IBPS or Institute of Banking Personnel Selection holds the IBPS PO Bank Exam to select Probationary Officers in Public Sector banks. Every year lakhs of candidates appear for the IBPS PO exam. It offers recruitment services to all Public Sector Banks, Co-operative Banks, Private Banks, Central Financial Institutions, Insurance Sector, Other Public / Private Sector Undertaking and Govt Departments, Regional Rural Banks, Universities, and Institutions.
Banking is considered as one of the desirable careers by many qualified and smart graduates. IBPS exam is considered as one of the toughest competitive exams in India. It is conducted in 2 sections,
1. Common Written Exam (CWE)
2. Common Interview
CWE is held to recruit IBPS clerk and PO for various banks. Candidates who get shortlisted in IBPS CWE are called for next round of interviews conducted by the participating organizations and coordinated by the nodal bank with the help of IBPS.
IBPS PO Exam Pattern
The IBPS PO exam is completely based on an online written exam. It is held in three parts: IBPS PO Prelims, IBPS PO Mains Exam and Interview. Once a candidate clears the mains exam, they will be called for a face-to-face interview process.
Stages - 3 (Preliminary, Main, and Personal Interview)
Mode of Exam - Online
Level of Difficulty Easy - Moderate
Negative Marking - 0.25 marks
Time Duration - Prelims: 1 hour and Mains: 3 hours 30 minutes
Maximum Marks - 100 for Prelims and 225 for Mains
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern
The IBPS PO preliminary examination is conducted online and the duration is 1 hour. It will have 3 sections consisting of 100 questions in total with a maximum score of 100 marks. There will be negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer.
The below table gives section-wise details about each paper:
| S.No. | Name of Tests(Objective) | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 |
| 2 | Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 |
IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern
The IBPS mains exam will have 5 sections in total with different time limit for attempting each of the five sections. The total time duration will be 180 minutes for objective and 30 minutes for descriptive. Similar to prelims, there will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer.
The section-wise details are given below:
| Sections | Total Number Of Questions/Maximum Marks |
| English Language | 35 Questions/40 |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 35 Questions/60 |
| Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | 45 Questions/60 |
| General Awareness | 40 Questions/40 |
| Total in Objective Test | 155 Questions/200 |
| English Language (Letter Writing and Essay) | 2 Questions/25 |
| Grand Total | 157 Questions/225 |
IBPS Cut Off Score
Depending on the number of vacancies available, cut-offs will be decided and candidates will be shortlisted for interview. So each candidate will be required to obtain a minimum score in each test and also a minimum total score based on which they will be considered to be shortlisted for an interview. The scores obtained by a candidate in the online main exam will not be shared unless the interview process is over.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Syllabus
This comprises of Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Language.
| Reasoning Ability | Quantitative Aptitude | English Language |
| Logical Reasoning | Simplification | Reading Comprehension |
| Alphanumeric Series | Profit & Loss | Cloze Test |
| Ranking/Direction/ Alphabet Test | Mixtures &Alligations | Para jumbles |
| Data Sufficiency | Simple Interest & Compound Interest & Surds & Indices | Multiple Meaning / Error Spotting |
| Coded Inequalities | Work & Time | Fill in the blanks |
| Seating-Arrangement | Time & Distance | Miscellaneous |
| Puzzle | Mensuration -- Cylinder, Cone, Sphere | Paragraph Completion |
| Tabulation | Data Interpretation | |
| Syllogism | Ratio & Proportion, Percentage | |
| Blood Relations | Number Systems | |
| Input-Output | Sequence & Series | |
| Coding-Decoding | Permutation, Combination, Probability |
IBPS PO Mains Exam Syllabus 2019
This exam consists of 5 sections: Reasoning & Computer, English Language, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General Awareness, and Descriptive Test (Letter Writing &Essay).
| Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus | General Awareness Syllabus | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude Syllabus | English Language Syllabus | |
| Simplification | Financial Awareness | Verbal Reasoning | Internet | Reading Comprehension |
| Average | Current Affairs | Syllogism | Memory | Vocabulary |
| Percentage | General Knowledge | Circular Seating Arrangement | Keyboard Shortcuts | Grammar |
| Ratio and Percentage | Linear Seating Arrangement | Computer Abbreviation | Verbal Ability | |
| Data Interpretation | Double Lineup | Microsoft Office | ||
| Mensuration and Geometry | Scheduling | Computer Hardware | ||
| Quadratic Equation | Input-Output | Computer Software | ||
| Interest | Blood Relations | Operating System | ||
| Problems of Ages | Directions and Distances | Networking | ||
| Profit and Loss | Ordering and Ranking | Computer Fundamentals /Terminologies | ||
| Number Series | Data Sufficiency | |||
| Speed, Distance and Time | Coding and Decoding | |||
| Time and Work | Code Inequalities | |||
| Number System | ||||
| Data Sufficiency | ||||
| Linear Equation | ||||
| Permutation and Combination | ||||
| And Probability | ||||
| Mixture and Allegations | ||||
IBPS PO Preparation
To help you with your bank PO exam preparations to come out with flying colours, here are few preparation tips on how to crack the IBPS PO exam. Follow the below-given strategies and stay ahead from your competitors:
How to prepare for IBPS PO Reasoning section?
a) Understanding question patterns from previous years is a must to succeed in the IBPS PO exam’s reasoning section
b) Keep your logical thinking and mental alertness mode On, while you solve the reasoning questions
c) The practice is the key to score higher in this section. Make a habit of practising 2-3 sets of question papers every day
d) Take up an online test and perform like you are in the actual exam
e) Last but not least, learn how to effectively manage your time
How to prepare for IBPS PO English section?
a) Know grammar rules, if required by heart them. They are going to play a crucial role in your English preparation
b) Don’t waste your time reading the entire comprehension passage. Rather go to the questions and search for answers in the passage. When you have to attempt 200 questions in 120 minutes, reading the entire passage is not an effective time management skill
c) Solve previous question papers and analyze your answers to avoid simple mistakes in the exam.
d) Your vocabulary counts. Make it a point to read regularly
e) For getting synonyms questions right, read a national daily and try to understand what words are used in what context. Also, as when you come across new words check out in a dictionary
f) Keep close eyes on spelling mistakes and sentence formation
How to prepare for IBPS PO Quantitative Aptitude section?
a) Understand the major mathematical concepts up to XII standard. This is the first critical step in solving the QA section of IBPS PO exam
b) Memorize the formulas and understand its usage to solve many QA questions
c) Practice, practice and practice, there is no other way to score higher in QA section
d) Knowing short cut methods are vital for covering maximum questions in minimum time
e) Solve sample/mock/previous years’ question papers and understand the patterns
f) Time management and accuracy is key in securing maximum score in the QA section
How to prepare for General Awareness IBPS PO exam?
a) Stay updated with current affairs. Know what's happening in India and around the world in terms of economics, financial rules, social development, banking rules, sports news and any important news
b) Dig a little deeper regarding banking news, history and all major regulatory changes in the past year
c) Understand what role major banking institutions in India and the world plays such as RBI and IMF
d) Know banking terminologies and their meanings
How to prepare for IBPS PO Computer Knowledge?
a) Understand the basics of computer and various terminologies
b) Learn short cut keys, full forms and Internet acronyms
c) Learn all the latest inventions in the computer field
d) Solve previous years’ question papers without fail
Additional useful tips
a) Take care of your health and stay calm
b) It’s essential to keep all social channels and entertainment on hold for sometime
c) Prepare short notes right from the beginning
d) Think positive and be optimistic
e) Work hard & smart and hope for the best
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