IBPS PO/MT Preliminary exam is an online exam, which consists of 3 sections as shown in the table below and has a total of 100 marks. The candidates must clear the cut-off for each section to be able to go to PHASE 2. The cut-off or minimum passing marks for each section is decided by the bank each year depending on the difficulty level of the test. The section-wise division of questions and marks is given below:

The IBPS PO/MT Mains Exam is also an online exam and has a total of 200 marks.

IBPS PO/MT Preliminary exam is an online exam, which consists of 3 sections as described below and has a total of 100 marks
Reasoning Ability (35 marks)

• Linear seating arrangement: (4-6 questions)


• Circular seating arrangement: (3-6 questions)


• Questions on syllogism: (5-7 questions)


• Questions on Coding & Decoding: (4-7 questions)


• Questions on puzzles: (4-6 questions)


• Inequalities, Statements & Arguments, Statements & Assumptions, ranking series, blood relations: (3-5 questions)

Quantitative Aptitude Paper (35 marks)

• Bar- Graph: (4-5 questions)


• Pie-charts: (5-7 questions)


• Case lets: (5-8 questions)


• Line-graph: (5-6 questions)


• Probability/Number series: (4-5 questions)


• Time and Work, Simple and Compound Interest: (4-5 questions)

English Language Paper (30 marks)

• Reading comprehension: (8-10 questions)


• Error Spotting: (4-5 questions)


• Sentence Completion: (5-6 questions)


• Para Jumbles: (4-5 questions)


• Cloze test, Synonyms, Antonyms: (4-5 questions)


• Phrase Replacement: (5 – 10) questions)

IBPS PO 2018 – Main Examination, conducted in online Mode, has: a duration of 3 hours, 4 Sections, a total of 155 questions, a Maximum score of 200 marks, and, is followed by a Descriptive Test (English language) for a duration of 30 minutes. The 4 Sections are timed: Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness, English language, Data Analysis & Interpretation. The section wise details are as shown below. The objective test is followed by a Descriptive Paper (Essay Writing + Letter Writing)Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude
Reasoning Ability

• Puzzles


• Seating Arrangements


• Direction Sense


• Blood Relation


• Syllogism


• Order and Ranking


• Coding-Decoding


• Machine Input-Output


• Inequalities


• Alpha-Numeric-Symbol Series


• Data Sufficiency


• Logical Reasoning (Passage Inference, Statement and Assumption, Conclusion, Argument)

Computer Aptitude

• History and Generation of Computers


• Introduction to Computer Organisation


• Computer Memory


• Computer Hardware and I/O Devices


• Computer Software


• Computer Languages


• Operating System


• Computer Network


• Internet


• MS Office Suit and Short cut keys


• Basics of DBMS


• Number System and Conversions


• Computer and Network Security

General/Economy/Banking Awareness

• Banking and Insurance Awareness


• Financial Awareness


• Govt. Schemes and Policies


• Current Affairs


• Static Awareness

English Language

• Reading Comprehension


• Cloze Test


• Fillers


• Sentence Errors


• Vocabulary based questions


• Sentence Improvement


• Jumbled Paragraph


• Paragraph Based Questions (Paragraph Fillers, Paragraph Conclusion, Paragraph /Sentences Restatement)

Quantitative Aptitude

• Data Interpretation (Bar Graph, Line Chart, Tabular, Caselet, Radar/Web, Pie Chart)


• Inequalities (Quadratic Equations)


• Number Series


• Approximation and Simplification


• Data Sufficiency


• Miscellaneous Arithmetic Problems (HCF and LCM, Profit and Loss, SI & CI, Problem on Ages, Work and Time, Speed Distance and Time, Probability, Mensuration, Permutation and Combination, Average, Ratio and Proportion, Partnership, Problems on Boats and Stream, Problems on Trains, Mixture and Allegation, Pipes and Cisterns)

Tip 1: Planning -
It is a primary step for any of exam. If you do not plan your preparation for IBPS PO syllabus for bank exam correctly, you make a terrible mistake. Through Study program, you will know about that you complete all topics. And you can also give more time to your weak areas. Many students ask this question here “How many days required to preparing for IBPS PO?” it totally depends on your skills how much you want to make for it. So start as soon as possible.
Tip 2: Time Management Tips for IBPS PO Exam –
You should divide your time into all subjects. Pay attention more for your delicate items. It is a not best practice that you spend your most of the time for an individual topic. Plan for every subject topic checks the complete list of PO syllabus topics first. And time also plays a significant role in Exam also divide time correctly for all sections otherwise you will leave many questions in the exam.
Tip 3: Step by Step Preparation –
The Topic wise study is a recommended tip from IBPS PO toppers. You should focus on a single topic at a time Don’t follow multiple topics at the same time.
Tip 4: Update Yourself –
Increase your four core skills (Reading, writing, listening and speaking). Don’t perform just like a reading machine you should have acted in all other activities such as Improve English Grammar, Reading Newspapers, magazines, Watching News channels and other General Knowledge/Current Affairs books enhance your overall awareness.
Tip 5: Follow Practice Makes Perfect Rule –
You should have practiced with IBPS PO Mock test as much as you can in real time. And also, try model paper of PO exam to get exact idea about the exam + type of paper. This practice also clears your self-judgment for all subjects that how much you prepared for that.
Tip 6: Study Material –
It is an essential part of your preparation that you have perfect means (complete and error free) IBPS PO Exam preparation material. For this, Books are the best source. You should buy some of the best author IBPS Preparation Books. And Previous Year IBPS PO Question Papers. In which, you find complete knowledge with their prediction for relevant topics of the upcoming exam.
Tip 7: Notes for Revision –
It is a time-saving strategy for bank exam that you make useful notes like shortcuts formulas, tricks, and important points on a separate sheet for last time preparation. By doing this, you save your time in searching notes here and there for last time revision it will be very helpful to you up to examination hall focus on it.
Tip 8: Expert Advice –
You can also Join IBPS PO Coaching/Institute for an expert view. Where you find the professionals of banking exam. They’ll give you better approach for IBPS Exam and helps you to make a proper study plan.
Tip 9: Feel free –
You should have to go for IBPS PO preparation strategy with an open mind. Concentrate on your goal doesn’t think about your personal and family issue at that time. Stop thinking about the result just focus on the way. Keep yourself calm on exam days. Eat healthy food and sleep well. All toppers are made not by birth. Best Of Luck.

The English Language is also a scoring subject. It contains 30 Questions of 30 marks in PO preliminary exam and 40 questions of 40 marks in mains exam.
Here examiner tests your basic English skills through Vocabulary, Grammar, Comprehension, etc.. If you have good command on your English section, you will score more from it. You just required answering 18 questions right to pass the Cutoff.
Tip 1: English preparation starts from basics. So you should have strong your basics first. And check below tips to crack IBPS PO Exam.
Tip 2: Divide it up into chunks and seriously master each chunk. Memorize with a fresh mind.
Tip 3: Read our Series, Daily Wordlist, Weekly Editorials, Roots of English and Grammar Scholar and practice exercises/ quizzes to have good command over English Grammar & vocabulary.
Tip 4: Easy way to learn English vocabulary apart from these series is read books like Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis to improve your vocabulary skills.
Tip 5: You can use the difficult words assigned for the day in conversation or in your writings to help you practice.
Improve your context skills.
Tip 6: Play word games online or with friends and crossword puzzles.
Tip 7: Use memory tricks like mnemonics. Practice vocabulary tests. Target to improve your results each time.
Tip 8: Next, see your performance in the reading comprehension section of the mock test.
Tip 9: Are you quick in picking up the context and meaning of what you are reading or do you need some time? Practice by doing a lot of reading.
Tip 10: Read books, articles, blogs, websites, newspapers etc. of varying topics and length.
Tip 11: Reading newspapers like the Hindu, Economic Times etc is a good start. Certain international newspapers and magazines like The New York Times, Economist and Washington Post (all available online) will give you international perspective and good reading practice. This will improve your reading speed and comprehension.

The Reasoning is a common part of the entire competition exam. This section is your golden goose. The reasoning section contains 50 questions of 50 marks out of 200.
As this section has no practical application in banking jobs. This section is important because it reflects you, your ability to handle situations and the most important thing is how you approach, how you think and handle/ solve the situation in less time.
Tip 1: First understand the basic concepts of different topics.
Tip 2: Identify the topics that scare you most and work hard to get a good hold over them.
Tip 3: Lot of practice is required to excel in this section. Tip 4: our primary focus should be on accuracy because there is negative marking for every wrong answer.
Tip 5: If you are not perfect in reasoning section, take it at last. Remember it is a time-consuming part doesn’t waste your time here if concepts are not clear.
Tip 6: Don’t spend lots of time on a single question.
Tip 7: Identify straightforward thinking questions for high accuracy.
Tip 8: Plan yourself from easy to hard questions.
Tip 9: If your reasoning is perfect, then attempt difficult questions at the same time otherwise not.

Aptitude Section contains 35 questions of 35 marks in IBPS Prelims and 50 questions of 50 marks out of 200.
Quantitative section is the toughest part of IBPS Probationary Officer Preparation. Most of the students are afraid of this part. Aptitude paper design to tests your calculation skills and knowledge of school level mathematics. You should have well prepared for formulas, concepts, properties, shortcuts tricks, etc. to get success in this subject.
Tip 1: This section required practice. More and more practice.
Tip 2: Attempt easy category questions first such as Simplification, Problems on Ages, Percentage, Average, Simple Interest, Profit and Loss, TSD, Ratio & Proportions, etc.
Tip 3: If you do not feel good with this subject, take it at last.
Tip 4: Difficult question category Probability, Quadratic Equations, Mixture and allegations, Time and Work, Time Speed and Distance, and Number Series.
Tip 5: Do not waste most of the time in a few questions while missing out on the rest.

The Computer awareness section is base on your practical knowledge. You should have basic working knowledge of computer, how to use its applications. Computer section includes 20 questions of 20 marks in IBPS Mains exam.
Tip 1: All documents in an order
Tip 2: Revise basics of your subject
Tip 3: Update with Latest news (Read Newspapers on daily basis)
Tip 4: Don’t Panic Stay Calm.
Tip 5: Present your real personality
Tip 6: Try to impress them – Understand your strengths, your weak areas, hobbies and interests, your work experience, etc. before the interview.
Tip 7: Be Practical and Be honest. Follow these IBPS PO exam tips to get success in Interview.

Now the section which has no end, no boundary. This section can prove to be a game changer, it's less time consuming and can be attempted with 100% accuracy. This section needs vast information with daily update.
Tip 1: We need to make a habit of reading newspapers regularly.
Tip 2: Read “The Times of India”, “The Hindu”, “The Telegraph” etc.
Tip 3: You need to keep an eye on what’s happening around you in your country and world as well.
Tip 4: There are many leading magazines that focus on current affairs and
General Knowledge.
Tip 5: These magazines beautifully categorize the articles with its genres to make it interesting to read on. Some of the useful magazines are Banking Service Chronicle, Pratiyogita Darpan, Business Today etc.
Tip 6: Follow news channels at least once a day. Try to go through all the breaking and highlighted news, and make it a habit.
Tip 7: Note down all important news of the day in your note book, learn it and revise it on a next day. This exercise will make you master in GK section.
Tip 8: Try to give priority to areas like Sports, Government Affairs or technology, news on banking sectors, and economic and business news.
Tip 9: Last but not the least follow our Daily GK Updates and
Monthly GK Digest & One Liner GK updates, that will keep you a step ahead.