IBPS PO Syllabus 2024 and Exam Pattern for Prelims + Mains Exam

The IBPS PO 2024 notification was released to recruit 3,955 Probationary Officers. The selection process includes three stages: Prelims, Mains and Interview. Candidates need to clear each stage to get selected. As the prelims exams was conducted and now the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection has scheduled the IBPS PO Mains Exam 2024 on 30th November 2024. To prepare well, candidates should understand the exam pattern and syllabus for the Mains exam. Knowing the topics in detail will help them perform better in the exam. This article provides all the information about the IBPS PO syllabus and exam pattern for 2024.

IBPS PO Syllabus 2024

The IBPS PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern for 2024 covers subject-wise topics. The preliminary exam comprises English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. Candidates who successfully clear the prelims will progress to the main exam, which includes Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, English Language, Data Analysis & Interpretation, and English Language (Letter Writing & Essay). Additionally, an interview round is conducted. The candidates need to summarize themselves with the syllabus and exam pattern to prepare effectively for the IBPS PO 2024 Exam.

IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus 2024

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, those are:

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

IBPS PO Prelims Reasoning Ability Syllabus:

Here are the topics included in the IBPS PO syllabus Related to Reasoning Ability:

• Seating Arrangements – Circle/Square/Triangle/Linear/ Uncertain number of persons
• Puzzles – Category/Comparison/Designation/Box/Box/Day/Month/Year/Floor & Flat
• Inequalities – Direct and indirect
• Syllogism – Only a few
• Input-Output – Shifting and arranging based
• Data Sufficiency – 2 statements
• Blood Relations – Normal Blood Relation
• Coding Decoding – Chinese coding
• Order and Ranking
• Alpha/numeric/symbol Series
• Distance and Direction
• Miscellaneous – Odd one out, Word pair, Number pair, Number operation

IBPS PO Prelims Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus:

Here are the topics included in the IBPS PO syllabus related to Quantitative Aptitude:

• Simplification and Approximation: BODMAS, Square & Cube, Square & cube root, Indices, fraction, percentage, etc.
• Number Series: Missing Number series, Wrong number series, etc.
• Inequality: Linear equation, Quadratic equation, Quantity comparison (I and II), etc.
• Arithmetic: Ratio and Proportion, Percentage, Number System, HCF and LCM, Average, Age, Partnership, Mixture and Alligation, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Time and Work & wage, Pipe and Cistern, Profit and Loss & Discount, Speed Time Distance, Boat And stream, Train, Mensuration 2D and 3D, Probability, Permutation, and combination, etc.
• Data Interpretation (DI): Table DI, Missing Table DI, Pie chart DI (single and multiple pie chart), Line chart DI (Single and multiple line), Bar chart DI, Mixed DI, Caselet (Simple table-based caselet, Venn diagram based caselet, Arithmetic based caselet) etc.
• Data Sufficiency (DS): Two Statement Data Sufficiency

IBPS PO Prelims English Language Syllabus:

Here are the topics included in the IBPS PO syllabus related to the English Language:

• Cloze Test
• Sentence Correction
• Para Jumbles
• Fill in the Blanks
• Reading Comprehension
• Spotting Errors
• Sentence Improvement
• Para/Sentence Completion
• Sentence Rearrangement
• Column-Based, Spelling Errors
• Word Swap
• Word Rearrangement
• Sentence Based Errors

IBPS PO Mains Syllabus 2024

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 categorized into five sections.

1. Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
2. General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness
3. English Language
4. Data Analysis & Interpretation
5. English Language (Letter Writing & Essay)

The details of the sub-topics of all categories included in the IBPS PO syllabus are provided below:

IBPS PO Mains Reasoning Ability Syllabus:

• Seating Arrangements – Circle/Square/Triangle/Linear/ Uncertain number of persons/Inscribed
• Puzzles – Category/Comparison/Designation/Box/Box/Day/Month/Year/ Coded/Blood relation based/Mixed/Floor & Flat
• Inequalities – Coded
• Syllogism – Reverse/Coded
• Input-Output – Shifting/Arrange/Coded
• Data Sufficiency – 2 statements/3 statements
• Blood Relations – Coded Blood Relation
• Coding Decoding – Coded coding/Binary coding/Clock base coding
• Order and Ranking
• Resultant Series/ Coded Series/ Stepwise series
• Coded Distance and Direction
• Logical Reasoning– Course of Action/ Statement and Assumption/ Statement and Conclusion/Statement and Inference/ Strength of Argument/ Cause and effect

IBPS PO Mains English Language Syllabus:

Here’s the IBPS PO Mains English Language Syllabus presented in a table format:

This table organizes the IBPS PO Mains English Language Syllabus into a clear and concise format, which helps the candidates understand the topics covered in this section of the exam.

IBPS PO Mains Data Analysis & Interpretation Syllabus:

• Number Series: Missing Number series, Wrong number series, wrong number series, Statement and variable based number series etc.
• Inequality: Quadratic equation, Two or Three Quantity comparison, Statement based Quadratic equation etc.
• Arithmetic: (Simple arithmetic question: Distance, Boat And stream, Train, Mensuration 2D and 3D, Probability and Permutation and combination, etc.
• Data Interpretation (DI): The following type of data interpretation can be asked in the exam.
• (i) Table Data Interpretation: Simple table DI, Missing Table DI, Variable based table DI with including notes below, etc.
• (ii) Pie chart Data Interpretation: Percentage and Degree distribution-based pie chart DI, Missing pie chart DI including notes below and Variable based pie chart DI including notes below, etc.
• (iii) Line chart Data Interpretation: Single and Multiple line chart DI, Line chart DI with variable and including notes below, etc.
• (iv) Bar chart Data Interpretation: Single and Multiple bar chart DI, Bar chart DI with variable and including notes below, etc.
• (v) Mixed chart Data Interpretation: Including multiple charts and information (Pie + (Table, Line + Table, Bar + Table, Pie + Caselet) including notes below, etc.
• (vi) Caselet: Table-based caselet, Venn diagram-based caselet, Arithmetic and Filler-based caselet including notes below, etc.
• (vii) Radar Data Interpretation: trigonal, Pentagonal, Hexagonal etc.
• (viii) Arithmetic topic-wise Data Interpretation: DI asked on Arithmetic topics i.e., Time and work, Profit and Loss, probability, Simple and compound interest etc. on various charts.
• (ix) New pattern Data Interpretation: Scatter, Stock, Funnel, Sunburst etc.
• Data Sufficiency: Two Statement and Three statements of data Sufficiency.

IBPS PO Mains General/Economy/Banking Awareness Syllabus:

• National Current Affairs
• International Current Affairs
• State Current Affairs
• Sports News
• Central Government Schemes, Agreements/MoU
• Books & Authors
• Summits & Conferences
• Defense News
• Science & Technology News
• Banking and Financial Awareness
• Static Awareness
• Recent RBI Circulars-Based Questions
• Business & Economy Related News
• Important Days
• Obituaries
• Important Appointments
• Important Awards & Honours
• Union Budget
• Economic Survey
• Ranks/Reports/Indexes

IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2024

The IBPS PO exam attracts a significant number of banking aspirants each year. To excel in this competitive examination, candidates must meticulously review the IBPS PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern to formulate an effective preparation strategy. Candidates who are well-versed with the syllabus and exam pattern have demonstrated better preparation compared to their counterparts. Aligning one’s preparation with the IBPS PO Syllabus provides a clear roadmap for success.

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2024

The first phase of the IBPS PO 2024 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 2024

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 2024 selection process.

• The IBPS PO Mains Exam consists of four sections, and an additional section for the English Language, which will be conducted separately on the same exam date.
• In the Mains exam, the question paper will consist of both objective and subjective 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 letter, 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 Process 2024

The IBPS PO Interview does not have a specific topic to cover. However, it is recommended to concentrate on general knowledge, current affairs, and key finance-related subjects while preparing for the Probationary Officer Interview.

The interview carries a weightage of 100 marks, and a minimum score of 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PWD) is required to qualify for this phase. The final result is determined by the marks obtained in both the Interview and Main exam, with a weightage ratio of 20:80 respectively.

IBPS PO 2024 Selection Process

The IBPS PO Exam is conducted in three different stages as mentioned below:

1. IBPS PO Prelims Exam
2. IBPS PO Mains Exam
3. IBPS PO Interview

To be eligible for the interview stage, each candidate must achieve a minimum score in both the Prelims and Mains exams. The candidates who pass the main examination will be called for the interview round if they clear the IBPS PO Cut-Off for mains. It is to be noted that for the final selection, the marks in Interview and Mains are considered. 

How to Prepare for IBPS PO Descriptive Test?

To prepare for the IBPS PO Descriptive Test, start by understanding the test format and reviewing the syllabus. Look at previous year papers to see what kinds of questions are asked. Practice writing essays, letters and summaries often to get better at these skills. Candidates should work on their vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure to make the writing clear and effective. Try writing about different topics to build the flexibility and creativity. Candidates should make sure to manage the time well during practice to get used to writing within the test time limits. By following these steps, candidates can enhance their writing skills and do well in the test.