IBPS PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern
Exam Conducting Body Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, IBPS
Name of Exam IBPS PO
Post Probationary Officer (PO)
Marks Segregation 1. Prelims: 100 Marks
IBPS PO Exam 2. Mains: 200 Marks
3. Descriptive Test: 25 Marks
4. Interview: 100 Marks
Duration of Exam 1. IBPS PO Prelims: 1 Hour
2. IBPS PO Mains: 3 Hours + 30 Min
Marking scheme 1 mark each for every correct answer in the Online Test
Negative marking 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question in MCQ
Mode of Examination Online For Prelims & Mains
Language of examination English OR Hindi
English Language paper has to be attempted in English.
IBPS PO Selection Process
The IBPS PO Exam is conducted in three different stages as listed below:
1. IBPS PO Prelims Exam
2. IBPS PO Mains Exam
3. IBPS PO Interview
Each candidate will be required to obtain a minimum score in each test (Pre and Mains)
of the Online Main examination and also a minimum total score to be considered to be
shortlisted for the interview. A candidate should qualify both in the Online Main Exam and
interview and be sufficiently high to be considered for the final appointment. Thus, the
final selection is made on the marks scored by the candidate in the IBPS PO Mains Exam
and Interview (Mains+ Interview).
IBPS PO Exam Pattern For Prelims
The Prelims exam is the first stage of the IBPS PO. This is the screening round.
1. The Prelims Stage of IBPS PO will have three sections of a total duration of 1 Hour.
2. There will be a total of 100 Multiple Choice Questions.
3. Candidates will have to qualify in each of the three tests by securing minimum cut-
off marks to be decided by IBPS.
4. An adequate number of candidates in each category as decided by IBPS depending
upon requirements will be shortlisted for Online Main Examination.
IBPS PO Exam Pattern : Prelims Exam
Subjects Number of Questions Marks Duration
IBPS PO Exam Pattern : Prelims Exam
English Language 30 30 20 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude 35 35 20 minutes
Reasoning Ability 35 35 20 minutes
Total 100 100 1 Hour
Note: There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
IBPS PO Exam Pattern for Mains
This is the 2nd Stage of the IBPS Exam. The candidates who will qualify for the Prelims of
the IBPS PO Exam will be eligible to appear for the IBPS PO Mains Exam
1. There will be four sections for the IBPS PO Mains Exam and an additional section of
the English Language which will be taken separately on the same date as the exam.
2. The IBPS PO Mains Exam will have a total of 200 MCQs of a total duration of 3 Hours.
3. There will be separate timing for each section as it was in the IBPS PO Prelims Exam.
4. The candidates will have to pass separately in each test/section.
IBPS PO Exam Pattern: Mains
[Link]. Section No. of Maximum Time allotted for
Questions Marks each
test
(Separately
timed)
1 Reasoning & Computer 45 60 60 minutes
Aptitude
2 General/ Economy/ Banking 40 40 35 minutes
Awareness
3 English Language 35 40 40 minutes
4 Data Analysis & Interpretation 35 60 45 minutes
Total 155 200 3 hours
5. English Language 02 25 30 minutes
(Letter Writing & Essay)
Note: There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
Descriptive Test: 25 Marks
IBPS has included the descriptive test of 25 Marks in the PO Mains Exam. The candidates
will have to write an essay and a letter of 25 marks. The English Language Paper is to
assess the candidates’ writing skills and it is compulsory to pass this paper by securing
a minimum cut-off.
IBPS PO Syllabus For Prelims
The IBPS PO Prelims syllabus is given below for the following sections:
1. Reasoning Ability
2. English Language
3. Quantitative Aptitude
Check the subject-wise IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus below:
Reasoning Ability
o Seating Arrangements
o Puzzles
o Inequalities
o Syllogism
o Input-Output
o Data Sufficiency
o Blood Relations
o Order and Ranking
o Alphanumeric Series
o Distance and Direction
o Verbal Reasoning
English Language
o Cloze Test
o Reading Comprehension
o Spotting Errors
o Sentence Improvement
o Sentence Correction
o Para Jumbles
o Fill in the Blanks
o Para/Sentence Completion
Quantitative Aptitude
o Number Series
o Data Interpretation
o Simplification/ Approximation
o Quadratic Equation
o Data Sufficiency
o Mensuration
o Average
o Profit and Loss
o Ratio and Proportion
o Work, Time, and Energy
o Time and Distance
o Probability
o Relations
o Simple and Compound Interest
o Permutation and Combination
IBPS PO Syllabus For Mains
The candidates who secure a minimum cut-off will be eligible to appear for the IBPS PO
Mains Exam. The syllabus for the IBPS PO Mains Exam is given below for the following
sections:
1. Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
2. General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness
3. English Language
4. Data Analysis & Interpretation
5. English Language (Letter Writing & Essay)
Quantitative Aptitude
o Number Series
o Simplification
o Data Interpretation
o Simplification/ Approximation
o Quadratic Equation
o Data Sufficiency
o Mensuration
o Percentage
o Caselet
o Missing and Wrong series
o Average
o Profit and Loss
o Ratio and Proportion
o Work, Time, and Energy
o Speed, Time, and Distance
o Probability
o Relations
o Simple and Compound Interest
o Permutation and Combination
Reasoning
o Circular and Rectangular Seating Arrangements
o Puzzles
o Coded Inequalities
o Syllogism
o Machine Input-Output
o Data Sufficiency
o Blood Relations
o Order and Ranking
o Double Lineup
o Linear Seating Arrangement
o Alphanumeric Series
o Distance and Direction
o Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Computer Aptitude
o Internet
o Memory
o Keyboard Shortcut
o Computer Full Forms/Abbreviation
o MS Office
o Computer Hardware and Software
o Operating System
o Networking
o Computer Fundamentals /Terminologies
English
o Vocabulary
o Grammar
o One word Substitution
o Verbal Ability
o Cloze Test
o Reading Comprehension
o Spotting Errors
o Sentence Improvement
o Sentence Correction
o Para Jumbles
o Fill in the Blanks
o Para/Sentence Completion
General Awareness
o Financial Awareness
o Current Affairs of National and International Importance
o General Knowledge (History, Geography, Economy, and Polity)
o Static Awareness
