The IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026 is being conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) on August 22 and 23, 2026, in multiple shifts across examination centres in India. The preliminary examination consists of 100 questions carrying 100 marks, covering English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability.
Candidates get a total of 60 minutes to complete the examination. The IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 is useful for candidates appearing in the upcoming shifts as it provides an overview of the difficulty level, good attempts, questions asked and section-wise paper pattern.
On August 22, the first three shifts have been completed, while the fourth shift is scheduled to begin from 4:30 PM onwards. The analysis below is based on candidate feedback and will be updated as information becomes available for subsequent shifts.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026: Shift-Wise Difficulty & Good Attempts
The shift-wise analysis for the IBPS PO Prelims examination conducted on August 22, 2026, is given below:
| Shift | Quantitative Aptitude | English Language | Reasoning Ability | Overall Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shift 1 | 17–20 | 22–27 | 21–23 | Easy to Moderate |
| Shift 2 | 16–20 | 25–27 | 19–27 | Easy to Moderate |
| Shift 3 | 21–25 | 24–27 | 22–26 | Moderate |
| Shift 4 | To Be Updated | To Be Updated | To Be Updated | To Be Updated |
Note: The good attempts and difficulty level may vary depending on the shift and individual candidates’ accuracy. The figures above are based on initial candidate feedback and should be treated as indicative.
IBPS PO Prelims Shift 1 Analysis 2026
The first shift of the IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026 followed the sequence of English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability.
Reasoning Ability
The Reasoning section included questions from several puzzle and miscellaneous topics. Questions were reported from:
- Month-based puzzle
- Variable-based puzzle
- Box-based puzzle
- Comparison puzzle
- Parallel-row arrangement
- Selection-based puzzle
- Blood Relations
- Inequality
- Direction Sense
- Pair Formation
- Meaningful Word
- Odd One Out
Interestingly, no questions from Syllogism were reported in Shift 1.
English Language
The English Language section included questions based on:
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Word Swap
- Fillers
- Error Detection
- Cloze Test
- Word Replacement
- Sentence Rearrangement
- Direct questions
Quantitative Aptitude
The Quantitative Aptitude section featured questions from:
- Missing Number Series
- Approximation
- Number Series
- Data Interpretation
- Arithmetic
Overall Shift 1 Difficulty & Good Attempts
According to initial candidate feedback, the overall paper was Easy to Moderate in difficulty. Candidates reported attempting approximately 62–72 questions, depending on their speed and accuracy.
IBPS PO Prelims Shift 2 Analysis 2026
The second shift was also reported to be Easy to Moderate, although some candidates found the paper relatively lengthy compared with Shift 1.
Reasoning Ability
Questions were asked from:
- Floor and Variable-based Puzzle
- Month and Date-based Puzzle
- Selection-based Puzzle
- Circular Seating Arrangement
- Syllogism
- Inequality
- Blood Relations
- Pair Formation
- Word-based Questions
- Meaningful Word
Around five questions were reported from the selection-based puzzle, while questions from blood relations were also included.
Quantitative Aptitude
The Quantitative Aptitude section included:
- Wrong Number Series
- Approximation
- Double-Line Data Interpretation
- Table-based Data Interpretation
- Caselet Data Interpretation
- Arithmetic
Approximately three questions were reported from the wrong number series.
English Language
Questions in the English section included:
- Reading Comprehension
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Fillers
- Para Jumbles
- Error Detection
- Phrase Replacement
- Word Swap
Overall Shift 2 Difficulty & Good Attempts
Based on candidate feedback, the overall difficulty level was Easy to Moderate. Candidates reported good attempts in the range of approximately 63–80 questions. Compared with Shift 1, several candidates found the paper somewhat lengthy.
IBPS PO Prelims Shift 3 Analysis 2026
The third shift was comparatively Moderate in difficulty based on the initial feedback received from candidates.
Reasoning Ability
The Reasoning Ability section included questions from:
- Box-based Puzzle
- Floor-based Puzzle
- Circular Seating Arrangement
- Selection-based Puzzle
- Blood Relations
- Inequality
- Syllogism
- Direction and Distance
- Pair Formation
- Odd One Out
The combination of puzzles and miscellaneous reasoning questions required candidates to manage their time carefully.
Quantitative Aptitude
Questions were reported from:
- Missing Number
- Tabular Data Interpretation
- Line-based Data Interpretation
- Mixed Data Interpretation
- Approximation
- Double-Line DI
- Caselet DI
- Arithmetic
- Mensuration
The Data Interpretation questions were largely reported as one-liner questions, while arithmetic and mensuration questions also formed part of the section.
English Language
The English section included questions based on:
- Reading Comprehension
- Synonyms
- Direct Questions
- Fillers
- Cloze Test
- Word Rearrangement
- Phrase Replacement
- Error Detection
- Column-based Questions
IBPS PO Prelims Shift 4 Analysis 2026
The Shift 4 analysis for August 22, 2026 will be updated after the examination is completed and candidate feedback becomes available.
Candidates can revisit this page for:
- Section-wise difficulty level
- Good attempts
- Questions asked
- Puzzle and DI topics
- English question types
- Overall paper analysis
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The IBPS PO Prelims examination consists of three sections:
| Section | Questions | Marks |
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
The total duration of the examination is 60 minutes.
What Is a Good Attempt in IBPS PO Prelims 2026?
A good attempt does not simply mean the maximum number of questions answered. It depends on the difficulty level of the shift, accuracy, question selection and time management.
Based on the initial analysis of the August 22 shifts, the reported overall attempts indicate that candidates were able to attempt a substantial number of questions. However, candidates should focus on accuracy rather than attempting questions randomly, as incorrect answers can negatively affect the final score.
The expected cut-off will depend on factors such as:
- Number of vacancies
- Overall difficulty level
- Number of candidates appearing
- Normalisation across shifts
- Overall performance of candidates
- State-wise competition
IBPS PO Prelims Expected Cut-Off 2026
The official IBPS PO Prelims cut-off for 2026 will be released by IBPS after the examination and result process. At this stage, any expected cut-off should be considered an estimate rather than an official figure.
Candidates should therefore avoid judging their qualification solely on the basis of the good-attempt figures. Accuracy and shift-wise normalisation will also play an important role.
Important Points for Candidates Appearing in Upcoming IBPS PO Shifts
Candidates appearing in the remaining shifts on August 22 and August 23 should keep the following points in mind:
- The difficulty level can vary slightly between different shifts.
- Time management is particularly important because the entire paper has to be completed within 60 minutes.
- Candidates should avoid spending too much time on lengthy puzzles or DI sets.
- In English, candidates should carefully read questions involving error detection, rearrangement and reading comprehension.
- In Quantitative Aptitude, candidates should prioritise questions that can be solved quickly and accurately.
- In Reasoning Ability, candidates should select manageable puzzle sets instead of attempting every puzzle.
- Accuracy should remain a priority while calculating good attempts.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026: Key Takeaways
The first three shifts conducted on August 22, 2026, indicate that the paper ranged from Easy to Moderate to Moderate in difficulty.
Shift 1 was reported as Easy to Moderate, with approximately 62–72 attempts reported by candidates. Shift 2 was also Easy to Moderate, with reported attempts of around 63–80 questions, although some candidates found it lengthy. Shift 3 was reported to be Moderate, with section-wise good attempts ranging from approximately 21–27 questions.
The analysis for Shift 4 and the August 23, 2026 shifts will be added as soon as candidate feedback becomes available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When is the IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026 being conducted?
The IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026 is being conducted on August 22 and 23, 2026.
Q. How many questions are asked in IBPS PO Prelims?
There are 100 questions carrying 100 marks.
Q. What is the duration of the IBPS PO Prelims exam?
Candidates get 60 minutes to complete the examination.
Q. What was the difficulty level of IBPS PO Prelims Shift 1 on August 22?
The overall difficulty of Shift 1 was reported as Easy to Moderate.
Q. What was the difficulty level of IBPS PO Prelims Shift 2?
Shift 2 was reported as Easy to Moderate, although some candidates found it comparatively lengthy.
Q. What was the difficulty level of IBPS PO Prelims Shift 3?
Shift 3 was reported as Moderate based on initial candidate feedback.
Q. How many attempts were reported in IBPS PO Prelims Shift 1?
Candidates reported approximately 62–72 attempts in Shift 1, subject to individual accuracy.
Q. Where can candidates check the IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026?
Candidates can use this page to check the latest shift-wise difficulty level, good attempts, questions asked and section-wise analysis as the examination progresses.
Disclaimer: The IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 presented above is based on candidate feedback and the questions/topics reported after each shift. The difficulty level and good-attempt figures are indicative and may vary from candidate to candidate. Official results, cut-offs and final details will be released by IBPS.
