The IBPS RRB PO Prelims Exam 2025 is officially underway, and Shift 1 of Day 2 has now concluded. If you’ve just walked out of the exam hall or are preparing for the upcoming shifts, you’re probably wondering — how tough was today’s paper? How many good attempts would count as safe? And what kind of questions actually came up?
Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Here’s a full breakdown of the IBPS RRB PO Prelims 2025 Shift 1 exam held on 23rd November, including section-wise difficulty, question types, and the ideal number of attempts.
Overview
Let’s start with the big picture. The first shift went smoothly with no delays or unexpected events. Biometric verification and entry formalities were done efficiently. The exam was conducted for a total of 80 marks, with 45 minutes allotted. The two sections were Reasoning and Numerical Ability, each carrying 40 marks.
Here’s a quick summary:
| Exam Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | IBPS RRB PO Prelims 2025 |
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection |
| Total Vacancies | 3928 |
| Exam Date | 22nd & 23rd November 2025 |
| Total Shifts | 8 (4 each day) |
| Shift 1 Timing | 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM |
| Duration | 45 minutes |
| Sections | Reasoning, Numerical Ability |
| Negative Marking | Yes (0.25 marks per wrong answer) |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to Moderate |
| Good Attempts | 59–63 out of 80 |
Difficulty
The consensus? Easy to moderate. Most students found the paper very much in line with the previous shifts. No curveballs, and no out-of-syllabus questions.
Section-wise Difficulty Level
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate |
Candidates were able to maintain speed and accuracy — key for such a short exam window.
Attempts
Now, let’s talk about what everyone’s curious about — how many attempts are considered “good” or “safe”?
Section-wise Good Attempts
| Section | Good Attempts |
|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 30–31 |
| Numerical Ability | 28–30 |
| Overall | 59–63 |
Remember, the final selection doesn’t just depend on attempts — accuracy is crucial. One wrong guess can cost you 0.25 marks, which might impact your standing when the cut-offs are tight.
Reasoning
The reasoning section was well-balanced with a strong presence of puzzle-based questions. Candidates who practiced regularly had no problem cracking them.
Key Topics and Number of Questions:
| Topic | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Designation-Based Puzzle | 5 |
| Floor-Based Puzzle (Double Variable) | 5 |
| Box-Based Puzzle | 5 |
| Circular Seating Arrangement | 5 |
| Certain Number of Persons | 4 |
| Syllogism | 3–4 |
| Inequality | 4–5 |
| Direction & Distance | 3 |
| Blood Relation | 3 |
| Pair Formation | 1 |
| Number-Based Series | 1 |
| Meaningful Word | 1 |
With puzzles taking the lion’s share, a smart strategy was to tackle easy standalone questions first before diving into puzzles.
Numerical
Numerical Ability was again dominated by Arithmetic and DI (Data Interpretation). There were no surprises, and the questions were direct and doable within time.
Topics Covered:
| Topic | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Approximation | 6 |
| Missing Number Series | 5 |
| Table DI | 6 |
| Line Graph DI | 5 |
| Caselet DI | 3–4 |
| Arithmetic (Mix) | 13–14 |
If you had your formulas on your fingertips and managed time well, scoring 28+ was very achievable in this section.
Timeline
Here’s what’s next in the exam cycle:
- Remaining Shifts Today:
- Shift 2: 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
- Shift 3: 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm
- Shift 4: 3:45 pm to 4:30 pm
- IBPS RRB PO Prelims Result: Expected by mid-December 2025
- Mains Exam Date: 28th December 2025
Marks will be normalized across shifts, so don’t worry if you feel your paper was slightly tougher — the process will take care of that.
Candidates clearing the Prelims will get to appear for the Mains, which will be for 200 marks, followed by the Interview round.
The IBPS RRB PO Prelims 2025 Shift 1 exam was pretty much what most candidates were expecting — straightforward and manageable. With no unusual twists, it rewarded those who were well-practiced and managed their time smartly. If your attempts fall within the 59–63 range with decent accuracy, you’re likely in a safe spot. Stay focused, and all the best for the next stage!
FAQs
What was the exam difficulty level?
The exam was easy to moderate overall.
How many sections were in the exam?
There were two sections: Reasoning and Numerical Ability.
What is a good number of attempts?
59 to 63 attempts with accuracy is considered safe.
How many shifts are there in total?
There are 8 shifts in total, 4 on each day.
When is the mains exam scheduled?
The IBPS RRB PO Mains exam is on 28th December 2025.
