Labelled mock paper

IBPS Clerk 2018 Previous Year Question Paper

IBPS Clerk 2018 question paper was never officially released. Practise our labelled 2018 mock: 27 questions with answers, built on the reported pattern.

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No official IBPS Clerk 2018 paper was released.Practise the labelled mock paper built from that year's reported pattern.Open mock

The IBPS Clerk 2018 question paper was not officially published, so this page does not host it. Instead it has a clearly labelled mock paper with original questions modelled on the reported 2018 pattern, plus a timed attempt plan and an error-log routine. The IBPS Clerk exam covers English, Numeracy, Reasoning and Computer/GA.

Explore: IBPS Clerk hub · Syllabus & pattern · IBPS Clerk 2024 · How to use PYQs

No official paper released

IBPS did not publish the IBPS Clerk 2018 question paper. Practise the IBPS Clerk 2018 mock paper: original questions modelled on candidate reports, clearly labelled as a mock.

Why this year matters

Older IBPS Clerk papers like 2018 are for mining, not nostalgia. Keep current marking rules, and skip topics the latest brochure dropped. Sectional timing and cut-offs matter as much as raw accuracy. Track attempts per section, not just the total.

Count attempts and accuracy by section. A high raw score with a failed sectional cut-off is still a fail in the real exam.

Paper analysis

Snapshot of IBPS Clerk 2018

Older Clerk archive.

2018 may feel differently paced than the newest cycle. Borrow stamina and theme lessons; do not copy obsolete section orders or marking quirks.

What this paper stresses

  • English error-spotting under speed pressure.
  • Mains vs Prelims difficulty mismatch (especially SBI / RBI).
  • Sectional cut-off failures despite a decent overall.
  • Puzzle / DI sets that should have been abandoned earlier.

What to extract before you move on

  • English miss taxonomy (grammar vs vocab vs RC).
  • Prelims vs Mains repair queues kept as separate lists.
  • Puzzle / DI patterns that beat you when you overstay.
  • Sectional attempt targets that still clear cut-offs in mocks.

How 2018 sits next to other years

Use 2018 only after IBPS Clerk 2024, IBPS Clerk 2023, IBPS Clerk 2022 are logged. Archive years are for frequency maps, not for predicting tomorrow’s cut-off.

Analyst note: IBPS did not publish the IBPS Clerk 2018 paper. The mock below is original practice in the reported pattern; treat coaching “memory-based” papers as unofficial reconstructions.

IBPS Clerk 2018 mock paper (Prelims, modelled on candidate reports)

This is a mock paper we wrote. The official 2018 paper was never released.The conducting body has not published it. These 27 questions are original, written by previousyearquestions.app to match what candidates and exam analyses reported about the 2018 exam: section mix, topics and difficulty. Use it to practise the pattern. The questions themselves are not from the real exam.

IBPS has not released question papers for any Clerk exam, so there is no official 2018 paper to host; only coaching memory-based versions exist. This original mini-paper is modelled on candidate reports of the CRP Clerks-VIII Preliminary exam of December 2018.

What candidates reported about 2018

  • 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes, now with a separate 20-minute timer for each section; candidates could not move between sections.
  • Exam days were 8, 9, 15 and 16 December 2018; reviews rated every shift easy to moderate, with Reasoning giving the most good attempts and English the fewest.
  • Numerical Ability: about 10 simplification questions, 5–10 DI, 5 missing- or wrong-number series, quadratic equations in some shifts, and about 10 arithmetic problems (profit and loss, ages, SI/CI, work).
  • Reasoning: 10–15 puzzle and seating questions, syllogism or inequality, coding-decoding, number/alphanumeric series, ranking and direction.
  • English: a 6–7 question RC, sentence rearrangement, cloze or fillers, plus newer types such as word usage, misspelt words and 'column' matching.
  • +1 for a correct answer, −0.25 for a wrong one; five options per question.

Suggested time: 18 minutes. In 2018 each section had its own 20-minute timer. For this 27-question mock use about 6 minutes per section (18 minutes in total) and do not return to a section once its time is over. Five options per question; +1 for a correct answer, −0.25 for a wrong answer.

English Language

Passage

Every year a large share of the country's fruit and vegetable harvest is lost between the farm and the market. Much of this loss happens in the first few days, when produce is left in the open because the farmer has no place to store it and no means to move it quickly. Large cold storages exist, but they are usually located near cities and are designed for traders who can fill entire chambers.

A small company in one district has tried a different approach. It installs solar-powered cold rooms the size of a shipping container in villages and rents space by the crate rather than by the chamber. A farmer can store ten crates of tomatoes for a few days while waiting for prices to improve, paying only for the space and time used. Because the rooms run on solar power, they do not depend on an unreliable electricity supply.

Early results are encouraging. Farmers using the rooms report fewer distress sales, in which produce is sold cheaply simply because it would otherwise rot. However, the company admits that the rooms pay for themselves only when they are nearly full through the year, which requires farmers in the area to grow a range of crops that ripen in different seasons.

  1. According to the passage, why are large cold storages of little help to small farmers?

    1. They charge by the crate
    2. They are near cities and built for traders who fill whole chambers
    3. They run only on solar power
    4. They store only tomatoes
    5. They are open for a few days a year
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (They are near cities and built for traders who fill whole chambers)

    The passage says large cold storages 'are usually located near cities and are designed for traders who can fill entire chambers'.

  2. What is meant by a 'distress sale' in the passage?

    1. A sale at a government-fixed price
    2. Selling produce cheaply only because it would otherwise spoil
    3. A sale made to a cold-storage company
    4. Selling crops before they are harvested
    5. A sale in which the buyer pays in instalments
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (Selling produce cheaply only because it would otherwise spoil)

    The passage defines it as produce 'sold cheaply simply because it would otherwise rot'.

  3. What condition must be met for the village cold rooms to be financially viable?

    1. Farmers must grow only tomatoes
    2. The rooms must be connected to the electricity grid
    3. The rooms must remain nearly full throughout the year
    4. Traders must rent whole chambers
    5. Prices must stay the same all year
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (The rooms must remain nearly full throughout the year)

    The company admits the rooms 'pay for themselves only when they are nearly full through the year'.

Sentence rearrangement

Rearrange the sentences to form a meaningful paragraph.

A. As a result, she opened a small savings account at the post office. B. Lata, a tailor, used to keep her earnings in a tin box at home. C. One night the box was stolen, along with three months' savings. D. Today she deposits a part of her income there every week. E. A neighbour then explained that money in an account was both safe and earned interest.

  1. Which sentence comes FIRST?

    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    5. E
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (B)

    The order is B-C-E-A-D: B introduces Lata and her tin box, C describes the theft, E the neighbour's advice, A the result (account opened) and D the present habit.

  2. Which sentence comes FOURTH?

    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    5. E
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A (A)

    In the order B-C-E-A-D, the fourth sentence is A ('As a result ...'), which follows the neighbour's advice in E.

Word usage, spelling and connectors

  1. In which sentence is the word 'bear' used INCORRECTLY?

    1. I cannot bear the noise any longer.
    2. These trees bear fruit in summer.
    3. Please bear with me for a moment.
    4. He walked bear-footed on the sand.
    5. All are correct
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (He walked bear-footed on the sand.)

    Walking without shoes is 'barefoot' (bare = uncovered), not 'bear-footed'.

  2. Identify the misspelt word.

    1. guarantee
    2. occurrence
    3. maintainance
    4. receipt
    5. All are correct
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (maintainance)

    The correct spelling is 'maintenance'.

  3. Match the beginnings in Column I with the endings in Column II. Column I: (A) Unless you submit the form, (B) Since the server was down, (C) Although he was tired, Column II: (D) he completed the audit. (E) the transactions failed. (F) your account will not be opened.

    1. A-F, B-E, C-D
    2. A-D, B-E, C-F
    3. A-E, B-F, C-D
    4. A-F, B-D, C-E
    5. A-D, B-F, C-E
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A (A-F, B-E, C-D)

    'Unless you submit the form, your account will not be opened' (condition); 'Since the server was down, the transactions failed' (cause); 'Although he was tired, he completed the audit' (contrast).

Numerical Ability

Simplification

What will come in place of the question mark (?)

  1. 64% of 850 − 12.5% of 640 = ?

    1. 448
    2. 456
    3. 464
    4. 472
    5. 480
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (464)

    64% of 850 = 544; 12.5% of 640 = 80; 544 − 80 = 464.

  2. 3³ × 4 ÷ 6 + ? = 50

    1. 28
    2. 30
    3. 32
    4. 34
    5. 36
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (32)

    3³ × 4 ÷ 6 = 27 × 4 ÷ 6 = 18; ? = 50 − 18 = 32.

  3. 7/8 of 1344 ÷ 14 = ?

    1. 78
    2. 80
    3. 84
    4. 88
    5. 96
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (84)

    7/8 of 1344 = 1176; 1176 ÷ 14 = 84.

Wrong number series

Find the number that does not fit the pattern of the series.

  1. 4, 9, 19, 39, 79, 158, 319

    1. 9
    2. 19
    3. 39
    4. 79
    5. 158
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: E (158)

    Each term = previous × 2 + 1: 79 × 2 + 1 = 159, not 158 (and 159 × 2 + 1 = 319).

  2. 2, 3, 8, 28, 112, 565, 3396

    1. 3
    2. 8
    3. 28
    4. 112
    5. 565
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (28)

    Pattern ×1+1, ×2+2, ×3+3, ×4+4, ×5+5, ×6+6. After 8 the term should be 8 × 3 + 3 = 27 (and 27 × 4 + 4 = 112), so 28 is wrong.

Data interpretation

The table shows the number of bicycles (in thousands) produced by a factory from 2013 to 2017.

YearProduction (thousands)
201345
201452
201560
201648
201775

  1. What was the percentage decrease in production from 2015 to 2016?

    1. 12%
    2. 15%
    3. 18%
    4. 20%
    5. 25%
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (20%)

    Decrease = 60 − 48 = 12; 12 ÷ 60 × 100 = 20%.

  2. What was the average annual production (in thousands) over the five years?

    1. 54
    2. 55
    3. 56
    4. 57
    5. 58
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (56)

    Total = 45 + 52 + 60 + 48 + 75 = 280; 280 ÷ 5 = 56.

  3. Production in 2017 was what percent more than production in 2013?

    1. 50%
    2. 60%
    3. 66⅔%
    4. 70%
    5. 75%
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (66⅔%)

    (75 − 45) ÷ 45 × 100 = 30 ÷ 45 × 100 = 66⅔%.

Arithmetic

  1. A shopkeeper marks an article 40% above its cost price and allows a discount of 15%. What is his profit percentage?

    1. 15%
    2. 17%
    3. 19%
    4. 21%
    5. 25%
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (19%)

    Selling price = 1.40 × 0.85 = 1.19 times cost, so profit = 19%.

  2. A can finish a work in 12 days and B in 18 days. They work together for 4 days, after which A leaves. In how many more days will B finish the work?

    1. 6
    2. 7
    3. 8
    4. 9
    5. 10
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (8)

    Together per day = 1/12 + 1/18 = 5/36; in 4 days = 20/36 = 5/9. Remaining 4/9 done by B in (4/9) × 18 = 8 days.

Reasoning Ability

Puzzle

Six boxes P, Q, R, S, T and U are kept one above another in a stack. The bottom position is numbered 1 and the top position 6.

Exactly two boxes are kept between S and R. Q is kept immediately above T. U is kept immediately below R. P is kept somewhere above S. T is kept above R. U is not kept at the bottom.

  1. Which box is kept at the top?

    1. P
    2. Q
    3. R
    4. S
    5. T
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (Q)

    Stack from bottom (1) to top (6): S, P, U, R, T, Q. T and Q (immediately above T) are both above R, so R is at most 4. U is immediately below R and not at the bottom, so R is at least 3. If R = 3, S (three places away) must be at 6, leaving no room for P above S. So R = 4, U = 3, S = 1, T and Q take 5 and 6, and P takes 2.

  2. How many boxes are kept between P and T?

    1. None
    2. One
    3. Two
    4. Three
    5. Four
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (Two)

    Stack from bottom: S, P, U, R, T, Q. P is at 2 and T at 5, so U and R lie between them.

  3. Which box is kept immediately below U?

    1. P
    2. Q
    3. R
    4. S
    5. T
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A (P)

    Stack from bottom: S, P, U, R, T, Q. U is at 3 and P at 2.

Number arrangement

Study the following five three-digit numbers: 386 572 914 263 748

  1. If the digits within each number are arranged in ascending order, which original number will become the largest?

    1. 386
    2. 572
    3. 914
    4. 263
    5. 748
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: E (748)

    Rearranged: 368, 257, 149, 236, 478. The largest, 478, comes from 748.

  2. What is the difference between the second digit of the highest number and the second digit of the lowest number?

    1. 2
    2. 3
    3. 4
    4. 5
    5. 6
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (5)

    Highest = 914 (second digit 1); lowest = 263 (second digit 6); 6 − 1 = 5.

Syllogism

Decide which conclusion(s) definitely follow.

  1. Statements: Some cups are plates. No plate is a spoon. Conclusions: I. Some cups are not spoons. II. All spoons are cups.

    1. Only conclusion I follows
    2. Only conclusion II follows
    3. Either I or II follows
    4. Neither I nor II follows
    5. Both I and II follow
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A (Only conclusion I follows)

    The cups that are plates cannot be spoons, so some cups are not spoons (I follows). Nothing links spoons to cups definitely, so II does not follow.

Miscellaneous

  1. In a certain code, LOAN is written as OLZM (each letter replaced by its opposite letter, A↔Z, B↔Y, ...). How is CASH written in that code?

    1. XZHS
    2. XZGS
    3. YZHS
    4. XAHS
    5. DBTI
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A (XZHS)

    Opposite pairs: C↔X, A↔Z, S↔H, H↔S, giving XZHS.

  2. P is taller than Q but shorter than R. S is shorter than Q. T is taller than R. Who is the third tallest?

    1. P
    2. Q
    3. R
    4. S
    5. T
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A (P)

    Order from tallest: T > R > P > Q > S. The third tallest is P.

  3. Point A is 10 m west of point B. Point C is 6 m south of B. Point D is 10 m west of C. Where is D with respect to A?

    1. 6 m North
    2. 6 m South
    3. 10 m East
    4. 16 m South
    5. 6 m South-West
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (6 m South)

    Taking B as (0, 0): A = (−10, 0), C = (0, −6), D = (−10, −6). D is directly 6 m south of A.

Reports this mock is modelled on

How to sit IBPS Clerk 2018

  1. Work through the mock paper above under exam timing. It follows the reported pattern, but the questions are our own.
  2. Sit the paper under current brochure rules (timers, negatives, NAT/MSQ norms), even if 2018’s interface looked different.
  3. When the clock ends, stop. Review should take at least as long as the attempt.
  4. Fill the error log the same day: section, topic, and miss type (concept, silly, time, or misread).
  5. Next session, repair only logged items. Then pick another year from the decade list.

Other years in this decade

FAQ

Where can I download the official IBPS Clerk 2018 question paper?

IBPS did not release it publicly. This page has a clearly labelled mock paper modelled on candidate reports instead.

What does the IBPS Clerk 2018 paper analysis include?

A year snapshot, what the paper stresses, what to extract into your error log, and how 2018 compares with neighbouring years on this hub.

How should I practise the IBPS Clerk 2018 previous year paper?

Open the official PDF, sit it timed under current brochure rules, fill an error log the same day, read the paper analysis, then move to another year in the decade list.

Is IBPS Clerk 2018 still useful if I finished newer papers?

Yes, for theme and weightage mining after your newest papers are logged. Skip deleted syllabus pockets.

Are memory-based IBPS Clerk 2018 papers reliable?

Treat memory-based sets as interim. Reconcile contested items with official keys or response sheets when the conducting body publishes them.

Where is the IBPS Clerk syllabus and pattern for this paper?

See the IBPS Clerk syllabus & pattern page on this hub, and always re-check the latest official brochure before exam day.