The National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) successfully administered the NICL Assistant Prelims Exam 2026 on August 27, 2026, for Assistant Class III recruitment. Aspirants who appeared for the screening round are eager to gauge their performance, understand the exam trends, and evaluate their chances of advancing to the mains phase. The examination took place across two shifts: Shift 1 ran from 8:30 am to 9:30 am, while Shift 2 was conducted from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.
The preliminary paper consisted of a total of 100 objective-type questions carrying 100 marks. The test structure covered three primary sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Quantitative Aptitude. Candidates should note that the marking scheme includes a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect response.
Overall Exam Difficulty & Shift Analysis
According to candidate feedback and expert reviews, the overall exam was rated as 'EASY' in both shifts. The questions were straightforward, allowing well-prepared aspirants to attempt a high volume of questions with strong accuracy.
| Shifts | English | Reasoning | Quantitative Aptitude | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shift 1 | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Shift 2 | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Good Attempts Range
Given the manageable difficulty level, the safe attempt ranges for both shifts remain competitive. Below is the breakdown of good attempts per section:
| Shifts | English | Reasoning | Quantitative Aptitude | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shift 1 | 25-27 | 30-32 | 24-29 | 79-88 |
| Shift 2 | 26-28 | 28-30 | 24-29 | 78-87 |
Section-Wise Question Distribution & Topics
Understanding the exact topic distribution helps candidates analyze where the questions were concentrated across both shifts.
Reasoning Ability (35 Questions per Shift)
Reasoning Ability featured a standard mix of puzzles, seating arrangements, and verbal reasoning items.
- Floor-Based Puzzle – 5 questions (Shift 1)
- Square-Based Seating Arrangement (8 Persons) – 5 questions (Shift 1)
- Sequence-Based Puzzle – 5 questions (Shift 1)
- Row based puzzles (2 rows) – 5 questions (Shift 2)
- Linear puzzle – 5 questions (Shift 2)
- Box based puzzle – 5 questions (Shift 2)
- Alphanumeric Series – 5 questions (Both shifts)
- Number Base – 1 question (Shift 1)
- Weight – 3 questions (Shift 2)
- Syllogism – 3 questions (Shift 1) / 4 questions (Shift 2)
- Direction & Distance – 3 questions (Shift 1) / 1 question (Shift 2)
- Blood Relation – 3 questions (Shift 1)
- Inequalities – 3 questions (Shift 1) / 4 questions (Shift 2)
- Meaningful word – 1 question (Shift 1)
- Odd One Out – 1 question (Shift 1)
- Pair Formation – 3 questions (Shift 2)
| Topics | No. of Questions (Shift 1) | No. of Questions (Shift 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Puzzle and Seating Arrangement | 15 | 15 |
| Alphanumeric Series | 5 | 5 |
| Number Base | 1 | — |
| Weight | — | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 | 4 |
| Direction & Distance | 3 | 1 |
| Blood Relation | 3 | — |
| Inequalities | 3 | 4 |
| Meaningful word | 1 | — |
| Odd One Out | 1 | — |
| Pair Formation | — | 3 |
| Total | 35 | 35 |
Quantitative Aptitude (35 Questions per Shift)
Quantitative Aptitude focused heavily on simplification, arithmetic, and data interpretation.
- Simplification – 11 questions (Shift 1) / 12 questions (Shift 2)
- Arithmetic – 13 questions (Shift 1) / 10 questions (Shift 2)
- Bar Graph DI – 5 questions (Shift 1)
- Table DI – 5 questions (Shift 2)
- Direct DI (Table) – 1 question (Shift 2)
- Missing Number Series – 6 questions (Shift 1)
- Wrong Number Series – 5 questions (Shift 2)
- Caselet DI – 1 question (Shift 2)
| Topics | No. of Questions (Shift 1) | No. of Questions (Shift 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Simplification | 11 | 12 |
| Arithmetic | 13 | 10 |
| Bar Graph DI | 5 | — |
| Table DI | — | 5 |
| Direct DI (Table) | — | 1 |
| Missing Number Series | 6 | — |
| Wrong Number Series | — | 5 |
| Caselet DI | — | 1 |
| Total | 35 | 35 |
English Language (30 Questions per Shift)
The English section tested comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar through standard reading passages and error spotting.
- Reading Comprehension (Topic: '3 Elder Brother story-based' in Shift 1) – 9 questions (Both shifts)
- Cloze Test (Topic: 'Child and Horror Story Based' in Shift 1) – 6 questions (Both shifts)
- Word/Phrase Replacement – 3 questions (Shift 1)
- Spotting Error (Single Line) – 5 questions (Shift 1) / 3 questions (Shift 2)
- Misspelt (Word Based) – 3 questions (Both shifts)
- Sentence Rearrangement – 3 questions (Shift 1)
- Sentence Formation – 4 questions (Shift 2)
- Match the columns – 1 question (Shift 1)
| Topics | No. of Questions (Shift 1) | No. of Questions (Shift 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 9 | 9 |
| Cloze Test | 6 | 6 |
| Word/Phrase Replacement | 3 | — |
| Spotting Error (Single Line) | 5 | 3 |
| Misspelt (Word Based) | 3 | 3 |
| Sentence Rearrangement | 3 | — |
| Sentence Formation | — | 4 |
| Match the columns | 1 | — |
| Total | 30 | 30 |
What Candidates Should Do After NICL Assistant Prelims
Once you have completed the examination, it is crucial to utilize your time efficiently. Follow these steps to plan your next course of action:
- Figure out a ballpark score based on your remembered right and wrong answers to guess your net score.
- Check against the expected range by reviewing good attempts and difficulty analysis shift-wise.
- Start the mains preparation without waiting for the prelims result if you think your estimated score is competitive.
Additionally, make sure to organize your study materials, review time-consuming topics from the prelims phase, and begin covering the advanced mains-level syllabus to stay ahead of the competition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Recommended Reads
- NICL Assistant Recruitment 2026: 500 Vacancies, Exam Dates, Syllabus & Salary
- NICL Assistant Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 500 Vacancies, Dates & Fee
- NICL AO Salary 2026: Pay Scale, Allowances, and Career Growth
- NICL AO Recruitment 2026: Dates, Eligibility, Salary, and Exam Schedule
- NICL Assistant Salary Structure 2026: Revised Pay Scale, Perks & Job Profile
- NICL Assistant Cut-Off Marks 2026, 2025, 2017: Prelims & Mains Scores
Negative Marking & Net Score Calculator
Calculate your exact post-answer-key net marks after deducting 1/3rd or 1/4th negative penalty across SSC, UPSC, and State exams.
Never miss another exam update!
Get the fastest exam results, recruitment news, and educational guides delivered directly to your phone.