RRB Clerk Mains Exam 2026: Section-Wise Analysis & Good Attempts

The wait is finally over for thousands of banking aspirants. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) successfully conducted the RRB Clerk (Office Assistant) Mains Exam yesterday, February 1, 2026.

If you appeared for the exam or are planning for the next cycle, you must be wondering: Was the paper difficult? How many attempts are safe?

Initial student reactions suggest the exam was Moderate overall. While the Reasoning and English sections were scoring, the Numerical Ability (Quant) section felt lengthy and calculative for many candidates.

In this detailed analysis, we break down the section-wise difficulty, topics asked, and the expected good attempts to help you assess your performance.

IBPS RRB Clerk Mains 2026: Overall Difficulty & Good Attempts

The exam was conducted in a single shift across India. Most students reported that the paper followed the standard pattern, but time management played a crucial role, especially in the Quant section.

Here is the summary of the exam held on February 1, 2026:

Read more: CMAT 2026 Admit Card 

Section	Difficulty Level	Good Attempts (Safe Score)
Reasoning Ability	Easy to Moderate	27 – 33
Numerical Ability	Moderate to Difficult	18 – 23
General Awareness	Moderate	22 – 26
English / Hindi Language	Easy to Moderate	26 – 32
Computer Knowledge	Easy	28 – 32
Overall	Moderate	125 – 140

Expert Note: If you have attempted around 130+ questions with 90% accuracy, you have a strong chance of clearing the cutoff.

Section-Wise Detailed Analysis

Let’s dive deep into what exactly was asked in each section.

1. Reasoning Ability (Scoring Section)

This section was the savior for many candidates. It was not very tricky, but it was slightly lengthy. Puzzles dominated the paper.

• Puzzles & Seating Arrangement (20-23 Questions):
  • Linear Seating (Uncertain number of persons).
  • Box-based puzzle (9 persons/items).
  • Month & Date based puzzle.
  • Floor & Flat puzzle.
• Other Topics:
  • Syllogism (3-4 questions).
  • Inequality (Direct and Coded).
  • Blood Relation & Direction Sense.
  • Input-Output (Machine Input).

2. Numerical Ability (The Tough Part)

As expected in Mains exams, Quant was the game-changer. Students found the Data Interpretation (DI) sets “calculative” and time-consuming.

• Data Interpretation (15-18 Questions):
  • Tabular DI (Vehicle manufacturing data).
  • Bar + Table Mixed DI.
  • Caselet DI (Arithmetic based).
• Arithmetic (Word Problems): 10-12 questions covering Profit & Loss, Boats & Streams, Partnership, and Time & Work.
• Speed Math: Wrong Number Series and Approximation questions were present but required careful calculation.

3. General Awareness (GA)

The General Awareness section focused heavily on Current Affairs from the last 4-6 months (specifically Oct 2025 to Jan 2026). Static Banking Awareness had a lower weightage.

Some memory-based topics asked:

• SMILE Scheme details.
• NABARD Chairman name.
• Women’s World Cup Final (Winner/Runner-up).
• Booker Prize winner.
• IMO Headquarters location.
• Gangtok is the capital of which state?

4. English / Hindi Language

Candidates had a choice between English and Hindi. The English section was reported as Easy.

• Reading Comprehension (RC): 2 sets (One story-based, one on environmental issues like microplastics).
• Cloze Test: Based on simple vocabulary.
• Error Detection: Standard grammar rules.

5. Computer Knowledge

This is usually the easiest section in RRB exams, and this year was no different. Questions were basic.

• Topics: MS Office shortcuts, Computer Memory (RAM/ROM), Networking basics, Virus/Trojan, and Input/Output devices.

What is the Expected Cut Off?

The cutoff depends on the state you applied from and the number of vacancies. Since the paper level was Moderate, the cutoff might see a slight dip compared to very easy years, but competition remains high.

• High Cutoff States: UP, Rajasthan, Haryana, West Bengal.
• Moderate Cutoff States: MP, Gujarat, Maharashtra.

Official state-wise cutoffs will be released only with the final scorecard.

What Happens Next?

Now that the Mains exam is over, here is the timeline for the next steps:

1. Result Declaration: Expect the IBPS RRB Clerk Mains Result by late March or April 2026.
2. Language Proficiency Test (LPT): If you applied for a state where you do not have a 10th/12th mark sheet in the local language, you may face an LPT.
3. Final Allotment: The provisional allotment is usually completed by April 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)