Test booklet: प्रश्न पुस्तिका
Booklet No.: 1243626
Series: B

IBPS Clerk Prelims Paper 6

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

Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² + 7x − 8 = 0
II. y² − 6y − 7 = 0

Question 31 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 1. II gives y = −1 or 7. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
Ramesh can finish a piece of work in 84 days and Suresh can finish it in 42 days. Working together, how long will they take?

Question 32 42 days 28 days 27 days 63 days 30 days

Answer and working
Answer B
In one day they do 1/84 + 1/42 = 1/28 of the work. Time = 84 × 42 ÷ (84 + 42) = 28 days.
A trader buys a bicycle for ₹1,025 and sells it for ₹943. What is the profit or loss percent?

Question 33 6% loss 8.7% loss 8% loss 8% profit 13% loss

Answer and working
Answer C
Loss = ₹82. As a percent of the cost price: 82 ÷ 1,025 × 100 = 8% loss.
A boat covers 72 km downstream in 4 hours and 12 km upstream in 2 hours. What is the speed of the stream?

Question 34 7 km/h 6 km/h 4 km/h 8 km/h 12 km/h

Answer and working
Answer B
Downstream speed = 72 ÷ 4 = 18 km/h; upstream = 12 ÷ 2 = 6 km/h. Stream = (18 − 6) ÷ 2 = 6 km/h.
The present ages of Asha and her elder brother are in the ratio 2 : 3. After 6 years, the ratio will be 5 : 6. What is Asha’s present age?

Question 35 20 years 4 years 10 years 6 years 8 years

Answer and working
Answer B
Ages 2x and 3x. (2x + 6) : (3x + 6) = 5 : 6 gives x = 2. Asha is 2 × 2 = 4 years.
One card is drawn at random from a well-shuffled pack of 52. What is the probability that it is a number card from 2 to 10 of diamonds?

Question 36 ⁹⁄₅₂ ⁵⁄₂₆ ⁹⁄₂₆ ¹⁄₄ ²⁄₁₃

Answer and working
Answer A
9 of the 52 cards qualify. Probability = ⁹⁄₅₂.
What is the average of the first 49 natural numbers?

Question 37 50 48 25 49 26

Answer and working
Answer C
Sum = 49 × 50/2, so the average is (49 + 1)/2 = 25.
Find the wrong number in the series: 9, 16, 30, 58, 117, 226, 450

Question 38 450 58 30 16 117

Answer and working
Answer E
The rule: each term is the previous × 2 − 2. The term in place of 117 should be 114, so the wrong number is 117.
A train 230 m long passes a signal post in 23 seconds. What is its speed in km/h?

Question 39 45 km/h 18 km/h 10 km/h 54 km/h 36 km/h

Answer and working
Answer E
Speed = 230 ÷ 23 = 10 m/s = 10 × 18/5 = 36 km/h.
Simplify: ¹⁄₁₂ + ³⁄₄ + ¹⁄₂

Question 40 ⁵⁄₃ 1 ⁴⁄₃ ³⁄₂ ¹⁄₃

Answer and working
Answer C
Over the common denominator 24: the sum is ⁴⁄₃. Adding tops and bottoms separately (8/24) is the trap.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − 8x = 0
II. y² − 8y − 20 = 0

Question 41 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = 0 or 8. II gives y = −2 or 10. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
By selling a watch for ₹306, a man loses 10%. For how much should he sell it to gain 10%?

Question 42 ₹337 ₹350 ₹394 ₹367 ₹374

Answer and working
Answer E
CP = 306 × 100/90 = ₹340. For a 10% gain: 340 × 110/100 = ₹374.
If A : B = 1 : 8 and B : C = 3 : 8, what is A : B : C?

Question 43 3 : 64 : 24 1 : 8 : 8 1 : 3 : 8 24 : 3 : 64 3 : 24 : 64

Answer and working
Answer E
Make B the same in both: A : B = 3 : 24 and B : C = 24 : 64. So A : B : C = 3 : 24 : 64.
What is √484 + √324 − √625?

Question 44 13 14 15 17 29

Answer and working
Answer C
22 + 18 − 25 = 15.
What is √324 + √289 − √225?

Question 45 20 18 22 16 21

Answer and working
Answer A
18 + 17 − 15 = 20.
Which number replaces the question mark? 5, 6, 14, 45, 184, ?

Question 46 926 323 924 1,666 925

Answer and working
Answer E
The rule: each term is the previous × 1 + 1, × 2 + 2, × 3 + 3, and so on. The missing term is 925.
Simplify: ²⁄₃ + ³⁄₁₀ + ¹⁄₂

Question 47 ²³⁄₁₅ ²²⁄₁₅ ⁹⁄₂₀ ¹¹⁄₈ ⁷⁄₅

Answer and working
Answer B
Over the common denominator 60: the sum is ²²⁄₁₅. Adding tops and bottoms separately (9/20) is the trap.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² + 9x + 14 = 0
II. y² − 4y + 3 = 0

Question 48 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer C
I gives x = −7 or −2. II gives y = 1 or 3. Every x is smaller than every y: x < y.
The simple interest on a sum for 5 years at 9% per annum is ₹17,325. What is the sum?

Question 49 ₹21,175 ₹55,825 ₹32,083 ₹7,796 ₹38,500

Answer and working
Answer E
P = SI × 100 / (R × T) = 17,325 × 100 / (9 × 5) = ₹38,500.
Simplify: ¹⁄₄ + ¹⁄₅ + ⁴⁄₅

Question 50 ³⁄₂ ⁷⁄₁₉ ⁷⁄₅ ⁵⁄₄ 1

Answer and working
Answer D
Over the common denominator 20: the sum is ⁵⁄₄. Adding tops and bottoms separately (7/19) is the trap.
What is the compound interest on ₹17,200 for 2 years at 5% per annum, compounded annually?

Question 51 ₹1,763 ₹2,623 ₹18,963 ₹1,720 ₹860

Answer and working
Answer A
Amount = 17,200 × (1 + 5/100)² = ₹18,963. CI = 18,963 − 17,200 = ₹1,763.
Two trains 250 m and 210 m long run on parallel tracks in opposite directions at 37 km/h and 35 km/h. How long do they take to cross each other?

Question 52 83 seconds 24 seconds 23 seconds 46 seconds 25 seconds

Answer and working
Answer C
Relative speed = 37 + 35 = 72 km/h = 20 m/s. Distance = 250 + 210 = 460 m. Time = 460 ÷ 20 = 23 seconds.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − 9x − 10 = 0
II. y² − 3y − 54 = 0

Question 53 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = −1 or 10. 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.
Which number replaces the question mark? 15, 24, ?, 48, 63, 80

Question 54 35 46 36 33 34

Answer and working
Answer A
The rule: the terms are 4², 5², 6² … minus 1. The missing term is 35.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² + 4x − 21 = 0
II. y² − 18y + 80 = 0

Question 55 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer C
I gives x = −7 or 3. II gives y = 8 or 10. Every x is smaller than every y: x < y.
Which number replaces the question mark? 3, 10, 31, 94, 283, 850, ?

Question 56 2,550 4,252 2,552 2,551 1,417

Answer and working
Answer D
The rule: each term is the previous × 3 + 1. The missing term is 2,551.
Directions for questions 57 to 61
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 640 768
Library B 480 576
Library C 240 252
Library D 600 840
Library E 660 528
What is the ratio of Library C’s Year 1 figure to Library E’s Year 2 figure?

Question 57 4 : 11 11 : 5 21 : 55 5 : 11 21 : 44

Answer and working
Answer D
240 : 528 = 5 : 11.
By what percent did Library C’s figure change from Year 1 to Year 2?

Question 58 4.76% increase 10% increase 5% decrease 5% increase 0% increase

Answer and working
Answer D
Change = 252 − 240 = 12. On Year 1: 12 ÷ 240 × 100 = 5% increase.
Library E’s Year 2 figure is what percent of Library B’s Year 2 figure?

Question 59 81.67% 91.67% 137.5% 109.09% 101.67%

Answer and working
Answer B
528 ÷ 576 × 100 = 91.67%.
What is the average Year 2 figure of the five?

Question 60 582.8 524 558.4 602.8 592.8

Answer and working
Answer E
Sum of Year 2 = 2,964. ÷ 5 = 592.8.
What is the total for Library B over the two years?

Question 61 1,320 1,056 1,076 1,036 1,152

Answer and working
Answer B
480 + 576 = 1,056.
The fare for a journey goes from ₹960 to ₹240. What is the percentage decrease?

Question 62 95% decrease 85% decrease 80% decrease 70% decrease 75% decrease

Answer and working
Answer E
Change = ₹720. On the original value: 720 ÷ 960 × 100 = 75%, a 75% decrease. Dividing by the new value, 240, is the usual slip.
The fare for a journey goes from ₹200 to ₹50. What is the percentage decrease?

Question 63 70% decrease 80% decrease 95% decrease 65% decrease 75% decrease

Answer and working
Answer E
Change = ₹150. On the original value: 150 ÷ 200 × 100 = 75%, a 75% decrease. Dividing by the new value, 50, is the usual slip.
In what ratio must rice at ₹25/kg be mixed with rice at ₹42/kg so that the mixture is worth ₹28/kg?

Question 64 25 : 42 14 : 3 3 : 14 3 : 17 17 : 14

Answer and working
Answer B
By alligation: cheaper : dearer = (42 − 28) : (28 − 25) = 14 : 3 = 14 : 3.
Which number replaces the question mark? 4, 5, 12, 39, 160, ?

Question 65 804 1,450 805 806 281

Answer and working
Answer C
The rule: each term is the previous × 1 + 1, × 2 + 2, × 3 + 3, and so on. The missing term is 805.

IBPS Clerk Prelims Paper 6

Instructions निर्देश

Part AEnglish Language

Part BNumerical Ability

Part CReasoning Ability

Library	Year 1	Year 2
Library A	640	768
Library B	480	576
Library C	240	252
Library D	600	840
Library E	660	528