📝 IBPS AFO Exam Pattern 2026: Revised Prelims, Revised Mains, Interview & Negative Marking
IBPS AFO exam pattern changed in the 1 July 2026 CRP-SPL-XVI notification. Prelims is now 100 questions for 125 marks in 80 minutes, mains is 152 questions for 225 marks in 155 minutes, and final combined score uses main exam plus interview in 80:20 ratio.
The IBPS AFO pattern has changed for the live CRP-SPL-XVI cycle. The old 150-question prelims + 60-question mains model is not the current structure anymore.
At the same time, one thing did not change: final combined score is still based on mains and interview in an 80:20 ratio, exactly as stated in the official notification.
Official source: CRP-SPL-XVI notification PDF
Quick Answer
| Stage | Current Official Pattern | Merit Role |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | 100 questions, 125 marks, 80 minutes | Qualifying only |
| Mains | 152 questions, 225 marks, 155 minutes | Merit-bearing |
| Interview | 100 marks | Merit-bearing after minimum qualifying marks |
| Final ratio | Main Exam 80 : Interview 20 | Combined final score |
Current Selection Process
The selection process remains:
- Preliminary Exam
- Main Exam
- Interview
The official rules say:
- candidates must qualify prelims to reach mains
- shortlisted mains candidates are called for interview
- candidates must qualify both mains and interview
- final combined score is prepared using main exam + interview
Preliminary Examination
For Agriculture Field Officer, the official prelims structure is:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Medium | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | English | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 125 | — | 80 minutes |
Why this matters for students
This is the biggest immediate shift:
- agriculture is no longer postponed until after prelims
- Professional Knowledge now appears in prelims itself
- the paper is shorter but more compressed
- section switching pressure is higher because each block is only 20 minutes
Main Examination
The official main-exam structure for AFO is:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Medium | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | English | 25 minutes |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | English and Hindi | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | English and Hindi | 25 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 | English and Hindi | 40 minutes |
| Objective Total | 150 | 200 | — | 125 minutes |
| Descriptive Paper (English) | 2 | 25 | English | 30 minutes |
| Grand Total | 152 | 225 | — | 155 minutes |
What changed in mains
- the old 60 questions / 60 marks / 45 minutes mains is gone
- English, Reasoning, and Quant are now back in mains
- Professional Knowledge remains the biggest scoring block
- there is now a descriptive English paper
Interview
Candidates shortlisted after mains are called for interview.
| Parameter | Official Rule |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Minimum Qualifying | 40% for General/EWS |
| Reserved-category Minimum | 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD |
| Final Role | Counted with mains in 80:20 ratio |
The notification explicitly says:
- relative weightage of Online Main Examination and Interview will be 80:20
- combined final score will be based on total scores in Main Examination + Interview
Negative Marking
In objective sections:
- 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question is deducted for each wrong answer
- no penalty applies to unattempted questions
Old Pattern vs New Pattern
| Feature | Older AFO Pattern | Current CRP-SPL-XVI Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | 150 questions, 125 marks, 120 min | 100 questions, 125 marks, 80 min |
| Prelims PK | No | Yes |
| Mains | 60 questions, 60 marks, 45 min | 152 questions, 225 marks, 155 min |
| Descriptive paper | No | Yes |
| Final combined score | 80:20 mains + interview | 80:20 mains + interview |
What Students Should Do Differently Now
- Start agriculture revision before prelims, not after it.
- Treat Professional Knowledge as a double-weight prelims section.
- Build stamina for a much longer mains paper.
- Do not ignore descriptive English.
- Keep interview preparation alive because it still counts in the final 80:20 combined score.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IBPS AFO Prelims score counted in the final merit list?
No. Prelims is qualifying only. Final combined score is based on online main examination plus interview.
How many questions are there in IBPS AFO Prelims now?
The current prelims has 100 questions for 125 marks in 80 minutes across four separately timed sections.
How many questions are there in IBPS AFO Mains now?
The current mains has 152 total questions for 225 marks, including a descriptive English paper.
What is the interview weightage in IBPS AFO 2026?
The official notification keeps the relative weightage of online main examination and interview at 80:20.
What is the negative marking in IBPS AFO?
For each wrong answer in objective sections, one-fourth of the marks assigned to that question is deducted.