Syllabus

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) announces notification for each of the positions, exam format, various topics and subjects covered in various papers, distribution of marks across each topic, recommendation of books, tips to prepare and an event calendar.

The syllabus gives information on the topics covered in each of the sections. Candidates preparing for the IBPS PO exam should carefully understand the syllabus and structure of the exam and get clarity on how much time they should spend on each of the topics to cover the syllabus before appearing for the exam.

IBPS PO Exam Structure

The IBPS PO exam is divided into three phases. 

• Preliminary exam-objective type online computer-based papers
• Mains exam-objective and descriptive types of papers
• Personal interview

Candidates who pass the IBPS PO preliminary exams are invited to the main recruitment exams. The invitation will take the form of a call letter, which candidates can obtain from the IBPS official website. Candidates should remember and keep their registration number and password handy to view and download their admit card and carry the printout along with them to the exam centre.

Based on the performance in the mains exam, candidates will be invited for a personal interview again in the form of an admit card (Call Letter). Final selection depends on how candidates score in their main exam papers and interviews. We will discuss the syllabus for the preliminary and main exams here in detail. The exam papers and their formats will explain the total number of questions, total marks, exam duration, and what topics are covered in each of the exam papers.

IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2022

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection announces examination pattern that explains exam structure, distribution of marks across topics, exam duration, total marks, topics covered in syllabus, and recommended resources like books, author, and publications to help candidates refer them to prepare for the exam and secure best score in prelims, mains and interview to achieve probationary officer / management trainee position across India.

IBPS PO Preliminary Examination Pattern

IBPS PO preliminary exam is an online multiple-choice question with each paper of 1 hour duration. The paper is distributed in three sections – English literature for 30 marks, numerical ability for 35 marks and reasoning ability with 35 marks with total marks of 100 and total questions 100.

Each section should be completed in 20 minutes. There will be negative marking in IBPS PO preliminary exam 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer attempted. Candidates should clear the paper with cut off marks in each 3 sections to qualify for IBPS PO mains exam.

• Candidates can find details related to IBPS PO Eligibility, Fees, Exam dates, and more by clicking here.

IBPS PO Main Examination Pattern

• IBPS PO Mains exam 2022 is descriptive exam where in candidates are judged on their written skills with essay or letter for 25 marks to be completed in 30 minutes, in addition to their performance in mains exam papers.

IBPS PO Mains Exam Updates

• There is change in overall time allotment for each section
• There is no separate paper for Computer Applications
• Reasoning paper is teamed up with Computer Aptitude section with 45 questions for 60 marks.
• The overall time allotted for IBPS PO mains exam for 2022 objective exam has been changed from 140 minutes to 180 minutes. A separate 30 minutes for descriptive test. The total exam duration for IBPS PO Mains exam is 3 hours and 30 minutes.
• English Language section will have 35 questions and maximum of 40 marks to be attempted in 40 minutes
• Data analysis and interpretation section will have 35 questions of 60 marks to be completed in 45 minutes
• Reasoning & Computer Aptitude section will have 45 questions and maximum of 60 marks to be attempted in 60 minutes
• General, Economy/Banking Awareness section will have 40 questions and maximum of 40 marks.
• All above sections of Mains examination will have total 155 questions, maximum of 200 marks and total exam duration of 180 minutes. The medium of language of all the section can be attempted in English and Hindi, except English language (English only).
• In addition, English Language (Letter Writing & Essay) will have 2 questions, with maximum of 25 marks in English language to be completed in 30 minutes.
• There is negative marking for IBPS PO preliminary and Mains examination. There will be deduction of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer from total score secured. However if candidate leaves question un- attempted, there will not be any penalty

IBPS PO Syllabus 2022

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Syllabus 2022

IBPS PO preliminary examination Syllabus consists of three main sections

• English Language
• Quantitative Aptitude
• Reasoning

The topics covered in each of these sections are explained below:

English Language Syllabus

IBPS PO preliminary exam has English language section and has topics listed below

• Reading Comprehension
• Cloze Test
• Para jumbles
• Miscellaneous
• Fill in the blanks
• Multiple Meaning/Error Spotting
• Paragraph Completion
• One word Substitution

 Quantitative Ability Syllabus

IBPS PO preliminary exam has section called Quantitative Ability and has topics listed below

• Simplification
• Profit & Loss
• Mixtures & Allegations
• Simple Interests & Compound Interests & Surds & Indices
• Work & Time
• Time & Distance
• Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone & Sphere
• Data Interpretation
• Ratio & Proportion, Percentage
• Number Series
• Sequence & Series
• Permutation, Combination & Probability

Reasoning Syllabus

Reasoning is one of the section in IBPS PO preliminary exam syllabus that has following topics and subjects:

• Logical Reasoning
• Alphanumeric Series
• Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test
• Data Sufficiency
• Coded Inequalities
• Seating Arrangement
• Puzzle
• Tabulation
• Syllogism
• Blood Relations
• Input-Output
• Coding-Decoding

 IBPS PO Mains Exam Syllabus 2022

IBPS PO Mains exam is divided into following five sections:

1. Data Analysis
2. General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness
3. English Language
4. Reasoning
5. Computer Aptitude

IBPS PO Mains exam hold importance as the score obtained by candidates in IBPS PO Mains exam and interview plays a decisive role in final selection for the post of probationary officer. These papers are descriptive in nature.

The syllabus of Mains exam per each of these topic/subjects are listed below:

English Language Syllabus

• Grammar
• One Word Substitution
• Reading Comprehension
• Vocabulary
• Verbal Ability

General Awareness of Economy and Banking Syllabus

• Current Affairs
• General Knowledge
• Static Awareness
• Financial Awareness

Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

• Simplification
• Average
• Percentage
• Mixtures & Allegations
• Ratio & Percentage
• Data Interpretation
• Mensuration & Geometry
• Quadratic Equation
• Interest
• Problem of Ages
• Profit & Loss
• Number Series
• Speed, Distance & Time
• Time & Work
• Number System
• Data Sufficiency
• Linear Equation
• Permutation and Combination
• Probability

Reasoning

• Verbal Reasoning
• Syllogism
• Circular Seating Arrangement
• Code Inequalities
• Linear Seating Arrangement
• Double Lineup
• Scheduling
• Input-Output
• Blood Relations
• Directions and Distances
• Ordering and Ranking
• Data Sufficiency
• Coding and Decoding

Computer Aptitude Syllabus

• Internet
• Memory
• Keyboard Shortcuts
• Computer Abbreviation
• Microsoft Office
• Computer Hardware
• Computer Software
• Operating System
• Networking
• Computer Fundamentals/Terminologies

Candidates are expected to have ability to communicate and write letters of their own as a part of English Language test.

Recommended Books for IBPS PO Exam

The recommended learning resources for the IBPS PO examination prepares candidates for subjects and topics listed in the syllabus. The books contains topics well explained, easy to understand and subjects covered as needed in the syllabus.

The list of topics for IBPS PO preparation as per subjects are below.

Reasoning Ability Syllabus

Reasoning ability is the topic that is included in Mains exam syllabus with another subject – computer aptitude. Candidates should prepare separately for the subject. The best books referred for the subject are listed below.

• A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S Agrawal
• A New Approach to Reasoning by B.S Sijwali and Indu Sijwali
• Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey – BSC Publications
• Logical reasoning by K Kundan  – BSC Publications
• Bank PO/MT exam practice workbook – Experts compilation – Arihant publications

English Language Syllabus

The subjects and topics covered for the English language covered in IBPS PO examination are listed below

• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis – Penguin publication
• English Grammar & Composition by Wren and Martin – S. Chand publication
• Descriptive General English by S P Bakshi and Richa Sharma – Arihant publication
• Objective English for Competitive Examinations by Hari Mohan Prasad, Uma Rani Sinha – McGraw Hill Education publication
• Objective General English by R.S Aggarwal, Vikas Aggarwal – S. Chand publication

Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

Common for probationary officers and management trainees, Quantitative Aptitude section has a topics that are covered in various publications, reviews and discussions, the list of topics covered under quantitative aptitude are shown below

• Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations by R.S Agarwal – S. Chand Publication
• The Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude by Dinesh Khattar – Pearson publication
• Data Interpretation by Arun Sharma – McGraw Hill Publication
• Objective Mathematics for Competitive Exams by Tarun Goyal – Arihant publication

Computer Aptitude Syllabus

Syllabus on Computer Aptitude is not that extensive, candidates should be able to understand various activities and tools that can be carried out with use of computer in modern office environment is explained in these books

• Objective Computer Awareness by Somya Ranjan Behera Arihant
• Computer Knowledge by Rani Ahilya Disha Publications
• Objective Computer Knowledge & Literacy by Kiran Publications

General Awareness, Economy, and Banking Syllabus

The topic and subject needs candidates to be proactive and prepare the content that requires reading newspapers, publications and discussions on current events by economic and political experts. The questions asked in this section may contain current affairs topics within last 3 to 4 months from the exam. Some of the important resources and books on above subject/topics are listed below.

• India Year Book by Publications Division, Government of India
• Banking Awareness by B.K Raut and S.R Behera
• Guide to Banking General Awareness – R Gupta
• Manorama Pandey Book – Arihant publications
• Banking and Economic Awareness- Rakesh Kumar
• Apart from these books, The Hindu and Indian Express are good sources of information on the latest developments.
• Pratiyogita Darpan (Monthly Edition)

| Sections | Books for IBPS PO | | English Language | Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, High School Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin | | Quantitative Aptitude | Quantitative Aptitude by RS Agarwal | | Reasoning Ability | Modern Approach to Verbal Reasoning by RS Agarwal New Approach to Reasoning Verbal & Non-Verbal (Arihant) by BS Sijwali Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey | | General Awareness | Banking and Economic Awareness by Rakesh Kumar Banking, Financial & General Awareness by I K Pavel |

Tips to Prepare for IBPS PO Exam

• Candidates preparing for the IBPS PO exam should be have complete knowledge of exam format, distribution of marks across the topics covered in the syllabus, number of questions, duration of exam papers, total marks for each paper and how to prepare for the exam.
• Candidates should review questions asked in previous years to get an idea of how should they prepare for the particular paper.
• Mock tests can help candidates to prepare well on their weaker areas and interview.
• Candidates should prepare time table to prepare each subject and adhere to it to give proper justice to the subjects listed in the syllabus.
• Revision of the topics prepared at least twice before the exam will impart confidence in candidates
• The purpose of preliminary exam is to qualify for mains exam. Marks secured in mains exam and interview is considered to calculate cut-off marks and consideration for the probationary or management positions for banks registered with IBPS.

FAQs

Is IBPS PO easy or tough? One of the toughest tests used to choose POs for the many banks across the nation is the IBPS PO exam. IBPS PO and other bank exams are not so simple to pass. The number of applicants who pass the IBPS PO exam is significantly lower than the number of applicants who fail.

What is IBPS PO salary? IBPS PO Salary will start at Rs 36,000 with a Rs 980 annual raise for the following 7 years, then go on to a basic of Rs 42,860 with a Rs 1,145 annual raise for the following 2 years, and so forth.

What is the syllabus for IBPS PO 2022 exam? The syllabus for IBPS PO exam 2022 is divided into three different stages as listed below:
– IBPS PO prelims
– IBPS PO mains
– IBPS PO interview