IBPS PO Prelims 2026 Exam Analysis – 23 August All Four Shifts
The IBPS PO Prelims 2026 examination was conducted in four shifts on 23 August 2026. Thousands of aspirants appeared across India and immediately after the examination, candidate feedback, memory-based questions and expert analysis helped identify the overall difficulty level and topic distribution.
This detailed IBPSHub analysis combines the recurring patterns reported across different exam analysis platforms and candidate discussions to provide a comprehensive picture of all four shifts.
IBPS has not released the official question paper or cutoff. Therefore, all shift-wise question distributions, good attempts and expected cutoff marks mentioned in this article are based on memory-based reconstruction, student feedback and expert analytical estimates.
Table of Contents
- Quick Verdict of All Four Shifts
- Shift 1 Detailed Analysis
- Shift 2 Detailed Analysis
- Shift 3 Detailed Analysis
- Shift 4 Detailed Analysis
- Consolidated Topic-wise Question Breakup
- Expected Good Attempts
- Expected IBPS PO Prelims Cutoff 2026
- Expected Sectional Cutoff
- Safe Score Analysis
- Attempts vs Marks Explained
- Final Expert Verdict
IBPS PO Prelims 2026 – Quick Verdict
The overall difficulty level of the examination was Moderate. English remained the most scoring section across all shifts while Quantitative Aptitude acted as the primary differentiator, especially in Shift 2.
| Shift | English | Quant | Reasoning | Overall | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shift 1 | Easy–Moderate | Moderate | Easy–Moderate | Moderate | 67–73 |
| Shift 2 | Easy–Moderate | Moderate–Difficult | Moderate | Moderate | 64–70 |
| Shift 3 | Easy–Moderate | Moderate | Easy–Moderate | Moderate | 66–73 |
| Shift 4 | Easy–Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | 64–70 |
- English remained predictable and scoring.
- Reasoning was dominated by Puzzle & Seating Arrangement.
- Arithmetic + Data Interpretation dominated Quant.
- Shift 2 had comparatively tougher Quantitative Aptitude.
Shift 1 Analysis – 23 August 2026
Overall Difficulty: Moderate
The first shift was balanced across all three sections. English offered scoring opportunities while Quant required efficient time management due to arithmetic-heavy questions.
English Language
| Topic | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension – China/Medication | 9 |
| Para Jumble | 5 |
| Word Swap | 5 |
| Error Detection | 4 |
| Word Rearrangement | 4 |
| Double Filler | 2 |
| Phrase Replacement | 1 |
| Total | 30 |
Quantitative Aptitude
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Bar Graph DI | 5 |
| Line Graph DI | 5 |
| Table DI | 5 |
| Arithmetic | 13 |
| Approximation | 3 |
| Quadratic Equation | 3 |
| Caselet DI | 1 |
| Total | 35 |
- Boat & Stream
- Time & Work
- Train
- Pipes & Cistern
- Partnership
- Ages
- Mensuration
Reasoning Ability
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Single Row Puzzle | 5 |
| Order & Sequence Puzzle | 5 |
| Box Puzzle | 5 |
| Year Based Puzzle | 5 |
| Certain Number / Persons | 3 |
| Blood Relation | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Inequality | 3 |
| Meaningful Word | 1 |
| Word Based | 1 |
| Pair Formation | 1 |
| Total | 35 |
Candidates who solved puzzle sets selectively instead of attempting every arrangement reported better accuracy and time utilisation.
Shift 2 Analysis – 23 August 2026
Overall Difficulty: Moderate
Shift 2 was considered the comparatively toughest shift because Quantitative Aptitude consumed significantly more time than other sections.
English Language
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 9 |
| Para Jumble | 5 |
| Double Filler | 4 |
| Error Detection | 4 |
| Phrase Replacement | 4 |
| Word Swap | 3 |
| Word Usage | 1 |
| Total | 30 |
Quantitative Aptitude
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Table DI | 6 |
| Bar Graph DI | 5 |
| Approximation | 4 |
| Quadratic Equation | 4 |
| Wrong Number Series | 4 |
| Arithmetic | 11 |
| Caselet | 1 |
| Total | 35 |
Reasoning Ability
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Month Based Puzzle | 5 |
| Parallel Row Puzzle | 5 |
| Selection Based Puzzle | 5 |
| Year Based Puzzle | 5 |
| Direction | 3 |
| Blood Relation | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Inequality | 3 |
| Meaningful Word | 1 |
| Word Based | 1 |
| Pair Formation | 1 |
| Total | 35 |
The presence of lengthy DI sets combined with arithmetic questions reduced the average attempts in Quant. Accuracy became much more important than aggressive attempting.
Shift 3 Analysis – 23 August 2026
Overall Difficulty: Moderate
Shift 3 returned to a balanced paper where Reasoning and English remained relatively comfortable while Quant stayed moderate.
English Language
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 9 |
| Error Detection | 4 |
| Fillers | 4 |
| Para Jumble | 5 |
| Word/Phrase Based | 5 |
| Other | 3 |
| Total | 30 |
Quantitative Aptitude
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Data Interpretation | 10 |
| Arithmetic | 9 |
| Approximation/Simplification | 5 |
| Number Series | 5 |
| Quadratic Equation | 4 |
| Other | 2 |
| Total | 35 |
Reasoning Ability
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 18 |
| Syllogism | 4 |
| Coding-Decoding | 4 |
| Inequality | 3 |
| Blood Relation / Direction | 3 |
| Other | 3 |
| Total | 35 |
Candidates strong in conventional banking reasoning found this shift manageable because almost half of the section came from familiar puzzle patterns.
Shift 4 Analysis – 23 August 2026
Overall Difficulty: Moderate
The final shift maintained similar difficulty but Reasoning became slightly more time consuming because of multiple puzzle sets.
English Language
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 8 |
| Error Detection | 5 |
| Para Jumble | 5 |
| Word/Phrase Based | 5 |
| Fillers | 3 |
| Other | 4 |
| Total | 30 |
Quantitative Aptitude
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Data Interpretation | 10 |
| Arithmetic | 10 |
| Approximation | 4 |
| Number Series | 5 |
| Quadratic Equation | 4 |
| Other | 2 |
| Total | 35 |
Reasoning Ability
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 17 |
| Coding-Decoding | 5 |
| Inequality | 4 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Blood Relation / Direction | 3 |
| Other | 3 |
| Total | 35 |
Consolidated Topic-wise Question Distribution
| Section | Major Topics | Approx Weight |
|---|---|---|
| English | Reading Comprehension | 8–9 |
| Para Jumble | 5 | |
| Error Detection | 4–5 | |
| Fillers | 3–4 | |
| Word Swap / Word Based | 3–5 | |
| Quant | Arithmetic | 9–13 |
| Data Interpretation | 10–15 | |
| Approximation | 3–5 | |
| Quadratic Equation | 3–4 | |
| Number Series | 0–5 | |
| Reasoning | Puzzles & Seating | 17–23 |
| Syllogism | 3–4 | |
| Inequality | 3–4 | |
| Blood Relation / Direction | 3–6 | |
| Coding / Word / Misc. | 3–5 |
Expected Good Attempts – Open Category
| Shift | Good Attempts | Strong Position | Very Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shift 1 | 67–73 | 70+ | 75+ |
| Shift 2 | 64–70 | 68+ | 72+ |
| Shift 3 | 66–73 | 70+ | 75+ |
| Shift 4 | 64–70 | 68+ | 72+ |
Good attempts are not equal to marks. Accuracy plays a far more important role because every incorrect answer attracts negative marking.
Expected IBPS PO Prelims Cutoff 2026 – General Category
Based on historical cutoff trends, paper difficulty, candidate feedback and the revised vacancy scenario, the expected overall cutoff is estimated around:
Expected General Cutoff
49–53 Marks
Most likely analytical range: 50–52 Marks
| Shift | Estimated Cutoff Range | Most Likely |
|---|---|---|
| Shift 1 | 50–53 | 51.5 |
| Shift 2 | 48–51 | 49.5 |
| Shift 3 | 49–52 | 50.5 |
| Shift 4 | 48.5–51.5 | 50 |
IBPS follows score normalization across multiple shifts. Therefore, the final official qualifying cutoff will be based on normalized scores and not merely raw marks obtained in one particular shift.
Expected Sectional Cutoff 2026
| Section | Expected Cutoff | Comfortable Score |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 10–13 | 16+ |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 6–8 | 12+ |
| Reasoning Ability | 8–11 | 14+ |
Sectional cutoff remains considerably lower than the overall cutoff. Therefore, aspirants should focus primarily on maximizing total score while ensuring they comfortably clear each section.
What Score Can Be Considered Safe?
| Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Below 48 | High Risk |
| 48–50 | Borderline |
| 50–52 | Competitive |
| 52–55 | Strong Position |
| 55+ | Very Strong Position |
A normalized score above 52 should place a General category aspirant in a favourable position based on the current analytical estimates, although the final official cutoff may vary.
Attempts vs Marks – Understand the Difference
Many students compare attempts instead of expected marks. That approach can be misleading because negative marking changes the final score significantly.
Example 1
- Attempted = 70
- Correct = 65
- Wrong = 5
Score = 65 – (5 × 0.25) = 63.75
Example 2
- Attempted = 70
- Correct = 57
- Wrong = 13
Score = 57 – 3.25 = 53.75
Example 3
- Attempted = 70
- Correct = 52
- Wrong = 18
Score = 52 – 4.50 = 47.50
High attempts without accuracy do not guarantee qualification. A disciplined candidate with 65–70 accurate attempts can outperform someone attempting 75+ questions recklessly.
Section-wise Expert Verdict
English Language
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
English remained the most predictable section with Reading Comprehension, Para Jumble, Error Detection and Fillers appearing consistently across all shifts.
Expected Good Attempts: 22–25
Reasoning Ability
Difficulty: Moderate
The section was dominated by Puzzle & Seating Arrangement. Nearly half of the section consisted of arrangement-based reasoning, making question selection extremely important.
Expected Good Attempts: 24–27
Quantitative Aptitude
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Arithmetic and Data Interpretation together formed the backbone of Quantitative Aptitude. Candidates with strong fundamentals in percentage, ratio, averages, profit & loss, time & work and boat & stream enjoyed a clear advantage.
Expected Good Attempts: 18–22
The Biggest Trend of IBPS PO 2026
What IBPS is Testing in 2026
- Concept clarity
- Speed with accuracy
- Question selection ability
- Puzzle solving efficiency
- Arithmetic mastery
The examination clearly indicates that IBPS is gradually moving towards evaluating analytical efficiency rather than simply testing isolated short questions.
Candidates preparing for future banking examinations should therefore prioritise:
- Arithmetic mastery before advanced tricks
- Daily Data Interpretation practice
- Four to five puzzle sets every day
- Reading Comprehension with vocabulary improvement
- Timed sectional mock practice
Final IBPSHub Prediction
IBPS PO Prelims 2026
Expected General Cutoff:
50–52 Marks
Overall analytical range: 49–53 Marks
Final Summary
- Overall paper difficulty was Moderate.
- Shift 2 had comparatively tougher Quantitative Aptitude.
- English remained the highest scoring section.
- Reasoning was heavily dominated by Puzzle & Seating Arrangement.
- Arithmetic + DI contributed the majority of Quant questions.
- 65–70 accurate attempts can be considered competitive.
- 52+ normalized marks should place General category candidates in a strong position according to current estimates.
Do not panic by comparing raw attempts with others. Wait for the official response sheet, calculate your expected marks accurately and remember that normalization may influence the final qualifying score.
IBPSHub will continue publishing detailed memory-based questions, expected cutoffs, previous year comparisons and preparation resources for IBPS PO 2026.