Pariksha SaathiIBPS Clerk 2026: exam pattern, marks, negative marking, age limit
Every figure on this page is copied from an official document linked next to it, with the date we last checked it. Pattern, age limit and dates are from the CRP CSA-XVI (Clerk, vacancies of 2027-28) notification. Last verified: 15 October 2026.
At a glance
- Selection stages
- Preliminary Examination (Online) → Main Examination (Online) → Local Language Proficiency Test
- First stage: Questions / Marks / Time
- 100 / 100 / 60 min
- Negative marking
- One-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for an unanswered question.
- First stage dates
- 10 October 2026 to 11 October 2026
Weekly live mock: Sunday, 8 November 2026, 10:00–12:00 IST · 50 questions in 60 minutes, one paper for everyone · Sit it in the Android app →
Exam pattern
Preliminary Examination (Online)
Preliminary Examination (Objective Test)
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Marks | Time (min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 1 | 30 | 20 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 1 | 35 | 20 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 1 | 35 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 |
Time allowed: 60 minutes. Each test is separately timed (20 minutes). Candidates eligible for a scribe and registered for compensatory time get 20 minutes for every hour of the examination, or as otherwise advised. Negative marking: One-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for an unanswered question. This part is qualifying only: it does not add to the merit score.
- Objective test. English Language is set in English; Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability are set in English, Hindi and, for many States/UTs, the local language listed in the notice for the State/UT applied for. If the versions differ, the English version prevails.
- A candidate has to qualify in each of the three tests by securing the cut-off marks decided by IBPS. An adequate number of candidates in each category, as decided by IBPS, is shortlisted for the Main Examination. Only Main Examination marks count towards the final merit.
- When the exam is held in several sessions, corrected scores are normalised using the equi-percentile method.
Main Examination (Online)
Main Examination (Objective Test)
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Marks | Time (min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 40 | 1.25 | 50 | 20 |
| General English | 40 | 1 | 40 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | 1.50 | 60 | 35 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 1.25 | 50 | 35 |
| Total | 160 | 200 | 125 |
Time allowed: 125 minutes. Each test is separately timed. Candidates eligible for a scribe and registered for compensatory time get 20 minutes for every hour, or as otherwise advised. Negative marking: One-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for an unanswered question.
- The notice prints marks per test, not per question; the per-question figures in the table are marks divided by questions. The tests are not taken in this sequence.
- General English is set in English; the other three tests are set in English, Hindi and, for many States/UTs, the local language listed in the notice. If the versions differ, the English version prevails.
- A candidate needs a minimum score in each test and a minimum total score. Cut-offs are decided State/UT-wise depending on vacancies, and Main marks are not shared with candidates before provisional allotment is complete.
- Only Main Examination marks are used for the final merit. The 200 Main marks are converted out of 100 for provisional allotment.
Local Language Proficiency Test
Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)
This part is qualifying only: it does not add to the merit score.
- A candidate opts for one language from the list given for the State/UT applied for. A candidate with a 10th-standard or higher mark sheet or certificate showing that the language was studied does not have to take the test.
- Held after the Main Examination or provisional allotment but before joining, by an independent body or by the bank. It is marks based and qualifying; a candidate who fails is not offered appointment.
Source: Notification: CRP CSA-XVI, Common Recruitment Process for Recruitment of Customer Service Associates (CSA) in Participating Public Sector Banks (Vacancies of 2027-28), dated 1 August 2026 ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
Free IBPS Clerk mock tests in this official pattern →
Syllabus: subjects tested
The subjects in short, as the official syllabus lists them. The exam body's own notification is final.
- Reasoning
- Puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism, coding-decoding, and inequalities.
- Numerical Ability
- Number series, simplification, data interpretation, and arithmetic word problems.
- English Language
- Reading comprehension, cloze test, error spotting, sentence rearrangement, and vocabulary.
- General / Financial Awareness & Computer Knowledge
- Banking terms, financial current affairs, general static GK, and basic computer-knowledge questions at the Mains stage.
Full syllabus, stage by stage → · Official website ↗
Age limit and qualification
20 to 28 years as on 1 August 2026 (born between 2 August 1998 and 1 August 2006, both dates inclusive). Upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and 10 years for persons with benchmark disabilities. Ex-servicemen and disabled ex-servicemen get the actual period of defence service plus 3 years (8 years for disabled ex-servicemen from SC/ST), up to a maximum age of 50. Widows, divorced women and women legally separated from their husbands who have not remarried are eligible up to 35 years (General/EWS), 38 years (OBC) and 40 years (SC/ST). Age is counted as on 1 August 2026.
| Posts | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Customer Service Associate (CSA), clerical cadre: education | A degree (graduation) in any discipline from a university recognised by the Government of India, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. The final result must have been declared on or before 21 August 2026. |
| Customer Service Associate (CSA): computer literacy | Operating and working knowledge of computer systems is mandatory: a certificate, diploma or degree in computer operations or language, or Computer / Information Technology studied as a subject at high school, college or institute. |
| Customer Service Associate (CSA): State/UT and local language | A candidate can apply for vacancies in one State/UT only, and must be proficient in reading, writing, speaking and understanding the specified or opted local language of that State/UT. |
| Customer Service Associate (CSA): ex-servicemen without the civil qualification | Matriculate ex-servicemen holding the Army Special Certificate of Education (or the Navy or Air Force equivalent) after at least 15 years of service in the Armed Forces as on 21 August 2026, with the certificate dated on or before 21 August 2026. |
Candidates must reach the cut-off marks IBPS sets for each Preliminary test, and a minimum score in each Main test and in the Main total. Cut-offs are decided State/UT-wise depending on vacancies.
Source: Notification: CRP CSA-XVI, Common Recruitment Process for Recruitment of Customer Service Associates (CSA) in Participating Public Sector Banks (Vacancies of 2027-28), dated 1 August 2026 ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
Important dates
| Event | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Online registration and payment of fees | 1 August 2026 to 21 August 2026 | official notice ↗ |
| Online Preliminary Examination (tentative, per IBPS calendar of 16 January 2026) | 10 October 2026 to 11 October 2026 | official notice ↗ |
| Result of Online Preliminary Examination | November 2026 (tentative, per the notification) | official notice ↗ |
| Online Main Examination (tentative, per IBPS calendar of 16 January 2026) | 27 December 2026 | official notice ↗ |
| Provisional allotment | March 2027 (tentative, per the notification) | official notice ↗ |
Source: Notification: CRP CSA-XVI, Common Recruitment Process for Recruitment of Customer Service Associates (CSA) in Participating Public Sector Banks (Vacancies of 2027-28), dated 1 August 2026 ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
Practice questions by section
Free questions, each with its answer, in the subjects this exam tests. Every topic opens a list of question pages.
Reasoning
- Syllogism 115 questions
- Blood Relations 89 questions
- Coding-Decoding 88 questions
- Analogy 39 questions
- Direction Sense 38 questions
- Seating Arrangement 29 questions
- Calendar 19 questions
- Clock 19 questions
Quantitative Aptitude
- Geometry: Lines and Triangles 24 questions
- Number System 21 questions
- Percentage 21 questions
- Trigonometry 20 questions
- Boat and Stream 19 questions
- Mensuration: 2D 16 questions
- Permutation and Combination 15 questions
- Probability — Tier II 15 questions
English
- Error Spotting 94 questions
- Fill in the Blanks 56 questions
- Sentence Improvement 52 questions
- Cloze Test 38 questions
- Direct and Indirect Speech 30 questions
- One Word Substitution 19 questions
- Degrees of Comparison 13 questions
- Active and Passive Voice 12 questions
General Studies
- General Science 480 questions
- Static General Knowledge 240 questions
- Indian Geography 239 questions
- Physical and World Geography 239 questions
- Indian Polity and Constitution 238 questions
- Environment and Ecology 237 questions
- Modern Indian History and Freedom Struggle 235 questions
- Indian Art and Culture 234 questions
General Awareness
Computer Knowledge
All practice questions by topic →
Free notes (PDF)
Notes for every topic in this exam’s syllabus, one PDF per subject: each lesson ends with a quick-revision box, and each PDF ends with a revision sheet. Written by an AI assistant and not reviewed by a subject-matter expert.
- Quantitative Aptitude (89 pages, 1.1 MB)
- Reasoning (74 pages, 954 KB)
- English (65 pages, 819 KB)
- General Awareness (208 pages, 2.3 MB)
- Computer Knowledge (18 pages, 314 KB)
Latest notices
- IBPS Clerk (CRP-CSA-XVI) 2026: Vacancies Revised to 11,663 as Preliminary Exam Nears on 10-11 Octobernotification · 9 October 2026
- IBPS Clerk (CRP-CSA-XVI): Preliminary exam call letter releasedadmit card · 5 October 2026
- IBPS Clerk (CRP-CSA-XVI): Corrigendum and updated vacancy count releasednotification · 1 October 2026
- IBPS Clerk (CRP-CSA-XVI): Pre-Examination Training notice issued for SC/ST/OBC/Minority/Ex-Servicemen/PWBD candidatesnotification · 29 September 2026
- IBPS Clerk (CRP CSA-XVI) 2026-27 exam timeline releasednotification · 21 September 2026
IBPS Clerk admit card, result and answer key: every notice →
Recent current affairs for this exam
- TRAI releases Telecommunication Interconnection (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026: shift to LSA-level and IP-based interconnection, effective 1 January 20273 November 2026
- India to pursue solution-oriented and equitable climate action at UNFCCC COP31 in Antalya: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav3 November 2026
- Coal Ministry's Coal Controller Organisation develops SUVIKALP, a digital mine repurposing tool for closed and abandoned mines3 November 2026
- NITI Aayog and TEXMiN sign a Joint Statement of Intent to strengthen India's critical minerals ecosystem3 November 2026
- APEDA facilitates trial export of 1.5 MT of Arunachal Pradesh kiwi from Ziro to Dubai3 November 2026
Prepare
- Exam calendar: official dates across every exam
- Syllabus and subjects tested
- Job profile and salary
- Free lessons
- Start practising
Frequently asked questions
What are the selection stages of IBPS Clerk?
Preliminary Examination (Online) → Main Examination (Online) → Local Language Proficiency Test, as per the CRP CSA-XVI (Clerk, vacancies of 2027-28) notification.
How many questions are in the IBPS Clerk first stage?
Preliminary Examination (Online): 100 questions for 100 marks in 60 minutes, as per the CRP CSA-XVI (Clerk, vacancies of 2027-28) notification.
Is there negative marking in IBPS Clerk?
Preliminary Examination (Online), as per the CRP CSA-XVI (Clerk, vacancies of 2027-28) notification: One-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for an unanswered question.
Is there negative marking in IBPS Clerk Main Examination?
Main Examination (Online), as per the CRP CSA-XVI (Clerk, vacancies of 2027-28) notification: One-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for an unanswered question.
Which parts of the IBPS Clerk exam are qualifying?
As per the CRP CSA-XVI (Clerk, vacancies of 2027-28) notification, these are qualifying: Preliminary Examination (Online): Preliminary Examination (Objective Test); Local Language Proficiency Test: Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT).
What is the age limit for IBPS Clerk?
20 to 28 years as on 1 August 2026 (born between 2 August 1998 and 1 August 2006, both dates inclusive). Upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and 10 years for persons with benchmark disabilities. Ex-servicemen and disabled ex-servicemen get the actual period of defence service plus 3 years (8 years for disabled ex-servicemen from SC/ST), up to a maximum age of 50. Widows, divorced women and women legally separated from their husbands who have not remarried are eligible up to 35 years (General/EWS), 38 years (OBC) and 40 years (SC/ST). Age is counted as on 1 August 2026.
Can final-year students apply for IBPS Clerk?
As per the CRP CSA-XVI (Clerk, vacancies of 2027-28) notification: Customer Service Associate (CSA), clerical cadre: education: A degree (graduation) in any discipline from a university recognised by the Government of India, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. The final result must have been declared on or before 21 August 2026.
What are the minimum qualifying marks in IBPS Clerk?
Candidates must reach the cut-off marks IBPS sets for each Preliminary test, and a minimum score in each Main test and in the Main total. Cut-offs are decided State/UT-wise depending on vacancies.
What are the IBPS Clerk first-stage exam dates?
Preliminary Examination (Online): 10 October 2026 to 11 October 2026, as per the CRP CSA-XVI (Clerk, vacancies of 2027-28) notification.
Which subjects does the IBPS Clerk exam test?
The official syllabus lists: Reasoning; Numerical Ability; English Language; General / Financial Awareness & Computer Knowledge.
Source: Notification: CRP CSA-XVI, Common Recruitment Process for Recruitment of Customer Service Associates (CSA) in Participating Public Sector Banks (Vacancies of 2027-28), dated 1 August 2026 ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
How this page is made
These facts are transcribed from the official documents linked above and checked against them on the date shown. If anything here differs from the official notification, the official notification is right. Please tell us through the Contact page. See also our editorial standards. Contact · Editorial standards