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Preparation for the IBPS PO Exam requires consistency, hard work, a lot of practice, time management, and how accurately you can answer the questions. The IBPS PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern form the base of your preparation by providing what to study for the exam. The syllabus consists of Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, and General/Banking Awareness. IBPS has revised the IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2025 for its upcoming Prelims and Mains exams, including marking scheme, exam duration, and subject names.
Candidates who are looking for the updated and latest syllabus, then they can check all the essential details below. We discussed the Syllabus in detail below, including exam pattern, marking scheme, and negative marking.
IBPS PO Notification 2025 has been released for 5208 Probationary Officer vacancies and the exam pattern for Prelims and Mains has been revised.
IBPS PO Syllabus 2025
There are three exam stages in the IBPS PO Exam such as Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The Syllabus given below is categorised into two sections: one for the Prelims and another for the Mains exam. Aspirants appearing for the upcoming IBPS PO 2025 exam should begin their preparation with the Prelims syllabus, those who qualify Prelims will be called for the Mains Exam.
| IBPS PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025 | |
| Exam Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, IBPS |
| Name of Exam | IBPS PO 2025 |
| Post | Probationary Officer (PO) |
| Total Marks |
|
| Duration of Exam |
|
| 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 the MCQ |
| Mode of Examination | Online For Prelims & Mains |
| Language of examination | English OR Hindi The English Language paper has to be attempted in English. |
IBPS PO Selection Process 2025
The Probationary Officer Exam is conducted in three different stages as listed below:
| Stage | Exam Pattern | Purpose |
| Prelims Exam | Objective Test
Total Marks: 100 |
Mostly a screening test. Marks are not counted in the final merit. Candidates qualifying in this move to the Mains exam.
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| Mains Exam | Objective + Descriptive Test
Total Marks: 225 (200 Objective + 25 Descriptive) |
Marks are counted in the final merit. Requires deep conceptual clarity and practice.
|
| Interview | Candidates shortlisted based on the Mains score
Minimum qualifying marks set by IBPS |
Final stage to assess the candidate’s communication, personality, and banking awareness. Final selection based on Mains + Interview scores.
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Attempt Daily IBPS PO Mock Test to Crack the Exam
IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2025 Revised
IBPS has revised the IBPS PO Exam Pattern for Prelims and Mains. The overall/total marks and negative marking remain the same, but changes have been made internally in the exam pattern of both stages. So, check the sections, revised marking scheme, number of questions, and duration of the examination.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2025 (Latest)
The Prelims exam is the first stage of the Probationary Officer exam, and this is the screening round. The details of the IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2025 have been discussed here for the candidates.
- The Prelims Stage of IBPS PO will have three sections of a total duration of 1 Hour.
- There will be a total of 100 multiple-choice questions.
- Candidates will have to qualify in each of the three tests by securing minimum cut-off marks to be decided by IBPS.
- An adequate number of candidates in each category, as decided by IBPS, depending upon requirements, will be shortlisted for the Online Main Examination.
- The marking scheme of IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern has been changed and now, the marks are as follows:
| Sr. No. | Name of Tests | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam | Time Allotted |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | English | 20 minutes |
| 2 | Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
60 Minutes (1 Hour)
|
Note:
- There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
- Marks of Quantitative Aptitude has been reduced to 30 from 35 previously and marks for Reasoning section has been increased by 5, from 35 to 40. However, the number of questions remain the same.
IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2025 (Latest)
The mains examination is the second stage of the IBPS PO Exam 2025. The candidates who pass the Prelims examination are qualified to appear in the mains stage.
- There are 4 sections such as Reasoning Ability, English Language, and Data Analysis & Interpretation.
- The total time for the IBPS PO 2025 Mains Objective Exam is 160 minutes, with an additional 30 minutes for the descriptive test, making the total duration 3 hours and 10 minutes or 190 minutes.
- Candidates will be assessed on their writing skills through an essay and a letter, totalling 25 marks to be completed within 30 minutes.
- A penalty of 0.25 marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer in the Objective Tests.
| Sr. No. | Name of Tests | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam | Time Allotted |
| 1 | Reasoning | 40 | 60 | English & Hindi | 50 minutes |
| 2 | General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness / Digital/ Financial Awareness (incl. RBI) | 35 | 50 | English & Hindi | 25 minutes |
| 3 | English Language | 35 | 40 | English | 40 minutes |
| 4 | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 50 | English & Hindi | 45 minutes |
| Total | 145 | 200 | 160 minutes | ||
| Descriptive Paper | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam | Time Allotted | |
| 5 | Essay & Comprehension Writing (Economic and Social issues, emerging trends in Banking and Technology, Current events, Ethics etc.) | 2 | 25 | English | 30 minutes |
Note:
- The reasoning section now has 45 questions instead of 40 and gives you 60 minutes.
- The computer section has been removed.
- Total questions in objective paper: 155 (up from 145).
- Overall duration for the objective part: 3 hours (180 minutes).
- The descriptive section (Essay + Letter) is the same, with 30 minutes.
- Complete Mains exam will now take 3 hours and 10 minutes.
- No changes in English, DI.
- General Awareness sections renamed as General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness / Digital/ Financial Awareness including RBI circulars.
IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus 2025
The IBPS PO Syllabus 2025 for Prelims is given below for the following sections:
- Reasoning Ability: 40 Marks
- English Language: 30 Marks
- Quantitative Aptitude: 30 Marks
Check the subject-wise Prelims Syllabus below:
| Reasoning Syllabus | English Language Syllabus | Quantitative Ability Syllabus |
| Logical Reasoning | Reading Comprehension | Simplification |
| Alphanumeric Series | Cloze Test | Profit & Loss |
| Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test | Para jumbles | Mixtures & Allegations |
| Data Sufficiency | Word Usage, Word-Swap | Simple Interest & Compound Interest & Surds & Indices |
| Inequalities | Fill in the blanks | Work & Time |
| Seating Arrangement | Error Detection, Error Spotting | Time & Distance |
| Puzzle | Paragraph Completion | Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere |
| Tabulation | One word Substitution | Data Interpretation |
| Syllogism | Miscellaneous | Ratio & Proportion, Percentage |
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Blood Relations
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– | Number Systems |
| Input-Output | – | Sequence & Series |
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Coding-Decoding
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– | Permutation, Combination &Probability |
IBPS PO Mains Syllabus 2025
The candidates who secure a minimum cut-off will be eligible to appear for the IBPS PO Mains Exam. The syllabus for the Mains Exam is given below for the following sections:
- Data Analysis and Interpretation: 50 Marks
- General Awareness and Economy/Banking Awareness: 50 Marks (Also includes Current Affairs)
- English Language: 40 Marks
- Reasoning : 60 Marks
Syllabus for Data Analysis and Interpretation
| Topic | Description |
| Simplification |
Solve expressions using BODMAS and basic arithmetic rules.
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| Average |
Find the mean value of the given numbers or data sets.
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| Percentage |
Calculate parts per hundred and compare values.
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| Mixture and Allegations |
Solve problems involving mixing two or more entities with different ratios.
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| Ratio and Proportion |
Compare quantities and solve scaling problems.
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| Data Interpretation |
Analyse and solve questions based on charts, tables, or graphs.
|
| Mensuration and Geometry |
Calculate area, volume, perimeter, etc., of 2D and 3D shapes.
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| Quadratic Equation |
Solve equations of the form ax² + bx + c = 0.
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| Interest |
Calculate simple and compound interest.
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| Problems of Ages |
Solve age-related word problems using algebra.
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| Profit and Loss |
Compute selling price, cost price, and profit/loss percentage.
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| Number Series |
Identify the missing number or the next number in a sequence.
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| Speed, Distance, and Time |
Solve motion-related problems using formulas and unit conversion.
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| Time and Work |
Calculate work efficiency, combined work, and time taken.
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| Number System |
Solve problems based on divisibility, HCF, LCM, and basic number properties.
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| Data Sufficiency |
Determine whether the given data is enough to answer a question.
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| Linear Equation |
Solve a single or a pair of linear equations in one or two variables.
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| Permutation and Combination |
Count possible arrangements or selections in different scenarios.
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| Probability |
Calculate the chance or likelihood of a particular outcome.
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Syllabus for General Awareness and Economy/Banking Awareness
| Topic | Description |
| Financial Awareness |
Covers basic concepts of economy, banking, budget, and financial systems.
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| Banking Reforms |
Includes key changes and improvements in the banking sector over the years.
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| Monetary Policy |
Refers to RBI’s policy decisions on interest rates, liquidity, and inflation.
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| RBI Reports and Indices |
Covers RBI’s annual, monthly reports and key indices it publishes.
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| International Organisation Reports |
Important reports released by IMF, World Bank, UN, etc., and their relevance.
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| Current Affairs of National and International Importance |
Includes recent events, govt schemes, summits, appointments, and global news.
|
| General Knowledge |
Covers static GK like capitals, currencies, books, awards, and historical facts.
|
Syllabus for Reasoning
| Topic | Description |
| Verbal Reasoning |
Questions that assess logical thinking and language-based reasoning.
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| Syllogism |
Deduce conclusions based on given statements using logic rules.
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| Circular Seating Arrangement |
Arrangement of people/items in a circular order based on given conditions.
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| Code Inequalities |
Solve inequalities coded in symbols to find valid conclusions.
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| Linear Seating Arrangement |
Arrange individuals in a straight line using direction and position clues.
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| Double Lineup |
Match two sets of data, like names and professions, based on complex conditions.
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| Scheduling |
Determine the sequence or timing of events/activities from given data.
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| Input-Output |
Decode the machine-based pattern of input strings to track changes step-by-step.
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| Blood Relations |
Solve puzzles involving family relationships based on statements.
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| Directions and Distances |
Determine direction or distance based on movement-related clues.
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| Ordering and Ranking |
Rank people/things based on height, marks, position, etc.
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| Data Sufficiency |
Judge whether given data is enough to answer a question.
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| Coding and Decoding |
Break patterns where words or numbers are replaced with codes.
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Syllabus for English Language
| Topic | Description |
| Reading Comprehension |
Passage-based questions to test reading speed, understanding, and inference skills.
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| Vocabulary |
Questions based on word meanings, synonyms, antonyms, and word usage.
|
| Grammar |
Tests your understanding of rules related to sentence structure and correctness.
|
| One Word Substitution |
Replace a full phrase or sentence with a single, precise word.
|
| Verbal Ability |
Covers sentence rearrangement, para jumbles, and identifying sentence errors.
|
IBPS PO Negative Marking
An incorrect answer in the IBPS PO objective exam results in a penalty of one-fourth or 0.25 marks being deducted for that question. However, if you choose not to answer a question, there is no penalty. This encourages careful consideration of each question, as guessing incorrectly can lower your score.
Strategic answering and time management become crucial, as avoiding penalties can significantly impact your overall performance. Thus, focusing on accuracy is just as important as attempting all questions within the given time frame.
IBPS PO Descriptive Test
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. Some topics asked in the previous year essays and letters are listed below for the reference of the candidates.
- Economic and Social issues
- Emerging trends in Banking
- Technology,
- Current events, Ethics etc
IBPS PO Interview 2025
Candidates who have been shortlisted in the Online Main examination for CRP- PO/MT-XIV will subsequently be
called for an Interview to be conducted by the Participating Organization and coordinated by the Nodal Bank in each State/ UT with the help of IBPS. Interviews will be conducted at select centers.
- The total marks allotted for the IBPS PO Interview are 100.
- The minimum qualifying marks in the interview will not be less than 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PWBD candidates).
- The weightage (ratio) of the IBPS PO Online Main Exam and interview will be 80:20, respectively.
- The combined final score of candidates shall be arrived at based on scores obtained by the candidates in the Online Main Examination of CRP-PO/MT-XIV and the Interview.
- A candidate should qualify both in the Online Main Exam and interview and be sufficiently high in merit to be shortlisted for the subsequent provisional allotment process.
How to Prepare with the IBPS PO Syllabus?
To prepare for the IBPS PO 2025 prelims examination, the candidates can go through the details of the IBPS PO Preparation Strategy. Here we have mentioned some tips for the reference of the candidates.
- Start by thoroughly understanding the syllabus, which includes sections like Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, English Language, and General Awareness.
- Make a schedule, adding all the topics and weekly or daily goals.
- Create a study plan that allocates time for each section based on your strengths and weaknesses.
- Join IBPS PO Online Coaching 2025 if you need assistance.
- Practice with IBPS PO Mock Test and IBPS PO Previous Year Question Paper to improve speed and accuracy.
- Focus on time management and regularly review your progress to ensure comprehensive preparation.
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