IBPS PO( Probationary Officer) is one of the most popular banking examinations in India. It’s conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection( IBPS) for retaining Probationary Officers in public sector banks( except SBI).
IBPS PO 2026 Selection process has three stages:
1.Preliminary Exam
2.Main Exam
3.Interview / Personality Test
Stage 1 — Preliminary Examination Section
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 min |
Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer.
Stage 2 — Main Examination
The mains exam has two parts: an objective test and descriptive test.
Objective Test
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 min |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 min |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 min |
| General / Economy / Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 min |
| Total | 155 | 200 | 3 hr 10 min |
Descriptive Test (English)
| Type | Marks | Duration |
| Letter Writing & Essay | 25 | 30 min |
Note: Candidates must qualify in both objective and descriptive papers.
Stage 3 — Interview / Personality Test
-
Qualified candidates from mains are called for interview.
-
Weightage: Mains + Interview decide final selection.
Take Quantitative Aptitude Quiz
IBPS PO 2026 Syllabus — Section-wise
A. Prelims Syllabus
Reasoning Ability
- Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
- Syllogism
- Coding-Decoding
- Inequality
- Alphanumeric Series
- Blood Relations
- Direction & Distance
- Order & Ranking
- Miscellaneous Logical Reasoning
- Logical Reasoning
- Data Sufficiency
- Seating Arrangement
- Tabulation
- Input-Output
Quantitative Aptitude
- Simplification / Approximation
- Number Series
- Profit & Loss
- Ratio & Proportion
- Percentage
- Mixtures & Allegations
- Simple & Compound Interest
- Time & Work / Speed
- Data Interpretation (DI)
- Average
- Mensuration and Geometry
- Quadratic Equation
- Interest
- Problems of Ages
- Number System
- Data Sufficiency
- Linear Equation
- Permutation and Combination
- Probability
English Language
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Para Jumbles
- Error Spotting / Sentence Correction
- Fill in the Blanks
- Vocabularybased Questions
B. Mains Syllabus
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
- Coding and Decoding
- Verbal Reasoning
- Syllogism
- Data Sufficiency
- Ordering and Ranking
- Circular Seating Arrangement
- Ordering and Ranking
- Linear Seating Arrangement
- Code Inequalities
- Scheduling
- Double Lineup
- Blood Relations
- Directions and Distances
- Internet
- Memory
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Computer Fundamentals /Terminologies
- Computer Abbreviation
- Networking
- Computer Software
- Operating System
- Microsoft Office
- Computer Software
Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Tabular DI
- Line/Bar/Caselet DI
- Pie Chart Data
- Data Sufficiency
General / Banking Awareness
- Current Affairs (National & International)
- Banking & Financial Awareness
- RBI / Monetary Policy
- Economy & Budget
- Static GK in Banking Context
- Static Awareness
- Financial Awareness
- General Knowledge
English Language (Mains)
- Reading Comprehension (Higher difficulty)
- Cloze Test
- Error Spotting
- Phrase Replacement
- Para Jumbles
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- One word Substitution
IBPS PO Syllabus PDF
IBPS PO 2026 Topic-Wise Weightage (Prelims)
Reasoning Ability (35 Questions)
| Topic | Weightage (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 15–20 |
| Syllogism | 3–5 |
| Inequality | 3–5 |
| Coding–Decoding | 2–4 |
| Blood Relations | 1–2 |
| Direction Sense | 1–2 |
| Order & Ranking | 1–2 |
| Miscellaneous | 2–3 |
Quantitative Aptitude (35 Questions)
| Topic | Weightage (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Data Interpretation (DI) | 10–15 |
| Simplification / Approximation | 5–7 |
| Number Series | 4–6 |
| Profit & Loss | 2–3 |
| Ratio & Proportion | 2–3 |
| Time & Work | 1–2 |
| Time, Speed & Distance | 1–2 |
| Simple & Compound Interest | 1–2 |
| Mixture & Allegation | 1–2 |
English Language (30 Questions)
| Topic | Weightage (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 8–10 |
| Cloze Test | 5–6 |
| Error Spotting | 5–6 |
| Para Jumbles | 4–5 |
| Fill in the Blanks | 3–4 |
| Vocabulary | 2–3 |
IBPS PO 2026 Main Examination Weightage
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (45 Questions)
| Topic | Weightage (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 18–22 |
| Logical Reasoning | 6–8 |
| Data Sufficiency | 3–5 |
| Input–Output | 3–4 |
| Syllogism | 2–3 |
| Computer Awareness | 5–8 |
Data Analysis & Interpretation (35 Questions)
| Topic | Weightage (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Caselet DI | 8–10 |
| Tabular / Line / Bar DI | 10–12 |
| Pie Chart DI | 5–6 |
| Data Sufficiency | 4–6 |
| Quantity Comparison | 3–4 |
General / Banking Awareness (40 Questions)
| Topic | Weightage (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Current Affairs (Last 6 Months) | 15–18 |
| Banking & Financial Awareness | 15–18 |
| Static GK (Banking-related) | 4–6 |
English Language – Mains (35 Questions)
| Topic | Weightage (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 10–12 |
| Error Detection | 6–8 |
| Cloze Test | 5–6 |
| Para Jumbles | 4–5 |
| Sentence Improvement | 4–5 |
| Vocabulary | 3–4 |
Descriptive Test (25 Marks)
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Essay Writing | 10–15 |
| Letter Writing | 10–15 |
IBPS PO 2026 Preparation Tips
- Focus first on high-weightage topics like Puzzles, DI, RC
- Practice mock tests regularly to improve speed
- Solve previous year papers
- Stay updated on banking current affairs for General Awareness
The IBPS PO exam weightage clearly highlights the importance of high-scoring areas such as Puzzles and Seating Arrangement, Data Interpretation, Reading Comprehension, and Banking & Current Affairs. Candidates should prioritize these topics while maintaining balanced preparation across all sections to clear both sectional and overall cut-offs. Understanding topic-wise weightage helps in effective time management, smart revision, and targeted practice, significantly increasing the chances of success in the IBPS PO examination.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – IBPS PO Syllabus & Exam Pattern
1. What’s the latest IBPS PO syllabus?
Ans. The IBPS PO syllabus includes Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages. The major subjects are logic Capability, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness, Data Analysis & Interpretation, and Descriptive English.
2. Is the IBPS PO syllabus same every time?
Ans. Yes, the core syllabus remains nearly the same every time, but the difficulty position and content weightage may vary depending on the test pattern.
3. What’s the IBPS PO test pattern for Prelims?
Ans. IBPS PO Prelims consists of 100 questions for 100 marks, divided into
English Language – 30 questions
Quantitative Aptitude – 35 questions
logic Capability – 35 questions
The duration is 60 twinkles with sectional timing.
4. What’s the test pattern for IBPS PO Mains?
Ans. IBPS PO Mains has 155 objective questions( 200 marks) and 2 descriptive questions( 25 marks). The total test duration is 3 hours 30 twinkles.
5. Is there negative marking in IBPS PO test?
Ans. Yes, 0.25 marks are subtracted for each wrong answer in both Prelims and Mains objective tests.