IBM Placement Papers 2026: Solved Aptitude, Coding & Interview Practice

The value of this page is the solved question bank below: aptitude, technical CS, verbal, and coding problems calibrated to what candidates report seeing in IBM fresher rounds. Around it is an honest map of what IBM actually publishes versus what only candidate threads claim, so you do not waste prep time chasing rumours. As of June 1, 2026, IBM does not publish a fixed numeric cutoff, a guaranteed section split, or a fresher CTC band, so confirm the current assessment flow and eligibility on the official IBM careers portal before your slot.

The single thing most IBM guides get wrong: candidates consistently flag the cognitive ability stage as time-pressured and front-loaded, not the coding stage. If you only drill linear-difficulty mocks, you stall mid-test. The fix is a calibrated practice routine, which is what the bank below is for.

What IBM publishes vs what only candidates report

This is the evidence ledger. Trust the official-fact rows, treat the candidate-reported rows as direction-not-truth, and never plan around a source-gap row.

A note on the funnel split: candidate threads describe a sharper divide between the services-track roles and IBM Research or Watson product roles. For research roles the bar climbs to ML-engineer level, with tensor-shape fluency and ML-system-design questions. Prep the arm you are actually applying to. For the recruitment-stage walkthrough, see IBM Recruitment Process 2026: Internship, Assessment & Interview Guide.

How to use this practice bank

Each solved set below is genuine recurring-pattern practice. Use them in the order that matches your weakest area, not top to bottom.

Eligibility, pattern, and package: read this honestly

Eligibility wording and any package figure shift per requisition. The rows below state the gap as the value, because acting on a wrong number is worse than acting on none.

Selection flow candidates describe

1. Online assessment (cognitive ability plus technical)
2. English assessment (written and spoken)
3. Technical interview (typically more than one round)
4. HR interview
5. Offer

Aptitude Questions with Solutions (15 Questions)

Question 1: Number Series

Find the next number: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ?

Solution: Perfect squares: 1², 2², 3², 4², 5², so 6² = 36.

Question 2: Work & Time

If 5 men can complete a work in 10 days, how many days will 10 men take?

Solution: M₁D₁ = M₂D₂, so 5 × 10 = 10 × D₂, D₂ = 5 days.

Question 3: Profit Percentage

A man buys an article for ₹600 and sells it for ₹720. Find the profit percentage.

Solution: Profit = 720 - 600 = ₹120. Profit % = (120/600) × 100 = 20%.

Question 4: Mixture Problem

A vessel contains 60 liters of milk and water in ratio 3:1. How much water must be added to make the ratio 2:1?

Solution: Milk = 45 L, water = 15 L. 45/(15 + x) = 2/1, so 45 = 30 + 2x, x = 7.5 liters.

Question 5: Compound Interest

Find the compound interest on ₹8000 for 2 years at 5% per annum.

Solution: Amount = 8000(21/20)² = 8000 × 441/400 = ₹8820. CI = 8820 - 8000 = ₹820.

Question 6: Age Problem

The sum of ages of 5 children born at intervals of 3 years is 50 years. Find the age of the youngest child.

Solution: Ages x, x+3, x+6, x+9, x+12. Sum = 5x + 30 = 50, x = 4 years.

Question 7: Pipes & Cisterns

Pipe A fills a tank in 6 hours, Pipe B in 8 hours. If both are opened together, how long to fill the tank?

Solution: Combined = 1/6 + 1/8 = 7/24 per hour. Time = 24/7 = 3 3/7 hours.

Question 8: Relative Speed

Two trains 150m and 200m long are moving in opposite directions at 40 km/hr and 50 km/hr. Find time to cross each other.

Solution: Relative speed = 90 km/hr = 25 m/s. Distance = 350 m. Time = 350/25 = 14 seconds.

Question 9: Divisibility

Find the least number which when divided by 12, 15, 18, and 27 leaves remainder 5 in each case.

Solution: LCM = 2² × 3³ × 5 = 540. Required = 540 + 5 = 545.

Question 10: Ratio

If A:B = 2:3 and B:C = 4:5, find A:C.

Solution: A:B = 8:12, B:C = 12:15, so A:C = 8:15.

Question 11: Permutations

How many 4-letter words can be formed from "LEADER" without repetition?

Solution: Distinct letters L, E, A, D, R (5). 5P4 = 5! = 120.

Question 12: Probability

A bag contains 4 red, 5 blue, and 6 green balls. Find probability of drawing a blue ball.

Solution: Total 15, blue 5. P(Blue) = 5/15 = 1/3.

Question 13: Averages

The average of 7 numbers is 25. If each number is multiplied by 3, find the new average.

Solution: Average scales by the same factor. New average = 25 × 3 = 75.

Question 14: Clocks

Find the angle between hour and minute hands at 3:30.

Solution: Hour hand = 105°, minute hand = 180°. Angle = 180 - 105 = 75°.

Question 15: Simplification

Simplify: (2³ × 3² × 5) ÷ (2² × 3 × 5²)

Solution: = 2¹ × 3¹ × 5⁻¹ = 6/5 = 1.2.

Technical/CS Questions with Solutions (10 Questions)

Question 1: Difference between C and C++

Question 2: What is a Binary Search Tree?

A node-based binary tree where the left subtree holds smaller values, the right subtree larger values, both subtrees are themselves BSTs, and no duplicates exist. Search and insert are O(log n) average, O(n) worst.

Question 3: Explain SQL JOINs.

INNER JOIN returns matching rows from both tables. LEFT JOIN returns all left rows plus matches. RIGHT JOIN returns all right rows plus matches. FULL OUTER JOIN returns all rows with a match on either side. CROSS JOIN returns the Cartesian product.

Question 4: Difference between Process and Thread

Question 5: Explain Dynamic Programming.

An optimization technique that breaks a problem into overlapping subproblems with optimal substructure. Approaches: memoization (top-down) and tabulation (bottom-up). Examples: Fibonacci, Longest Common Subsequence, Knapsack.

Question 6: What is Cloud Computing?

On-demand delivery of computing services over the internet. Service models: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS. Deployment models: public, private, hybrid. Candidates report IBM interviewers probe hybrid cloud specifically.

Question 7: Explain Machine Learning basics.

A subset of AI that learns from data. Types: supervised (classification, regression), unsupervised (clustering), and reinforcement learning. IBM Watson applies ML for natural language and cognitive computing.

Question 8: What is Docker?

A containerization platform that packages an application with its dependencies. Benefits: consistent environments, easy deployment, resource efficiency. Components: images, containers, Docker Hub, Dockerfile. Candidates consistently flag a "what is a pod and why" follow-up, so pair this with basic Kubernetes.

Question 9: Explain the SDLC.

The process to design, develop, and test software: planning, design, implementation, testing, deployment, maintenance. Models: Waterfall, Agile, Spiral, DevOps.

Question 10: What is Blockchain?

A distributed ledger maintaining a cryptographically secured chain of blocks. Features: decentralization, immutability, transparency, consensus-based security. IBM Blockchain Platform helps enterprises build networks.

Verbal/English Questions with Solutions (10 Questions)

Question 1: Synonyms

Closest to "PRAGMATIC": a) Theoretical b) Practical c) Idealistic d) Visionary. Answer: b) Practical

Question 2: Antonyms

Opposite of "AMBIGUOUS": a) Vague b) Unclear c) Explicit d) Uncertain. Answer: c) Explicit

Question 3: Error Detection

"Each of the students are required to submit their assignment." Answer: "are" should be "is" (Each takes a singular verb).

Question 4: Fill in the Blanks

The manager _______ the proposal after careful consideration. a) accepted b) excepted c) expected d) excerpted. Answer: a) accepted

Question 5: Sentence Improvement

"He is senior than me in age." Answer: Change "than" to "to": "senior to me".

Question 6: Para Jumble

Arrange: A) Technology has transformed B) The way we communicate C) Over the past decade D) Dramatically. Answer: A-C-D-B

Question 7: Reading Comprehension

Passage on AI ethics. What is the author's main concern? Answer: Ensuring AI development follows ethical guidelines and human values.

Question 8: One Word Substitution

A speech made without preparation: a) Oration b) Extempore c) Sermon d) Lecture. Answer: b) Extempore

Question 9: Idioms

"To burn the midnight oil": a) To waste time b) To work late into the night c) To create fire d) To study chemistry. Answer: b) To work late into the night

Question 10: Voice Change

Convert to active: "The project was completed by the team." Answer: "The team completed the project."

Coding Questions with Python Solutions (5 Questions)

Question 1: Find Factorial

def factorial_iter(n):
    if n < 0:
        return None
    result = 1
    for i in range(2, n + 1):
        result *= i
    return result

def factorial_rec(n):
    if n < 0:
        return None
    if n == 0 or n == 1:
        return 1
    return n * factorial_rec(n - 1)

Time: O(n) | Space: O(1) iterative, O(n) recursive

Question 2: Check Palindrome

def is_palindrome(s):
    cleaned = ''.join(c.lower() for c in s if c.isalnum())
    return cleaned == cleaned[::-1]

Time: O(n) | Space: O(n)

Question 3: Merge Two Sorted Arrays

def merge_sorted(arr1, arr2):
    result, i, j = [], 0, 0
    while i < len(arr1) and j < len(arr2):
        if arr1[i] <= arr2[j]:
            result.append(arr1[i]); i += 1
        else:
            result.append(arr2[j]); j += 1
    result.extend(arr1[i:]); result.extend(arr2[j:])
    return result

Time: O(n+m) | Space: O(n+m)

Question 4: Find Duplicate in Array

def find_duplicate(arr):
    slow = fast = arr[0]
    while True:
        slow = arr[slow]
        fast = arr[arr[fast]]
        if slow == fast:
            break
    slow = arr[0]
    while slow != fast:
        slow = arr[slow]
        fast = arr[fast]
    return slow

Time: O(n) | Space: O(1)

Question 5: Longest Common Prefix

def longest_common_prefix(strs):
    if not strs:
        return ""
    prefix = strs[0]
    for s in strs[1:]:
        while not s.startswith(prefix):
            prefix = prefix[:-1]
            if not prefix:
                return ""
    return prefix

Time: O(S) over all characters | Space: O(1)

Interview tactics for IBM

These map to the candidate-reported filters in the ledger, not to generic advice.

Live Mock Test, 2026 Edition

Five original questions calibrated to candidate-reported IBM difficulty. Lock your answer, then read the solution.

Question 1

A and B together can finish a job in 12 days; A alone in 20 days. How many days does B alone need? a) 24 b) 30 c) 36 d) 40

Solution: Combined rate 1/12, A's rate 1/20, so B = 1/12 - 1/20 = 1/30. B needs 30 days. Answer: (b) 30 days

Question 2

A boat goes 30 km downstream in 2 hours and the same distance upstream in 3 hours. Speed of stream? a) 2.5 km/h b) 5 km/h c) 7.5 km/h d) 10 km/h

Solution: Downstream 15 km/h, upstream 10 km/h. Stream = (15-10)/2 = 2.5 km/h. Answer: (a) 2.5 km/h

Question 3

If 'BREAD' is coded as 'CSFBE', how is 'CHEESE' coded? a) DIFFTF b) DIFFEE c) DIFFTT d) DIFFTU

Solution: Each letter +1. CHEESE becomes DIFFTF. Answer: (a) DIFFTF

Question 4

A sum at simple interest doubles in 8 years. In how many years will it triple at the same rate? a) 12 b) 16 c) 20 d) 24

Solution: Doubling in 8 years means rate = 12.5%. Tripling needs SI = 2× principal, so time = 200/12.5 = 16 years. Answer: (b) 16

Question 5

How many ways can the letters of 'BANANA' be arranged? a) 720 b) 60 c) 120 d) 30

Solution: 6 letters with 3 A's and 2 N's. 6!/(3!×2!) = 60. The trap is 6! = 720, which ignores repeats. Answer: (b) 60

WHAT PAPERSADDA THINKS

The honest read on IBM 2026: the questions on this page are the asset, the rumours floating in Telegram groups are not. As of June 1, 2026, no official cutoff, fixed section split, or fresher CTC band is published, so do not self-reject on a claimed number or budget your effort around a forwarded screenshot. Candidates consistently flag two real filters, time-pressured aptitude and spoken English, so drill both under realistic conditions rather than untimed. If you are targeting Research or Watson, prep a harder ML-engineer bar, not the services bank. Confirm the current assessment flow and eligibility on the official IBM careers portal, then trust your own offer letter for any package figure.

You May Also Like

• Ibm India Placement Papers 2026
• Ibm Interview Questions 2026
• IBM Salary Hike 2026
• IBM Recruitment Process 2026: Internship, Assessment & Interview Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IBM placement test pattern for 2026?

IBM's published hiring funnel routes through a cognitive ability and aptitude assessment, an English language assessment, technical interview rounds, and an HR round. The exact section count, timing and adaptive logic are not officially published as a fixed pattern, so candidates report the structure varies by role and drive. Confirm the current assessment flow on the official IBM careers portal before your slot.

Does IBM have negative marking or a fixed cutoff in 2026?

No official negative-marking rule or numeric cutoff is published by IBM for its fresher assessment. Candidates consistently flag sectional time limits as the real filter rather than negative marking. Treat any circulated cutoff number as unverified until it appears in your own assessment instructions.

Which topics should I practise most for IBM placement papers?

Public preparation resources and candidate-reported papers point to quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, English usage, core CS theory, and one clean coding language. The solved practice bank on this page is built around exactly those recurring areas.

How do I apply for IBM fresher roles in 2026?

Most freshers apply through the official IBM careers portal or via a campus drive. As of June 1, 2026, role availability and eligibility wording change per requisition, so confirm the current openings and criteria on the official IBM careers portal rather than relying on forwarded screenshots.