The IBPS PO exam is one of the most competitive banking exams in India, attracting lakhs of aspirants every year. To crack it in just 45 days, you need a smart strategy, consistent practice, and complete awareness of the latest exam pattern and syllabus. This guide will help you craft a focused 45-day preparation plan so you can tackle the Prelims Exam with confidence and secure your place as a Probationary Officer.
Crack IBPS PO Exam in 45 Days
As you all know, it is clearly mentioned in the IBPS PO Notification 2025 that the exam pattern has witnessed a major change. One of the most noticeable changes is the increased importance given to the Reasoning section, which now holds a greater weightage compared to previous years.
Check Out the Latest Detailed Exam Pattern
Go through the detailed latest exam pattern of the IBPS PO Preliminary Examination 2025 to understand the structure and marking scheme. The prelims consist of three objective tests English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. The IBPS PO Preliminary Exam consists of a total of 100 questions carrying 100 marks. Each section is separately timed for 20 minutes, making the total duration 60 minutes.
With the latest exam pattern this year, the Reasoning section carries the highest weightage with 40 marks, while English and Quantitative Aptitude have 30 marks each.
Attempt a Previous Year Paper to Gauge the Difficulty
Before starting your full-fledged preparation, it is highly recommended to attempt at least one previous year paper (PYP) under real exam conditions. This practice will give you a clear understanding of the actual difficulty level and the time pressure experienced during the exam. It will also help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, along with highlighting the topics that are frequently repeated. Make sure to note down the areas where you struggled and prioritize them in your study plan for focused improvement.
Build Strong Fundamentals of All Subjects
In the 45-day crash course for IBPS PO, your success will largely depend on how well you understand the basic concepts of each topic. You don’t have the luxury of trial and error in the exam, so before you dive into mock tests or advanced-level questions, it is important to develop a strong conceptual base. Here’s how you can build the basics topic-wise:
Quantitative Aptitude – Strengthen Speed & Accuracy
Quant is a high-scoring yet time-consuming section. Building fundamentals here means mastering concepts and developing speed with short tricks and logical approaches.
Speed Maths: Learn tables up to 30, squares up to 50, cubes up to 20, and percentage-to-fraction conversions (e.g., 33.33% = 1/3). These are essential for faster calculation in DI and arithmetic.
Percentages & Ratios: These are the base for Profit & Loss, SI/CI, Time & Work, and DI questions. Understand how to use percentages quickly in comparison, increase/decrease, and net effect problems.
Simplification & Approximation: Practice BODMAS, square roots, cube roots, and basic approximations using Vedic math tricks. These help in saving time and improving accuracy in Prelims.
Data Interpretation (DI): Start with basic tabular and bar graph DI sets. Focus on interpretation skills reading data quickly and applying average, percentage, and ratio-based calculations without errors.
Basic Arithmetic Topics: Work on foundational chapters like Time & Work, Time & Distance, Mixtures, Averages, and Simple Interest. Use examples and short formulas for better grasp.
Reasoning Ability – Build Logical Thinking First
Reasoning tests your ability to solve problems quickly and accurately. Before diving into tricky puzzles, make sure your logical fundamentals are solid.
Puzzle Basics: Start with simple linear and circular arrangements before moving to complex mixed puzzles. Understand common patterns like immediate neighbors, left-right placement, and dual-row sitting.
Syllogism: Learn traditional and Venn diagram-based approaches. Know how to tackle “All,” “Some,” and “No” type statements, and identify conclusions that logically follow.
Inequality: Practice coded and mathematical inequality questions. Understand how to break symbols (>, <, ≥, ≤) and how to draw direct conclusions from given statements.
Blood Relations & Direction Sense: Begin with drawing family trees and direction charts. Use diagrammatic methods to easily solve these problems in under 30 seconds.
Coding-Decoding & Series: Understand letter shifting, ASCII logic, and number-letter patterns. Practice both old and new pattern-based questions.
English Language – Focus on Core Grammar & Comprehension
Many candidates struggle with English due to lack of grammar clarity or limited vocabulary. But with the right basics, you can make this your scoring section.
Grammar Rules: Brush up on tenses, subject-verb agreement, articles, prepositions, and modifiers. Use resources like Wren & Martin or trusted online grammar modules.
Vocabulary: Learn 5–10 new words daily, including their meanings, synonyms, antonyms, and usage. Focus on words frequently asked in banking exams.
Reading Comprehension (RC): Start reading editorial articles from The Hindu or Indian Express. Practice RC sets to improve inference-based understanding and reduce reading time.
Cloze Test & Sentence Completion: Understand the context of the passage and improve your grammar and word choice. Focus on sentence flow and word tone.
Error Spotting & Sentence Improvement: Practice sentence correction based on grammar and structure. Learn how to spot awkward or ungrammatical phrases.
Practice Previous Year Papers (PYPs) Regularly
Solving Previous Year Papers (PYPs) is one of the most effective ways to boost your preparation. These papers not only help you understand the actual exam difficulty and question patterns, but also train you to manage time efficiently in the real exam environment.
Attempt PYPs Strategically Over 45 Days: Plan to solve at least 2-3 PYPs per week, gradually increasing the frequency as your preparation progresses. Use a real exam setup with a timer and avoid distractions to simulate the actual test experience. This will help improve your speed, accuracy, and question selection skills.
Create a 45-Day Smart Study Plan
A well-structured and time-bound study plan is crucial to track your daily progress and stay exam-ready. In these 45 days, you must balance concept-building, regular practice, and smart revision. Here’s how you can systematically approach your preparation.
Days 1 to 15: Build Your Foundation: Focus on building a strong base in all three Prelims subjects Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, and English Language. During this phase, cover fundamental concepts and practice questions topic by topic. Allocate time each day to work on formulas, grammar rules, and puzzle techniques. Alongside theory, start attempting one sectional mock every three days to test your conceptual understanding and improve time management.
Days 16 to 30: Practice, Analyze, and Upgrade: Once you are comfortable with the basics, shift to mixed practice across topics. This phase should focus on improving your speed and precision. Start introducing Mains-level questions particularly Data Interpretation, High-Level Puzzles, and Advanced RCs. Begin attempting one full-length mock test every two days and dedicate ample time to analyzing your mistakes and revising weak areas. Keep refining your approach and focus more on question selection and time allocation.
Days 31 to 40: Simulate the Real Exam: Now, intensify your preparation with full-length Prelims mocks every alternate day to simulate actual exam conditions. Evaluate your performance with every test, and identify patterns in mistakes. This is also the best time to start Descriptive Writing Practice learn proper formats for essay and letter writing. Don’t forget to revise General Awareness and Banking Awareness daily, including last 4–5 months of current affairs, RBI updates, and financial news highlights.
Days 41 to 45: Final Touch and Confidence Boost: Use these last five days for intense revision and mock analysis. Go through your error logs, mock summaries, short notes, and unattempted questions. Focus more on consolidating what you have learned rather than starting anything new. Attempt 2–3 full-length mocks in this period to maintain exam rhythm. Most importantly, stay calm, positive, and confident trust your preparation and keep your mind clear for the exam day.
Take Regular Mock Tests
Mock tests help you simulate real exam pressure and improve time management. Start with sectional tests, then move to full-length mocks. Use trusted platforms like Adda247 with Test Prime that follow the latest IBPS PO pattern. Stick to a routine start with 2–3 mocks/week and gradually increase.
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