IBPS SO XVI 2026 Practice Set: 20 Objective Questions with Answers
A 20-question IBPS SO practice set across quantitative aptitude, reasoning, English and a basic Professional Knowledge sample, with answer key and explanations. Use it to build speed before the November 2026 Mains.
How to use this set
This set is for candidates preparing for the IBPS SO XVI 2026 Mains, which the notice places in November 2026. It has 20 objective questions in four groups: quantitative aptitude, reasoning, English and a short Professional Knowledge sample. The Professional Knowledge questions are basic and generic. For your stream (IT, agriculture, law, Rajbhasha or HR), use the topic list in the syllabus.
Set a timer for 25 minutes. Negative marking is reported as 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in the prelims, so guess only when you can eliminate at least two options.
Start the set
Q1. Simple interest on Rs 5,000 at 8 percent per year for 2 years is:
A) Rs 700 B) Rs 800 C) Rs 900 D) Rs 1,000
Q2. Two numbers are in the ratio 2:3 and their sum is 45. The smaller number is:
A) 15 B) 18 C) 20 D) 22
Q3. A boat moves at 10 km/h in still water. The current flows at 2 km/h. The time taken to travel 36 km downstream is:
A) 2 hours B) 3 hours C) 4 hours D) 5 hours
Q4. The probability of drawing a red card from a standard pack of 52 cards is:
A) 1/4 B) 1/3 C) 1/2 D) 3/4
Q5. Find the next number: 5, 10, 20, 40, ?
A) 60 B) 70 C) 80 D) 90
Q6. A is taller than B. B is taller than C. Who is the shortest?
A) A B) B C) C D) Cannot be determined
Q7. If MOUSE is coded as NPVTF, how is DOG coded?
A) EPH B) DPH C) EOH D) FPH
Q8. Statements: All pens are books. Some books are red. Conclusion: Some pens are red.
A) Conclusion follows B) Conclusion does not follow C) Both conclusions follow D) Neither follows, as the statements contradict
Q9. Choose the odd one out: Apple, Mango, Carrot, Banana.
A) Apple B) Mango C) Carrot D) Banana
Q10. If today is Monday, what day will it be after 100 days?
A) Monday B) Tuesday C) Wednesday D) Thursday
Q11. She has been working here ___ 2015.
A) for B) since C) from D) during
Q12. Choose the synonym of "meticulous".
A) Careless B) Careful C) Hasty D) Lazy
Q13. Choose the antonym of "transparent".
A) Clear B) Opaque C) Visible D) Bright
Q14. What does the idiom "break the ice" mean?
A) To break something fragile B) To start a conversation C) To feel cold D) To lose hope
Q15. Choose the correct sentence.
A) The team are ready to present. B) The team is ready to present. C) The team were ready to present. D) The team have be ready to present.
Q16. Which protocol is used for secure web browsing?
A) FTP B) SMTP C) HTTPS D) SNMP
Q17. Which normal form removes partial dependency of non-key attributes on part of a composite key?
A) 1NF B) 2NF C) 3NF D) BCNF
Q18. Which data structure follows the Last In First Out (LIFO) principle?
A) Queue B) Stack C) Tree D) Graph
Q19. Which of these is a symmetric encryption algorithm?
A) RSA B) AES C) ECC D) Diffie-Hellman
Q20. Which layer of the OSI model is responsible for routing?
A) Physical B) Data link C) Network D) Transport
Answer key and explanations
Q1. B (Rs 800). SI = 5,000 × 8 × 2 / 100 = 800.
Q2. B (18). Parts are 2 + 3 = 5. Each part is 9. Smaller number = 2 × 9 = 18.
Q3. B (3 hours). Downstream speed = 10 + 2 = 12 km/h. Time = 36 / 12 = 3 hours.
Q4. C (1/2). 26 red cards out of 52.
Q5. C (80). Each term doubles the previous one.
Q6. C (C). A is taller than B, and B is taller than C, so C is the shortest.
Q7. A (EPH). Each letter moves forward by one. D→E, O→P, G→H.
Q8. B (Conclusion does not follow). The "some books are red" statement says nothing about the pens, so the conclusion does not follow.
Q9. C (Carrot). The others are fruits. Carrot is a vegetable.
Q10. C (Wednesday). 100 mod 7 = 2. Monday plus 2 days is Wednesday.
Q11. B (since). Use "since" with a starting point in time, such as 2015.
Q12. B (Careful). Meticulous means showing great attention to detail.
Q13. B (Opaque). Transparent is the opposite of opaque.
Q14. B (To start a conversation). The idiom means to ease tension and begin talking.
Q15. B (The team is ready to present). "Team" is a collective noun, used with a singular verb here.
Q16. C (HTTPS). HTTP over TLS, used for secure web traffic.
Q17. B (2NF). Second normal form removes partial dependency on part of a composite key.
Q18. B (Stack). A stack removes the most recently added item first.
Q19. B (AES). AES uses one shared key for encryption and decryption. RSA, ECC and Diffie-Hellman are asymmetric or key-exchange methods.
Q20. C (Network). Layer 3 of the OSI model handles logical addressing and routing.
Next steps
If you scored below 12, return to the basics of quant and reasoning, then retake the set in 48 hours. If you scored 12 to 16, work on speed. If you scored above 16, move to a full Mains-length mock using the Professional Knowledge topics for your stream.
For dates and the Mains call letter, see the IBPS SO XVI exam post.
Sources
Questions were written for this practice set and checked against standard aptitude, grammar and computer science references. They are not taken from any official IBPS paper. The pattern and penalty are from the official notice on ibps.in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only general quant, reasoning, English and a basic IT sample. Use the syllabus page for the Professional Knowledge topics for your stream.
25 minutes for the 20 questions.
Per the official notice, one fourth (0.25) of the marks of a question is deducted for each wrong answer in the objective tests.
The notice gives November 2026 as the Main examination month. Exact dates come from your IBPS call letter on ibps.in.
Keshav founded StudentUpdate.in and edits every recruitment notice, syllabus page and practice set the site publishes. Each notice is read from the issuing body's PDF or portal before it goes live; dates, fees, vacancy tables and eligibility rules are copied from that document, not from other websites.