IBPS AFO exam-day guide
IBPS AFO · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed or downloaded admit card / call letter
IBPS exams normally require the call letter for your specific exam date and shift. Download it once the link opens on the official IBPS site and keep both a printout and a PDF on your phone. Confirm the exact print requirement (colour, number of copies) with the provider before the exam.
Original photo ID matching the call letter
Carry the original of the ID you entered in the application (Aadhaar, PAN, passport, driving licence, voter ID, or similar). Photocopies are generally not accepted. Confirm which ID types are permitted for your exam with the provider.
Recent passport-size photographs
Some IBPS exams ask you to paste or carry photographs that match the one uploaded in the application. Carry two or three identical copies. The exact number and pasting instructions vary by exam, so confirm with the provider.
Self-declaration / undertaking form
Recent IBPS call letters often include a self-declaration to be filled in and signed before entering the hall. Check your call letter for this form and fill it in advance. Confirm the current requirement with the provider.
Blue or black ballpoint pen
Useful for signing attendance sheets and declarations. For CBT exams you will not write answers on paper, but a pen is still handy. Confirm whether any stationery is provided.
Transparent water bottle
Many centres allow a clear, label-free water bottle. Rules vary by centre and shift, so treat this as optional and confirm with the provider.
Know your reporting time and centre route
Reporting times are usually printed on the call letter and are well before the exam start. Do a route check the day before and plan to arrive early, since late entry is usually refused.
Leave prohibited items at home or with an escort
Mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, notes, and metal accessories are normally barred inside the hall. There is usually no secure storage, so plan accordingly.
Rehearse the on-screen test interface
Use any official mock or practice link provided for your exam to get familiar with navigation, the question palette, and the on-screen calculator, if allowed. Confirm what is available with the provider.
Carry the call letter details for your shift
Double-check the exam date, shift, and centre address on the call letter against any SMS or email you received, because centres and shifts can change.
Physical readiness: sleep, food, and medication
Eat a light meal before reporting, carry any prescribed medicine only if the provider permits it, and avoid heavy caffeine. Confirm the medical-item policy with the provider.
Plan the day
Download and print the call letter, fill in any self-declaration, and verify the centre address and reporting time. Take one or two full-length timed mocks in the exact section order and time limits of your exam, then review errors rather than starting new topics. Revise formula sheets, current-affairs notes, and agriculture-specific facts (schemes, crops, soil and irrigation basics) that you already know. Pack the ID, photographs, and pen in one bag. Check the official IBPS site for any notice about your exam.
Stop heavy study. Do a light revision of high-yield notes and one short sectional practice set to stay sharp. Reconfirm the route and travel time, arrange transport, and set two alarms. Charge your phone but plan to leave it behind or with an escort. Sleep early; do not stay up cramming.
Eat a light breakfast, re-check the bag against the checklist, and leave with buffer time for traffic and security queues. Arrive before the reporting time printed on the call letter. Expect ID verification, biometric capture, and a document check before you reach the seat. Use the restroom before entering the hall, since breaks are usually not allowed.
Read the on-screen instructions and confirm the section order and time limits. Attempt easy questions first and mark difficult ones for review using the palette. Watch the sectional timers if the exam is sectionally timed. Do not spend too long on any single question. Use the on-screen calculator only if it is permitted. Submit only after checking that no marked question was left unattempted by mistake.
Rules to check
Carry the call letter and the original photo ID you declared in the application; entry is normally refused without them. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider.
Electronic devices, smartwatches, calculators, and study material are generally prohibited inside the exam hall. Do not rely on the centre to store them.
Follow the reporting time on the call letter; late candidates are usually not admitted. Confirm the cut-off with the provider.
Biometric capture and photograph may be taken at the centre; cooperate with staff and keep your fingers clean and free of heavy mehndi or cuts where possible.
Breaks are generally not permitted during the test, so use the restroom before entering the hall.
Scoring usually involves sectional timing and may include negative marking for wrong answers. Confirm the exact marking scheme and cut-offs for your exam with the provider.
Any attempt to use unfair means, communicate with others, or tamper with the computer can lead to disqualification and a ban. Confirm the provider's misconduct policy.
If a technical problem occurs at your workstation, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator; do not attempt to fix the system yourself.