J&K Bank PO and Banking Associate 2026: Exam Pattern
IBPS conducts the online exams. The bank adds that it can change the structure of the examination, and will say so on its website.
Banking Associate: one online exam. PO: Preliminary exam
The Banking Associate exam and the PO Preliminary exam have the same structure.
| Test | Questions | Marks | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 |
- Tests are timed separately. Medium is English.
- A candidate must qualify in each test by reaching a cut-off, and in the total.
- The minimum aggregate is 40% for the general category and 35% for reserved categories, subject to overall merit.
PO Mains
| Test | Questions | Marks | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 | 45 |
| General / Economy / Banking / Digital / Financial Awareness, including RBI circulars | 50 | 60 | 35 |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 35 |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 40 | 60 | 45 |
| Total (objective) | 170 | 200 | 160 |
The Mains also includes a descriptive paper (essay and comprehension) of 2 questions, 25 marks and 30 minutes, in English. The notification says it may broadly be based on economic and social issues, emerging trends in banking and technology, current events and ethics. The tests are not in a fixed sequence.
Candidates should expect to be at the centre for about 4 hours for the Mains, and about 2 hours for the Prelims, because of verification and login.
Rules that apply to every objective test
- Wrong answers: one quarter of the marks for that question is deducted. A blank has no penalty.
- Scores across sessions: if the exam runs in several sessions, scores are normalised by the equi-percentile method, so a harder session does not hurt candidates.
- Marks shown: scores are reported up to two decimal places.
- Unusual similarity of answers: the bank will analyse responses across candidates for abnormal similarity and can act on the report.
Shortlisting, stage by stage (PO)
- Prelims: 10 times the vacancies in each category go to the Mains.
- Mains: 3 times the vacancies in each category go to the interview, on Mains marks only. Minimum 40% general, 35% reserved.
- Interview: 100 marks, minimum 40% (35% reserved). The final score counts Mains and interview as 80:20.
Exam centres and documents
- You choose six centres, at least three outside your UT, and the bank may allot any centre. Change requests are not entertained. The list is on the Banking Associate page.
- On exam day you need the valid call letter, and a photo identity in original that carries exactly the name on the call letter. Ration cards and learner's licences are not accepted.
- For the PO Mains you also carry the stamped Prelims call letter and a stamped copy of your ID.
- Biometric data (right thumb) and a photograph are captured at the Mains, at the end of the Mains, at the document check before the interview, and at joining.
- You report before the start time on the call letter, and late arrival means no entry.
What about the syllabus?
The notifications do not publish a topic-wise syllabus. They name the tests and give the marks. Any topic list, here or on other sites, is a guess based on similar bank exams, not an official syllabus.
As a guide only, tests with these names in IBPS-conducted bank exams usually draw on:
- English Language: reading comprehension, error spotting, sentence improvement, fill in the blanks, para jumbles and vocabulary.
- Quantitative Aptitude and Data Analysis: simplification and approximation, number series, percentages, profit and loss, ratio, time and work, averages, interest, and tables, charts and caselets.
- Reasoning Ability: puzzles and seating arrangements, syllogisms, inequalities, coding-decoding, blood relations and directions.
- General, Economy and Banking Awareness (PO Mains): banking terms, RBI and its circulars, current affairs, the economy and digital finance.
We will update this page if the bank publishes a syllabus.
Checked against the bank's detailed notifications on 9 November 2026. Dates and rules can change; the bank says to keep checking the Careers tab. See our editorial policy or report a mistake.