Test booklet: प्रश्न पुस्तिका
Booklet No.: 1804483
Series: D

IBPS Clerk Prelims Paper 3

Questions: 100
Maximum marks: 100
Minutes allowed: 60

Instructions निर्देश

This booklet has 100 questions in 3 parts: A. English Language (30), B. Numerical Ability (35), C. Reasoning Ability (35).
Each part has its own clock. When it runs out, that part closes and the next opens.
Each question has 5 options and one right answer. A right answer earns 1 mark. A wrong answer costs 0.25. A question left blank scores nothing.
Fill one bubble per question on the answer sheet. Unlike a real sheet, you can clear it and change your mind.

Scripting is off, so this page is a printed paper: answer on paper, then open each question’s working.

Part BNumerical Ability

35 questions, 1 mark each, 0.25 off for a wrong answer

What is the fourth proportional to 12, 16 and 324?

Question 31 475 432 243 328 444

Answer and working
Answer B
12 : 16 = 324 : x, so x = 16 × 324 ÷ 12 = 432.
A bus goes from Pune to Nashik at 12 km/h and returns by the same road at 60 km/h. What is its average speed for the whole journey?

Question 32 40 km/h 20 km/h 22 km/h 36 km/h 18 km/h

Answer and working
Answer B
For equal distances, average speed = 2xy/(x + y) = 2 × 12 × 60 ÷ 72 = 20 km/h. The plain average, 36, ignores that the slower leg takes longer.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² + 3x = 0
II. y² − 2y − 63 = 0

Question 33 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = −3 or 0. II gives y = −7 or 9. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
Three fair coins are tossed. What is the probability of getting at most one head?

Question 34 ²⁄₃ ¹⁄₂ ⁵⁄₈ ¹⁄₈ ¹⁄₃

Answer and working
Answer B
Of the 8 equally likely outcomes, 4 qualify. Probability = ¹⁄₂.
Which number replaces the question mark? 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, ?

Question 35 52 51 53 59 54

Answer and working
Answer C
The rule: consecutive prime numbers. The missing term is 53.
Two successive discounts of 25% and 20% are equal to a single discount of:

Question 36 42.5% 25% 45% 40% 42%

Answer and working
Answer D
Single discount = 25 + 20 − (25 × 20)/100 = 40%. The second discount is taken on the already reduced price, so the two do not simply add.
Two trains 290 m and 190 m long run on parallel tracks in opposite directions at 38 km/h and 34 km/h. How long do they take to cross each other?

Question 37 48 seconds 23 seconds 86 seconds 24 seconds 26 seconds

Answer and working
Answer D
Relative speed = 38 + 34 = 72 km/h = 20 m/s. Distance = 290 + 190 = 480 m. Time = 480 ÷ 20 = 24 seconds.
The average weight of 12 people goes up by 2.5 kg when a new person takes the place of one who weighs 69 kg. What does the new person weigh?

Question 38 101.5 kg 71.5 kg 96.5 kg 99 kg 39 kg

Answer and working
Answer D
The total rises by 12 × 2.5 = 30 kg, so the new person weighs 69 + 30 = 99 kg.
The monthly rent of a shop goes from ₹1,000 to ₹800. What is the percentage decrease?

Question 39 40% decrease 15% decrease 20% decrease 25% decrease 30% decrease

Answer and working
Answer C
Change = ₹200. On the original value: 200 ÷ 1,000 × 100 = 20%, a 20% decrease. Dividing by the new value, 800, is the usual slip.
Which number replaces the question mark? 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, ?

Question 40 52 59 54 53 51

Answer and working
Answer D
The rule: consecutive prime numbers. The missing term is 53.
Find the wrong number in the series: 24, 25, 27, 33, 34, 39, 45

Question 41 34 39 33 25 45

Answer and working
Answer C
The rule: the differences grow by 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. The term in place of 33 should be 30, so the wrong number is 33.
A boat covers 40 km downstream in 4 hours and 6 km upstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water?

Question 42 7 km/h 6 km/h 4 km/h 12 km/h 10 km/h

Answer and working
Answer B
Downstream speed = 40 ÷ 4 = 10 km/h; upstream = 6 ÷ 3 = 2 km/h. Boat = (10 + 2) ÷ 2 = 6 km/h.
Simplify: ¹⁄₃ + ¹⁄₂ + ³⁄₅

Question 43 ¹⁄₂ ⁷⁄₅ ⁴³⁄₃₁ ⁴³⁄₃₀ ²²⁄₁₅

Answer and working
Answer D
Over the common denominator 30: the sum is ⁴³⁄₃₀. Adding tops and bottoms separately (5/10) is the trap.
What is √289 + √841 − √625?

Question 44 21 23 13 19 22

Answer and working
Answer A
17 + 29 − 25 = 21.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − 3x − 88 = 0
II. y² + 13y + 40 = 0

Question 45 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = −8 or 11. II gives y = −8 or −5. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
Two successive discounts of 10% and 10% are equal to a single discount of:

Question 46 21% 10% 19% 19.5% 20%

Answer and working
Answer C
Single discount = 10 + 10 − (10 × 10)/100 = 19%. The second discount is taken on the already reduced price, so the two do not simply add.
80 litres of a mixture contains milk and water in the ratio 7 : 3. How much water must be added to make the ratio 1 : 3?

Question 47 148 litres 144 litres 36 litres 168 litres 72 litres

Answer and working
Answer B
Milk = 56 l, water = 24 l. For 1 : 3, water must be 56 × 3/1 = 168 l. Add 168 − 24 = 144 litres.
What is the compound interest on ₹45,000 for 2 years at 12% per annum, compounded annually?

Question 48 ₹11,448 ₹16,848 ₹5,400 ₹10,800 ₹56,448

Answer and working
Answer A
Amount = 45,000 × (1 + 12/100)² = ₹56,448. CI = 56,448 − 45,000 = ₹11,448.
A is four times as efficient as B. Together they finish a job in 24 days. How long would A take alone?

Question 49 6 days 120 days 96 days 30 days 34 days

Answer and working
Answer D
If B does 1 unit a day, A does 4; together 5 units a day for 24 days = 120 units. A alone: 120 ÷ 4 = 30 days.
Which number replaces the question mark? 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, ?

Question 50 31 48 24 33 32

Answer and working
Answer E
The rule: each term is the previous × 2. The missing term is 32.
Which number replaces the question mark? 7, 17, 37, 77, 157, 317, ?

Question 51 637 636 957 477 638

Answer and working
Answer A
The rule: each term is the previous × 2 + 3. The missing term is 637.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² + x = 0
II. y² − 9y + 20 = 0

Question 52 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer C
I gives x = −1 or 0. II gives y = 4 or 5. Every x is smaller than every y: x < y.
What is the value of 58² − 41²?

Question 53 1,683 1,783 289 1,601 9,603

Answer and working
Answer A
a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b) = 99 × 17 = 1,683.
The present ages of Asha and her elder brother are in the ratio 7 : 8. After 8 years, the ratio will be 8 : 9. What is Asha’s present age?

Question 54 64 years 58 years 54 years 56 years 48 years

Answer and working
Answer D
Ages 7x and 8x. (7x + 8) : (8x + 8) = 8 : 9 gives x = 8. Asha is 7 × 8 = 56 years.
What is the simple interest on ₹54,000 at 15% per annum for 4 years?

Question 55 ₹34,560 ₹32,400 ₹24,300 ₹86,400 ₹8,100

Answer and working
Answer B
SI = P × R × T / 100 = 54,000 × 15 × 4 / 100 = ₹32,400.
The population of a town is 8,175. It grows by 20% every year. What will it be after 2 years?

Question 56 11,184 12,066 9,810 11,772 11,445

Answer and working
Answer D
8,175 × (1 + 20/100)² = 8,175 × 1.44 = 11,772. Growing 20% on 8,175 twice, not 40% once.
Simplify: ¹⁄₂ + ¹⁄₈ + ¹⁄₃

Question 57 ¹¹⁄₁₂ ²³⁄₂₅ ²³⁄₂₄ 1 ⁷⁄₂₄

Answer and working
Answer C
Over the common denominator 24: the sum is ²³⁄₂₄. Adding tops and bottoms separately (7/24) is the trap.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − 3x − 70 = 0
II. y² − 9y = 0

Question 58 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = −7 or 10. II gives y = 0 or 9. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − 13x + 36 = 0
II. y² − 3y − 54 = 0

Question 59 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = 4 or 9. II gives y = −6 or 9. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
Directions for questions 60 to 64
Study the table and answer the questions that follow.
Books issued by five libraries, in two successive years
Library Year 1 Year 2
Library A 580 870
Library B 280 308
Library C 560 588
Library D 740 962
Library E 660 528
What is the total for Library E over the two years?

Question 60 1,530 1,188 1,168 1,056 1,208

Answer and working
Answer B
660 + 528 = 1,188.
Which one grew the most in percentage terms from Year 1 to Year 2?

Question 61 Library B Library C Library A Library D Library E

Answer and working
Answer C
Growth: Library A 50%, Library B 10%, Library C 5%, Library D 30%, Library E −20%. The highest is Library A.
Library B’s Year 2 figure is what percent of Library A’s Year 2 figure?

Question 62 35.4% 45.4% 282.47% 25.4% 48.28%

Answer and working
Answer A
308 ÷ 870 × 100 = 35.4%.
By what percent did Library C’s figure change from Year 1 to Year 2?

Question 63 5% decrease 4.76% increase 10% increase 5% increase 0% increase

Answer and working
Answer D
Change = 588 − 560 = 28. On Year 1: 28 ÷ 560 × 100 = 5% increase.
What is the average Year 2 figure of the five?

Question 64 641.2 607.6 661.2 651.2 564

Answer and working
Answer D
Sum of Year 2 = 3,256. ÷ 5 = 651.2.
What is the value of 98² − 31²?

Question 65 16,383 8,643 4,489 8,581 8,743

Answer and working
Answer B
a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b) = 129 × 67 = 8,643.

IBPS Clerk Prelims Paper 3

Instructions निर्देश

Part AEnglish Language

Part BNumerical Ability

Part CReasoning Ability

Library	Year 1	Year 2
Library A	580	870
Library B	280	308
Library C	560	588
Library D	740	962
Library E	660	528