The first shift of the exam is over, and the candidates who appeared for the exam came out with happy and satisfied faces. As reviewed by candidates, the 1st shift exam was of an easy to moderate level with a few tricky questions in the quantitative aptitude section. IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 for Shift 1 with overall difficulty level, section-wise difficulty, good attempts, and questions asked, has been discussed in the article.
IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026
The prelims exam for IBPS Clerk 2026 includes 100 questions for 100 marks from three subjects (English Language, Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability) and there is a sectional timing of 20 minutes for each section. Candidates must focus on their speed and accuracy to attempt maximum questions correctly.
Candidates appearing for the upcoming shifts can use the exam analysis to understand the question pattern, identify important topics, and assess the level of preparation required.
IBPS Clerk Shift 1 Difficulty Level 2026
The section-wise difficulty level of the IBPS Clerk Prelims examination helps candidates understand which sections were comparatively easier or more time-consuming. The English language was of Easy level while other two (Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability) were of Easy to Moderate level.
| Sections | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| English Language | Easy |
| Numerical Ability | Easy to Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall Difficulty Level | Easy to Moderate |
IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 10 October 2026 Shift 1: Good Attempts
The good attempts for the IBPS Clerk Prelims Shift 1 examination are based on candidate feedback and the difficulty level of the question paper. The overall attempt for shift 1 may range between 78 to 85.
| Section | Total Questions | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 25 to 27 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 26 to 29 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 27 to 29 |
| Total | 100 | 78 to 85 |
Note: Good attempts indicate the number of questions a candidate may reasonably attempt with a high level of accuracy. These are not official cut off marks.
IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026: Section-Wise Review
The IBPS Clerk Preliminary Examination consists of three sections: English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. Each section has a separate time limit of 20 minutes.
IBPS Clerk Exam Analysis 2026: Reasoning Ability
The Reasoning Ability section assesses logical thinking and the ability to solve different question types within the allotted time. The analysis covers the types of puzzles, seating arrangements, and miscellaneous reasoning questions reported by candidates.
Puzzles and Seating Arrangement Asked-
- Floor-based puzzle- 5 questions
- Parallel row-based puzzle- 5 questions
- Sequence based (8 persons) – 5 questions
| Topics | Number of Questions |
| Puzzles and Seating Arrangement | 15 |
| Syllogism | 05 |
| Inequality | 04 |
| Meaningful word | 01 |
| Chinese Coding | 05 |
| Direction and Distance | 03 |
| Pair Formation | 01 |
| Word Usage | 01 |
IBPS Clerk Exam Analysis 2026: English Language
The English Language section assesses candidates’ grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and verbal ability.
Topic of Reading Comprehension- Martha Store Old Age related (Fictional). There were questions from Conclusion, Direct/Indirect and Vocabulary.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
| Reading Comprehension | 08 to 10 |
| Cloze Test (Exhibition) | 06 |
| Error Detection | 04 |
| Word Swap | 04 to 05 |
| Word Usage | 02 |
| Sentence Rearrangement | 05 |
IBPS Clerk Exam Analysis 2026: Numerical Ability
The Numerical Ability section tests calculation speed, mathematical accuracy, and problem-solving skills. Questions cover arithmetic, simplification, number series, and data interpretation, depending on the paper.
There were 4 sets of DI asked in 1st shift of IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
| Simplification | 10 |
| Data Interpretation (Table DI) | 05 |
| Bar Graph DI | 05 |
| Caselet DI | 06-07 |
| Arithmetic | 08-09 |
How to Calculate Your Expected IBPS Clerk Prelims Score?
Candidates can estimate their scores using the marking scheme specified for the examination. Under the standard IBPS objective-test marking scheme, one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for each incorrect answer.
Expected score = Marks for correct answers − Penalty for incorrect answers
For example, if a candidate answers 75 questions correctly and 10 questions incorrectly, assuming one mark per question:
- Marks for correct answers: 75
- Negative marks: 10 × 0.25 = 2.5
- Estimated score: 75 − 2.5 = 72.5 marks
| Related Links | |
| IBPS Clerk Syllabus & Exam Pattern | IBPS Clerk Previous Year Question Paper & Solutions |
| IBPS Clerk Salary, Promotion, Perks & Allowances | IBPS Clerk Previous Year Cut Off Marks |