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IBPS PO Exam 2026: Complete Guide to Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility and Preparation
IBPS PO recruits Probationary Officers for public sector banks through prelims, mains and interview. Graduates aged 20 to 30 can apply on ibps.in, with final merit from mains and interview scores.
Reading time: about 10 minutes. Verify dates, vacancies and post-wise rules in the official notification before applying.
What this guide covers
IBPS PO exam overview
IBPS PO (CRP PO/MT) is the common recruitment for Probationary Officer and Management Trainee posts in participating public sector banks. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection runs prelims and mains and coordinates interviews, while allotment follows a merit-cum-preference system across banks. Trust only ibps.in for notifications, scores and allotment.
| Stage | Format | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | 100 marks, 60 minutes | Screening for mains |
| Mains | Objective 200 marks + descriptive 25 marks | Merit with interview (80:20) |
| Interview | 100 marks | Final merit component |
Eligibility criteria
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | 20 to 30 years as on the cut-off date, with relaxation for SC, ST, OBC, PwBD and ex-servicemen |
| Education | Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university |
| Nationality | Citizen of India or notified eligible categories |
| Language | Working knowledge of the local language of the applied state is tested through proficiency requirements after allotment |
Exam pattern
Prelims: 100 marks screening
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
60 minutes with sectional timing, 0.25 negative marking per wrong answer and sectional plus overall cut-offs. Prelims marks do not count toward final merit.
Mains: merit stage
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 |
| General, Economy and Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| English Language | 35 | 40 |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 35 | 60 |
| English descriptive (essay + letter) | 2 | 25 |
Mains runs about 3 hours plus 30 minutes descriptive, with 0.25 negative marking in objective sections and a qualifying descriptive minimum. Final merit weights mains and interview 80:20.
Syllabus, subject by subject
Reasoning: puzzles and seating (the mains differentiator), syllogisms, inequality, coding-decoding, input-output, data sufficiency, computer fundamentals. Quant and DI: arithmetic, algebra, mensuration, caselets, missing and mixed DI, probability. English: comprehension, cloze, parajumbles, error detection, essay and letter writing. GA: banking and RBI news, budget and reports, government schemes, static banking concepts of the last four to six months.
Important dates and how to apply
IBPS publishes the PO calendar on ibps.in with registration, prelims, mains and interview windows plus participating-bank vacancies. This guide carries no dates. Register online, choose centre and bank preferences carefully, and download call letters only from ibps.in.
Selection process
- Prelims: screening with sectional and overall cut-offs.
- Mains: objective plus descriptive with qualifying descriptive marks.
- Interview (100 marks): combined 80:20 with mains for provisional allotment.
- Language proficiency and verification before joining.
How to prepare
Master prelims speed first (35-35-30 in 60 minutes needs daily timed sets), then shift weight to mains DI, puzzles and banking awareness. Read financial dailies for GA, maintain a scheme and report notebook, write one essay and one letter weekly, and take mains-level mocks with sectional timing from month two.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Practising only prelims-level questions until mains.
- Ignoring computer aptitude inside the reasoning section.
- Reading GA without monthly revision.
- Skipping descriptive writing practice.
- Missing sectional cut-offs while chasing totals.
- Guessing under 0.25 negative marking in tight sections.
Career opportunities
Probationary Officers join as Assistant Managers (JMGS-I) with branch, credit, forex and digital-banking rotations and fast promotion through internal exams to Manager, Senior Manager and beyond. Check pay scales and allowances in the current notification.
Practise with Pratiyogita Kosh
Use Pratiyogita Kosh the way toppers use any test series: take a timed mock for IBPS PO, review every error within 48 hours, then build a custom practice set around your weakest topics and re-test. Your dashboard tracks accuracy by subject and topic so each session targets real gaps.
Pratiyogita Kosh is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with any exam body. Archived papers credit their source on the paper page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of IBPS PO?
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Probationary Officer, recruited through the CRP PO/MT process.
Who conducts IBPS PO?
IBPS conducts prelims, mains and interview coordination, with details on ibps.in.
What is the age limit for IBPS PO?
20 to 30 years as on the cut-off date, with relaxation for reserved categories.
What qualification is needed for IBPS PO?
A bachelor degree in any discipline from a recognised university.
What is the IBPS PO exam pattern?
Prelims of 100 marks for screening, mains of 225 marks including descriptive, then interview with an 80:20 final merit.
Is there negative marking in IBPS PO?
Yes, 0.25 marks per wrong answer in objective prelims and mains sections.
Do prelims marks count in final merit?
No. Final merit uses mains and interview scores only, so prelims is purely qualifying.
Where can I practise IBPS PO mocks?
On Pratiyogita Kosh: prelims and mains-pattern mocks plus custom sets for DI, puzzles, English and banking awareness.