IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2025 (October 12, All Shifts): Easy Paper, Good Attempts & State-Wise Expected Cut-Off
IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2025 The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has successfully conducted the first day of its massive Preliminary Examination for the Clerical Cadre (CRP Clerk-XV) on October 12, 2025. This exam marks the crucial first step for lakhs of aspirants aiming for a secure and stable career in India’s leading Public Sector Banks. The online examination was held in four shifts across hundreds of centers nationwide, and the overall sentiment from candidates has been overwhelmingly positive.
Immediately after walking out of the exam hall, the most pressing questions on every candidate’s mind are: How difficult was the paper? What is a safe number of attempts? And most importantly, what could be the expected state-wise cut-off? Based on extensive, real-time feedback and in-depth analysis from thousands of students who took the exam in various shifts, we have compiled the most exhaustive and accurate exam analysis available.
The definitive verdict from Day 1 is that the paper was Easy. This has significant implications for the cut-off marks, which are now expected to be on the higher side across all states. This ultimate guide provides a deep dive into the section-wise difficulty, a breakdown of the actual questions asked, a strategic projection of good attempts, and a carefully calculated state-wise expected cut-off to help you gauge your performance and plan your next steps.
Key Highlights of the Exam (Day 1)
- Overall Difficulty Level: The consensus across all four shifts was that the paper was Easy.
- Most Scorable Sections: The Reasoning Ability and English Language sections were particularly easy and allowed candidates to maximize their scores.
- Slightly Time-Consuming Section: The Numerical Ability section was rated as Easy to Moderate, with some arithmetic questions being slightly calculative.
- Dominant Topics: The exam was dominated by Simplification in Numerical Ability and Puzzles in the Reasoning section.
- No Surprises: The exam pattern was completely aligned with the previous years’ trends, with no new or unexpected question types.
Overall Good Attempts & Difficulty Level
A “good attempt” refers to the number of questions a well-prepared candidate could attempt with approximately 90-95% accuracy. Given the easy nature of the paper, the number of good attempts is high.
Subject-Wise Deep Dive: An Exhaustive Breakdown (All Shifts)
Here is a granular, topic-by-topic breakdown of the questions that appeared in each section throughout the day.
Reasoning Ability (Easy)
This section was a major confidence booster for most aspirants. It was highly scorable, with a good mix of straightforward miscellaneous questions and manageable puzzles. A well-prepared student could easily attempt 30+ questions within the 20-minute time frame.
In-depth Analysis:
- Puzzles and Seating Arrangements: There were three sets in each shift. The types seen included:
- A Floor-based puzzle with 7 people living on 7 different floors.
- A Linear Seating Arrangement with 8 people sitting in a single row, all facing north.
- A Day-based puzzle where 7 people had activities on 7 different days of the week (Monday to Sunday).
- All puzzles were single-variable and did not involve complex conditions, making them solvable within 2-3 minutes each.
- Miscellaneous Topics: The questions from Syllogism (mostly “Only a few” and “Some/All” types), direct Inequality, and Blood Relation were very easy and could be solved in seconds, allowing candidates to secure marks quickly before tackling the puzzles.
Numerical Ability (Easy-Moderate)
This section was slightly more time-consuming but was dominated by Speed Maths questions, which made it manageable for candidates with good calculation skills.
In-depth Analysis:
- Simplification: This was the highlight of the section, with a massive 12 to 15 questions in every shift. The questions were based on the BODMAS rule, fractions, and percentages, and were a gift for candidates with strong calculation speed.
- Data Interpretation (DI): A single, straightforward set of Bar Graph DI was asked in most shifts. The data was easy to read, and the 5 questions based on it involved simple calculations of averages, ratios, and percentages.
- Arithmetic: The word problems were from a range of topics, including Percentage, Profit & Loss, SI & CI, Time & Work, Mixtures & Alligations, and Boats & Streams. The difficulty level of these questions was easy.
English Language (Easy)
The English section was unanimously rated as the easiest of the three. It tested fundamental grammar and reading skills, and most candidates were able to complete it well within the allotted time.
In-depth Analysis:
- Reading Comprehension (RC): The passages were mostly story-based and simple to understand. The questions were direct, with 2-3 questions focused on vocabulary (synonyms/antonyms) from the passage.
- Grammar and Vocabulary: The questions on Error Spotting were based on simple subject-verb agreement and tense rules. The Misspelt Words and Single Fillers questions were also based on common, everyday vocabulary, making this a very high-scoring section.
IBPS Clerk Prelims Expected Cut-Off 2025: A State-Wise Projection
It is crucial to remember that the IBPS Clerk cut-off is applied on a state-wise basis and can vary significantly depending on the number of vacancies and applicants in each state. Given the overall “Easy” difficulty level of the Day 1 exam, the cut-offs are expected to be high across all states.
Disclaimer: These are expected cut-offs based on the analysis of the first day of the exam. The final cut-off will depend on the performance of candidates across all shifts and dates, and the number of vacancies in each state.
What’s Next? Guidance for All Aspirants
- For Candidates with Upcoming Shifts (Oct 13 & 19): Expect a paper of a similar, easy difficulty level. Your primary focus should be on maximizing your attempts with very high accuracy. Speed is of the essence. Do not get stuck on any single question, especially in the Numerical Ability section.
- For Candidates of Day 1: If you have attempted anywhere close to the “good attempts” range (78-85+) with high accuracy, you have a very strong chance of qualifying. Do not wait for the results. Begin your preparation for the IBPS Clerk Main Examination immediately. The Mains exam is a significant step up in difficulty and includes the crucial General/Financial Awareness section, which requires dedicated preparation.
A senior banking exam analyst commented, “The Day 1 trend for the IBPS Clerk Prelims has been set. The paper is easy and is a game of speed and accuracy. Candidates in the upcoming shifts should go in with a confident mindset to attempt as many questions as possible. High attempts will be the key to clearing the high cut-offs this year.”
In conclusion, Day 1 of the IBPS Clerk Prelims 2025 has set a high-scoring precedent. The paper was straightforward and rewarded candidates with strong fundamentals and good speed. Good luck to all aspirants!