Introduction
The LIC AAO Prelims 2025 was successfully conducted on 3rd October 2025 across four shifts nationwide. Thousands of aspirants appeared for this prestigious exam, making it one of the most awaited recruitment tests of the year.
Each shift had its own level of difficulty, especially in Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Language.
In this detailed analysis by Sankalp Institute, we bring you a comprehensive shift-wise review based on candidate feedback and expert insights, helping you understand:
- Variation in difficulty level across shifts.
- Key topics that dominated the exam.
- Common tricky areas where aspirants struggled.
- Smart strategies to improve your accuracy and time management.
Whether you appeared for the exam or preparing for the upcoming LIC AAO Mains, this all-shift analysis will serve as your reliable preparation guide.
Shift 1 – LIC AAO Prelims 2025 Exam Analysis
Based on Candidate Feedback
Students who appeared in Shift 1 reported the paper to be balanced and student-friendly, with no unexpected surprises.
Overall Difficulty Level – Shift 1
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | Easy to Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Moderate |
| English Language | Easy |
| Overall Exam | Easy to Moderate |
Section-wise Analysis
Reasoning Ability
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Floor-based Puzzle | 5 |
| Circular Seating Arrangement | 5 |
| Linear Arrangement (North-South) | 5 |
| Inequality | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Direction & Distance | 3 |
| Alphanumeric Series | 4 |
| Blood Relation | 2 |
| Miscellaneous | 5 |
| Total | 35 |
Observation: Puzzles were simple but time-consuming; inequality and direction questions were straightforward.
Quantitative Aptitude
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Simplification | 10 |
| Arithmetic (SI, CI, Profit-Loss, Partnership, etc.) | 12 |
| Data Interpretation (Table) | 5 |
| Missing Number Series | 3 |
| Quadratic Equation | 5 |
| Total | 35 |
Observation: DI and Arithmetic required focus; simplification questions were scoring.
English Language
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 8 |
| Error Detection | 5 |
| Single Fillers | 4 |
| Para Jumble | 5 |
| Misspelt Words | 4 |
| Column-based | 4 |
| Total | 30 |
Observation: RC passages were short; grammar and filler questions were easy.
Conclusion (Shift 1)
Shift 1 was well-balanced. Candidates with strong basics and speed performed better.
Shift 2 – LIC AAO Prelims 2025 Exam Analysis
Based on Candidate Feedback
Students found Shift 2 slightly tougher than Shift 1, mainly due to longer arithmetic questions in the Quant section.
Overall Difficulty Level – Shift 2
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Moderate to Slightly Tough |
| English Language | Easy |
| Overall Exam | Moderate |
Section-wise Analysis
Reasoning Ability
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Floor Puzzle | 5 |
| Circular Arrangement | 5 |
| Parallel Sitting Arrangement | 5 |
| Inequality | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Direction & Distance | 2 |
| Alphanumeric Series | 5 |
| Blood Relation | 2 |
| Miscellaneous | 5 |
| Total | 35 |
Observation: Floor and circular puzzles were slightly tricky but solvable.
Quantitative Aptitude
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Simplification | 8 |
| Arithmetic (Age, Average, Ratio, Partnership, etc.) | 12 |
| Data Interpretation (Bar Graph) | 5 |
| Missing Number Series | 5 |
| Caselet DI | 5 |
| Total | 35 |
Observation: Arithmetic was lengthy; DI required accuracy and calmness.
English Language
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (Fictional) | 8 |
| Error Detection | 5 |
| Para Jumble | 5 |
| Fillers | 4 |
| Misspelt Words | 4 |
| Column-based | 4 |
| Total | 30 |
Observation: English remained the easiest section in Shift 2.
Conclusion (Shift 2)
Shift 2 was moderately tough, especially for those who struggled with lengthy arithmetic and DI questions.
Shift 3 – LIC AAO Prelims 2025 Exam Analysis
Based on Candidate Feedback
Candidates reported Shift 3 as more balanced than the previous shift, with Reasoning and English being scoring sections.
Overall Difficulty Level – Shift 3
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | Easy to Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Easy to Moderate |
| English Language | Easy |
| Overall Exam | Easy to Moderate |
Section-wise Analysis
Reasoning Ability
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Floor-based Puzzle | 5 |
| Circular Arrangement | 5 |
| Linear Arrangement | 5 |
| Inequality | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Direction & Distance | 3 |
| Alphanumeric Series | 4 |
| Blood Relation | 2 |
| Miscellaneous | 5 |
| Total | 35 |
Observation: Reasoning was simple and scoring, with minimal surprises.
Quantitative Aptitude
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Simplification | 12 |
| Arithmetic (Average, Boat & Stream, Age, etc.) | 10 |
| DI (Table + Bar Graph) | 8 |
| Series (Missing/Wrong) | 3 |
| Quadratic Equation | 2 |
| Total | 35 |
Observation: Simplification was easy; DI needed focus but manageable.
English Language
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 9 |
| Error Detection | 5 |
| Para Jumble | 5 |
| Fillers | 4 |
| Misspelt Words | 4 |
| Column-based | 3 |
| Total | 30 |
Observation: Grammar-based questions were simple; RC was direct.
Conclusion (Shift 3)
Shift 3 was easier than Shift 2. Candidates who practiced mocks and reading comprehension performed well.
Shift 4 – LIC AAO Prelims 2025 Exam Analysis
Based on Candidate Feedback
Candidates from Shift 4 found the exam similar to Shift 3 in pattern, but slightly more calculation-based in Quant.
Overall Difficulty Level – Shift 4
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | Easy to Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Moderate |
| English Language | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall Exam | Moderate |
Section-wise Analysis
Reasoning Ability
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Floor Puzzle | 5 |
| Circular Seating Arrangement | 5 |
| Linear Arrangement | 5 |
| Inequality | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Direction & Distance | 3 |
| Alphanumeric Series | 4 |
| Blood Relation | 2 |
| Miscellaneous | 5 |
| Total | 35 |
Observation: Reasoning followed a similar pattern; puzzles were slightly logical.
Quantitative Aptitude
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Simplification | 10 |
| Arithmetic | 12 |
| DI (Table + Caselet) | 8 |
| Series | 3 |
| Quadratic Equation | 2 |
| Total | 35 |
Observation: Quant section was calculation-heavy but doable.
English Language
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 8 |
| Error Detection | 5 |
| Para Jumble | 5 |
| Fillers | 4 |
| Misspelt Words | 4 |
| Column-based | 4 |
| Total | 30 |
Observation: English remained easy and direct for all candidates.
Conclusion (Shift 4)
Shift 4 was moderate but predictable. Aspirants who stayed composed scored well.
FAQs
Q1. How was the overall difficulty level of LIC AAO Prelims 2025?
A: Based on candidate feedback, the exam was overall easy to moderate. English was the easiest section, Reasoning was easy to moderate, and Quantitative Aptitude was moderately challenging.
Q2. How many questions were there in each shift?
A: Each shift had 100 questions in total — 35 in Reasoning, 35 in Quantitative Aptitude, and 30 in English.
Q3. What was the total duration of the exam?
A: The exam lasted 60 minutes, making time management crucial.
Q4. Which section took the most time?
A: Quantitative Aptitude, especially Data Interpretation and Arithmetic, consumed most candidates’ time.
Q5. Which sections were the most scoring?
A: According to candidates, English and Reasoning were the easiest to attempt and offered good scoring opportunities.
Q6. What did candidates notice from their feedback?
A: The exam focused on concept clarity and speed rather than tricky questions. Accuracy and smart time management were key.
Q7. What is the expected cutoff?
A: The expected cutoff is likely to be around last year’s range, with slight differences depending on the state or category.
Q8. Was there any variation in difficulty across shifts?
A: Yes. Shift 1 and 3 were slightly easier, while Shift 2 and 4 were moderately difficult, especially in the Quant section.
Q9. Any tips for future aspirants?
A: Practice regularly with mocks, focus on reading comprehension, puzzles, and Data Interpretation. Staying calm and managing time wisely can make a huge difference.
Q10. On what basis is this analysis prepared?
A: This analysis is based on real candidate feedback and expert review, providing a practical understanding of the exam pattern, difficulty, and important topics.
Good Attempts – LIC AAO Prelims 2025 (All Shifts)
| Shift | Section | Good Attempts (Based on Candidate Feedback) |
|---|---|---|
| Shift 1 | English Language | 22–24 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 21–24 | |
| Reasoning Ability | 22–25 | |
| Total | 68–73 | |
| Shift 2 | English Language | 21–23 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20–23 | |
| Reasoning Ability | 21–24 | |
| Total | 66–70 | |
| Shift 3 | English Language | 22–25 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22–24 | |
| Reasoning Ability | 23–25 | |
| Total | 69–74 | |
| Shift 4 | English Language | 21–24 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 21–23 | |
| Reasoning Ability | 22–25 | |
| Total | 67–72 |
Key Notes:
- English and Reasoning were generally the highest scoring sections.
- Quantitative Aptitude required careful time management; many candidates spent extra time on DI and arithmetic.
- These ranges are based on actual candidate feedback and represent a safe scoring zone.
Conclusion
After gathering feedback from candidates across all four shifts, it’s clear that LIC AAO Prelims 2025 was a well-balanced exam that tested both speed and accuracy. Here’s what we learned:
- Overall Difficulty: The exam was generally easy to moderate. Shift 1 and 3 were a bit on the easier side, while Shift 2 and 4 felt slightly tougher, mainly due to the Quantitative Aptitude section.
- Section-wise Insights:
- English Language: This was the most scoring section for many. Short reading comprehension passages, grammar, and vocabulary questions were clear and straightforward. Aspirants who practice daily reading found this section easy to handle.
- Reasoning Ability: Puzzles and seating arrangements were time-consuming but doable. Logical questions were mostly standard. Accuracy mattered more than speed, so staying calm was the key.
- Quantitative Aptitude: A mix of arithmetic, simplification, and Data Interpretation tested calculation speed. DI sets and multi-step arithmetic questions required extra attention, making this the trickiest section for most candidates.
- Good Attempts & Strategy: Candidates who stayed within the safe attempt ranges (see our Good Attempts table) and focused on accuracy had a good chance of scoring well. Time management and staying composed were essential to attempt all questions comfortably.
- Candidate Feedback Highlights: The exam clearly rewarded clarity of concepts, speed, and smart thinking. There were very few tricky or unexpected questions. Aspirants who practiced regularly and remained calm during the exam found it manageable.
- Advice for Future Aspirants:
- Focus on puzzles, DI, and short RC passages.
- Improve calculation speed and avoid random guessing.
- Regular mock tests and sectional practice can boost confidence and improve timing.
In short: LIC AAO Prelims 2025 was about calmness, consistency, and smart practice. Each shift followed a similar pattern, ensuring a fair chance for all candidates. Those who managed their time well, stayed accurate, and kept their cool are likely to clear the prelims comfortably.