The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has officially released the IBPS PO Prelims Answer Key 2026 for the CRP PO/MT-XVI recruitment cycle. This release includes the question paper, candidate responses, and the corresponding correct answers for all 100 questions, enabling applicants to verify their performance accurately.
Along with the response sheet, the IBPS PO Prelims Scorecard 2026 is now available, providing candidates with a detailed breakdown of their overall and section-wise marks, along with their final qualifying status.
The Preliminary examination took place on 22 and 23 August 2026, with the official results declared on 23 September 2026. Successful candidates are now preparing for the upcoming Mains Examination scheduled for 4 October 2026.
IBPS PO Prelims 2026 Answer Key Released
The answer key serves as an essential tool for candidates to audit their test-taking performance. By downloading the response sheet, you can compare your marked answers against the official key to identify correct and incorrect attempts across all 100 questions.
The official IBPS PO Prelims Scorecard provides transparent insight into your marks, helping you understand your standing against the category-wise cut-off criteria.
IBPS PO Prelims 2026: Essential Details
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam |
IBPS PO/MT-XVI Prelims 2026
|
| Conducting Body |
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection
|
| Prelims Exam Date |
22 & 23 August 2026
|
| Prelims Result | 23 September 2026 |
| Scorecard |
Released
|
| Answer Key/Response Sheet | Available with scorecard |
| Mains Call Letter | Released |
| IBPS PO Mains Exam | 4 October 2026 |
| Official Website | ibps.in |
Direct Link to Download IBPS PO Answer Key and Scorecard
Candidates who appeared for the August 2026 examination can download their response sheet and scorecard directly through the authorized IBPS portal. Use the link below to access your credentials.
Download IBPS PO Prelims Answer Key and Scorecard (Active Link)
How to View Your IBPS PO Prelims 2026 Scorecard
Follow these simple steps to access and download your IBPS PO scorecard:
- Go to the official website, ibps.in.
- Open the CRP PO/MT section on the homepage.
- Click the IBPS PO/MT-XVI Preliminary scorecard link.
- Enter your registration/roll number and password/date of birth.
- Fill in the captcha and submit.
- Download the PDF and save a copy.
IBPS PO 2026 Cut-Off: Sectional and Category-wise
Refer to the following data to review the sectional cut-off marks for the Prelims exam:
The cut-off marks for all categories, including General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, and PH, are detailed in the chart below.
Requirements to Download the IBPS PO Scorecard
To retrieve your scorecard, ensure you have your registration number and password or date of birth ready for login.
- Registration Number/Roll Number
- Password/Date of Birth
- Captcha Code displayed on screen
Details Provided on the IBPS PO Scorecard
Candidates should verify all personal information, sectional marks, and qualifying status printed on their score report.
| Candidate Name |
Name of the candidate
|
| Roll Number |
Examination roll number
|
| Registration Number |
Application registration number
|
| Examination |
IBPS PO/MT-XVI
|
| Exam Date | Date of Prelims |
| English Language |
Section-wise marks
|
| Quantitative Aptitude |
Section-wise marks
|
| Reasoning Ability |
Section-wise marks
|
| Total Marks | Overall score |
| Cutoff |
Applicable cutoff details
|
| Qualifying Status |
Qualified/Not Qualified
|
Calculating Your IBPS PO Prelims 2026 Marks
To estimate your score, count your correct responses and apply the negative marking scheme. The exam follows a total of 100 marks, with a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer, while unattempted questions do not incur any deduction.
| Entry type | How to spot it |
Effect on balance
|
| Credit | Response matches the answer key | 1 |
| Debit | Response differs from the answer key | −0.25 |
| No entry | “–” in the response column | 0 |
What Steps Follow the IBPS PO Prelims Results?
The Prelims stage is the qualifying round for the IBPS PO/MT selection process. Candidates who successfully meet the cut-off are eligible to participate in the upcoming Online Main Examination.
The Mains examination for CRP PO/MT-XVI is confirmed for 4 October 2026. Shortlisted candidates can now download their Mains call letters from the official website to view specific exam center details.
Understanding the IBPS PO Mains 2026 Marking Scheme
The Mains exam includes an Objective Test (200 marks) covering Reasoning, English, General Awareness, and Data Analysis, alongside a Descriptive Paper (25 marks). Penalties for incorrect answers apply to the Objective segment, contributing to the final score calculation.
| Particulars |
Marking Scheme
|
| Correct Answer |
Marks allotted to the question (vary section-wise)
|
| Incorrect Answer |
1/4th (0.25) of the marks of the question are deducted
|
| Unanswered Question |
No marks are awarded or deducted
|
| Objective Test | 200 marks |
| Descriptive Paper | 25 marks |
| Total Mains Marks | 225 marks |