Official Exam Guide

IBPS PO (Prelims & Mains) Exam Analysis

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✍️ Reviewed by PrepMe247 Exam Editorial Board ⏱️ Updated 2026-09-13 🛡️ Verified Official Commission Source

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection is conducting IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026 recruitment test on 22nd August and 23rd August 2026 across multiple exam centres in India. Exams are being held in 4 different shifts, where Shift 1 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM), Shift 2 (11:30 AM – 12:30 PM), Shift 3 (2:00 PM – 3:00 PM) and Shift 4 (4:30 PM – 5:30 PM). The IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 will help aspirants understand overall paper trend and good attempts for each section. Our experts will provide an accurate and detailed analysis based on candidates’ feedback and memory-based questions. Stay tuned as we update this page with the complete IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 for all shifts.

IBPS PO Prelims 22 Aug Exam Analysis 2026

The IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026 is being held on 22nd August 2026 in 4 different shifts across various centres, of which the first shift has been successfully held. Exam tests candidates on subjects like Reasoning, General Awareness, English, Data Analysis and a Descriptive Paper. It includes 145 objective questions and 2 descriptive questions carrying a total of 225 marks.

The duration of exam is 3 hours and 10 minutes, requiring efficient time management and conceptual clarity. After the successful completion of each shift, candidates will be able to check the detailed IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 on this page to know section-wise difficulty level, question types and good attempts.

Note:According to IBPS rules, exact model IPSC PO paper questions cannot be shared, so the analysis focuses on difficulty levels, student feedback & safe attempts. 

IBPS PO Prelims 22nd August Exam Analysis - Overview

All those candidates who appeared for the IBPS PO Recruitment Examination 2026 to get their seat among 7,565 revised vacancies can check the detailed shift-wise exam analysis here. For more updates on the junior assistant recruitment exam analysis, candidates are advised to go through the table shared below:

IBPS PO Exam Analysis
Particulars Details
Exam Name IBPS PO 2026
Number of vacancies 7,565 revised vacancies
Conducting Body Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
Post Name Probationary Officer / Management Trainee (PO/MT)
Exam Mode Online CBT
Exam Level Moderate
Selection Process Preliminary Exam + Main Exam + Interview
Duration Prelims: 01 Hour; Mains: 3 Hours 30 Minutes
Total Number of Questions Prelims: 100 Questions; Mains: 145 Questions
Types of Questions Asked Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Marking Scheme +1 mark for each correct answer in Prelims; Mains marking varies by section
Negative Marking 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer
Total Marks
  • Prelims: 100 Marks
  • Mains: 225 Marks

IBPS PO Prelims Shift Timings 2026

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) is conducting the IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026 on 22nd and 23rd September 2026 in 4 different shifts across various centres. Candidates appearing for the exam must report on time as per the schedule to avoid any last-minute issues. Check the detailed IBPS PO Prelims shift timings 2026 in the table below.

Exam Shift Reporting Time Gate Closing Time Exam Duration
Shift 1 08:00 08:30 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Shift 2 10:30 11:00 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Shift 3 13:00 13:30 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Shift 4 15:30 16:00 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM

IBPS PO Prelims 22nd Aug Good Attempts & Difficulty Level 2026, Shift 1

The IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026 for Shift 1 will be updated here and candidates can check to know the good attempts and overall difficulty level. This analysis helps aspirants evaluate their performance and understand the expected cut-off trends. Section-wise analysis for Reasoning, English, Data Analysis and General Awareness of last year is shared below.

Sections Total Questions Good Attempts Difficulty Level
Reasoning 40 Update Soon Update Soon
General / Economy / Banking Awareness / Digital / Financial Awareness (including RBI circulars) 35 Update Soon Update Soon
English Language 35 Update Soon Update Soon
Data Analysis and Interpretation 35 Update Soon Update Soon
Overall 145 Update Soon Update Soon

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026: Section Wise Review

IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026 will be analyzed in detail to help candidates understand exam pattern and difficulty level. Below is a section-wise review highlighting the number of questions, good attempts, and overall difficulty. This analysis will help aspirants improves their performance and plan their next step accordingly. Check the table below of the previous year for a clear snapshot of each section.

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026, Shift 1: Reasoning Ability

Check the detailed analysis of the Reasoning section for IBPS PO Prelims 2026, Shift 1. The table below shows the topics, number of questions & overall distribution.

Topic No. of Questions
Circle Seating Update Soon
Designation Puzzle Update Soon
Order & Rank Puzzle Update Soon
Age-based Puzzle Update Soon
Chinese Coding Update Soon
Syllogism Update Soon
Order Puzzle Update Soon
Misc. Update Soon
Total 40

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026, Shift 1: English Language

Here is the section-wise analysis of the English Language in IBPS PO Prelims2026, Shift 1. Candidates can refer to the table for a clear topic-wise breakdown.

Topic No. of Questions
Reading Comprehension (Passage Related) Update Soon
Synonym & Antonym Update Soon
Identify the Correct Sentence Update Soon
Cloze Test Update Soon
Sentence Rearrangement Update Soon
Match the Column Update Soon
Word Rearrangement Update Soon
Word & Phrase Usage Update Soon
Total 35

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026, Shift 1: Data Analysis & Interpretation

The table below provides the detailed topic-wise analysis of the Data Analysis & Interpretation section for IBPS PO Prelims 2026, Shift 1.

Topic No. of Questions
Caselet DI Update Soon
Pie Chart Update Soon
Bar Graph DI Update Soon
Approximation Update Soon
Missing Number Series Update Soon
Arithmetic Problems Update Soon
Q1 & Q2 Update Soon
Total 35

We hope you like the article on IBPS PO Exam analysis 2026. All the aspirants keep visiting us regularly for more exam reviews and analysis for all the upcoming exams. It is very important to keep all your documents such as admit card and photo identity proof ready before you appear in this exam. You can also check question papers and mock tests for the IBPS PO exam from PrepMe247 App.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the age limit for IBPS PO recruitment 2026?

The candidates must be between 20 to 30 years of age to apply for IBPS PO 2026 Exam.

When was the IBPS PO mains exam 2026 conducted?

The IBPS PO Mains Exam 2026 is officially scheduled to be conducted on October 4, 2026 

When will IBPS PO Notification 2026 release?

The IBPS PO 2026 Notification has been released on 30th June 2026.

What is the ideal good attempt for IBPS PO mains 2026?

A good attempt for IBPS PO Mains exam can be anywhere between 75 to 95 questions/marks out of the total 225 marks in general. This depends a lot on the difficulty level of the paper and number of vacancies. 

What is the selection process for IBPS PO Recruitment 2026?

The candidates will undergo 3 stages of the selection process - preliminary examination, mains examination, and interview.

Which section had the highest difficulty in IBPS PO mains 2026 exam analysis?

The IBPS PO Mains exam is yet to happen. It is scheduled for October 4, 2026, after the prelims which were conducted on August 22 and 23, 2026. Official analysis of Mains paper and its difficulty levels will be released only after the exam is conducted. 

What is the application fee for IBPS PO UR category candidates?

The application fee for the UR category candidates is INR 850.

What is the expected cut-off for IBPS PO mains 2026?

The IBPS PO Mains 2026 cut-off marks are expected to be between 70-76 marks out of 225 for the General/Unreserved category. 

What are the sections in the Prelims exam of the IBPS PO exam?

There are 3 sections namely: English language, Quantitative Ability, and Reasoning Ability.

How many questions were asked in IBPS PO mains 2026?

In the revised IBPS PO Mains exam pattern 2026, there will be a total of 172 questions, of which 170 will be objective type and 2 will be descriptive test questions. 

How can I apply for the IBPS PO Recruitment 2026?

Candidates can apply online for IBPS PO 2026 through the official website www.ibps.in.

What documents are required for IBPS PO 2026 registration?

To register for IBPS PO 2026, you need to upload your photograph, signature, thumb impression, and handwritten declaration in the specified file sizes. A live photograph must also be uploaded during the application process.

What is the salary structure for an IBPS PO in 2026?

The IBPS PO 2026 salary starts with a basic pay of ₹48,480, going up to ₹85,920 with allowances, making the in-hand salary approx ₹52,000–₹55,000 per month.

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