The IBPS Clerk Prelims 2025 examination has been successfully conducted on October 4th and 5th, 2025, across multiple shifts and centers nationwide. With over 10,277 vacancies announced for the clerical cadre in various participating banks, this exam has attracted millions of aspirants. Here’s a comprehensive analysis of all shifts to help candidates understand the exam pattern, difficulty level, and expected cutoff trends.
Overall IBPS Clerk Prelims 2025 Exam Overview
The IBPS Clerk Prelims examination was conducted smoothly across 255 centers in 126 cities over 8 shifts (4 shifts each day). The exam tested candidates on three main sections:
- Reasoning Ability (35 questions)
- Numerical Ability (35 questions)
- English Language (30 questions)
Key Exam Details:
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Time: 60 minutes (20 minutes per section)
- Exam Mode: Online (Computer-based)
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks for each wrong answer
IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis: Difficulty Level Summary
The overall difficulty level across all shifts remained consistent at Easy to Moderate. Here’s the section-wise difficulty breakdown:
| Section | Difficulty Level | Key Observations |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | Easy to Moderate | Reading comprehension was straightforward, grammar questions were manageable |
| Reasoning Ability | Easy to Moderate | Puzzles and seating arrangements dominated, most were solvable |
| Numerical Ability | Easy to Moderate | Simplification was scoring, arithmetic required careful calculation |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate | Balanced paper allowing good attempts with accuracy |
Shift-wise IBPS Clerk Prelims Analysis 2025
October 5th, 2025 – Shift 1 Analysis
Overall Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
| Section | Good Attempts | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 21-25 | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 23-29 | Easy to Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | 28-32 | Easy |
| Total | 72-86 | Easy to Moderate |
English Language Topics (Shift 1 – Oct 5):
- Reading Comprehension (Solo Traveller passage) – 9 questions
- Para Jumbles – 5 questions
- Error Detection – 3 questions
- Word Swap – 4-5 questions
- Sentence Improvement – 2 questions
- Single Fillers – 5 questions
- Phrase Replacement – 3 questions
Numerical Ability Topics (Shift 1 – Oct 5):
- Simplification – 12 questions
- Bar Graph DIÂ – 5 questions (Easy level)
- Table DIÂ – 5 questions
- Arithmetic Questions – 13 questions (Boat & Stream, Ages, SI-CI, Trains)
Reasoning Ability Topics (Shift 1 – Oct 5):
- Square Table Seating Arrangement – 5 questions
- Floor-Based Puzzle (8 floors) – 5 questions
- Post-Based Puzzle (8 posts) – 5 questions
- Comparison-based Puzzle – 3 questions
- Syllogism – 3 questions
- Mix Series – 5 questions
- Chinese Coding – 5 questions
October 5th, 2025 – Shift 2 Analysis
Overall Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
| Section | Good Attempts | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 23-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 24-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | 27-32 | Easy to Moderate |
| Total | 76-81 | Easy to Moderate |
Key Topics Covered (Shift 2 – Oct 5):
English Language:
- Reading Comprehension (Fictional, Animal) – 9 questions
- Word Rearrangement – 5 questions
- Error Detection – 5 questions
- Cloze Test (Rafting Experience) – 6 questions
- Phrase Replacement – 4 questions
- Column Based – 1 question
Numerical Ability:
- Simplification – 10 questions
- Arithmetic (Ages, SI, CI, Train) – 13 questions
- Tabular DIÂ – 6 questions
- Bar Graph DIÂ – 6 questions
Reasoning Ability:
- Parallel Row Seating – 5 questions
- Day Based Puzzle – 5 questions
- Flat & Floor Puzzle – 5 questions
- Letter Based Word Series – 4 questions
- Blood Relation – 3 questions
- Syllogism – 3 questions
- Chinese Coding – 5 questions
October 4th, 2025 – All Shifts Analysis
Shift 1 (October 4th)
Overall Good Attempts: 70-84 questions
Key Highlights:
- English: Easy to Moderate with Army dog-themed reading comprehension
- Numerical: Mix of simplification, arithmetic, and DI questions
- Reasoning: Puzzles and seating arrangements were scoring
Shift 2 (October 4th)
Overall Good Attempts: 71-84 questions
Key Highlights:
- English: Guitar company-themed reading comprehension
- Numerical: Population-based bar graph DI was manageable
- Reasoning: Month-based puzzles and coding-decoding were doable
Shift 3 (October 4th)
Overall Good Attempts: 73-87 questions
Key Highlights:
- English: Ship-related passage in reading comprehension
- Numerical: Builder-themed bar graph and missing number series
- Reasoning: Floor & flat puzzles were easy to solve
Shift 4 (October 4th)
Overall Good Attempts: 71-85 questions
Key Highlights:
- English: Community-based reading comprehension about pandemic recovery
- Numerical: Population-based bar graph and caselet DI
- Reasoning: Circle seating and box puzzles were straightforward
Section-wise Detailed Analysis
English Language Analysis
Overall Assessment: Easy to Moderate across all shifts
Common Topic Pattern:
- Reading Comprehension: 8-10 questions (varied themes – travel, community, animals, ships)
- Grammar Questions: 8-12 questions (error detection, phrase replacement)
- Vocabulary: Moderate level synonyms and antonyms
- Sentence Structure: Para jumbles, word rearrangement
Scoring Strategy:
- Reading comprehension was the most scoring section
- Grammar questions required careful attention
- Vocabulary was mostly from common usage
Numerical Ability Analysis
Overall Assessment: Easy to Moderate with calculation-intensive questions
Common Topic Distribution:
- Simplification: 10-13 questions (highly scoring)
- Data Interpretation: 10-12 questions (bar graphs, tables, line graphs)
- Arithmetic: 10-15 questions (time & work, profit & loss, ages, boats & streams)
- Number Series: 0-2 questions (limited appearance)
Key Observations:
- Simplification dominated with straightforward calculations
- DI questions required logical thinking but weren’t overly complex
- Arithmetic covered standard topics from IBPS syllabus
Reasoning Ability Analysis
Overall Assessment: Easy to Moderate, most scoring section
Common Topic Pattern:
- Puzzles & Seating: 15-20 questions (floor puzzles, seating arrangements)
- Coding-Decoding: 4-5 questions (Chinese coding, letter-based)
- Series: 4-5 questions (alphanumeric, number-based)
- Logical Reasoning: 8-10 questions (syllogism, blood relations, inequalities)
Scoring Potential:
- Puzzles were direct and solvable with basic logic
- Coding-decoding followed standard patterns
- Series questions were manageable with practice
Expected IBPS Clerk Cutoff Trends 2025
Based on the exam analysis and difficulty level, here are the expected cutoff ranges:
Overall Expected Cutoff:
- General Category: 75-80 marks
- OBC Category: 73-78 marks
- SC Category: 68-73 marks
- ST Category: 65-70 marks
Section-wise Safe Scores:
- English Language: 18-22 marks
- Reasoning Ability: 25-30 marks
- Numerical Ability: 20-25 marks
Note: These are preliminary estimates based on difficulty analysis. Actual cutoffs may vary based on overall performance and normalization.
Important Tips for IBPS Clerk Mains Preparation
Strategy for Qualified Candidates:
- Focus on Weak Areas: Identify sections where you scored less and work on improvement
- Current Affairs: Start regular reading for mains general awareness section
- Computer Knowledge: Begin preparation for this additional section in mains
- Mock Tests: Practice full-length mains mock tests regularly
- Time Management: Develop section-wise time allocation strategy
Key Subjects for Mains:
- Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (50 questions)
- English Language (40 questions)
- Quantitative Aptitude (50 questions)
- General/Financial Awareness (50 questions)
Exam Day Experience and Candidate Feedback
Positive Aspects Reported:
- Smooth exam conduct across all centers
- No major technical glitches reported
- Question paper quality was good
- Time allocation was adequate for most candidates
Challenges Faced:
- Some DI questions were calculation-intensive
- Certain puzzles required more time than expected
- Reading comprehension passages were lengthy in some shifts
What’s Next After IBPS Clerk Prelims 2025?
Important Upcoming Dates:
- Prelims Result: Expected by November 2025
- Mains Exam: Likely in December 2025/January 2026
- Final Result: Expected by March 2026
Document Verification Process:
Qualified candidates will need to prepare:
- Educational certificates
- Caste certificate (if applicable)
- Experience certificates
- Identity proofs
- Medical fitness certificate
Key Takeaways from IBPS Clerk Prelims 2025
- Consistent Difficulty: All shifts maintained similar difficulty levels
- Standard Pattern: No major deviation from previous year patterns
- Scoring Opportunities: Ample questions for good attempts in each section
- Time Management: Crucial for maximizing attempts
- Accuracy Matters: Negative marking made precision important
Conclusion
The IBPS Clerk Prelims 2025 examination provided a fair opportunity for all candidates with its balanced difficulty level. The paper tested fundamental concepts across all three sections without being overly tricky. Candidates who maintained accuracy while maximizing attempts likely performed well.
For those who appeared in the exam, focus now shifts to mains preparation. The prelims analysis shows that consistent preparation and practice with standard topics can lead to success in IBPS examinations.
Stay updated with official notifications and continue your preparation journey. Best of luck to all aspirants!