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The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the Common Recruitment Process for Probationary Officers / Management Trainees in participating public sector banks. It is an officer-level exam with a Preliminary exam, a Main exam, a Personality Test and an Interview.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General / Economy / Banking / Digital / Financial Awareness (including RBI circulars) | 50 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 35 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 170 | 200 | 160 minutes |
| Descriptive Paper (Essay & Comprehension) | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
Note: Each test is separately timed. For each wrong answer in the objective tests, one quarter (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted.
Exam pattern and selection process may vary by recruitment notification. Candidates should check the latest official notification. This pattern is from the IBPS CRP PO/MT-XVI notification (2026, vacancies of 2027-28). Sections, question counts and timings are revised from time to time, so confirm the current pattern on ibps.in before you apply or prepare.
Tap a subject to see its chapters, which stage tests it, a preparation tip and links to practice. The chapter lists are a study breakdown based on the sections named in the notification and on recent papers, not official chapter headings.
Tests logical thinking under time pressure. Puzzles and seating arrangements carry the most weight, especially in the Mains.
Preparation tip: Solve at least two puzzle or seating sets every day and time yourself; speed comes from recognising set types quickly.
Reasoning Ability BITS (50) → Reasoning Ability Exam → Reasoning study material →
Arithmetic, number series, quadratic equations and data interpretation. Calculation speed decides most of the score.
Preparation tip: Memorise squares, cubes and fraction-percentage equivalents, then practise simplification and DI sets daily.
Quantitative Aptitude BITS (103) → Quantitative Aptitude Exam → Quantitative Aptitude formulas & study material →
The PO Mains quantitative section. Most questions come as data sets, so accuracy in reading the data matters as much as calculation.
Preparation tip: Practise mixed and caselet DI under time limits. Arithmetic practice (Quantitative Aptitude bits) builds the base for DI.
Quantitative Aptitude bits (103) → Quantitative Aptitude Exam → Quantitative Aptitude formulas & study material →
Reading comprehension, grammar and vocabulary. Reading comprehension usually carries the largest share of the section.
Preparation tip: Read an editorial every day for comprehension and vocabulary, and revise grammar rules through error-spotting practice.
English Language BITS (23) → English Language Exam → English grammar & vocabulary →
A Mains-only section on banking, the economy and current affairs. It needs no calculation, so good preparation saves time for other sections.
Preparation tip: Revise the last 4–6 months of current affairs together with banking basics (RBI, policy rates, payment systems).
General / Financial / Banking Awareness BITS (100) → General Awareness Mock 1 → Banking Awareness study material →
Study by topic: RBI & monetary policyBanking termsDigital payments (NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, UPI)NABARD, SEBI, NPCI & other institutionsBanking abbreviationsIndian BanksCurrent AffairsCurrent Affairs Quiz
A typed descriptive paper of essay and comprehension taken with the IBPS PO Mains. IBPS says it may be broadly based on economic and social issues, emerging trends in banking and technology, current events and ethics.
Preparation tip: Practise one essay and one comprehension answer a week on banking, economy and current topics, keeping to the time limit.
Working through a full paper is the fastest way to understand the question pattern, topic weightage and difficulty level.
Memory-based reconstructions of the paper held on 23 September 2023 (English 30, Quantitative 35, Reasoning 35). Reproduced for candidates' study and reference; no answer key is published. The data-interpretation sets are flagged as figure-based.
Under the CRP PO/MT-XVI notification the Preliminary exam has 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour: English Language 30 questions (30 marks), Quantitative Aptitude 35 questions (30 marks) and Reasoning Ability 35 questions (40 marks), with 20 minutes for each section. Check the latest IBPS notification for the current pattern.
Reasoning; General / Economy / Banking / Digital / Financial Awareness including RBI circulars; English Language; and Data Analysis and Interpretation — 170 questions for 200 marks in 160 minutes — plus a 25-mark descriptive paper of essay and comprehension.
No. The Preliminary exam is qualifying. Final selection is based on the Main exam and the Interview, as set out in the notification.
Yes. Candidates who qualify in the Main exam take a self-report Personality Test. It is non-qualifying, but taking it is required to be called for the Interview.
CompeteBits has subject-wise banking bits for Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English and General Awareness, free subject mock tests, and the memory-based IBPS PO Prelims 2023 papers.