IBPS Clerk 2026 — Exam Pattern, Syllabus & Preparation
IBPS Clerk, conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, recruits clerks for a group of participating public sector banks in India (the exact…
TL;DR: IBPS Clerk, conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, recruits clerks for a group of participating public sector banks in India (the…
Written & reviewed by the Syllab.in Academic Team (CBSE/NCERT subject experts) · Updated
IBPS Clerk (IBPS Clerk — Common Recruitment Process (Clerical Cadre)): IBPS Clerk, conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, recruits clerks for a group of participating public sector banks in India (the exact number of banks varies each recruitment cycle). It is a two-tier online exam (Preliminary → Main); the Preliminary is qualifying and the Main decides the final merit. It is a leading career route for 12th-pass and graduate students who want a stable public-sector banking job.
IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern
| Total questions | 100 |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Marking scheme | −0.25 per wrong answer in Prelims; −0.25 in Mains (0 for unattempted) |
Sections
- Preliminary (qualifying): English 30Q, Numerical Ability 35Q, Reasoning 35Q — 100Q / 100 marks, 60 min (20 min per section)
- Main (counts for merit): General/Financial Awareness 50Q, English 40Q, Reasoning & Computer Aptitude 50Q, Quantitative Aptitude 50Q
- Sectional timing applies in both tiers
Subjects Covered in IBPS Clerk
English Language · Numerical Ability / Quantitative Aptitude · Reasoning Ability · General & Financial Awareness · Computer Aptitude
How to Prepare for IBPS Clerk
- In Prelims, balance all three sections to clear sectional cutoffs — being strong in one section but weak in another can still get you rejected.
- In the Main exam, General & Financial Awareness carries big weight, so read banking and financial news daily (RBI updates, budget, key schemes) for several months before the exam.
- Build speed with daily timed practice on Quant (simplification, DI, arithmetic) and Reasoning (puzzles, seating), since the sectional time limits reward quick, accurate solving.
IBPS Clerk Result, Cutoff & Counselling
How to check the result: Once the IBPS Clerk result is declared, log in to the official conducting body's website with your application number and password / date of birth, then download your scorecard or rank card.
Understanding the cutoff: The IBPS Clerk cutoff is the minimum rank or score needed to get a seat. It changes every year with the number of candidates, the paper's difficulty and the seats available, and it differs by category (General / OBC / SC / ST / EWS) and quota — so always check the latest official cutoff.
Counselling & admission: Admission is through the official conducting body's counselling / admission process. You register, fill your college and branch choices by rank, and report for document verification and seat confirmation.
IBPS Clerk — Frequently Asked Questions
Do Preliminary marks count in the IBPS Clerk merit?
No. The Preliminary exam is only qualifying. Final selection is based on the Main exam score alone.
What is the eligibility for IBPS Clerk?
You generally need a graduate degree (and basic computer literacy); the typical age range is 20–28 years with category relaxations. Verify the current notification on ibps.in.
How many banks participate in IBPS Clerk?
A group of public sector banks recruit through IBPS Clerk; the exact number varies each cycle (check the current notification on ibps.in). You are allotted a bank based on your merit, preferences and vacancies.
📌 Exam patterns, dates, cutoffs and counselling are announced officially each year — always verify the latest details on the official website before applying.
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