IBPS PO Exam Analysis 2026: 22 Aug Shift 1
The IBPS PO Exam Analysis for 22 August 2026 Shift 1 is now available. Candidates found the overall prelims paper Easy to Moderate. However, Quantitative Aptitude was slightly more challenging than English Language and Reasoning Ability.
The exam had 100 questions for 100 marks. Candidates received 60 minutes in total. Moreover, each section had a separate time limit of 20 minutes.
This detailed analysis covers the difficulty level, good attempts, questions asked, topic-wise distribution, exam pattern and section-wise review.
IBPS PO Exam Analysis 2026: Overview
First, check the major highlights of the examination.
| Particular | Details |
|---|
| Exam Name | IBPS PO Prelims 2026 |
| Recruitment | CRP PO/MT-XVI |
| Exam Date | 22 August 2026 |
| Shift | Shift 1 |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Maximum Marks | 100 |
| Total Duration | 60 Minutes |
| English Language | 30 Questions |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 Questions |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 Questions |
| Sectional Time | 20 Minutes Each |
| Overall Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
| Estimated Good Attempts | 63–75 |
Note: Good attempts are based on early candidate feedback and exam reviews. Therefore, candidates should not treat them as the official IBPS PO cut-off.
IBPS PO Exam Analysis: Difficulty Level
Overall, candidates found the IBPS PO Shift 1 exam Easy to Moderate.
However, the difficulty level was different across the three sections. Quantitative Aptitude required more calculation and time. In contrast, English and Reasoning were easier to manage for many candidates.
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|
| English Language | Easy to Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate |
Therefore, candidates with good speed and accuracy could attempt a fair number of questions.
IBPS PO Good Attempts 2026 Shift 1
Good attempts depend on both speed and accuracy. Therefore, attempting more questions does not always guarantee a better score.
Based on early Shift 1 feedback, the expected good-attempt range is:
| Section | Questions | Estimated Good Attempts |
|---|
| English Language | 30 | 21–24 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 18–23 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 24–28 |
| Overall | 100 | 63–75 |
Are Good Attempts the Same as the Cut-Off?
No. Good attempts and cut-off marks are different.
Good attempts only provide a rough idea of performance. On the other hand, IBPS decides the final cut-off after considering several factors.
These may include:
- Difficulty level across shifts
- Number of candidates
- Number of vacancies
- Overall scores
- Category-wise performance
- Normalisation of marks
Therefore, candidates should not judge their final result only by the number of questions attempted.
IBPS PO Shift 1 Questions Asked
The Shift 1 paper covered several important banking exam topics.
For example, candidates saw questions from:
- Puzzles
- Seating arrangements
- Data Interpretation
- Arithmetic
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Word-based questions
Now, let us look at the IBPS PO Exam Analysis for each section.
IBPS PO Exam Analysis for Reasoning Ability
The Reasoning Ability section had 35 questions.
Overall, candidates found this section Easy to Moderate. Moreover, puzzles and seating arrangements formed a major part of the section.
Reasoning Questions Asked
| Topic | Questions |
|---|
| Parallel Row Seating Arrangement | 5 |
| Month & Date-Based Puzzle | 5 |
| Category-Based Puzzle | 5 |
| Box-Based Puzzle | 5 |
| Order & Ranking | 3 |
| Blood Relation | 3 |
| Inequality | 3 |
| Direction Sense | 3 |
| Miscellaneous | 3 |
| Total | 35 |
Major Reasoning Topics
Candidates reported questions from:
- Parallel-row seating arrangement
- Month and date-based puzzle
- Category-based puzzle
- Box-based puzzle
- Order and ranking
- Blood relation
- Inequality
- Direction sense
- Word-based questions
In addition, candidates faced a few mixed reasoning questions.
Key Reasoning Observation
According to early candidate feedback, Syllogism did not appear in Shift 1.
Instead, puzzles and seating arrangements carried greater weight.
However, candidates appearing in upcoming shifts should still revise the full Reasoning syllabus. After all, the question distribution may change from one shift to another.
IBPS PO Exam Analysis for Quantitative Aptitude
The Quantitative Aptitude section had 35 questions.
Candidates found this section Moderate. In fact, it was the comparatively tougher section for many candidates.
The section included Data Interpretation, arithmetic, approximation and number-series questions.
Quantitative Aptitude Questions Asked
| Topic | Questions |
|---|
| Line Graph DI | 6 |
| Table DI | 5 |
| Quantity Comparison | 3 |
| Missing Number Series | 5 |
| Approximation | 5 |
| Arithmetic | 11 |
| Total | 35 |
Data Interpretation Asked in Shift 1
Candidates reported two major DI sets:
- Line Graph DI based on boys and girls
- Table DI based on mangoes and apples
Therefore, Data Interpretation remained an important part of the section.
Important Quant Topics
The main topics included:
- Arithmetic
- Data Interpretation
- Approximation
- Missing number series
- Quantity comparison
Among these, arithmetic had the highest number of questions.
As a result, candidates with strong calculation skills had an advantage.
IBPS PO Exam Analysis for English Language
The English Language section had 30 questions.
Overall, candidates found it Easy to Moderate.
The section focused on Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, vocabulary and sentence-based questions.
English Questions Asked
| Topic | Questions |
|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 8 |
| Cloze Test | 6 |
| Error / Incorrect Statement | 3 |
| Word Usage | 2 |
| Word Swap | 4 |
| Sentence Rearrangement | 4 |
| Phrase Replacement | 3 |
| Total | 30 |
Reading Comprehension Topics
Candidates reported Reading Comprehension passages related to:
- Pesticides
- Medical education
In addition, some vocabulary questions came from the passages.
Important English Topics
Candidates saw questions from:
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Word usage
- Word swap
- Sentence rearrangement
- Phrase replacement
- Error detection
- Vocabulary
Therefore, candidates appearing in upcoming shifts should revise both grammar and comprehension.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The IBPS PO Prelims exam contains 100 questions for 100 marks.
However, each section does not carry the same marks.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes |
For example, Reasoning Ability has 35 questions carrying 40 marks.
In contrast, Quantitative Aptitude has 35 questions carrying 30 marks.
English Language has 30 questions carrying 30 marks.
Therefore, candidates should consider both the number of questions and the marks while planning their exam strategy.
Official IBPS Information
For official notifications, call letters and recruitment updates, candidates should check the official IBPS PO/MT-XVI page.
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IBPS PO Negative Marking 2026
The exam includes negative marking for incorrect answers.
For each wrong answer, IBPS deducts one-fourth of the marks assigned to that question.
However, candidates do not lose marks for unanswered questions.
Therefore, candidates should avoid random guesses. Instead, they should focus on questions they can solve with good accuracy.
IBPS PO Shift 1 Exam Sequence
The reported section order for Shift 1 was:
English Language → Quantitative Aptitude → Reasoning Ability
Each section had a separate 20-minute timer.
As a result, candidates could not transfer extra time from one section to another.
So, proper time management remained important throughout the paper.
IBPS PO Exam Analysis 2026: Key Takeaways
Here are the main points from Shift 1:
- Overall difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Quantitative Aptitude: Moderate
- Reasoning Ability: Easy to Moderate
- English Language: Easy to Moderate
- Expected good attempts: 63–75
- Puzzles had strong weight in Reasoning
- Seating arrangements were important
- Syllogism was reportedly absent
- Arithmetic had a major role in Quant
- Data Interpretation included two major sets
- English included RC and Cloze Test
- Every section had a separate 20-minute timer
Overall, candidates who balanced speed with accuracy had a better chance of performing well.
Topics to Revise for Upcoming IBPS PO Shifts
Candidates appearing in upcoming shifts can use this IBPS PO Exam Analysis as a guide.
However, they should not depend only on the Shift 1 pattern.
Reasoning Ability
Focus on:
- Puzzles
- Seating arrangements
- Blood relation
- Direction sense
- Inequality
- Ranking
Quantitative Aptitude
Revise:
- Arithmetic
- Data Interpretation
- Approximation
- Number series
- Quantity comparison
English Language
Prepare:
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Sentence rearrangement
- Word swap
- Phrase replacement
- Vocabulary
- Error detection
In addition, candidates should revise the complete syllabus because later shifts may include different topics.
Prepare for IBPS PO 2026
Candidates who want complete recruitment information can also read our IBPS PO 2026 notification, exam dates and eligibility guide.
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IBPS PO 2026 notification, exam dates and eligibility
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latest banking exam updates
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IBPS PO Exam Analysis FAQs
What was the difficulty level of IBPS PO 22 August Shift 1?
The overall paper was Easy to Moderate. However, candidates found Quantitative Aptitude slightly tougher than English and Reasoning.
What were the good attempts for IBPS PO Shift 1?
Based on early candidate feedback, 63–75 attempts with good accuracy may fall within a reasonable range.
Which section was toughest in IBPS PO Shift 1?
Quantitative Aptitude was comparatively tougher for many candidates because arithmetic and Data Interpretation required more time.
How many questions were asked in IBPS PO Prelims 2026?
The paper had 100 questions. English Language had 30 questions, while Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability had 35 questions each.
How many marks does Reasoning Ability carry?
Reasoning Ability has 35 questions carrying 40 marks.
How many marks does Quantitative Aptitude carry?
Quantitative Aptitude has 35 questions carrying 30 marks.
Conclusion
The IBPS PO Exam Analysis for 22 August 2026 Shift 1 shows that the overall paper was Easy to Moderate.
However, Quantitative Aptitude required more time and calculation. Meanwhile, English and Reasoning were easier to manage.
Therefore, candidates appearing in upcoming shifts should focus on puzzles, seating arrangements, arithmetic, Data Interpretation, approximation, Reading Comprehension and Cloze Test.
Most importantly, candidates should maintain accuracy, speed and effective time management.
If this analysis helped you, share it with other IBPS PO 2026 aspirants. Also, check our latest banking exam updates for more exam analysis, results and recruitment news.
