Prelims pattern
Four tests of 20 minutes each, each with its own cut-off. Professional Knowledge questions carry 2 marks; the rest carry 1. The English test is in English; the other tests are in English and Hindi.
| Test | Questions | Marks | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 20 |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 20 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 20 |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 125 | 80 |
Source: IBPS: Notification CRP SPL-XVI (01.07.2026), “Preliminary Examination” (For the Post of IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer)
- Sectional cut-off: you must qualify in each of the four tests, by the minimum marks IBPS sets, to be shortlisted for the Mains.
- Negative marking: one-fourth of the question’s marks for each wrong answer; a blank answer costs nothing (details).
Mains pattern
Four objective tests, then a descriptive paper typed on the computer in the same sitting: 225 marks in 155 minutes. Only Professional Knowledge counts for merit.
| Test | Questions | Marks | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 35 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 |
| Professional Knowledge (objective)Decides merit | 50 | 100 | 40 |
| Total | 150 | 200 | 125 |
Source: IBPS: Notification CRP SPL-XVI (01.07.2026), “Main Examination”
Descriptive paper
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay + ComprehensionEnglish · typed on the computer · no spellcheck | 2 | 25 | 30 |
| Mains total (objective + descriptive) | 152 | 225 | 155 |
Source: IBPS: Information Handout, Online Main Exam CRP SPL-XVI, “Details about Descriptive Paper”: given right after the objective test, answered by typing, no spellcheck
- Only Professional Knowledge counts for merit: all other Mains tests, including the descriptive paper, are qualifying.
- Final merit is Mains : Interview = 80 : 20 (how selection works).
- Minimum in each test: you need the minimum score in every Mains test and a high enough Professional Knowledge score to be called for interview.
Practise the typed paper with a 30-minute timer on our IBPS AFO descriptive paper page.
Negative marking
In every objective test of the Prelims and the Mains, a wrong answer costs one-fourth (0.25) of the marks of that question. A question left blank costs nothing.
| Question | Correct | Wrong | Blank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-mark questionEnglish, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude | +1 | −0.25 | 0 |
| 2-mark questionProfessional Knowledge | +2 | −0.50 | 0 |
Source: IBPS: Notification CRP SPL-XVI (01.07.2026), “Penalty for wrong answers”
Worked example (Prelims Professional Knowledge: 25 questions of 2 marks): 20 right, 4 wrong and 1 left blank gives 20 × 2 − 4 × 0.50 = 40 − 2 = 38 out of 50. The same 4 wrong answers in a 1-mark test cost only 1 mark.
IBPS states the rule (one-fourth of the question’s marks); the per-question values above are worked out from it. If an exam is held in more than one session, scores are normalised with the equi-percentile method, and scores are taken up to two decimal places.
Source: IBPS: Notification CRP SPL-XVI (01.07.2026), “Scores”
Selection process
Three stages; the Prelims only qualifies you. Mains marks are used both to shortlist for interview and in the final merit.
Prelims
Clear the cut-off in each of the four tests and the overall cut-off to be shortlisted for the Mains.
Mains
Score the minimum in every test and high enough in Professional Knowledge to be shortlisted for interview.
Interview
100 marks. Minimum 40% (35% for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates).
Final merit
Mains and interview combined 80 : 20. Qualify in both and rank high enough for provisional allotment.
Source: IBPS: Notification CRP SPL-XVI (01.07.2026), “Cutoff score (Online Main Examination)” and “Interview”
What changed
The 2026 cycle (CRP SPL-XVI) rebuilt both stages: Professional Knowledge moved into the Prelims, and the Mains grew from one Professional Knowledge paper into four tests plus a descriptive paper.
| Stage | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims: tests | 3: English (25 marks), Reasoning (50), Quantitative Aptitude (50); no Professional Knowledge | 4: English, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude (25 marks each), Professional Knowledge (50) |
| Prelims: size | 150 questions · 125 marks · 120 minutes | 100 questions · 125 marks · 80 minutes |
| Mains: objective | Professional Knowledge only: 60 questions · 60 marks · 45 minutes | English, Reasoning, Quant, Professional Knowledge: 150 questions · 200 marks · 125 minutes |
| Mains: descriptive | None | Essay + Comprehension: 2 questions · 25 marks · 30 minutes, typed |
| Mains: total | 60 marks · 45 minutes | 225 marks · 155 minutes |
Sources: IBPS: Notification CRP SPL-XV (2025) · IBPS: Notification CRP SPL-XVI and Information Handout, Online Main Exam (2026)
Expected topic weightage
How we expect the questions to split by topic, from past papers. Open a section to see its table.
IBPS publishes no topic-wise split. The notification fixes only the questions, marks and time of each test (the official tables above). Everything in this section is AgriPrep’s estimate and can change on exam day.
Prelims
Reasoning Ability~25 questions · Puzzle-heavy: 8–10 questions from one topicExpected difficulty: Moderate–High
| Topic | Expected Q | Difficulty | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puzzle & Seating Arrangement | 8–10 | High | Must prepare |
| Input–Output | 4 | Medium | Important |
| Statement & Assumption | 2 | Medium | Time-heavy |
| Syllogism | 2 | Low | Easy score |
| Inequality | 2 | Low | Easy score |
| Data Sufficiency | 2 | Medium | Practise |
| Blood Relation | 2 | Medium | Moderate |
| Direction & Distance | 2 | Medium | Practise |
| Alphanumeric Series | 1 | Low | Fast attempt |
| Total | ~25 | ||
Puzzle & Seating Arrangement is the wild card: IBPS may set 8 or 10 questions, and the other topics absorb the difference.
Quantitative Aptitude~25 questions · DI-heavy: 8–10 questions from interpretation setsExpected difficulty: Moderate–High
| Topic | Expected Q | Difficulty | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data InterpretationTable, bar, pie, caselet or mixed | 8–10 | High | Must prepare |
| Arithmetic (combined)Usually 1 each from boats & streams, trains, time & work, profit & loss, partnership/ages; 0–1 from percentage, ratio, average, SI & CI, mixture | 5–6 | High | Must prepare |
| Simplification / Approximation | 3–4 | Low | Easy score |
| Number Series / Quadratic EquationMissing or wrong number, root comparison | 3–4 | Low | Easy score |
| Data Sufficiency | 2 | Medium | Moderate |
| Total | ~25 | ||
DI (8–10) + Arithmetic (5–6) + Simplification (3–4) + Series/Quadratic (3–4) + DS (2) ≈ 25. The arithmetic chapter split is indicative: any chapter can appear.
English Language~25 questions · RC-led: 8–10 questions from comprehensionExpected difficulty: Easy–Moderate
| Topic | Expected Q | Difficulty | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 8–10 | High | Must prepare |
| Cloze Test / Para Jumbles | 4–5 | Medium | Important |
| Error DetectionSpotting errors | 3–4 | Medium | Important |
| Fill in the Blanks | 2 | Low | Easy score |
| Column-based Questions | 2 | Medium | Practise |
| Word Swap | 2 | Medium | Practise |
| Total | ~25 | ||
Reading comprehension carries the most questions; IBPS rotates the grammar mix (cloze, para jumbles, column-based, word swap) every year.
Professional Knowledge~25 questions · New in Prelims for 2026: no past-paper trend yet; 2 marks a questionExpected difficulty: Moderate
| Topic | Expected Q | Difficulty | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Husbandry | 3–5 | High | Must prepare |
| Current Affairs & Government Schemes | 3–5 | Medium | Important |
| Horticulture | 3–4 | Medium | Important |
| Agronomy | 2–3 | High | Must prepare |
| Soil Science | 2–3 | High | Must prepare |
| Fisheries | 2–3 | High | Must prepare |
| Agricultural Engineering | 2–3 | Medium | Important |
| General Agriculture | 1–2 | Low | Moderate |
| Sericulture | 1 | Low | Moderate |
| Mushroom Cultivation | 1 | Low | Moderate |
| Extension | 1 | Low | Moderate |
| Apiculture & Plant Protection | 1 | Low | Moderate |
| Genetics & Plant Breeding | 1 | Low | Moderate |
| Total | ~25 | ||
Professional Knowledge is new to Prelims, so this split is modelled on the Mains agriculture topic spread, scaled to 25 foundation-level questions.
Mains
Mains Professional Knowledge50 questions · 100 marks · the test that decides meritExpected difficulty: Moderate–Hard
| Subject | Expected Q | Share in past papers | Easy · Medium · Hard | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agronomyincl. seed technology, weeds, water management, sustainable farming | 9 | ~23% | Easy 2, Medium 4, Hard 3 | Must prepare |
| Soil Sciencefertility, problem soils, biofertilisers | 8 | ~20% | Easy 2, Medium 4, Hard 2 | Must prepare |
| Horticulturefruits, vegetables, plantation, post-harvest | 6 | ~13% | Easy 1, Medium 3, Hard 2 | Important |
| Animal Husbandry & Dairy | 5 | ~11% | Easy 1, Medium 3, Hard 1 | Important |
| Plant Pathology | 3 | ~7% | Easy 1, Medium 1, Hard 1 | Practise |
| Entomologyincl. apiculture, sericulture | 3 | ~5% | Easy 1, Medium 1, Hard 1 | Practise |
| Fisheries | 3 | ~3% | Easy 1, Medium 1, Hard 1 | Practise |
| Government schemes & agri current affairs | 3 | – | Easy 0, Medium 3, Hard 0 | Practise |
| Agricultural economics, marketing & finance | 3 | ~5% | Easy 0, Medium 2, Hard 1 | Practise |
| Genetics & Plant Breeding | 2 | ~3% | Easy 0, Medium 1, Hard 1 | Revise |
| Agricultural Engineering | 2 | ~3% | Easy 0, Medium 1, Hard 1 | Revise |
| Plant Physiology | 1 | ~1% | Easy 0, Medium 1, Hard 0 | Revise |
| Forestry & agroforestry | 1 | ~3% | Easy 0, Medium 1, Hard 0 | Revise |
| Agricultural Extension | 1 | ~1% | Easy 1, Medium 0, Hard 0 | Revise |
| Total | 50 | Easy 10, Medium 26, Hard 14 |
From about 820 Professional Knowledge questions in past AFO Mains papers (2012–2024); shares are approximate (±3 points). Scheme questions are hard to count in old papers because scheme figures change every year. The English, Reasoning and Quant blueprint for the Mains is on the Mains hub.
Prelims attempt strategy
English
- Fill in the blanks: the quickest questions
- Error detection
- Cloze test & para jumbles
- Column-based & word swap
- Reading comprehension last: 8–10 questions, most time
Reasoning
- Syllogism & inequality: the fastest 4
- Alphanumeric series: 1–2 min at most
- Blood relation & direction
- Input–output & data sufficiency
- Puzzle & seating last: 8–10 min for 8–10 questions
Quant
- Simplification / approximation first: 3–4 quick marks
- Number series & quadratic: 3–4 quick marks
- Arithmetic: familiar chapters first
- DI & data sufficiency last: 10–12 questions
Professional Knowledge
- Government schemes & current affairs: quick recall
- General agriculture
- Horticulture & agricultural engineering
- Fisheries & the 1-question topics
- Animal husbandry, agronomy & soil science: don’t rush
Mains attempt strategy
English
Fillers and vocabulary first, then error detection and sentence improvement, cloze and para jumbles; reading comprehension last.
Reasoning
Syllogism and inequality, then coding–decoding and input–output, blood relation and direction; puzzles and seating last.
Quant
Simplification and series, quadratic equations, familiar arithmetic; DI and data sufficiency last.
Professional Knowledge
Confident subjects first; take agronomy and soil science slowly; flag doubtful questions and come back. This score decides merit.
Descriptive
Plan before you type: there is no spellcheck. IBPS doesn’t split the 30 minutes, so budget your own time for both answers.
Exam pattern FAQ
What is the IBPS AFO exam pattern 2026?
Prelims: 100 questions, 125 marks, 80 minutes in four tests of 20 minutes each (English, Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude 25 marks each, Professional Knowledge 50). Mains: 150 objective questions, 200 marks, 125 minutes, then a 25-mark descriptive paper in 30 minutes: 225 marks in 155 minutes. Then an interview of 100 marks.
Is there a sectional time limit in IBPS AFO?
Yes. Every test has its own time (20 minutes each in Prelims; 25, 35, 25 and 40 minutes in Mains), and you can move between questions of a test only during that test’s time.
Do Prelims marks count in the final merit?
No. Prelims is qualifying: you must clear the cut-off in each of the four tests and the overall cut-off. IBPS uses only the Mains marks to shortlist for interview and for the final merit list.
What is the descriptive paper in IBPS AFO Mains?
IBPS calls it “Descriptive Paper (Essay and Comprehension)”: 2 questions, 25 marks, 30 minutes, in English. It comes straight after the objective test, you type the answers, and there is no spellcheck. Practise it on our descriptive paper page.
Which Mains test decides the merit list?
Professional Knowledge. All other Mains tests are qualifying: you need the minimum score in each of them, and a high enough Professional Knowledge score to be called for interview.
How is the final merit list made?
Mains and interview are combined in the ratio 80 : 20. The interview is out of 100 and you must score at least 40% (35% for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates). You have to qualify in both and rank high enough for provisional allotment.
Is there negative marking in IBPS AFO?
Yes, in the objective tests of both Prelims and Mains: one-fourth of the question’s marks for each wrong answer (0.25 for a 1-mark question, 0.50 for a 2-mark Professional Knowledge question). A blank answer costs nothing.
Will the IBPS AFO pattern change in 2027?
IBPS hasn’t published the next notification yet. The pattern changed a lot in 2026 (Professional Knowledge in Prelims; English, Reasoning, Quant and a descriptive paper in Mains), and IBPS announces any change in the notification and on ibps.in. We update this page when it does.