in four shifts each day. The exam consists of English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability, with a total of 100 questions to be attempted in 60 minutes.

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Shift Timing 2026

The second shift of the IBPS PO Prelims Exam was conducted from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Candidates were required to report at the examination centre by 10:30 AM. The shift-wise schedule for the IBPS PO Prelims exam is given below.

Shift Reporting Time Exam Timing
Shift 1 8:00 AM
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Shift 2 10:30 AM
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Shift 3 1:00 PM
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Shift 4 3:30 PM
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 Shift 2: Difficulty Level and Good Attempts

Section Total Questions Good Attempts Difficulty Level
English Language 30 23-25 Moderate
Reasoning Ability 35 26-28 Moderate
Quantitative Aptitude 35 15-17 Moderate to Difficult
Overall 100 64-70 Moderate

IBPS PO Shift 2 Exam Analysis 2026: Section-wise Analysis

The IBPS PO Prelims exam is divided into three sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Quantitative Aptitude. Candidates get 20 minutes for each section, with the sectional time limit applicable separately.

Quantitative Aptitude

The Quantitative Aptitude section contains 35 questions. The Quantitative Aptitude section covers Data Interpretation and Arithmetic, along with questions from Approximation, Number Series, and other key numerical topics. The topic-wise questions asked in the exam have been updated here.

Topics No. of Questions
Arithmetic 11 Qs
Quadratic Equation 04 Qs
Data Interpretation – Bar Graph 05 Qs
Caselet 01 Qs
Wrong Number Series 04 Qs
Approximation 04 Qs
Data Interpretation – Table 06 Qs
Total 35 Qs

Reasoning Ability

The Reasoning Ability section consists of 35 questions. The section featured a mix of Puzzles & Seating Arrangement questions and various other Reasoning topics. The questions asked in the exam has been updated here.

Topics No. of Questions
Direction-Based 03 Qs
Puzzle (Month-Based + Variable) 05 Qs
Meaningful Word 01 Qs
Blood Relation 03 Qs
Year-Based Puzzle (8 Persons) 05 Qs
Pair Formation 01 Qs
Syllogism 03 Qs
Puzzle Selection Based (9 Persons) 05 Qs
Word-Based 01 Qs
Inequality 03 Qs
Puzzle (Parallel Row) 05 Qs
Total 35 Qs

English Language

The English Language section carries 30 questions. The English Language section featured questions on Reading Comprehension, Fillers, Error Detection, Word-Based Questions, and Sentence Rearrangement, along with other grammar and vocabulary topics. The detailed topic-wise questions asked in the 23 August Shift 1 examination has been added based on the questions reported by candidates.

Topics No. of Questions
Para Jumble 05 Qs
Word Usage 01 Qs
Reading Comprehension 09 Qs
Word Swap 03 Qs
Error Detection (4 Sentences) 04 Qs
Double Fillers 04 Qs
Phrase Replacement 04 Qs
Total 30 Qs

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 Shift 1: Difficulty Level and Good Attempts

The overall difficulty level and good attempts for the 23 August Shift 1 have been updated after reviewing the feedback received from candidates and our expert team’s analysis.

Section Total Questions Good Attempts Difficulty Level
English Language 30 20-22 Easy to Moderate
Reasoning Ability 35 24-26 Easy to Moderate
Quantitative Aptitude 35 23-25 Moderation
Overall 100 67-73 Moderate

IBPS PO Shift 1 Exam Analysis 2026: Section-wise Analysis

The IBPS PO Prelims paper consists of three sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Quantitative Aptitude. Each section has a separate time limit of 20 minutes.

Reasoning Ability

The Reasoning Ability section consists of 35 questions. Candidates were required to manage their time carefully because puzzles and seating arrangement questions can consume considerable time. The questions asked in the exam has been updated here.

Topics No. of Questions
Inequalities 3
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement 23
Meaningful Word 1
Blood Relation (No Instruction) 3
Word-Based (V/C-Based) 1
Syllogism 3
Total 35

Puzzles & Seating Arrangement Questions Asked:

The following sets of Puzzles and Seating Arrangement were asked in today’s exam:

  • Single Row Seating Arrangement (Mixed Directions): 7 persons, all facing North – 5 questions
  • Order & Sequence Puzzle: 6 people + variable – 5 questions
  • Box-Based Puzzle: 6 persons + variable – 5 questions
  • Certain Number of Persons (North-Facing): N = 18 – 3 questions
  • Year-Based Puzzle: 5 questions

English Language

The English Language section carries 30 questions. The detailed topic-wise questions asked in the 23 August Shift 1 examination has been added based on the questions reported by candidates. The Reading Comprehension included questions based on fillers, focusing on words with the same meaning and suitable alternatives, such as “Remains.”

Topics No. of Questions
Word Swap 4
Double Fillers 2
Reading Comprehension 9
Error Detection (Single) 4
Word Rearrangement 4
Phrase Replacement (Get Behind) 1
Para Jumble (6 Sentences) 5
Total 30

Quantitative Aptitude

The Quantitative Aptitude section contains 35 questions. The section generally includes questions from Data Interpretation, Arithmetic, Number Series, Simplification/Approximation, and other numerical topics. A major portion of the questions was based on Data Interpretation (DI) and Arithmetic. In Shift 1 of today’s exam, candidates were asked three sets of DI. The topic-wise questions asked in the exam has been updated here.

Topics No. of Questions
Arithmetic 13
Bar Graph DI 5
Approximation 3
Caselet DI 1
Table DI 5
Quadratic Equation 3
Line Graph DI 5
Total 35

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

Section Questions Marks Time
English Language 30 30 20 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude 35 35 20 minutes
Reasoning Ability 35 35 20 minutes
Total 100 100 60 minutes

IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026: What After the Exam?

Candidates who qualify for the IBPS PO Preliminary Examination will be shortlisted for the Mains examination. As per the 2026 schedule, the IBPS PO Mains Exam is scheduled for 4 October 2026.

Watch Shift 1 Exam Analysis Video for IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026

FAQs

What was the timing of IBPS PO 23 August Shift 1?

The IBPS PO Prelims Shift 1 on 23 August 2026 was conducted from 9 AM to 10 AM. Candidates were required to report at 8 AM.

How many questions were asked in IBPS PO Prelims Shift 2?

A total of 100 questions were asked in the IBPS PO Prelims examination: 30 from English Language, 35 from Reasoning Ability, and 35 from Quantitative Aptitude.

What is the total duration of the IBPS PO Prelims Exam?

The total duration of the IBPS PO Prelims examination is 60 minutes, with 20 minutes allotted to each section.

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Aaditya is a dedicated content writer at Adda247 with 1 year of experience covering Banking, SSC, and other government exam updates. He is committed to delivering reliable, accurate, and trustworthy information to help aspirants stay informed and exam-ready.