IBPS AFO Exam Pattern 2026: Prelims & Mains Exam Pattern, Marking Scheme

Preparing for the IBPS Agricultural Field Officer (AFO) exam becomes easier when you understand the examination pattern before starting your preparation. The IBPS AFO Exam Pattern explains the stages of selection, the subjects asked in each stage, the number of questions, the marks, the exam duration, and the marking scheme.

The IBPS AFO recruitment process consists of the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Interview. Each stage serves a different purpose, and knowing what to expect can help you plan your preparation accordingly. Here, you can check the complete IBPS AFO Exam Pattern 2026, including the Prelims and Mains pattern, marking scheme, negative marking, and other important details.

IBPS AFO Exam Pattern 2026 Overview

Before looking at the section-wise pattern, here is a quick overview of the IBPS AFO examination.

IBPS AFO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

The Preliminary Examination is conducted online and consists of four sections. The exam contains 100 objective-type questions carrying a total of 125 marks and must be completed within 80 minutes.

Candidates must secure the minimum cut-off marks decided by IBPS in each of the four tests to be considered for shortlisting to the Main Examination.

The number of candidates shortlisted for the Main Examination is decided by IBPS based on recruitment requirements.

IBPS AFO Main Exam Pattern 2026

Candidates who qualify the Preliminary Examination are shortlisted for the Main Examination. The Main Examination is conducted online and consists of objective tests followed by a Descriptive English paper. 

While all sections are important, IBPS has specified that all tests except Professional Knowledge are qualifying in nature, and the merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in the Professional Knowledge (Objective) test.

IBPS AFO Exam Pattern 2026: Prelims vs Mains

Understanding the difference between the Preliminary and Main Examination can help you prepare more effectively and allocate your study time according to the weightage of each stage.

IBPS AFO Marking Scheme 2026

The IBPS AFO examination follows a predefined marking pattern based on the number of questions and maximum marks allotted to each section. The Professional Knowledge section carries higher marks per question than the other sections in both the Preliminary and Main Examinations.

Prelims Exam Marking Scheme

The Preliminary Examination consists of 100 objective-type questions carrying a total of 125 marks, with the Professional Knowledge section carrying 2 marks per question while the remaining sections carry 1 mark per question. 

Main Examination Marking Scheme

The Main Examination includes an objective test of 150 questions for 200 marks and a Descriptive English paper of 25 marks, with Professional Knowledge (Objective) carrying 2 marks per question and the other objective sections carrying 1 mark per question. 

IBPS AFO Negative Marking

The IBPS AFO examination follows a negative marking system for objective-type questions.

• For every incorrect answer, one-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted.

• No marks are deducted for unanswered questions.

• Negative marking applies only to the objective tests in both the Preliminary and Main Examinations.

• There is no negative marking for the Descriptive English paper.

Important Points About the IBPS AFO Exam Pattern

Before appearing for the examination, keep the following points in mind:

• Candidates must secure the minimum cut-off marks decided by IBPS to qualify for the next stage.

• Candidates shortlisted in the Main Examination are called for the Interview.

• The Interview carries 100 marks.

• Marks obtained in the Online Main Examination are used to shortlist candidates for the Interview.

• The final merit list is prepared by combining the normalised scores of the Online Main Examination and the Interview in the ratio of 80:20, respectively.

• Candidates must qualify both the Main Examination and the Interview and secure sufficient merit to be considered for provisional allotment.

Why Should You Understand the IBPS AFO Exam Pattern?

Understanding the IBPS AFO Exam Pattern before starting your preparation helps you study in a more organised manner. It gives you clarity about the subjects, marks, duration, and the importance of each stage of the recruitment process.

A clear understanding of the exam pattern can help you:

• Plan your preparation according to the latest pattern.

• Allocate more time to high-weightage sections.

• Improve your time management during the examination.

• Practise mock tests in the actual exam format.

• Build familiarity with the overall structure of the examination.

IBPS AFO Preparation Tips Based on the Exam Pattern

You can improve your preparation by aligning your study plan with the latest IBPS AFO Exam Pattern.

• Give equal attention to all qualifying sections while strengthening your Professional Knowledge.

• Practise sectional and full-length mock tests regularly.

• Improve your speed and accuracy through regular practice.

• Avoid random guessing, as negative marking can reduce your score.

• Revise important agriculture concepts and previous topics consistently.

• Practise descriptive English writing along with objective preparation for the Main Examination.

Get Preparation Support from PW for IBPS AFO

Preparing for the IBPS AFO exam requires a clear understanding of the exam pattern along with regular practice and revision. Physics Wallah offers preparation support through expert-led classes, agriculture-focused study material, practice questions, mock tests, and revision sessions designed according to the latest IBPS AFO exam pattern.

You can explore the latest Agriculture exam preparation courses on the official Physics Wallah website and choose the batch that best suits your preparation needs.

Related Resources

You may also find the following IBPS AFO resources helpful for your preparation:

• IBPS AFO Notification 2026

• IBPS AFO Eligibility 2026

• IBPS AFO Syllabus 2026

• IBPS AFO Selection Process 2026

• Agriculture Online Batches