IBPS PO Syllabus

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.

View complete syllabus – subject-wise chapters and topics, preparation tips and practice links for IBPS PO.

IBPS PO Selection Process

1. Preliminary Examination – Online objective test. Qualifying — marks are not counted in the final merit.
2. Main Examination – Online objective test plus a descriptive paper (essay and comprehension).
3. Personality Test – A self-report test for candidates who qualify in the Main exam. It is non-qualifying, but taking it is required to be called for the Interview.
4. Interview – For candidates shortlisted on the Main exam. The Interview carries 100 marks (minimum 40%, 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD), and final merit combines the Main exam and Interview in an 80:20 ratio.

IBPS PO Exam Pattern

Preliminary Examination

Main Examination

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.

Subject-wise Syllabus (Summary)

Reasoning Ability

Prelims & Mains: Tests logical thinking under time pressure. Puzzles and seating arrangements carry the most weight, especially in the Mains.

Quantitative Aptitude

Prelims: Arithmetic, number series, quadratic equations and data interpretation. Calculation speed decides most of the score.

Data Analysis & Interpretation

Mains: The PO Mains quantitative section. Most questions come as data sets, so accuracy in reading the data matters as much as calculation.

English Language

Prelims & Mains: Reading comprehension, grammar and vocabulary. Reading comprehension usually carries the largest share of the section.

General / Financial / Banking Awareness

Mains: A Mains-only section on banking, the economy and current affairs. It needs no calculation, so good preparation saves time for other sections.

Descriptive Paper (Essay & Comprehension)

Mains (descriptive): 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.

Chapter-wise topics for every subject: View complete syllabus

Source: IBPS CRP PO/MT-XVI notification (2026, vacancies of 2027-28). Exam pattern and selection process may vary by recruitment notification. Candidates should check the latest official notification.