The Institute of Banking and Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducted the second shift of the IBPS PO Prelims 2026 examination on August 22, 2026, as part of the ongoing recruitment process for Probationary Officers/Management Trainees in participating public sector banks. The Shift 2 examination was held from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, with thousands of aspirants appearing for the test across examination centres.
Based on the initial feedback collected from candidates, the overall difficulty level of the IBPS PO Shift 2 exam was moderate. Candidates reported that there was no significant change in the overall level compared with the first shift, although the Quantitative Aptitude section was somewhat more calculative. Reasoning Ability continued to have a substantial focus on puzzles and seating arrangements, while the English Language section remained relatively manageable.
The IBPS PO Prelims exam analysis is particularly important for candidates who appeared in the examination as it provides an indication of the questions asked, section-wise difficulty, good attempts and the overall nature of the paper. It is also useful for candidates preparing for subsequent shifts and other banking examinations.
Table of Contents
IBPS PO Prelims 2026 Shift 2: Exam Overview
The IBPS PO Preliminary Examination consists of three sections — Reasoning Ability, English Language and Quantitative Aptitude. Candidates are required to solve a total of 100 questions within one hour. The examination follows sectional timing, giving candidates limited time to attempt each section efficiently.
The Shift 2 paper on August 22 featured a combination of straightforward questions and moderate-level problems. While English was considered easy to moderate, Reasoning was largely easy to moderate, with puzzles accounting for a considerable portion of the section. Quantitative Aptitude was rated moderate and required comparatively more calculation.
According to the candidate feedback used for the analysis, the overall good attempts for Shift 2 were estimated at 63 to 71 questions. However, good attempts should not be interpreted as a fixed qualifying score. The actual cut-off can vary depending on factors such as vacancies, candidate performance, paper difficulty and state or category-wise competition.
IBPS PO Shift 2 Difficulty Level and Good Attempts
The following table summarises the section-wise difficulty level and estimated good attempts for the second shift:
| Section | Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | Easy to Moderate | 22–24 |
| English Language | 30 | Easy to Moderate | 23–25 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | Moderate | 18–21 |
| Overall | 100 | Moderate | 63–71 |
The good-attempt range has been prepared on the basis of candidate reviews and expert assessment. It is intended to provide an indicative benchmark rather than a guaranteed score required for qualification.
IBPS PO Shift 2 Quantitative Aptitude Analysis
The Quantitative Aptitude section was considered the most demanding section of the second shift. Candidates described it as moderate and comparatively calculative. The section included multiple Data Interpretation sets, requiring candidates to spend considerable time understanding the information before performing calculations.
A notable feature of the paper was the presence of Double Line Graph DI, Table DI and Caselet DI. These questions tested both calculation speed and the ability to interpret data accurately.
The topic-wise distribution reported from Shift 2 was:
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Approximation | 4 |
| Wrong Number Series | 3 |
| Double Line Graph DI | 6 |
| Table DI | 5 |
| Caselet DI | 3 |
| Q1–Q2 | 2 |
| Arithmetic | 11 |
Arithmetic accounted for 11 questions, making it one of the most important components of the section. Candidates who had strong command over arithmetic concepts and efficient calculation techniques were likely to find the section more manageable.
Interestingly, no questions were reported from Simplification, Missing Number Series or Quadratic Equations in Shift 2. This made the distribution somewhat different from papers in which these topics traditionally provide candidates with relatively quick-scoring opportunities.
The presence of three different DI formats also meant that candidates needed to balance accuracy and time. Spending too long on one complicated set could affect the number of arithmetic and other questions attempted.
IBPS PO Shift 2 Reasoning Ability Analysis
The Reasoning Ability section was rated easy to moderate. The major feature of this section was the dominance of puzzles and seating-arrangement questions. Candidates reported three major puzzle sets, each consisting of five questions.
The reported puzzle types included:
- Selection-based puzzle — 5 questions
- Floor-based puzzle involving six floors and a variable — 5 questions
- Month-date-based puzzle involving a variable — 5 questions
Together, these puzzle sets accounted for a substantial portion of the section and required candidates to carefully establish the given conditions before answering individual questions.
The detailed topic-wise distribution was as follows:
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 20 |
| Syllogism | 2 |
| Blood Relation | 3 |
| Chinese Coding | 4–5 |
| Pair Formation | 1 |
| Meaningful Word | 1 |
| Word Based | 1 |
The 20 questions from puzzles and seating arrangements made this area particularly important. Candidates who were comfortable with puzzle-solving techniques could potentially attempt a significant number of questions from this section.
The remaining questions were distributed among topics such as syllogism, blood relations, Chinese coding, pair formation, meaningful word and word-based questions. These smaller topics offered opportunities for candidates who could solve them quickly and accurately.
The overall nature of the Reasoning section suggests that time management remained important. Candidates were required to identify the easier questions and avoid becoming overly invested in a difficult puzzle.
IBPS PO Shift 2 English Language Analysis
The English Language section was considered easy to moderate, with the Reading Comprehension forming a major component. A total of 10 questions were asked from the Reading Comprehension passage.
The reported topic of the Reading Comprehension was pandemic research. Among the 10 questions, two were related to vocabulary, requiring candidates to understand the meaning and usage of words in context.
The topic-wise distribution was reported as:
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 10 |
| Para Jumble | 5 |
| Error Detection | 3 |
| Word Usage — “Graze” | 1 |
| Word Swap | 4 |
| Phrase Replacement | 4–5 |
| Double Fillers | 3 |
Candidates also encountered a vocabulary-based question involving the antonym of “Most.” The section tested a combination of reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and sentence structure.
The presence of 10 Reading Comprehension questions meant that reading speed and comprehension ability could have a significant impact on performance. Candidates who were able to understand the passage quickly could attempt the questions efficiently, while those spending too much time reading could have faced time pressure in the remaining topics.
Section-wise Comparison of IBPS PO Shift 2
The second shift broadly followed the expected structure of the IBPS PO Preliminary examination, but each section presented a different challenge.
Reasoning Ability was dominated by puzzles and seating arrangements. The section was not considered extremely difficult, but candidates needed logical clarity and good time management.
English Language was relatively manageable, with a mix of Reading Comprehension, para jumble, error detection, word swap, phrase replacement and fillers.
Quantitative Aptitude was comparatively more calculative. Multiple DI sets and a significant number of arithmetic questions made speed an important factor.
As a result, candidates who maintained a balanced approach across all three sections were better positioned to maximise their attempts.
What Does the IBPS PO Shift 2 Analysis Indicate?
The Shift 2 analysis indicates that the IBPS PO Prelims 2026 paper remained moderate overall, without any major deviation from the first shift. However, candidates should remember that the exact experience can differ from person to person.
For candidates appearing in subsequent shifts, the analysis provides useful preparation cues. Aspirants should be prepared for puzzles and seating arrangements in Reasoning, DI and arithmetic in Quantitative Aptitude, and comprehension and grammar-based questions in English.
At the same time, candidates should not expect the exact same questions or topic combinations. IBPS can alter the question distribution and difficulty level between shifts.
What to Expect in the Next IBPS PO Shifts?
Candidates appearing in Shift 3 or Shift 4 on August 22, or in the upcoming shifts on August 23, can use the Shift 2 analysis as a broad reference rather than a prediction of the exact paper.
The following areas deserve particular attention:
- Practise different types of puzzles and seating arrangements.
- Revise arithmetic concepts and calculation techniques.
- Practise DI sets involving tables, graphs and caselets.
- Improve reading speed for Reading Comprehension.
- Revise grammar rules, especially error detection and sentence correction.
- Practise word swaps, fillers and vocabulary-based questions.
- Avoid spending excessive time on a single difficult question or puzzle.
- Maintain accuracy while attempting questions at speed.
Candidates should also remember that differences in difficulty between shifts can occur. Therefore, the performance of candidates across shifts is considered through the applicable normalisation process.
IBPS PO Prelims 2026: Importance of Good Attempts
Good attempts are useful for understanding the overall performance benchmark, but they should not be treated as the official cut-off. A candidate attempting 70 questions with several incorrect answers may not necessarily perform better than someone attempting 65 questions with considerably higher accuracy.
For Shift 2, the estimated overall good-attempt range was 63–71 questions. At the sectional level, the suggested good attempts were 22–24 for Reasoning, 23–25 for English and 18–21 for Quantitative Aptitude.
The final qualifying status will depend on the official result and applicable cut-offs released by IBPS.
IBPS PO Exam Analysis: Key Takeaways
The IBPS PO Shift 2 examination held on August 22, 2026, was assessed as moderate overall. There was no major difference from the first shift according to the candidate feedback available for the analysis.
The major takeaways from the paper are:
- Overall difficulty: Moderate
- Reasoning: Easy to Moderate
- English: Easy to Moderate
- Quantitative Aptitude: Moderate and comparatively calculative
- Overall good attempts: 63–71
- Reasoning featured 20 questions from puzzles and seating arrangements
- Quantitative Aptitude included multiple DI formats
- Arithmetic contributed 11 questions
- English included a 10-question Reading Comprehension
- No Simplification, Missing Number Series or Quadratic Equation questions were reported in Quantitative Aptitude
- Candidates appearing in subsequent shifts should prepare for variation in topic distribution and difficulty
The IBPS PO Shift 2 Exam Analysis 2026 provides an important snapshot of the examination conducted on August 22. The paper was broadly moderate, with Reasoning and English remaining manageable for well-prepared candidates, while Quantitative Aptitude demanded greater calculation speed and time management.
The estimated 63–71 good attempts offer candidates an indicative performance benchmark, but the final cut-off will only be known after IBPS announces the official results and cut-offs.
For aspirants yet to appear in the examination, the biggest lesson from Shift 2 is the importance of balancing speed, accuracy and question selection. Rather than attempting every question, candidates should prioritise questions that can be solved confidently within the available time. With puzzles, DI and arithmetic forming significant portions of the paper, targeted practice and efficient time management can play a decisive role in the upcoming IBPS PO shifts.
