IBPS PO Syllabus 2025 and Exam Pattern Revised for Prelims and Mains Exams

The IBPS PO Syllabus 2025 and Exam Pattern have been revised for both Prelims and Mains exams, providing candidates with updated guidelines for preparation. With the admit card for the Preliminary exam now released, aspirants must familiarise themselves with the latest subject-wise topics, marking scheme and time allocation, and finalise their preparation to maximise their performance.

IBPS PO Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2025

The IBPS PO 2025 recruitment process will take place in three stages: Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview, as outlined in the latest syllabus and exam pattern. The Prelims is a qualifying round designed to assess speed and accuracy in English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. Those who qualify will proceed to the Mains, which covers a broader range of topics such as Data Interpretation, General Awareness, and Descriptive Writing, along with other advanced sections to test in-depth knowledge and analytical skills.

IBPS PO Syllabus 2025

In the IBPS PO 2025 Preliminary Exam, candidates are tested on core areas like English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability to assess their speed and accuracy. The Mains Exam goes beyond the basics, with a comprehensive evaluation that includes Data Interpretation & Analysis, Descriptive English writing, and topics covering General, Banking, Economic, and Financial Awareness, along with questions focused on current digital developments in the banking industry.

IBPS Probationary Officer Syllabus

The IBPS PO 2025 exam consists of two major written stages, Prelims and Mains, each designed to test different skill sets. Candidates must understand the structure and subjects covered in both stages to prepare efficiently.

IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus 2025

The syllabus is an essential tool for candidates to prepare. Along with the IBPS PO Syllabus, candidates should practice questions through the IBPS PO Previous Year Question Papers, which will provide an insight into the exam pattern. Questions in the IBPS PO Prelims exam will be asked from three sections, which are:

1. English Language
2. Quantitative Aptitude
3. Reasoning Ability

IBPS PO Mains Syllabus 2025

Candidates who will be able to achieve the cutoff marks of the IBPS PO prelims exam will qualify for the Mains exam. The syllabus of the IBPS PO Mains exam is mentioned below.

IBPS PO Interview Process

The IBPS PO Interview is the final stage of the recruitment process after successfully clearing the Mains exam. It is conducted to assess a candidate’s overall suitability for the role, including personality traits, communication skills, confidence level, and awareness of the banking industry. Performance in this stage plays a crucial role in the final selection, as it is combined with the Mains score to prepare the merit list.

Key Details of IBPS PO Interview:

• Conducted after qualifying the Mains exam.
• Focuses on personality, communication skills, confidence, and banking knowledge.
• Total marks: 100.
• Minimum qualifying marks: 40% (General), 35% (SC/ST/OBC/PwD).
• Final selection based on Mains and Interview scores in an 80:20 ratio.
• Merit list prepared from the combined score for final appointment as a Probationary Officer.

IBPS PO 2025 Preparation Strategy for Prelims & Mains

Cracking the IBPS PO 2025 exam requires a well-planned and targeted study approach for both the Preliminary and Mains stages. The Prelims focuses on speed and accuracy in English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability, while the Mains demands a broader knowledge base with the inclusion of General Awareness, Data Interpretation, and Descriptive Writing. Consistency, practice, and smart time management are key to success.

Preparation Tips for IBPS PO 2025:

• Understand the latest syllabus and exam pattern for both Prelims and Mains.
• Strengthen fundamentals in English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning for Prelims.
• Focus on Data Interpretation, Banking Awareness, and Essay/Letter Writing for Mains.
• Attempt regular mock tests to improve accuracy and time management.
• Revise high-weightage topics more frequently for better retention.
• Stay updated with current affairs, especially related to banking and the economy.
• Analyse previous year’s papers to understand question trends.

IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2025 (Revised)

Candidates who are preparing for the IBPS PO Exam 2025 should check the IBPS PO revised exam pattern, which will help them to know how the exam is structured and the types of questions asked. The tables below show a quick overview of the IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2025 for each stage in detail.

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2025

The first phase of the IBPS PO 2025 exam is prelims, which serve as a screening round.

• The Prelims stage of the IBPS PO consists of three sections and has a total duration of 1 hour.
• A total of 100 multiple-choice questions in the Prelims exam for a maximum of 100 marks.
• There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
• Candidates must meet the minimum cut-off marks set by IBPS in all the tests to qualify.

IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2025

Candidates who qualify for the prelims round will become eligible to sit for the mains exam, which is the second phase of the IBPS PO 2025 selection process.

• The IBPS PO Mains Exam consists of four sections and an additional section for the descriptive test, which will be conducted separately on the same exam date.
• In the Mains exam, the question paper will consist of both objective and descriptive types, valuing 200 marks and 25 marks, respectively.
• There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
• Each section will have a designated time limit, similar to the IBPS PO Prelims Exam.
• Candidates must pass each test/section individually to succeed in the IBPS PO Mains Exam.

Introduction of Descriptive Test: 25 Marks

In the IBPS PO Mains Exam, IBPS has introduced a descriptive test worth 25 marks. This test requires candidates to write an essay and a comprehension, carrying 25 marks. The English Language Paper is designed to evaluate candidates’ writing skills, and it is necessary to pass this paper by getting a minimum cut-off mark.

IBPS PO Interview 2025

Below are some important points about the IBPS PO Interview. Candidates must read them carefully.

• The IBPS PO Interview does not have a fixed syllabus. However, candidates should be well prepared with current affairs general awareness and basic financial knowledge to do well in the interview.
• The interview is scored out of 100 marks. General category candidates must get at least 40 marks to pass, while SC, ST, OBC and PWD category candidates need a minimum of 35 marks.
• Final selection is done by combining the scores of the IBPS PO Mains and the Interview. The Mains exam carries 80 percent weightage while the Interview has 20 percent.
• During the interview, panel members may ask questions about your education, your past work experience, if any and your reason for choosing banking as a career.
• They may also check your understanding of important banking rules, recent economic trends, the financial market and the role of the Reserve Bank of India.
• To score high, candidates must show good communication skills, clear thinking and confidence while answering the questions.
• The panel might also ask situational or behavioural questions to test how well you can make decisions and solve problems.
• It is important to stay updated with recent changes in the banking sector such as digital banking, financial inclusion and government schemes.
• The interview panel usually includes senior officials and banking experts who judge you based on your personality, knowledge and whether you are fit for the role of a Probationary Officer.
• Practicing with mock interviews can help improve how you present yourself and also teach you how to stay calm under pressure.

IBPS PO Syllabus Weightage (Topic-wise)

To prepare for the IBPS PO 2025 exam, candidates must focus on high-weightage topics from each section. Here is a brief overview of the most important topics based on previous exam trends:

IBPS PO Prelims Important Topics

• English Language: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Error Spotting, Word Swap, Phrase Replacement
• Quantitative Aptitude: Simplification, Quadratic equation, Number/Wrong Series, Data Interpretation, Arithmetic
• Reasoning Ability: Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Direction and distance, Blood Relations

IBPS PO Mains Important Topics

• Reasoning & Computer Aptitude: Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Logical Reasoning, Input-Output, Coding-Decoding, Computer Basics
• Data Analysis & Interpretation: Caselet DI, Table DI, Pie Charts, Bar Graphs, Arithmetic DI, Number Series, Arithmetic, Data Sufficiency
• General/Economic Awareness: Current Affairs, Banking & Financial Awareness, Static GK, Sports, Regulatory Bodies/Banking, Scheme, Science and Technology
• English Language: Reading Comprehension (Different type), Cloze Test, Error, Word Swap, Fillers, Miscellaneous

IBPS PO 2025 Selection Process

The recruitment process for IBPS Probationary Officers (PO) is done in three main stages. Candidates must qualify each stage to move to the next one.

Preliminary Exam (Prelims)

• Type: Objective Test
• Total Marks: 100
• Purpose: This is a screening test.
• Only those who qualify can appear for the Mains exam.
• Marks are not added to the final selection.

Main Exam (Mains)

• Type: Objective + Descriptive Test
• Total Marks: 225
• Objective: 200 Marks
• Descriptive (Letter & Essay): 25 Marks
• Purpose: Marks are added to the final merit list.
• Focus on deep understanding and writing skills.

Interview

• Conducted for candidates who clear the Mains exam.
• Purpose: To test your personality, communication and banking awareness.
• Minimum qualifying marks are set by IBPS.
• Final merit is calculated based on Mains + Interview scores.

Final Selection

• Based on performance in Mains (80%) + Interview (20%).
• Candidates are provisionally allotted to banks as per merit and preference.

Preparation Strategy for IBPS PO Prelims 2025

Understand the Sectional Breakup: Focus on all three sections—English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. Identify your strong and weak areas early in the preparation.

Daily Practice with Timed Quizzes: Allocate specific time slots for each section and practice using sectional and full-length mock tests to improve speed and accuracy under pressure.

Target High-Scoring Topics First: In Reasoning, focus on puzzles and seating arrangements; in Quant, give importance to simplification, number series, and data interpretation; in English, practice reading comprehension and error spotting regularly.

Revise Shortcuts and Tricks: For Quant and Reasoning, revise quick calculation methods, Venn diagram shortcuts, and formula-based problems to boost problem-solving efficiency.

Analyze Mock Tests Closely: After each mock test, analyze your mistakes and reattempt weak sections. This will help build a clear exam-day strategy and improve time management.