The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection has released the official notification for CRP SPL-XVI (Specialist Officers) on 1 July 2026, and the IBPS Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) Exam Pattern has been updated for this recruitment cycle. The biggest change is that the Preliminary Exam now includes a Professional Knowledge section, making subject knowledge important right from the first stage. The Main Exam has also been redesigned, with increased marks and the addition of a Descriptive Paper. If you have already applied for IBPS AFO 2026 or are planning to appear for the exam, it is important to understand these changes before starting your preparation. Knowing the latest exam pattern will help you focus on the right topics, manage your study time better, and give more attention to the sections that carry higher weightage, ultimately improving your chances of success.
Revised IBPS AFO Exam Pattern 2026
The IBPS AFO 2026 selection process has three stages—Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Interview.
The Preliminary Exam is conducted online and includes 100 objective-type questions from English Language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and Professional Knowledge. The paper carries 125 marks, and candidates get 80 minutes to complete it. Candidates who qualify the Preliminary Exam appear for the Main Exam, which has two parts. The first is an objective paper with 150 questions carrying 200 marks, to be completed in 125 minutes. The second is a Descriptive Paper worth 25 marks, for which candidates get 30 minutes. Together, the Main Exam carries 225 marks and lasts 155 minutes.
After clearing the Main Exam, shortlisted candidates are invited for the Interview, which carries 100 marks. Candidates should also remember that negative marking applies to the objective papers. For every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks (one-fourth of the marks assigned to that question) are deducted. Understanding this exam pattern will help you prepare more effectively and plan your exam strategy wisely.
IBPS AFO Revised Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The IBPS AFO 2026 Preliminary Exam has been updated, and Professional Knowledge has been introduced as a new section. The exam now consists of four sections—English Language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and Professional Knowledge.
This is the first stage of the selection process, and candidates must secure the minimum cut-off marks in each section, as decided by IBPS, to qualify for the Main Examination.
The exam is conducted online and has a total duration of 80 minutes. Candidates should also keep in mind that there is negative marking in the objective test. For every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks (one-fourth of the marks assigned to that question) will be deducted. As for the language of the exam, the English Language section is available only in English, while the Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and Professional Knowledge sections are provided in both English and Hindi, allowing candidates to choose their preferred language for these sections.
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 20 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 125 | 80 minutes |
IBPS AFO Revised Mains Exam Pattern 2026
The IBPS AFO 2026 Main Examination has undergone major changes under the revised exam pattern. Earlier, the Mains consisted only of a 45-minute Professional Knowledge paper, but now it has been expanded into a much more comprehensive test. Candidates who qualify in the Preliminary Exam will appear for the Main Examination, which now includes English Language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and Professional Knowledge in the objective paper. In addition, a Descriptive Paper has also been introduced to assess candidates’ writing skills.
The objective paper carries 200 marks and is conducted over 125 minutes, while the Descriptive Paper carries 25 marks and must be completed in 30 minutes. Together, the Main Examination is worth 225 marks and has a total duration of 155 minutes. With these changes, the IBPS AFO Mains has become more balanced and competitive, testing not only candidates’ agricultural knowledge but also their aptitude, reasoning, English proficiency, and written communication skills. Preparing for all sections is now essential to perform well in the examination.
- English language, reasoning, and quantitative aptitude are qualifying in nature only.
- Final merit listing for Mains is based solely on the Professional Knowledge (Objective) score.
- A 0.25 mark negative marking applies to each incorrect answer in the objective papers.
- Conducted online.
| Test | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 | 40 minutes |
| Sub-Total (Objective) | 150 | 200 | 125 minutes |
| Descriptive Paper (English) | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Grand Total | — | 225 | 155 minutes |
Is there any interview in IBPS AFO?
Yes, the IBPS AFO 2026 selection process ends with a Common Interview. Candidates who qualify in the Main Examination are shortlisted for this final stage. The interview is conducted by the participating banks and coordinated by the designated nodal bank.
The purpose of the interview is to assess more than just academic knowledge. Interviewers evaluate a candidate’s communication skills, professional knowledge, confidence, personality, and overall suitability for the role of an Agriculture Field Officer.
The final merit list is prepared by giving 80% weightage to the Main Examination and 20% weightage to the Interview. Therefore, while performing well in the Mains is essential, a good interview performance can also make a significant difference in the final selection.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Interview Marks | 100 |
| Weightage (Mains : Interview) | 80 : 20 |
| Qualifying Marks (General Category) | 40% |
| Qualifying Marks (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD Categories) | 35% |
Is there negative marking in the IBPS AFO exam?
Yes, the IBPS AFO 2026 Exam has negative marking in both the Preliminary and Main (Objective) examinations.
For every incorrect answer in the objective papers, 0.25 marks (one-fourth of the marks assigned to that question) are deducted from the candidate’s score. However, no marks are deducted for unanswered questions, so candidates can skip questions they are unsure about.
It is important to note that negative marking applies only to the objective sections. The Descriptive Paper in the Main Examination and the Interview do not have any negative marking.
Keeping this marking scheme in mind, candidates should avoid random guessing and attempt only those questions where they are reasonably confident of the correct answer. This approach can help maximize the overall score and improve the chances of selection.
- Each question in the prelims and mains objective papers carries proportionate marks as shown in the tables above.
- For every incorrect answer, 0.25 of the marks assigned to that question is deducted.
- No penalty for unanswered/blank questions.
- The final merit list is prepared based on mains (professional knowledge score) + interview only; prelims are qualifying in nature.
| Stage | Maximum Marks | Weightage in Final Merit | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | 125 | Qualifying Only | Yes (0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer) |
| Main Examination (Objective + Descriptive) | 225 | 80% (based on the Mains score as per the revised pattern) | Yes, only in the Objective section |
| Interview | 100 | 20% | No |
Minimum Qualifying Marks for the Interview Round
To qualify for the interview stage, candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks prescribed by IBPS. The qualifying percentage varies according to the candidate’s category, as shown below.
| Category | Minimum Qualifying % |
|---|---|
| General | 40% |
| SC/ST/OBC/PwBD | 35% |
Candidates should attempt only those questions they are reasonably confident about, as 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer in the objective papers. Avoiding unnecessary guesses can help improve your overall score.
Since the Main Examination plays the most important role in the final selection, candidates should give special attention to Professional Knowledge while also preparing thoroughly for the other sections. A balanced preparation strategy, combined with smart question selection during the exam, can significantly improve the chances of final selection.
FAQ’s
Q1: What is the IBPS AFO 2026 exam pattern in brief?
The IBPS AFO 2026 selection process has three stages: Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Interview. The Preliminary Exam is qualifying in nature, while the Main Exam and Interview are used to prepare the final merit list. Candidates must clear each stage to move to the next.
Q2: Has the IBPS AFO exam pattern changed for 2026?
Yes. IBPS has introduced a revised exam pattern for the 2026 recruitment cycle. The Preliminary Exam now includes a Professional Knowledge section, and the Main Exam has been expanded to include English Language, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, Professional Knowledge, and a Descriptive Paper. The overall duration and marks of the Main Exam have also increased.
Q3: How is the merit list prepared under the revised pattern?
The Preliminary Exam is only a qualifying stage, and its marks are not counted in the final selection. The final merit list is prepared by combining the Main Examination score (80% weightage) and the Interview score (20% weightage).
Q4: What is the negative marking scheme for IBPS AFO 2026?
There is negative marking in both the Preliminary and Main Objective examinations. For every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks (one-fourth of the marks allotted to that question) are deducted. There is no penalty for unanswered questions, and the Descriptive Paper and Interview do not have negative marking.
Q5: What is the weightage given to Mains and Interview in the final selection?
The final selection is based on the Main Examination and Interview. The Main Exam carries 80% weightage, while the Interview carries 20% weightage in the preparation of the final merit list. Performing well in both stages is essential to secure a place in the final selection list.
