The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) concluded its Clerk 2025 Preliminary examination on October 4, 2025. The exam was conducted across four shifts, with the final shift concluding at 5:30 PM. Overall, the examination was rated as easy to moderate in difficulty.
Exam Difficulty Levels by Shift
Candidates reported varied difficulty levels across the four shifts conducted throughout the day. This table summarizes the challenge level for each shift:
| Shifts | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| Shift 1 | Moderate |
| Shift 2 | Easy to Moderate |
| Shift 3 | Moderate |
| Shift 4 | Easy to Moderate |
IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Structure
The IBPS Clerk Prelims exam comprises three sections: English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. The test is allocated 100 total marks and includes sectional timings. The question paper was offered in 13 regional languages.
| Sections | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Time (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 |
Section-wise Question Distribution
Analysis of questions asked in each section provides insight into the exam’s focus areas.
English Language Questions
The English section was generally considered easy. Questions were distributed as follows:
| Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (Fictional) | 9 |
| Error Detection | 5 |
| Single Fillers | 3–4 |
| Misspelt Words | 5 |
| Para Jumble (A to F) | 5 |
| Column Based | 3 |
Reasoning Ability Questions
The Reasoning section was described as lengthy and difficult. Question distribution included:
| Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Floor Based Puzzle (Persons) | 5 |
| Square Based Seating Arrangement | 5 |
| Certain Number of Persons Seating Arrangement | 3 |
| Floor & Flat Based Puzzle | 5 |
| Inequalities | 3 |
| Word Based | 1 |
| Mix Series (Letter, Number & Symbol) | 5 |
| Direction and Distance | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Pair Formation | 1 |
| Meaningful Words | 1 |
Numerical Ability questions covered topics such as Ratio and Proportion, Profit and Loss, Simplification, and Average.
Good Attempts for Shift 1
Based on initial feedback, the following represents the range of good attempts for Shift 1:
| Sections | Good Attempts (Shift 1) |
|---|---|
| English Language | 24-26 |
| Numerical Ability | 25-27 |
| Reasoning Ability | 26-28 |
| Overall | 75-81 |
Key Information for Candidates
The IBPS Clerk Prelims exam results are expected in the third week of October 2025 . Candidates should be aware of sectional cut-off marks . The use of calculators, cell phones, or any other electronic devices is prohibited. Candidates must carry passport-size photographs to the exam centre.
Exam and Reporting Timings
The exam shifts and associated reporting times were:
| Shift | Reporting Time | Exam Timings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 08:00 AM | 09:00 AM to 10:00 AM |
| 2 | 10:30 AM | 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM |
| 3 | 01:30 PM | 02:00 PM to 03:00 PM |
| 4 | 04:00 PM | 04:30 PM to 05:30 PM |
IBPS Clerk Salary Structure
The IBPS Clerk pay scale is INR 19900-1000/1-20900-1230/3-24590-1490/4-30550-1730/7-42600-3270/1-45930-1990/1-47920. This structure outlines the initial salary and subsequent increments.