The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection sets the IBPS PO syllabus.
Lakhs of candidates appear for the IBPS exam in the hope of becoming a banker. Only the best make it to the top and land the premium post of Probationary Officer in public sector banks.
In this article, candidates shall find the detailed section-wise syllabus for the upcoming Bank PO exam.
The competition level in the IBPS PO exam is very high. Hence aspirants should familiarise themselves with the IBPS PO syllabus to have a clear concept of the various topics covered in the exam.
For details on upcoming bank exams, refer to the linked article.
One aspect of preparation that every successful candidate has is familiarity with IBPS PO syllabus.
Candidates trying for other bank exams can refer to the linked article to get a list of various other posts in the banking sector.
IBPS PO syllabus 2021:-Download PDF Here
For any latest notification regarding the IBPS PO exam or any other Government exams, candidates can visit the linked article.
IBPS PO Exam Pattern
Candidates need to understand the IBPS PO Exam Pattern to have an idea of the topics covered in the exam.
The IBPS PO Exam Pattern consists of Prelims, Mains and an Interview.
The IBPS PO Exam Pattern is given below:
IBPS PO Exam Pattern for Prelims
| Sr. No. | Name of the Test | No. of Questions & Maximum Marks | Language of the exam | Duration of each IBPS PO Prelims exam |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | English | 20 minutes |
| 2 | Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | English & Hindi | 20 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | English & Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 1 hour |
IBPS PO Exam Pattern for Mains
| Sr. No. | Name of the Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Language of the exam | Duration of each IBPS PO Prelims exam |
| 1 | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | English | 60 minutes |
| 2 | General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 35 | 40 | English & Hindi | 35 minutes |
| 3 | English Language | 35 | 40 | English & Hindi | 40 minutes |
| 4 | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | English & Hindi | 45 minutes |
| Total | 155 | 200 | 3 hours | ||
| 5 | English Language( Letter Writing & Essay) | 2 | 25 | English | 30 minutes |
IBPS PO Syllabus for Prelims
The preliminary exam consists of one paper of 100 marks divided into three sections.
The IBPS PO Prelims syllabus covers the following subjects:
- English Language
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Reasoning Ability
The new pattern of exam introduced in 2019 has added a few topics to each subject, which were not included in the IBPS PO syllabus earlier.
The IBPS does not specify a list of topics in their notification; hence the syllabus is drawn up by analysing past years’ papers.
Candidates can also check the best IBPS PO books which may help them ace the upcoming Probationary Officer exam at the linked article.
The following is the subject wise breakdown of the IBPS PO Prelims syllabus:
IBPS PO Syllabus for Prelims exam is given below:
| English Language | Quantitative Aptitude | Reasoning Ability |
| Reading Comprehension
(Fill in the blanks)/Cloze Test Multiple Meanings(Contextual Usage) Paragraph and passage completion |
Simplification and Approximation
Profit and Loss Simple and Compound Interest Surds and Indices Mensuration: Cylinder, Cone, Sphere and Cuboid Ratio And Proportion Percentages Series and Sequences Permutation and Combination Measures of Central Tendency and Variation Probability |
Logical Reasoning
Alphabet Combination Picture Series Puzzles Tabulation Relationships Assertion and Reason Statement, Argument and Assumption Word Formation |
To get some simple maths shortcuts and tricks to solve the questions from the quantitative aptitude section quicker and more efficiently, candidates can check the linked article.
The IBPS PO syllabus for the Prelims exam covers a large number of topics. Thorough practice and proper IBPS PO preparation need to be done to cover these topics before the Prelims exam in the best possible way.
Candidates can check IBPS PO Mock Tests for performance review and revision.
To understand the Exam topics in-depth, and the level of difficulty, IBPS PO Prelims exam Analysis can be beneficial.
| Related Links | ||
| IBPS PO Eligibility | IBPS PO Application Form | IBPS Online Registration |
| IBPS PO Admit Card | IBPS Mock Tests | IBPS Previous Year Paper |
IBPS PO Syllabus for Mains
The IBPS PO Mains syllabus has topics similar to the Prelims phase, but the standard of questions is a bit complex.
Two new subjects are added in the syllabus for phase II exam. These are Computer Knowledge and Banking Awareness. Also, a descriptive paper is included in this stage of the examination.
To get the detailed Probationary Officer Mains exam syllabus, refer to the table below:
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | General/Economy/Banking Awareness | English Language | Data Analysis & Interpretation |
| Reasoning:
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning Syllogism Seating Arrangements (Circular and Linear) Double and Triple Lineups Scheduling Input/Output Blood Relations Ordering and Ranking Coding and Decoding Sufficiency of Arguments and Data Directions and Displacement Code Inequalities Alphanumeric Series Computer Aptitude: Internet Memory Computer Related Terms Abbreviations Microsoft Office and Related Word Processing and Spreadsheet Applications Computer Hardware and Software Operating Systems and GUI Basics |
Banking Awareness
Financial Knowledge Basic Economics Current Events of National and International Importance with focus on financial news General Knowledge on various topics of importance to financial institutions |
Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary Grammar Usage of English in Business Essay Writing Verbal Ability |
Simplification
Statistics (Averages, Mean, Median etc.) Representational Statistics (Graphs and Charts) Ratio and Proportion Percentages Data Interpretation Data Sufficiency Mensuration Geometry Linear Equations Quadratic Equations Simple and Compound Interest Speed, Distance and Time Profit, Loss and Discounts Time and Work Equations Permutations and Combinations Age Calculation Equations Systems of Equation in Two Variables Number Systems Mixtures and Alligations |
The IBPS PO syllabus for both the Prelims and Mains exam is almost similar except for a few differences in subjects and topics.
Aspirants can know more about General English for Competitive exams at the linked article.
To understand the Exam topics in-depth and the level of difficulty, IBPS PO Mains exam Analysis can be of great help.
Having a strong conceptual knowledge of all the major topics included in the IBPS PO syllabus is the key to ace the upcoming Probationary Officer exam.
Aspirants can get the detailed bank exam syllabus at the linked article.
Given below are a few other related links which shall help candidates know more and prepare well for the IBPS PO exam:
| Logical Reasoning | Quantitative Aptitude |
| Verbal Ability | Static GK |
| Banking Awareness | Computer Knowledge |
IBPS PO Interview
The IBPS PO Interview does not cover any specific topic. It is advisable to focus on general knowledge and awareness, current affairs and some essential matters under finance while preparing for the Probationary Officer Interview.
The Interview will be for 100 marks, and minimum 40% marks (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PWD) are necessary to qualify the Interview phase. Also, the final result is according to the marks scored in Interview+ Mains, and they shall be calculated in a 20:80 ratio, respectively.
It is more important to display excellent interpersonal skills and business acumen during the IBPS PO Interview.
The IBPS PO exam process is relatively short when compared to other competitive exams. It makes it very important that candidates do not get distracted during preparation.
For tips for performing better in the IBPS PO Interview, candidates can visit the last minute IBPS PO Interview Tips page and prepare themselves even better.
IBPS PO syllabus 2021: –Download PDF Here
To help candidates successfully qualify the bank exams, BYJU’S has a comprehensive and detailed preparation strategy and study material to assist aspirants with their preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions on IBPS PO Syllabus
Q 1. What is the IBPS PO Syllabus?
Q 2. What is the scheme of selection for the IBPS PO exam?
Q 3. Is the level of IBPS PO exam difficult?
Q 4. Is it easy to crack the IBPS PO exam?
Q 5. Which are the best books to cover the IBPS PO Syllabus?
Ans. Given below is a list of books that candidates can consider to prepare for the IBPS PO exam:
- A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S Agrawal
- Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations by R.S Agarwal
- Data Interpretation by Arun Sharma
- Banking Awareness by B.K Raut and S.R Behera
- Pratiyogita Darpan (Monthly Edition)
- High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin
Apart from the above-mentioned booklist, to ace the General Awareness part of the IBPS PO Syllabus, candidates must read the newspaper on a daily basis and keep themselves updated with events of national and international importance.
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