The English section in the IBPS Clerk Prelims exam consists of 30 questions of 30 marks with a 20-minute duration. The English section in the IBPS Clerk Mains exam consists of 40 questions of 40 marks with a 35-minute duration. The candidates must know the topic-wise weightage of the English topics asked in the IBPS Clerk Prelims and the IBPS Clerk Mains exam and prepare accordingly. Some of the topics carry higher weightage as compared to the other topics. This blog provides the approximate topic-wise weightage based on the previous year’s paper (2020 to 2023) analysis for IBPS Clerk English.
IBPS Clerk English Topic-wise Weightage for Prelims
In the IBPS Clerk Prelims, English is of 30 marks, 30 questions, and 20 minutes. We have estimated the number of questions from major topics that will be asked in the English section. However, the candidates should not solely rely on these estimations and should prepare all the topics mentioned in the English syllabus. The maximum questions in the IBPS Clerk exam English section is asked from some repeated topics. The candidates must check the IBPS Clerk English Topic-wise Weightage for the Prelims exam provided below.
| IBPS Clerk Prelims Topic Wise Weightage – English language | ||||||
| Topics | Weightage 2023 | Weightage 2022 | Weightage 2021 | Weightage 2020 | Weightage 2019 | Weightage 2018 |
| Reading Comprehension | 08-10 | 08-10 | 08-09 | 06 | 08 | 08 |
| Cloze Test | 06 | 05-07 | 05 | 05 | 06 | 05 |
| Error Detection | 03-05 | 04-05 | 05 | 05 | 03 | – |
| Word Swap | 02-05 | 05 | – | 04 | – | – |
| Fillers | 03-07 | 02-05 | – | – | 05 | 05 |
| Word Usage | 01 | 02-03 | 04-05 | – | – | – |
| Misspelt | 04-05 | 04-06 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0-2 |
| Para Jumbles | 04-05 | 05 | 0-5 | 0-5 | 0-5 | 0-5 |
| Phrase Replacement | 03-05 | 02-05 | – | 05 | – | 07 |
| Match the Column | 01-03 | – | – | – | – | 05 |
| Word Rearrangement | 03 | – | 04-05 | – | 03 | – |
| Sentence Rearrangement | 03-05 | 02-05 | – | 05 | – | – |
| Misc., | 01-03 | 01-02 | 01-03 | 01-02 | 01-02 | 01-02 |
IBPS Clerk English Topic-wise Weightage for Mains exam
In the IBPS Clerk Mains, English is of 40 marks, 40 questions, and 35 minutes. These are only estimations based on the previous year’s question pattern. The number of questions from these topics in the actual exam may change. Therefore, you should prepare each topic of English and solve questions as much as possible. To score better in the exam, focus more on the higher weightage topics, but also prepare other topics. The IBPS Clerk English topic-wise weightage for the Mains exam can be found in the table below.
| IBPS Clerk mains topic-wise weightage – English Language | ||||
| Topic | Weightage (2023) | Weightage (2022) | Weightage (2021) | Weightage (2020) |
| Reading Comprehension | 10-12 | 12-13 | 10-12 | 11 |
| Fill in the blanks | – | – | – | 06-07 |
| Cloze Test | 06 | 04 | 06-07 | – |
| Error Detection | 05 | 05-06 | 01 | 06-07 |
| Connector | – | – | 05-06 | |
| Phrase Replacement | 04-05 | 06-07 | 05 | – |
| Double Fillers | 04-05 | 03-04 | 03 | – |
| Sentence Rearrangement | 01 | 04-05 | ||
| Mis Spelt | – | – | – | – |
| Match the Column | – | 04-05 | 03 | – |
| Odd One Out | – | – | 01 | – |
| Vocab Based Questions | – | – | – | 03 |
| Word Usage | – | 03 | – | – |
| Para Jumble | 03 | 06 | – | 05-06 |
| Miscellaneous | 02-04 | 01-03 | 01-02 | 01-02 |
How You Can Prepare for IBPS Clerk English
The English section in IBPS Clerk might seem easy, but scoring high requires consistent practice and a clear approach. If you’re preparing seriously, here’s how you can improve your English score step by step.
Important Topics You Should Focus On:
- Reading Comprehension (RC)
Start by reading the questions first, then go to the passage. This saves time because you’ll know exactly what to look for. Underline keywords and try to pick direct answers from the passage. - Cloze Test
To solve Cloze Tests correctly, work on your vocabulary and grammar. Try to understand the context of the passage and eliminate the wrong options to choose the right word. - Error Detection
Focus on grammar rules like subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles, and pronouns. Once you’re clear with the basics, spotting errors becomes easier. - Phrase Replacement
Learn phrasal verbs and understand sentence structure. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at identifying what sounds correct and what doesn’t. - Word Usage
Build your vocabulary through daily reading, word lists, or using apps. Try to use new words in sentences to remember them better.
IBPS Clerk English – Topics You Must Prepare:
Prelims Topics:
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Para Jumbles
- Error Detection
- Fillers
- Word Swap
Mains Topics:
- RC with inference-based questions
- Advanced Cloze Test
- Grammar-based Error Detection
- Phrase Replacement
- Double Fillers
- Miscellaneous (sentence correction, connectors)
Conclusion
The above-provided English topics and their weightage in the IBPS Clerk Prelims as well as mains exam are brought to you from the Previous year’s paper analysis. The candidates must check the IBPS Clerk English Topic-wise Weightage provided in this blog. The candidates can refer to the English topic-wise preparation strategy in our other blog (link provided below). Make a proper study plan to prepare for English topics and practice as much as you can. Attempt mock tests and refer to previous years’ questions. All the best!
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