IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026: 22 August Shift-Wise Difficulty Level, Good Attempts and Questions Asked.The IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026 has started, and candidates who appeared in the examination on August 22 are now sharing their experience of the paper. The exam is being conducted on August 22 and 23 in multiple shifts, giving aspirants in the upcoming shifts an opportunity to understand the question pattern and difficulty level from the feedback of candidates who have already appeared.
The preliminary examination includes three sections — English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability. Based on the initial candidate feedback, the paper on August 22 ranged from Easy to Moderate to Moderate, depending on the shift.
Here is a detailed shift-wise review of the IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026, including good attempts, section-wise difficulty and the major topics asked.
Overview of IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | IBPS PO Prelims 2026 |
| Post | Probationary Officer |
| Exam Dates | 22 & 23 August 2026 |
| Mode | Online |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 60 Minutes |
| Sections | English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning |
| Sectional Time | 20 Minutes Each |
| Negative Marking | 1/4 Mark |
The paper contains 100 questions for 100 marks, with 30 questions from English Language and 35 questions each from Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability. Candidates get 20 minutes for each section.
IBPS PO Prelims 2026 Overall Difficulty Level
The difficulty level varied slightly from one shift to another.
The first and second shifts were largely Easy to Moderate, while the third shift was reported to be Moderate. Therefore, candidates should not compare their performance only on the basis of the number of questions attempted, as the level of individual shifts was not exactly the same.
Shift-Wise Difficulty and Good Attempts
| Shift | Quantitative Aptitude | English Language | Reasoning Ability | Overall Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
These ranges are based on the initial feedback and should be treated as an exam review rather than an official cut-off.
IBPS PO Prelims Shift 1 Analysis 2026
The first shift was conducted from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Candidates generally found the paper Easy to Moderate.
The Quantitative Aptitude section required comparatively more time, while English was considered manageable. Reasoning contained a substantial number of puzzle-based questions.
The overall good attempts for this shift were estimated at around 68–75 questions, depending on accuracy.
Reasoning Ability Analysis
The Reasoning section consisted of 35 questions. A large portion of the section was dominated by puzzles and seating arrangements.
The major topics reported in Shift 1 were:
- Month and date-based puzzle
- Box-based puzzle
- Parallel row arrangement
- Selection-based puzzle
- Comparison-based puzzle
- Blood Relation
- Inequality
- Direction and Distance
- Meaningful Word
- Pair Formation
- Odd One Out
Around 23 questions were reported from puzzles and seating arrangements, making this the most important area of the section.
One notable point was that Syllogism questions were not reported in the first shift.
English Language Analysis
The English section was considered relatively comfortable for well-prepared candidates.
Questions were reported from:
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Word Swap
- Sentence Rearrangement
- Error Detection
- Word Replacement
- Fillers
- Synonyms and Antonyms
The Reading Comprehension included topics related to modern town planning and disease, while the Cloze Test was based on crops.
Quantitative Aptitude Analysis
Quantitative Aptitude was one of the sections where candidates had to manage their time carefully.
The major topics included:
- Line Graph DI
- Table DI
- Approximation
- Missing Number Series
- Partnership-based questions
- Arithmetic
Two DI sets were reported in the first shift. A Caselet DI was not reported in this shift.
IBPS PO Prelims Shift 2 Analysis 2026
The second shift was held from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
The paper was broadly Easy to Moderate, although some candidates felt that it was slightly lengthy compared with the first shift.
The overall good attempts were estimated at around 60–72 questions.
Reasoning Ability
The Reasoning section included several puzzle-based questions.
Candidates reported questions from:
- Floor and variable-based puzzle
- Month and date-based puzzle
- Selection-based puzzle
- Circular arrangement
- Syllogism
- Inequality
- Blood Relation
- Pair Formation
- Meaningful Word
The presence of different puzzle formats meant that candidates needed to select questions carefully to avoid spending too much time on a single set.
Quantitative Aptitude
The Quantitative Aptitude section included questions from:
- Wrong Number Series
- Approximation
- Double-Line DI
- Table DI
- Caselet DI
Around three questions were reported from the wrong number series.
English Language
English included familiar banking-exam topics such as:
- Reading Comprehension
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Fillers
- Parajumbles
- Error Detection
- Phrase Replacement
- Word Swap
Overall, the section was considered manageable, although the paper was reported to be somewhat lengthy.
IBPS PO Prelims Shift 3 Analysis 2026
The third shift was conducted from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
The overall level of this shift was reported as Moderate. The section-wise attempt range was around 21–25 for Quantitative Aptitude, 24–27 for English and 22–26 for Reasoning.
Reasoning Ability
Questions were reported from:
- Box-based puzzle
- Floor-based puzzle
- Circular seating arrangement
- Selection-based puzzle
- Blood Relation
- Inequality
- Syllogism
- Direction and Distance
- Pair Formation
- Odd One Out
Once again, puzzles and arrangements played an important role in the Reasoning section.
Quantitative Aptitude
The Quantitative Aptitude section included:
- Missing Number Series
- Tabular DI
- Line and Mixed DI
- Approximation
- Double-Line DI
- Caselet DI
- Arithmetic
- Mensuration
Some DI questions were reported to be one-liner based, while arithmetic questions required candidates to spend additional time on calculations.
English Language
The English section included:
- Reading Comprehension
- Synonyms
- Direct Questions
- Fillers
- Cloze Test
- Word Rearrangement
- Phrase Replacement
- Error Detection
- Column-Based Questions
The section continued to follow familiar patterns, although the overall shift was considered slightly more demanding than the first two shifts.
IBPS PO Prelims Shift 4 Analysis 2026
The fourth shift of August 22 was scheduled from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
At the time of the initial analysis, confirmed shift-wise figures for difficulty level and good attempts were not available. Therefore, candidates should wait for reliable feedback before considering any number as the final estimate.
IBPS PO Prelims 2026: Major Topics Asked
Looking at the first three shifts, some clear trends can be observed.
Reasoning
Puzzles and seating arrangements continued to dominate the section. Candidates encountered box, floor, selection, circular, month-date and comparison-based puzzles along with topics such as inequality, blood relation, syllogism and direction-distance.
Quantitative Aptitude
DI, number series and approximation remained important. Arithmetic also contributed a significant number of questions. Candidates who were comfortable with calculations had an advantage.
English
Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, error detection, word swap, fillers, sentence rearrangement and vocabulary-based questions were repeatedly seen.
IBPS PO Prelims Good Attempts 2026
Good Attempts give candidates an initial idea of how their performance compares with the general difficulty of the paper. However, they should not be confused with the expected cut-off.
Based on the available feedback:
- Shift 1: Around 68–75 attempts
- Shift 2: Around 60–72 attempts
- Shift 3: Moderate-level paper with section-wise attempts in the ranges mentioned above
- Shift 4: Analysis awaited
Accuracy remains extremely important because one-fourth mark is deducted for every incorrect answer.
A candidate with fewer attempts but high accuracy may perform better than someone who attempts many questions with several incorrect answers.
What Candidates Appearing in Upcoming Shifts Should Keep in Mind
Candidates who are yet to appear should focus on speed and question selection rather than trying to attempt every question.
Based on the first three shifts, candidates should be prepared for:
- Multiple puzzle sets in Reasoning
- DI and arithmetic in Quantitative Aptitude
- Reading Comprehension and grammar-based questions in English
- Limited time for every section
- Different difficulty levels across shifts
The most important strategy is to avoid getting stuck on lengthy questions. If a puzzle or calculation is taking too much time, it is better to move ahead and return to it only if time permits.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026: Final Review
The first day of the IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2026 has shown a moderate variation in the difficulty level across shifts.
The first and second shifts were generally Easy to Moderate, whereas the third shift was Moderate. Reasoning was heavily dependent on puzzles and seating arrangements, Quantitative Aptitude required careful time management, and English largely followed familiar banking-exam patterns.
For candidates who have already appeared, the next step is to calculate their expected score carefully while considering negative marking. Those appearing in the upcoming shifts should use the available shift-wise trend only as a guide and should not assume that the same questions will be repeated.
The final cut-off and selection chances will depend on the overall performance of candidates, shift difficulty and the official result process.
