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The IBPS PO Prelims exam analysis is one of the most useful tools a candidate has for calibrating preparation. It reveals what the paper actually looked like on exam day, which section was the easiest and hardest, how many questions a strong candidate attempted and got correct, and what kind of score was needed to clear the cutoff comfortably. For candidates preparing for IBPS PO Prelims 2026, the analysis from previous cycles is a preparation blueprint, not just a post-exam report.
This page covers the IBPS PO Prelims 2025 (CRP PO/MT-XV) exam analysis in detail, including shift-wise difficulty observations, section-wise topic breakdown, good attempt ranges, year-wise trend comparison from 2022 to 2025, and what the 2026 exam is expected to look like based on established patterns.
The IBPS PO Prelims 2025 was conducted in October 2025 across multiple shifts over two dates. The exam followed the revised pattern introduced in 2025, with Reasoning Ability carrying 40 marks (increased from 35) and Quantitative Aptitude carrying 30 marks (decreased from 35).
| Parameter | Detail |
| Exam Name | CRP PO/MT-XV Preliminary Examination |
| Exam Dates | October 2025 (multiple shifts) |
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 60 minutes (20 minutes per section) |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks per wrong answer |
| Sections | English Language (30/30), QA (35/30), Reasoning (35/40) |
| Overall Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
Based on candidate feedback collected across shifts, the IBPS PO Prelims 2025 was rated as easy to moderate overall. This is consistent with the trend from the 2022, 2023-24, and 2024 cycles, where the Prelims difficulty has remained in the easy-to-moderate band. A notably hard Prelims shift is rare in IBPS PO; difficulty variation tends to be between easy and moderate, not between moderate and hard.
The implication is significant: because the paper is typically accessible, more candidates score in the 45 to 65 range, making the competition dense near the cutoff band of 48 to 54. Candidates who consistently score above 60 in full mock tests are well clear of this competition band.
| Section | Maximum Marks | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
| English Language | 30 | Easy to Moderate | 22 to 26 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | Moderate | 18 to 22 |
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | Moderate | 22 to 27 |
| Overall | 100 | Easy to Moderate | 63 to 73 |
English was the most consistently scoring section in 2025. The passages in Reading Comprehension were on banking-related and socioeconomic topics, at a moderate reading difficulty level. Vocabulary questions (synonyms, antonyms, word usage in context) were drawn from standard banking exam word pools rather than obscure literary terms.
| Topic | Questions per Shift (Approx.) | Difficulty |
| Reading Comprehension | 7 to 10 | Easy to Moderate |
| Cloze Test | 5 to 6 | Easy |
| Para Jumbles | 3 to 5 | Moderate |
| Error Spotting | 2 to 4 | Easy to Moderate |
| Fill in the Blanks | 2 to 4 | Easy |
| Sentence Improvement | 2 to 3 | Moderate |
| Vocabulary (Synonyms/Antonyms) | 1 to 3 | Moderate |
Key observation: Cloze Tests and Fill in the Blanks were the fastest questions in this section, requiring 20 to 30 seconds each. Candidates who attempted these first and then moved to Reading Comprehension managed time better than those who tackled RC first and ran out of time for grammar-based questions.
Good attempt target for English: 22 to 26 correct out of 30 for a General category candidate aiming for 60 or above overall.
Quantitative Aptitude was the most time-pressured section in 2025, consistent with all previous IBPS PO Prelims cycles. With 35 questions in 20 minutes, the section demands an average of 34 seconds per question. Candidates who relied on lengthy calculation methods struggled to complete even 25 questions within time.
| Topic | Questions per Shift (Approx.) | Difficulty |
| Data Interpretation | 10 to 15 | Moderate |
| Simplification and Approximation | 5 to 7 | Easy |
| Number Series | 4 to 5 | Easy to Moderate |
| Arithmetic (all topics combined) | 8 to 10 | Easy to Moderate |
| Quadratic Equations | 3 to 5 | Easy to Moderate |
| Miscellaneous | 1 to 3 | Moderate |
Data Interpretation breakdown: In most 2025 shifts, two DI sets appeared, one tabular and one based on a bar graph or pie chart. Each set had 5 questions. Calculations involved percentage change, ratio, and average, which are manageable with approximation methods.
Key observation: Candidates who attempted Simplification and Approximation first (fastest questions with highest per-question accuracy), then Number Series and Quadratic Equations, and finally DI sets performed significantly better than those who tackled DI first and lost time on complex calculations.
Good attempt target for QA: 18 to 22 correct out of 35 questions (corresponding to 15 to 19 marks out of 30) for a General category candidate.
Reasoning was the section with the highest marks (40) after the 2025 pattern revision. It was also the most variable section in terms of difficulty between shifts. Some shifts had straightforward puzzles (4 to 5 person linear arrangements), while others had more complex hybrid puzzles (floor-based with month and designation variables).
| Topic | Questions per Shift (Approx.) | Difficulty |
| Puzzles and Seating Arrangement (combined) | 15 to 20 | Easy to Moderate |
| Syllogism | 3 to 5 | Easy |
| Inequalities | 3 to 5 | Easy |
| Blood Relations | 2 to 3 | Easy to Moderate |
| Coding-Decoding | 2 to 3 | Easy |
| Alphanumeric Series | 2 to 3 | Easy |
| Direction Sense | 1 to 2 | Easy |
| Miscellaneous | 1 to 3 | Moderate |
Puzzle types observed in 2025 Prelims shifts:
Key observation: Candidates who attempted Syllogism and Inequalities first (2 to 3 minutes for 6 to 10 questions), then Coding-Decoding and Alphanumeric Series, and finally puzzle sets reported more consistent performance. This strategy avoids spending the first 5 to 8 minutes stuck on a complex puzzle at the cost of missing easier questions elsewhere.
Good attempt target for Reasoning: 22 to 27 correct out of 35 questions (corresponding to 25 to 31 marks out of 40) for a General category candidate.
| Cycle | Overall Difficulty | Good Attempts | Official Cutoff (General) |
| 2025 (CRP XV) | Easy to Moderate | 63 to 73 | 49.21 |
| 2024 (CRP XIV) | Easy to Moderate | 65 to 75 | 48.50 |
| 2023-24 (CRP XIII) | Easy | 70 to 80 | 54.25 |
| 2022 (CRP XII) | Easy to Moderate | 65 to 73 | 49.75 |
The 2023-24 cycle stands out with both the highest good attempt range and the highest cutoff (54.25), confirming the direct relationship between paper difficulty and cutoff level. When the paper is easy, more candidates score above 50, which raises the competitive threshold.
| Section | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| English Language (out of 30 questions) | 22 to 26 | 23 to 27 | 24 to 28 | 22 to 26 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (out of 35 questions) | 18 to 22 | 19 to 23 | 22 to 26 | 19 to 23 |
| Reasoning Ability (out of 35 questions) | 22 to 27 | 23 to 28 | 24 to 29 | 22 to 27 |
| Overall (out of 100 questions) | 63 to 73 | 65 to 75 | 70 to 80 | 65 to 73 |
These ranges are based on candidate feedback and validated against official cutoff data. They represent the performance band of candidates who cleared the Prelims cutoff comfortably in each cycle.
The exam analysis from 2022 to 2025 produces a clear and consistent picture of what the IBPS PO Prelims looks like. Use these observations to shape your 2026 preparation.
In every cycle from 2022 to 2025, Puzzles and Seating Arrangement constituted 43 to 57 percent of the Reasoning section. A candidate who cannot solve 2 to 3 puzzle sets in 20 minutes will struggle to score above 25 out of 40. Dedicated daily puzzle practice across all formats is non-negotiable.
Practice recommendation: Solve 3 to 4 puzzle sets daily. Use the topic-wise puzzle tests in the Aspirant Mitraa IBPS PO Prelims Test Series to build speed across all puzzle formats before attempting full subject-wise or full mock tests.
Data Interpretation consistently accounts for 10 to 15 questions per shift in QA. Each DI set takes 3 to 5 minutes. A candidate who takes 5 minutes per DI set uses 10 minutes on just two sets, leaving only 10 minutes for 25 remaining questions. DI speed is the single largest variable in QA performance.
Practice recommendation: Practise DI sets daily with percentage, ratio, and average calculations using approximation. Target 3 to 3.5 minutes per DI set.
English Language has been the most predictable section across all recent cycles. Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, and Para Jumbles dominate the section. Candidates with strong grammar fundamentals and regular RC practice can target 23 to 26 correct out of 30 consistently.
Because of the strict 20-minute sectional timer, candidates must have a pre-planned order of topics within each section. There is no option to revisit; time runs out and the next section is forced open. Practising this section sequence across full mock tests builds the automatic response needed on exam day.
In an easy-to-moderate paper, the difference between candidates who score 55 and those who score 65 is rarely the number of questions they attempted. It is the accuracy rate. Candidates who attempt 70 questions with 88 percent accuracy score approximately 58 marks. Those who attempt 75 with 80 percent accuracy score approximately 55 marks. The first candidate clears the cutoff more safely despite fewer attempts.
Based on the consistent easy-to-moderate difficulty trend from 2022 to 2025, the 2026 Prelims is expected to follow the same pattern.
| Section | Max Marks | Expected Difficulty | Target Correct Answers | Target Score |
| English Language | 30 | Easy to Moderate | 22 to 25 | 19 to 23 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | Moderate | 18 to 21 | 14 to 18 |
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | Moderate | 23 to 27 | 26 to 31 |
| Total | 100 | Easy to Moderate | 63 to 73 | 59 to 72 |
A total score of 65 or above provides a comfortable buffer above the expected 2026 cutoff of 48 to 54 for the General category.
Once the IBPS PO Prelims 2026 exam is conducted on August 22 and 23, 2026, this page will be updated with:
Bookmark this page and check back after August 23, 2026.
Target section-level accuracy, not just attempts. Use each full mock test to record your accuracy rate per section. If QA accuracy is below 75 percent, reduce attempts and focus on higher-confidence questions rather than attempting more.
Replicate exam conditions in mocks. When taking mock tests, enforce the 20-minute per section rule strictly. Do not pause the timer. The stress of the timer is part of what the mock is training you for.
Track your score trend over 10 to 15 mocks. A flat or declining score line indicates something specific needs to change. A rising line shows the preparation is working. Use the Aspirant Mitraa IBPS PO Prelims Test Series with 400 tests to track this consistently without running out of fresh practice material.
Which section is the hardest in IBPS PO Prelims? Based on four cycles of data, Quantitative Aptitude is the hardest in terms of time pressure (35 questions in 20 minutes). Reasoning Ability is the hardest in terms of marks consequence when puzzles are difficult.
How many questions should I attempt to score 60 in IBPS PO Prelims? Approximately 68 to 72 attempts with an accuracy rate of 86 to 88 percent produces a raw score close to 60. With a slight positive normalisation adjustment, this often maps to 60 or above.
Do questions repeat across shifts in the same exam cycle? IBPS conducts Prelims in multiple shifts with different question papers. Questions do not repeat within the same cycle. The data from one shift does not help candidates in a later shift.
Is the 2025 revised pattern (QA 30 marks, Reasoning 40 marks) permanent? The revised pattern has been confirmed for CRP PO/MT-XV and is expected to continue in CRP PO/MT-XVI. Always verify with the official 2026 notification, as IBPS reserves the right to revise the pattern.
Exam analysis data on this page is based on candidate feedback aggregated from the IBPS PO Prelims 2025, 2024, 2023-24, and 2022 cycles, cross-referenced against official IBPS cutoff PDFs released at ibps.in. Individual question-level content is not reproduced in compliance with applicable examination regulations. The 2026 analysis will be published on this page after the August 22 and 23, 2026 exam dates.
Stay updated with the latest news and notifications about IBPS PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2025: Section-wise Difficulty, Good Attempts and Trends and other exams.
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24 May 2026
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24 May 2026
