IBPS RRB exam analysis is one of the most important and highly searched topics apart from the exam date and result. Analysis of the previous exam helps the aspiring candidates to prepare better for the upcoming exam. The IBPS RRB Prelims examination had been successfully conducted in September 2020. For the upcoming IBPS RRB Prelims re-examination and Mains exam, candidates can refer to the question papers in the year 2020 to get an update on the recent exam pattern, questions asked, and difficulty level.
This year, the IBPS RRB Office Assistant/Clerk exam was conducted in 5 shifts. IBPS took this decision to avoid overcrowding at the examination venue. Adequate measures were taken at the exam centres to control the spread of the virus.
Candidates looking for more information regarding the IBPS RRB 2020 exam must go through this entire IBPS RRB exam analysis article thoroughly.
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Exam timing
As already stated, the IBPS RRB examinations were conducted in 5 shifts. This was done to avoid commotion and smooth completion of the examination.
| Number of Shifts |
Reporting Time |
Gate Closing Time |
Handing out Handwritten Samples |
Starting of Examination |
| Shift 1 | 7:30 AM | 8:15 AM | 8:30 AM – 8:35 AM | 8:35 AM |
| Shift 2 | 9:45 AM | 10:30 AM | 10:45 AM – 10:50 AM | 10:50 AM |
| Shift 3 | 12:00 PM | 12:45 PM | 1:00 PM – 1:05 PM | 1:05 AM |
| Shift 4 | 2:15 PM | 3:00 PM | 3:15 PM – 3:20 PM | 3:20 AM |
| Shift 5 | 4:30 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:30 PM – 5:35 PM | 5:35 AM |
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Changes Made in 2020
- The question paper and answer options are available in regional languages.
- The login page of the IBPS RRB Officer Scale I exam was changed. After visiting the website, candidates had to enter user ID and password. They would then be redirected to a blank page where they had to enter a given text and their photo-identity card number to start the test.
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Prelims (Office Assistant)
The below mentioned IBPS RRB exam analysis is as per the date of the examination conducted.
19 SEPTEMBER 2020
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – 19th September 2020 (Shift 1) Office Assistant
In terms of difficulty level, the shift was easy. Candidates attempted a good number of questions.
| Subject | Average No. of Good Attempts |
| Reasoning Ability | 29 – 37 |
| Numerical Ability | 27 – 34 |
| Total | 66 – 72 |
Section-wise Analysis – Reasoning Ability
As per the review, the level of questions asked in this section was easy. There were 5 sets of puzzles and seating arrangements:
- Comparison Puzzle (2 questions)
- Linear Seating Arrangement with 7 people all facing north
- Square Seating Arrangement (single variable)
- Linear Seating Arrangement with uncertain number of people (3 questions)
- Month Based Puzzle with 3 variables (6 people, 2 days, 3 months)
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Reasoning Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangement | Easy to Moderate | 20 |
| Direction Sense | Easy | 2 |
| Alphabet Series | Easy | 5 |
| AlphaNumeric | Easy | 4 |
| Syllogism | Easy | 4 |
| Order and Ranking | Easy | 2 |
| Miscellaneous | Easy | 3 |
| Total | Easy | 40 |
Section-wise Analysis – Numerical Ability
Similar to reasoning ability, the questions asked in the numerical ability section were also easy. The average attempted number of questions was between 35 and 38. There were 2 sets of Data Interpretation- Tabular and Line Graph. 5 questions from each set were asked in this shift.
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Numerical Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Data Interpretation | Easy to Moderate | 10 |
| Missing Number Series | Easy | 5 |
| Simplification | Easy | 10 |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | Easy | 15 |
| Total | Easy to Moderate | 40 |
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – 19th September 2020 (Shift 2) Office Assistant
In terms of difficulty level, the shift was easy. Candidates attempted a good number of questions.
| Subject | Average No. of Good Attempts |
| Reasoning Ability | 32 – 38 |
| Numerical Ability | 28 – 35 |
| Total | 68 – 75 |
Section-wise Analysis – Reasoning Ability
In this shift too, the questions were considered from easy to moderate. There were 4 sets of puzzles and seating arrangements:
- Circular Seating Arrangement, all facing inside the circle
- Linear Seating Arrangement with 7 people facing north
- Month based puzzle
- Linear Seating Arrangement with uncertain number of people
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Reasoning Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangement | Easy to Moderate | 20 |
| Alphabet Series | Easy | 2 |
| AlphaNumeric | Easy | 1 |
| Syllogism | Easy | 5 |
| Order and Ranking | Easy | 5 |
| Alphabet Series | Easy | 5 |
| Miscellaneous | Easy | 2 |
| Total | Easy | 40 |
Section-wise Analysis – Numerical Ability
Similar to reasoning ability, the questions asked in the numerical ability section were also easy. The average attempted number of questions was between 28 and 35. There were 2 sets of Data Interpretation- Bar Graph and Tabular DI.
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Numerical Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Data Interpretation | Easy to Moderate | 10 |
| Missing Number Series | Easy | 5 |
| Simplification | Easy | 10 |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | Easy to Moderate | 15 |
| Total | Easy to Moderate | 40 |
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – 19th September 2020 (Shift 3) Office Assistant
In terms of difficulty level, the shift was easy. Candidates attempted a good number of questions.
| Subject | Average No. of Good Attempts |
| Reasoning Ability | 31 – 37 |
| Numerical Ability | 28 – 34 |
| Total | 67 – 75 |
Section-wise Analysis of Reasoning Ability
As per the review level of questions asked in this section, the questions were quite easy. There were 5 sets of puzzles and seating arrangement as follows:
- Linear seating arrangement single line
- Linear Seating Arrangement- parallel rows
- Days based puzzle
- Linear Seating Arrangement – uncertain number of people seated in a single line facing north
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Reasoning Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangement | Easy to Moderate | 20 |
| Inequality | Easy | 5 |
| Alphabet Series | Easy | 1 |
| AlphaNumeric | Easy | 4 |
| Blood Relation | Easy | 3 |
| Order and Ranking | Easy | 5 |
| Miscellaneous | Easy | 2 |
| Total | Easy | 40 |
Section-wise Analysis of Numerical Ability
Similar to reasoning ability, the questions asked in the numerical ability section were also easy. The average attempted number of questions was between 28 and 35. There were 2 sets of Data Interpretation- Tabular DI and Line Graph.
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Numerical Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Data Interpretation | Easy to Moderate | 10 |
| Missing Number Series | Easy | 5 |
| Simplification | Easy | 12 |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | Easy to Moderate | 13 |
| Total | Easy to Moderate | 40 |
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – 19th September 2020 (Shift 4) Office Assistant
In terms of difficulty level, the shift was easy. Candidates attempted a good number of questions.
| Subject | Average No. of Good Attempts |
| Reasoning Ability | 33 – 37 |
| Numerical Ability | 30 – 35 |
| Total | 71 – 76 |
Section-wise Analysis of Reasoning Ability
As per the review level of questions asked in this section, the questions were easy to moderate. There were 4 sets of puzzles and seating arrangement as follows:
- Flat and Floor based puzzle (3 floors and 2 flats)
- Order and sequence-based puzzle (weight of a group of people was given)
- Box based puzzle (6 boxes)
- Month Based Puzzle
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Reasoning Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangement | Easy to Moderate | 20 |
| Alphabet Series | Easy | 2 |
| AlphaNumeric | Easy | 5 |
| Chinese Coding | Easy | 3 |
| Identify the odd one out (a set of letters was given) | Easy | 1 |
| Direction Sense | Easy | 3 |
| Syllogism | Easy | 5 |
| Number Based (-3 in odd and +2 in even) | Easy | 1 |
| Total | Easy | 40 |
Section-wise Analysis of Numerical Ability
Similar to reasoning ability, the questions asked in the numerical ability section were also easy. The average attempted number of questions was between 30 and 35. There were 2 sets of Data Interpretation- Tabular DI and Line Graph.
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Numerical Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Data Interpretation | Easy to Moderate | 10 |
| Missing Number Series | Easy | 6 |
| Simplification | Easy | 12 |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | Easy to Moderate | 12 |
| Total | Easy | 40 |
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – 19th September 2020 (Shift 5) Office Assistant
In terms of difficulty level, the shift was easy. Candidates attempted a good number of questions.
| Subject | Average No. of Good Attempts |
| Reasoning Ability | 32 – 37 |
| Numerical Ability | 29 – 35 |
| Total | 71 – 76 |
Section-wise Analysis of Reasoning Ability
As per the review level of questions asked in this section, the questions were quite easy. There were 3 sets of puzzles and seating arrangement as follows:
- Floor and Flat Puzzle
- Month Based Puzzle
- Month Based Puzzle
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Reasoning Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangement | Easy to Moderate | 15 |
| Alphabet Pairing | Easy | 1 |
| AlphaNumeric | Easy | 5 |
| Syllogism | Easy | 5 |
| Numeric Series | Easy | 3 |
| Blood Relation | Easy | 5 |
| Coding-Decoding | Easy | 1 |
| Inequality | Easy | 5 |
| Total | Easy | 40 |
Section-wise Analysis of Numerical Ability
Similar to reasoning ability, the questions asked in the numerical ability section were also easy. The average attempted number of questions was between 29 and 35. There were 2 sets of Data Interpretation – Tabular DI and Bar Graph.
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Numerical Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Data Interpretation | Easy to Moderate | 10 |
| Wrong Number Series | Easy | 5 |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | Easy | 10 |
| Simplification | Easy | 15 |
| Total | Easy to Moderate | 40 |
20th SEPTEMBER 2020
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – 20th September 2020 (Shift 1) Office Assistant
In terms of difficulty level, the shift was easy. Candidates attempted a good number of questions.
| Subject | Average No. of Good Attempts |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 – 40 |
| Numerical Ability | 33 – 35 |
| Total | 68 – 75 |
Section-wise Analysis of Reasoning Ability
As per the review level of questions asked in this section, the questions were quite easy. There were 3 sets of puzzles and seating arrangement as follows:
- Floor Based -7 Person
- Parallel Row (5 Person in Each Row)
- Square Based Puzzles
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Reasoning Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangement | Easy to Moderate | 15 |
| Letter Based | Easy | 3 |
| AlphaNumeric | Easy | 5 |
| Syllogism | Easy | 5 |
| Blood Relation | Easy | 3 |
| Inequality | Easy | 3 |
| Miscellaneous | Easy | 6 |
| Total | Easy | 40 |
Section-wise Analysis of Numerical Ability
Similar to reasoning ability, the questions asked in the numerical ability section were also easy. The average attempted number of questions was between 33 and 35. There were 2 sets of Data Interpretation – Tabular DI and Bar Graph.
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Numerical Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Data Interpretation | Easy to Moderate | 10 |
| Missing Number Series | Easy | 5 |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | Easy to Moderate | 15 |
| Simplification | Easy | 10 |
| Total | Easy to Moderate | 40 |
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – 20th September 2020 (Shift 2) Office Assistant
In terms of difficulty level, the shift was moderate. Candidates attempted a good number of questions.
| Subject | Average No. of Good Attempts |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 – 40 |
| Numerical Ability | 33 – 37 |
| Total | 70 – 75 |
Section-wise Analysis of Reasoning Ability
As per the review level of questions asked in this section, the questions were quite easy. There were 3 sets of puzzles and seating arrangement as follows:
- Comparison Based
- Parallel Row (5 Person in Each Row)
- Square Based Puzzles
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Reasoning Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangement | Easy to Moderate | 15 |
| Letter Based | Easy | 3 |
| AlphaNumeric | Easy | 5 |
| Syllogism | Easy | 5 |
| Blood Relation | Easy | 3 |
| Inequality | Easy | 3 |
| Miscellaneous | Easy | 6 |
| Total | Easy | 40 |
Section-wise Analysis of Numerical Ability
Similar to reasoning ability, the questions asked in the numerical ability section were also easy. The average attempted number of questions was between 33 and 35. There were 2 sets of Data Interpretation – Tabular DI and Bar Graph.
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Numerical Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Data Interpretation | Easy to Moderate | 10 |
| Missing Number Series | Easy | 5 |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | Easy to Moderate | 15 |
| Simplification | Easy | 10 |
| Total | Easy to Moderate | 40 |
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis for Prelims (Officer Scale I)
The IBPS RRB exam analysis has been mentioned below as per the date of the conducted examination.
13th SEPTEMBER 2020
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – 13th September 2020 (Shift 1) Officer Scale I
In terms of difficulty level, the shift was easy. Candidates attempted a good number of questions.
| Subject | Average No. of Good Attempts |
| Reasoning Ability | 28 – 43 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 – 31 |
| Total | 54 – 59 |
Section-wise Analysis of Reasoning Ability
As per the review level of questions asked in this section, the questions were quite easy. There were 3 sets of puzzles and seating arrangement:
- Linear seating arrangement with 9 people
- Floor + Flat Puzzle (10 floors, flat A and flat B)
- Classification Puzzle (Colours and Department)
- Linear seating arrangement with an uncertain number of people facing north
- Box based puzzle
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Reasoning Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangement | Easy to Moderate | 25 |
| Coding-Decoding | Easy | 5 |
| Blood Relation | Easy | 3 |
| Alphabet based | Easy | 1 |
| Number based | Easy | 1 |
| Inequality | Easy | 5 |
| Total | Easy to Moderate | 40 |
Section-wise Analysis of Quantitative Aptitude
The questions asked in the quantitative aptitude section were between easy to moderate. There were:
- 3 sets of Data Interpretation questions
- 2 sets were of Tabular DI
- Caselet DI
- Line Chart
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Quantitative Aptitude Topics | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Data Interpretation | 15 | Easy to Moderate |
| Wrong Number Series | 5 | Easy |
| Quadratic Equation | 5 | Easy to Moderate |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | 15 | Easy to Moderate |
| Total | 40 | Easy to Moderate |
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – 13th September 2020 (Shift 2) Officer Scale I
In terms of difficulty level, the shift was easy. Candidates attempted a good number of questions.
| Subject | Average No. of Good Attempts |
| Reasoning Ability | 29 – 34 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 24 – 29 |
| Total | 53 – 58 |
Section-wise Analysis of Reasoning Ability
As per the review level of questions asked in this section, the questions were easy to moderate. There were 3 sets of puzzles and seating arrangement as follows:
- Linear Seating Arrangement- Uncertain people- 3 Questions
- Day Based Puzzle 2 variables- 5 Questions
- Parallel Rows 12 people- 5 Questions
- Floor based puzzle with 5 floors and 10 people- 5 Questions
- 3 city- 9 people, Delhi, Surat, Pune- 5 Questions
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Reasoning Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangement | Easy to Moderate | 23 |
| Blood Relation | Easy | 3 |
| Syllogism | Easy to Moderate | 5 |
| Alphabet Based | Easy | 1 |
| Number Based | Easy | 1 |
| Miscellaneous | Easy | 4 |
| Direction | Moderate | 3 |
| Total | Easy to Moderate | 40 |
Section-wise Analysis of Quantitative Aptitude
The questions asked in the quantitative aptitude section were between easy to moderate. From Data Interpretation,
- Tabular DI (5 Questions)
- Bar (5 Questions)
- Caselet (4 Questions)
- Age (2 Questions)
- Profit & Loss (2 Questions)
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Quantitative Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Data Interpretation | Easy to Moderate | 14 |
| Missing Number Series | Easy to Moderate | 6 |
| Quadratic Equation | Easy | 5 |
| Approximation | Easy | 5 |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | Easy to Moderate | 10 |
| Total | Easy to Moderate | 40 |
12th September 2020
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – 12th September 2020 (Shift 1) Officer Scale I
In terms of difficulty level, the shift was easy. Candidates attempted a good number of questions.
| Subject | Average No. of Good Attempts |
| Reasoning Ability | 28 – 32 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 – 27 |
| Total | 52 – 57 |
Section-wise Analysis of Reasoning Ability
As per the review level of questions asked in this section, the questions were between easy and moderate. There were 3 sets of puzzles and seating arrangement as follows:
- Floor and Flat Puzzle- 4 floors and 2 flats had to be arranged
- Box Based Puzzle- 10 Boxes
- Linear Puzzle with uncertain number of people facing north – there were around 28 people
- Circular Seating Arrangement- 9 people to be seated facing inside and outside the centre
- Linear Puzzle of 7 people facing north + Age of those people
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Reasoning Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangement | Easy to Moderate | 25 |
| Direction Sense | Easy | 3 |
| Number Based | Easy | 1 |
| Alphabet Based | Easy | 2 |
| Inequality | Easy | 3 |
| Coding-Decoding | Easy to Moderate | 5 |
| Day based miscellaneous question | Easy | 1 |
| Total | Easy to Moderate | 40 |
Section-wise Analysis of Quantitative Aptitude
The questions asked in the quantitative aptitude section were of easy to moderate level of difficulty. Questions were mainly from quantity-based inequality and quadratic equations. 2 Sets of DI were seen in the examination- Pie Chart and Line Graph
- Tabular DI (5 Questions)
- Bar (5 Questions)
- Caselet (4 Questions)
- Age (2 Questions)
- Profit & Loss (2 Questions)
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| QA Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Data Interpretation | Easy to Moderate | 10 |
| Quadratic Equation | Easy | 5 |
| Missing Number Series | Easy | 5 |
| Quantity 1 and Quantity 2 based inequality | Easy to Moderate | 5 |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | Easy to Moderate | 15 |
| Total | Easy to Moderate | 40 |
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – 12th September 2020 (Shift 2) Officer Scale I
In terms of difficulty level, the shift was moderate. Candidates attempted a good number of questions.
| Subject | Average No. of Good Attempts |
| Reasoning Ability | 29 – 34 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 24 – 28 |
| Total | 53 – 59 |
Section-wise Analysis of Reasoning Ability
As per the review, the level of questions asked in this section was easy. Only one set of puzzles with 3 variables was lengthy and slightly difficult. There were 3 sets of puzzles and seating arrangement as follows:
- Linear Seating Arrangement- 11 people seating in a single row facing north
- Floor based puzzle with 9 floors and 9 people
- Colour based puzzle with 3 variables
- Floor based puzzle with the year of birth of people
- Rectangular Seating Arrangement with 4 people facing inside and 4 people facing outside the centre
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| Reasoning Ability Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangement | Easy to Moderate | 25 |
| Blood Relation | Easy | 5 |
| Syllogism | Easy | 5 |
| Alphabet Based | Easy | 1 |
| Inequality | Easy | 3 |
| Coding-Decoding | Easy | 1 |
| Total | Easy | 40 |
Section-wise Analysis of Quantitative Aptitude
The questions asked in the quantitative aptitude section were between easy to moderate. Questions were mainly from quantity-based inequality and the quadratic equation. 3 Sets of DI were seen in the examination- Caselet, Tabular DI and Bar Graph
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – Number and Level of Questions
| QA Topics | Level | No. of Questions |
| Data Interpretation | Easy to Moderate | 15 |
| Missing Number Series | Easy | 5 |
| Quantity 1 and Quantity 2 based inequality | Easy to Moderate | 5 |
| Approximation | Easy | 5 |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | Easy to Moderate | 10 |
| Total | Easy to | 40 |
IBPS RRB Exam Analysis – FAQs
How many types of Data Interpretation questions were there in the second shift of the exam?
There were 3 sets of DIs in Shift-2 pertaining to Caselets, Tabular and Bar Graph.
Was the Reasoning Ability section tough?
The level of Reasoning Ability section in IBPS RRB exam for both the Office Assistant and Officer Scale 1 was easy.
How is the IBPS RRB exam analysis helpful to candidates?
The IBPS RRB exam analysis helps candidates get a better idea about the section-wise and overall difficulty level of the exam.
What was the duration of the IBPS RRB Prelims exam?
The duration of the IBPS RRB Prelims exam is 45 minutes.
Was the difficulty level of question papers of each slot different?
Yes. The difficulty level of question papers was different for each of the slots.
