IBPS PO — Exam Pattern, Syllabus & Free Mocks
IBPS Probationary Officer (CRP PO/MT)
IBPS PO is the common recruitment process for Probationary Officer / Management Trainee posts in participating public-sector banks. Selection runs in three stages — a qualifying Preliminary exam, a Main exam that decides the merit list, and an interview. Prelims tests speed across English, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning; Mains adds Data Analysis & Interpretation, Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, English, plus a descriptive letter-and-essay paper.
IBPS PO exam pattern
0.25 mark deducted for each wrong answer.
Prelims
100 questions · 100 marks · 60 minutes (20 min per section)| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
Mains
155 questions · 200 marks · 180 min + 30 min descriptive| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 min |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 min |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 min |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 min |
| English (Descriptive: letter + essay) | 2 | 25 | 30 min |
IBPS PO syllabus
Simplification, Number Series, Quadratic Equations, Data Interpretation, Arithmetic (percentage, profit & loss, SI/CI, time & work, boats & streams)
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Inequality, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction & Distance
Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Error Detection, Para Jumbles, Fillers
Current affairs (last 6 months), banking & financial awareness, static GK
IBPS PO mock tests
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Open the IBPS form tool →IBPS PO — frequently asked questions
What is the IBPS PO exam pattern?+
Prelims has 100 questions for 100 marks in 60 minutes (English 30, Quant 35, Reasoning 35), each section separately timed at 20 minutes. Mains has 155 objective questions for 200 marks in 180 minutes plus a 25-mark descriptive paper in 30 minutes.
Is there negative marking in IBPS PO?+
Yes. 0.25 mark is deducted for every wrong answer in both Prelims and Mains. There is no penalty for questions left unanswered.
How many stages are there in IBPS PO selection?+
Three: the Preliminary exam (qualifying), the Main exam (counts toward the final merit) and an interview. Final selection is based on Mains and interview marks.
Is IBPS PO Prelims English qualifying only?+
Prelims as a whole is qualifying — marks do not carry to the final merit — but you must clear the sectional and overall cut-offs to be shortlisted for Mains.
Exam patterns follow the latest official notification and can change each cycle — always confirm details on the official Institute of Banking Personnel Selection website. Prep247 is not affiliated with or endorsed by Institute of Banking Personnel Selection.