LIC AAO exam pattern 2026 gives candidates a clear idea of the structure, subjects, marking scheme, and time duration of the examination. The Assistant Administrative Officer (AAO) recruitment process in the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) consists of multiple stages, including the Prelims Examination, Mains Examination, Descriptive Test, Interview, and Medical Examination. Both Prelims and Mains are conducted in online mode, with section-wise timing and negative marking for wrong answers.
LIC AAO Prelims is the first stage of the selection process. The exam carries a total of 100 marks, and candidates are given 1 hour to complete it, with separate time slots for each section. There is a penalty of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. The English Language section is qualifying in nature, and its marks are not counted for merit.
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 mins |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 mins |
LIC AAO Mains examination is the second stage of the recruitment process. It is conducted online and consists of objective tests and a descriptive paper. The objective tests are divided into four sections for Generalist posts and five sections for Specialist posts. Each section has separate timing, and candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks in every section. The descriptive paper, which includes Essay and Letter writing, is qualifying in nature but will be evaluated only if candidates secure minimum marks in the objective tests.
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 90 | 40 mins |
| General Knowledge, Current Affairs | 30 | 60 | 20 mins |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 90 | 40 mins |
| Insurance & Financial Market Awareness | 30 | 60 | 20 mins |
| Total | 120 | 300 | 120 mins |
| Descriptive (English Language – Essay, Letter Writing) | 2 | 25 | 30 mins |
For Specialist posts, LIC AAO Main Examination includes an additional section on Professional Knowledge apart from the common sections.
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 90 | 40 mins |
| General Knowledge, Current Affairs | 30 | 60 | 20 mins |
| Professional Knowledge | 30 | 90 | 40 mins |
| Insurance & Financial Market Awareness | 30 | 60 | 20 mins |
| Total | 120 | 300 | 120 mins |
| English Language (Essay, Letter Writing) | 2 | 25 | 30 mins |
Candidates who qualify in LIC AAO Mains Examination (Objective and Descriptive) are shortlisted for the Interview round. The interview is an important stage of the selection process and carries 60 marks.
To move ahead in the recruitment process, candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks prescribed by LIC in each section of both the Preliminary and Main Examinations. These marks vary for SC/ST and other categories.
| Section | Maximum Marks | Minimum Qualifying Marks (SC/ST) | Minimum Qualifying Marks (Others) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 16 | 18 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 16 | 18 |
| English Language* | 30 | 9 | 10 |
*Note: Marks in the English Language section are qualifying only and are not added to the merit list.
| Section | Maximum Marks | Minimum Qualifying Marks (SC/ST) | Minimum Qualifying Marks (Others) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 90 | 40 | 45 |
| General Knowledge, Current Affairs | 60 | 27 | 30 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 90 | 40 | 45 |
| Insurance & Financial Market Awareness | 60 | 27 | 30 |
| English Language (Descriptive – Essay, Letter Writing)* | 25 | 9 | 10 |
*Note: The descriptive paper is qualifying in nature.
Practice LIC AAO Previous Year Papers
| Section | Maximum Marks | Minimum Qualifying Marks (SC/ST) | Minimum Qualifying Marks (Others) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 90 | 40 | 45 |
| General Knowledge, Current Affairs | 60 | 27 | 30 |
| Professional Knowledge | 90 | 40 | 45 |
| Insurance & Financial Market Awareness | 60 | 27 | 30 |
| English Language (Descriptive – Essay, Letter Writing)* | 25 | 9 | 10 |
*Note: Marks in the descriptive paper are qualifying only.
Ques: Is there negative marking in the LIC AAO 2026 exam pattern?
Ans: Yes, LIC AAO 2026 exam pattern has a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in both the Preliminary and Main exams. No marks are deducted for unanswered questions.
Ques: Does LIC AAO exam pattern 2026 have sectional cut-off?
Ans: Yes, as per the LIC AAO 2026 exam pattern, candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks in each section of both Prelims and Mains to qualify for the next stage.
Ques: What is the language of LIC AAO 2026 exam?
Ans: According to the LIC AAO 2026 exam pattern, the paper is conducted in English and Hindi, except for the English Language section and the Descriptive paper which are only in English.
Ques: Are the sections time-bound in LIC AAO exam pattern 2026?
Ans: Yes, each section has separate timing in the LIC AAO 2026 exam pattern. Candidates cannot move to another section until the allotted time is over.
Ques: Is there any typing test in the LIC AAO 2026 exam pattern?
Ans: No, LIC AAO 2026 exam pattern does not include a typing or computer test. The recruitment process has only Prelims, Mains, Descriptive test, Interview, and Medical Examination.
Ques: Are there different exam patterns for LIC AAO Generalist and Specialist 2026?
Ans: Yes, LIC AAO 2026 exam pattern for Specialists includes an extra Professional Knowledge section, while the Generalist exam pattern does not have this section.
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