IBPS Clerk Prelims 2026 Exam-Day Guide: Documents, Reporting Time, Do's and Don'ts
A simple checklist for the day of your IBPS Clerk Prelims 2026 exam.
You have prepared for months; do not let a missing document or a late arrival cost you the exam. This checklist covers the day before and the day of your IBPS Clerk (CRP CSA-XVI) Prelims 2026 exam. The instructions printed on your call letter are final — read them fully.
IBPS Clerk 2026: key dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online registration and fee payment start date | 1 August 2026 |
| Online registration and fee payment closing date | 28 August 2026 |
| Application edit/correction window | 4 September to 5 September 2026 |
| Pre-Examination Training (PET) call letter release | 28 September 2026 |
| Preliminary exam call letter release date | 1 October 2026 |
| Preliminary call letter download closure date | 11 October 2026 |
| Online Preliminary Examination dates | 10 October and 11 October 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination result | November 2026 (Tentative) |
| Online Main Examination | 27 December 2026 (Tentative) |
| Provisional allotment | March 2027 (Tentative) |
Details: IBPS Clerk 2026 admit card notice.
The day before
- Download and print your call letter; check your name, photo, venue, date and reporting time.
- Keep the documents your call letter asks for — normally the printed call letter and an original photo ID proof with a photocopy, and photographs if specified. Your ID name must match the call letter.
- Visit or map the exam centre and plan to arrive well before the reporting time.
- Do a light revision only, and sleep early.
On exam day
- Reach the centre early; late entry is not allowed after the gate-closing time.
- Carry only what the call letter permits. Phones, calculators, smart watches and papers are not allowed inside.
- Follow the biometric and photo-capture steps calmly; keep your call letter and ID ready.
Inside the exam hall
- Read the on-screen instructions; prelims sections are individually timed.
- Start each section with the question types you are fastest at.
- Do not spend more than two minutes on any single question in the first pass.
- There is negative marking for wrong answers, so avoid pure guesses.
After the exam
Note down your approximate attempts and the question types you saw — it helps with your mains plan. Keep track of results and mains dates on PrepZen Exam Notifications, and check past cut-offs on IBPS Clerk cut-off.
Practise daily: mock tests and daily quizzes for IBPS Clerk mains — free on the PrepZen app.
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