# NICL AO Exam Pattern 2026: Phase I and Phase II > NICL AO exam pattern 2026: Phase I has 100 questions in 60 minutes. Phase II has 250 objective marks and a 30-mark descriptive test. Source: https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/exam-pattern/ Category: [NICL](https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/) Guide: [NICL AO Agriculture 2026](https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/) ## In short - Phase I has 100 questions for 100 marks, with 20 minutes for each section. - The Agriculture Phase II objective test has six sections and 250 marks in 180 minutes. - Each wrong answer costs one-fourth of the marks for that question. The NICL AO exam pattern 2026 has two online phases. **Phase I** has **100 questions** and a **60-minute** limit. **Phase II** has a **250-mark** objective test and a **30-mark** descriptive test. Go back to the [NICL AO Agriculture 2026 guide](/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/) for all pages. ## What is the NICL AO exam pattern 2026 for Phase I? Phase I is the same for all disciplines. It is an objective test with multiple choice questions. Each section has its own timer, so you must finish each section inside its 20 minutes. | Section | Questions | Marks | Time | Language | | --------------------- | --------- | ----- | ---------- | ----------------- | | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes | English | | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | English and Hindi | | Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | English and Hindi | | Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes | | A candidate must qualify in each section by securing the passing marks that NICL decides. NICL does not add Phase I marks to the final merit score. Read the [NICL AO selection process 2026](/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/selection-process/) for the full merit rules. ## What is the NICL AO Phase II pattern for the Agriculture post? The Phase II objective test for Specialist posts has six sections and **250 marks**. The sixth section tests technical and professional knowledge in the discipline. For this post, that discipline is Agriculture. | Section | Questions | Marks | Time | Language | | ------------------------------------ | --------- | ----- | ----------- | ----------------- | | Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes | English and Hindi | | General Awareness | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes | English and Hindi | | Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes | English and Hindi | | English Language | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes | English | | Computer Knowledge | 40 | 40 | 25 minutes | English and Hindi | | Professional knowledge (Agriculture) | 50 | 50 | 35 minutes | English and Hindi | | Total | 250 | 250 | 180 minutes | | The sections do not follow a fixed order. NICL times each section separately. ## What is the NICL AO Phase II pattern for the Generalist post? The Generalist objective test has five sections of 50 questions each. It also carries **250 marks** and runs for **180 minutes**. | Section | Questions | Marks | Time | Language | | --------------------- | --------- | ----- | ----------- | ----------------- | | Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes | English and Hindi | | General Awareness | 50 | 50 | 30 minutes | English and Hindi | | Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes | English and Hindi | | English Language | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes | English | | Computer Knowledge | 50 | 50 | 30 minutes | English and Hindi | | Total | 250 | 250 | 180 minutes | | Compare this table with the Agriculture table before you pick a post. The [NICL AO vacancy 2026 table](/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/vacancy/) shows the number of posts for each choice. ## What is the descriptive test pattern? NICL gives the descriptive test right after the objective test. It carries **30 marks** and runs for **30 minutes**. It tests English, and candidates type the answers on the computer. | Part | Marks | | ------------- | ----- | | Essay | 10 | | Precis | 10 | | Comprehension | 10 | | Total | 30 | The total time for Phase II is **210 minutes**, which is 180 minutes plus 30 minutes. Check all keys on the keyboard before you start to type. ## How does negative marking work in NICL AO? NICL deducts **one-fourth** of the marks for each wrong answer in the objective tests. A blank answer carries no penalty. You select an answer with a mouse click. Here is an example. A 35-question section gives one mark per question. If you answer four questions wrongly, NICL deducts 1 mark in total. Answer only the questions where you can narrow the choices. {{< callout type="important" >}} NICL can change the structure of the exam. It announces any change on its recruitment page. {{< /callout >}} {{< callout type="official" >}} Read the exam structure in the [official advertisement on the NICL recruitment page](https://nationalinsurance.nic.co.in/recruitment). {{< /callout >}} ## What is the next step after the exam pattern? Next step: see how the Phase I marks looked in earlier years on the [NICL AO previous year cut off page](/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/previous-year-cutoff/). The [NICL AO exam day checklist](/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/before-exam-checklist/) lists the rules for the test center. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the NICL AO Phase I exam pattern? Phase I is an online objective test of 100 marks and 60 minutes. It has English Language (30 questions), Reasoning Ability (35 questions) and Quantitative Aptitude (35 questions). Each section runs for 20 minutes with its own timer. ### How many questions are in NICL AO Phase I? Phase I has 100 questions. English Language has 30 and carries 30 marks. Reasoning Ability has 35 and Quantitative Aptitude has 35. Each question carries one mark. ### What is the negative marking in NICL AO? NICL deducts one-fourth of the marks for each wrong answer in the objective tests. A blank answer carries no penalty. The rule applies to Phase I and to the Phase II objective test. ### How many marks is NICL AO Phase II for the Agriculture post? The Agriculture objective test carries 250 marks across six sections and runs for 180 minutes. The descriptive test adds 30 marks and 30 minutes. The descriptive test is qualifying only. ### How long is the NICL AO descriptive test? The descriptive test runs for 30 minutes and carries 30 marks. It tests English through an essay (10 marks), a precis (10 marks) and comprehension (10 marks). Candidates type their answers on the computer. ### Does NICL AO have a sectional time limit? Yes. Every section has its own separate timer. Phase I gives 20 minutes to each of the three sections. Unused time in one section does not move to another section. ### In which language is the NICL AO paper? The English Language test is in English only. The other objective tests are bilingual in English and Hindi. The descriptive test is also in English. ## More in this guide - [NICL AO Agriculture 2026](https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/): NICL AO Agriculture 2026 has 20 posts. Phase I is on 17 November 2026. See eligibility, fee, exam pattern and pay in one guide. - [Notification](https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/notification/): NICL AO notification 2026 invites applications for 321 Scale I posts. Phase I is on 17 November 2026 and starting basic pay is ₹82,485. - [Eligibility](https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/eligibility/): NICL AO Agriculture eligibility 2026 needs a four-year Agriculture degree with 60% marks and an age of 21 to 30 years on 1 October 2026. - [How to Apply](https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/how-to-apply/): How to apply for NICL AO 2026: registration closed on 28 October 2026. The fee was ₹1,000 or ₹250. See the steps, photo size and upload rules. - [Vacancy](https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/vacancy/): NICL AO vacancy 2026 lists 321 posts, including 20 in Agriculture. See the discipline-wise table for UR, OBC, SC, ST and EWS. - [Selection Process](https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/selection-process/): NICL AO selection process 2026 has Phase I, Phase II and an interview. Final merit uses Phase II objective marks and interview marks at 80:20. - [Previous Year Cut Off](https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/previous-year-cutoff/): NICL AO previous year cut off for Phase I: the Generalist UR cut off was 70.75 in 2025 and 79.5 in 2024. See category and section marks. - [Salary](https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/salary-and-job-profile/): NICL AO salary 2026 starts at a basic pay of ₹82,485. Total emoluments are about ₹1,14,000 per month in metro centers. See scale and benefits. - [Exam Centers](https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/exam-centers/): NICL AO exam centers 2026 list the provisional Phase I cities in every zone and the Phase II cities. NICL can add, cancel or reallot centers. - [Admit Card](https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/admit-card/): NICL AO admit card 2026 is the Phase I call letter on the NICL website. Learn the login details, download steps and what to carry on exam day. - [Exam Day Checklist](https://bunkpoint.com/article/nicl/nicl-ao-agriculture-specialist-phase-i-prelims-2026/before-exam-checklist/): NICL AO exam day checklist 2026: carry the call letter and an original photo ID. Phones, watches and calculators are banned. See all the rules.