Loading...
Loading...
The LIC AAO Prelims 2026 is expected in October 2026 and the Mains in November 2026. Exam-day preparedness - knowing exactly what to carry, when to arrive, how the CBT interface works, and critically, how to implement the no-negative-marking strategy in real time - is as important as the months of subject preparation that precede it. The no-negative-marking feature in particular requires a specific examination-day behaviour that is the opposite of what most banking exam candidates have been trained to do.
This page covers every exam-day requirement for LIC AAO 2026 in detail - both for Prelims and Mains - with special attention to the no-negative-marking strategy, the combined timer in Prelims (no sectional locks), the Mains sectional time management, and the Descriptive Test typing approach.
For the complete examination guide, visit the LIC AAO main page. For the exam pattern details, see the LIC AAO Exam Pattern page.
| Stage Expected Date Structure | ||
| Prelims | October 2026 (tentative) | Multiple shifts per day |
| Mains | November 2026 (tentative) | Two shifts |
Exact dates and shift timings are printed on individual admit cards. Always use the admit card as the definitive reference. The 2025 Prelims was conducted on 3rd and 7th October 2025; the 2025 Mains on 8th November 2025.
LIC AAO examination centres close their gates before the exam begins. Latecomers are refused entry.
Based on the 2025 examination pattern, typical shift structure:
| Shift Exam Start Gate Closing Recommended Arrival | |||
| Shift 1 (Morning) | 9:00 AM | 8:45 AM | 7:45 to 8:00 AM |
| Shift 2 (Afternoon) | 12:00 PM | 11:45 AM | 10:45 to 11:00 AM |
| Shift 3 (Evening, if any) | 3:00 PM | 2:45 PM | 1:45 to 2:00 PM |
These are indicative timings from the 2025 pattern. Exact timings are on your admit card. Plan to arrive at least 60 minutes before gate closing to allow for security check, biometric verification, and seating.
Pre-visit the centre: If the examination centre is unfamiliar, visit the location the day before to confirm the building entrance, transport route, and actual travel time. Many LIC examination centres are located in commercial buildings or educational institutions with non-obvious entry points.
Missing any mandatory document can result in denial of entry. Prepare all documents the evening before.
Must be printed on A4 white paper. Digital copies on mobile phones are not accepted at LIC examination centres.
Before arriving at the centre:
Print at least 2 copies.
Verify on the printed admit card:
Valid, original, government-issued photo ID is mandatory. Accepted documents:
| Document Accepted | |
| Aadhaar Card (physical) | Yes |
| PAN Card | Yes |
| Passport | Yes |
| Voter ID Card (EPIC) | Yes |
| Driving Licence (permanent) | Yes |
| College/University Photo ID | Yes |
| Government/PSU Employee ID | Yes |
Carry one photocopy of the identity document along with the original.
Recent passport-size photographs identical to the application photo. One affixed on admit card; one for the attendance register at the examination centre.
Required for the left thumb impression on the admit card and attendance sheet. LIC examination centres do not provide ink pads. Carry your own.
Used for signing documents and the attendance register. The Prelims is entirely computer-based - pens are not needed for answering Prelims questions. However, for the Mains Descriptive Test, candidates type their answers on the computer, so pens are still not needed for answering but remain necessary for signing documents at the centre.
A transparent water bottle (without labels or coloured sections) is typically permitted at LIC examination centres.
LIC enforces strict prohibition on electronic devices inside examination premises.
| Category Prohibited Items | |
| Electronic Devices | Mobile phones (absolutely prohibited, even switched off), smartwatches, Bluetooth earphones, digital watches with data features, tablets |
| Calculation Devices | All calculators - handheld, app-based, device-integrated |
| Study Material | Books, notebooks, printed notes, loose papers |
| Stationery | Pencil cases, rulers, correction fluid |
| Other | Non-transparent bags, large metallic accessories |
Leave your mobile phone at home or in your vehicle. LIC's hall ticket specifically states that mobile phones are not permitted inside examination premises. Most LIC examination centres have no secure storage facility for phones. Being found with a mobile phone - even switched off and in a bag - can lead to cancellation of candidature.
LIC conducts biometric verification before candidates enter the examination hall:
Photograph capture: A webcam photograph is taken at the centre and matched with the application photo. Present yourself with similar appearance to your application photograph.
Signature verification: Sign in front of the invigilator; compared against the application signature.
Thumb impression: Left thumb impression taken and matched against the application upload.
Any significant discrepancy triggers additional verification and delays entry. Match your appearance to your application photo as closely as practical.
The LIC AAO Prelims and Mains are both computer-based tests. The CBT interface is similar to IBPS and SBI CBT platforms.
The interface shows:
Navigation:
The no-negative-marking feature of LIC AAO creates a specific examination behaviour that must be practised deliberately before exam day. Candidates who have been training for IBPS, SBI, or other negative-marking exams have developed the habit of leaving uncertain questions blank. This habit must be completely overridden for LIC AAO.
The rule in LIC AAO: Every question must be answered before leaving the section or paper. Leaving any question blank is the worst possible outcome - it guarantees zero marks for that question. A random guess gives a 25% chance of earning the full mark.
In-examination implementation:
When you encounter a question you cannot answer from knowledge:
When time is running low in any section:
This "mark everything" approach is not reckless - it is mathematically optimal. With four options, a random guess on an unvisited question has an expected value of +0.25 marks (1/4 chance of +1 mark, 0 marks otherwise). Leaving it blank has an expected value of 0. The "mark everything" strategy always produces higher expected scores than the "attempt selectively" strategy in a no-penalty environment.
In LIC AAO Prelims, the 60 minutes are shared across all three sections without individual section timers. This gives candidates complete flexibility in time allocation - a significant advantage compared to IBPS/SBI exams.
Recommended time allocation:
English Language (30 questions) - 14 to 16 minutes: English is qualifying only. Clear the minimum qualifying threshold (approximately 10 to 12 correct answers) efficiently. Recommended order: RC passage (6 to 7 minutes for 8 to 10 questions), Cloze Test (3 to 4 minutes), Error Detection and Fill in the Blanks (3 to 4 minutes), Para Jumbles (2 to 3 minutes). Do not overinvest time in English beyond what is needed to clear the qualifying threshold.
Reasoning Ability (35 questions) - 24 to 26 minutes: Tackle non-puzzle questions first (Inequalities, Syllogisms, Blood Relations, Directions - approximately 15 questions in 8 to 10 minutes). Then dedicate 14 to 16 minutes to puzzle sets. For any puzzle set not fully solved when time is running low, mark best guesses for all unanswered questions in that set.
Quantitative Aptitude (35 questions) - 20 to 22 minutes: Simplification/Approximation first (fastest marks, 2 to 3 minutes for 5 to 8 questions). Number Series next (3 to 4 minutes). Arithmetic questions (5 to 6 minutes for 6 to 9 questions). DI sets last (8 to 10 minutes for 2 to 3 sets). Any unanswered questions receive best guesses before the overall time expires.
Final 2 minutes: Sweep through the question palette. Any White (unvisited) or Grey (unanswered) questions receive any marked answer. Never allow questions to remain blank at the end of the 60 minutes.
Unlike Prelims, LIC AAO Mains has strict sectional time limits for each of the four Objective sections. When a section's timer expires, it locks automatically.
Reasoning Ability (30 questions, 40 minutes): Non-puzzle questions first (8 to 10 minutes). Then 2 to 3 puzzle sets (20 to 25 minutes). Any unresolved puzzle questions receive best-guess answers before the 40-minute lock. With 3 marks per question and no penalty, even correct guessing from partial solving has high expected value.
General Knowledge (30 questions, 20 minutes): Fastest-recall section. Answer what you know immediately (20 to 25 seconds per question). For unknown questions, mark any option - do not leave blank. Complete all 30 questions within 20 minutes regardless of certainty level.
Data Analysis and Interpretation (30 questions, 40 minutes): Standard DI sets first (faster calculations). Caselet DI last (most time-intensive). Attempt all 30 questions before the 40-minute lock, marking best guesses for any set questions that could not be fully solved.
Insurance and Financial Market Awareness (30 questions, 20 minutes): Same approach as GK - answer from knowledge instantly, mark any option for unknown questions. Complete all 30 within 20 minutes.
General rule for Mains: When a sectional timer shows 2 minutes remaining, stop solving new questions and ensure all remaining unanswered questions in that section have an answer marked.
The LIC AAO Mains Descriptive Test (30 minutes, 30 marks) is conducted immediately after the Objective Test on the same computer. Candidates type their essay and letter using the keyboard.
For candidates not comfortable with typing:
Essay approach (200 to 250 words, approximately 18 to 20 minutes):
Letter approach (100 to 150 words, approximately 8 to 10 minutes):
Topics in 2025 were insurance-specific (essay on digital technology in insurance; letter on policy revival). Practise these specific formats with insurance domain content.
Do not discuss answers in groups after the session. Answers are submitted and cannot be changed. Group discussions create anxiety without benefit.
Keep the admit card safely. The Prelims admit card is required at the Mains examination centre for verification.
Monitor licindia.in for the Prelims result. The 2025 Prelims result was released approximately 26 days after the last Prelims date (3rd and 7th October result released 29th October 2025). For 2026, expect the result 3 to 4 weeks after the last Prelims date.
Begin Mains preparation immediately. The gap between Prelims and Mains in 2025 was only 10 days (Prelims result 29th October, Mains 8th November). This is extremely tight. Begin Mains preparation - Insurance Awareness in particular - from the Prelims exam day itself, not after the result.
Evening before:
Morning of exam:
Is a digital admit card on mobile phone accepted at LIC centres? No. A printed admit card on A4 white paper is mandatory. Digital copies on any screen are not accepted.
Should I leave uncertain questions blank in LIC AAO? No. With no negative marking, leaving any question blank is always suboptimal. Mark any answer for every question - worst case is 0 marks (same as leaving blank), best case is earning the full mark. Always answer every question.
Are there sectional time limits in LIC AAO Prelims? No. The 60 minutes in Prelims are a combined pool allocated freely across all three sections. There are no individual section timers in Prelims. Mains, however, has strict sectional time limits (40-20-40-20 minutes).
How long is the Mains Descriptive Test? 30 minutes, immediately after the Objective Test (120 minutes). Total Mains duration is 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes). The Descriptive Test is typed on the same computer used for the Objective Test.
What should I do if the computer freezes during the exam? Raise your hand immediately to alert the invigilator. Do not touch or restart the terminal. LIC examination centres have spare terminals and technical support staff to handle this.