The IBPS AFO exam is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection for the post of Agricultural Field Officer in public sector banks. This exam is conducted in different stages, such as prelims, mains, and interview. Every year, many candidates apply for this post. Due to this, the level of competition increases every year.
If you are planning to appear for IBPS AFO 2026, then it is very important to understand the cut-off trends of previous years. Cut-off marks help you understand the level of preparation required to move to the next stage of the exam.
Here, we will help you understand the IBPS AFO last 5 years cut-off analysis in the simplest way. It will also guide you on how to prepare according to the changing trends.
Before starting preparation, candidates must know how much they need to score in the exam. Many candidates prepare without knowing the expected cut-off marks. This leads to poor planning and weak performance in the exam. Cut-off analysis helps candidates in the following ways:
It gives an idea about the minimum marks required for selection.
It helps in setting a realistic target score.
It improves time management during preparation.
It shows the level of competition in the exam.
It helps candidates prepare for sectional cut-offs.
By studying the previous years' cut-offs, candidates can understand whether the exam is becoming easier or more difficult.
The final cut-off is calculated after the mains exam and interview stage. It plays a very important role in the final selection of candidates.
| IBPS AFO Final Cut Off Trends Last 6 Years (2018-2025) | ||||||
| Year | Prelims - Quant (out of 50) | Prelims - Reasoning (out of 50) | Prelims - English (out of 25) | Prelims - Overall (out of 125) | Mains (out of 60) | Final Overall Cut-off (out of 100) |
| 2018 | 7.00 | 10.00 | - | - | - | - |
| 2019 | 11.50 | 13.50 | 4.00 | - | - | - |
| 2020 | 9.75 | 5.50 | 5.25 | - | - | 66.00 |
| 2021 | 9.00 | 6.50 | 4.75 | - | - | 63.00 |
| 2022 | 6.00 | - | - | - | - | 62.27 |
| 2023 | 9.50 | - | 8.00 | - | - | - |
| 2024 | 6.25 | 4.25 | 7.75 | 51.00 | 17.00 | 62.27 |
| 2025 | 11.25 | 8.25 | 10.50 | 53.50 | 33.50 | 70.73 |
Note: Some data points were not explicitly mentioned for all years in the lecture.
The increasing cut-off trend shows that the competition level is rising every year.
This means:
Candidates must prepare seriously.
They must aim for higher scores.
They should not depend only on overall marks.
Sectional preparation is very important.
Regular practice is required.
Even if a candidate clears the overall cut-off but fails in one section, they will not qualify for the next stage.
Candidates must understand that cut-off marks are not fixed every year. They change due to different reasons. Some common factors that influence cut-off marks are:
Difficulty level of the exam paper
Number of candidates appearing for the exam
Overall performance of candidates
Number of vacancies available
Changes in exam pattern
If the paper is easy in a particular year, the cut-off usually increases. If the paper is difficult, the cut-off may decrease.
Similarly, if more candidates appear for the exam, the level of competition becomes higher. This also leads to an increase in cut-off marks.
The rising cut-off trend means that candidates must change their preparation strategy for IBPS AFO 2026.
Set a Higher Target Score: Candidates should not prepare just to meet the previous year’s cut-off. The target score should be higher than the 2025 cut-off. Preparing with a higher target helps in staying safe during the selection process.
Focus on Sectional Cut-Offs: Many candidates make the mistake of focusing only on the overall score. However, IBPS AFO prelims have sectional cut-offs for:
Quantitative Aptitude
Reasoning Ability
English Language
Even if a candidate scores well overall but fails to clear the cut-off in one subject, they will not qualify for the next stage. So, equal focus must be given to each section.
Solve Previous Year Question Papers: Previous year questions help candidates understand:
The exam pattern
The level of questions
Important topics
Time management
Candidates should solve recent years’ question papers regularly. After solving them, they must compare their scores with the 2025 cut-off marks. This will help in identifying weak sections that need improvement.
Strengthen Mains Preparation: The large increase in the mains cut-off shows that agriculture-related professional knowledge is very important. Candidates with an agricultural background should also prepare seriously.
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