The IBPS PO 2025 Prelims exam comes with a new update in the marks distribution. Now, the Reasoning Section carries 40 marks for 35 questions, which means some questions will have more than 1 mark weightage.This gives you a great chance to score 35+ in Reasoning, if you prepare smartly.In this blog we are providing you topic wise strategy and tips to score 35 above in the reasoning section of IBPS PO 2025 Exam.
Yes! With right practice you can score 35 to 37+ in the Reasoning section. The key is:
In the IBPS PO Prelims 2025, the Reasoning section includes 35 questions carrying 40 marks, to be completed in 20 minutes. There’s a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer, and you must clear the sectional cut-off to move forward.
The reasoning syllabus includes a mix of logical and analytical topics. You should focus on mastering topics like Inequality, Syllogism, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Order and Ranking, Alphanumeric Series, Coding-Decoding, Puzzles, Seating Arrangements, and Miscellaneous Reasoning (such as word formation, number pairs, etc.). Among these, puzzles and seating arrangements carry the highest weightage, so daily practice in these areas is a must.
Here we are providing the Quant, Reasoning, and English mock test series. It contains free full-length mock test, Topic tests, Mini Mock Tests, and sectional Mock Tests.
| IBPS PO Quant Tests Series | |
| Quant Topic Tests | Attempt Now |
| Quant Mini mock Tests | Attempt Now |
| Quant Sectional Mock Tests | Attempt Now |
| A Free Full-length Mock Test | Attempt Now |
2. Reasoning Test Series:
| IBPS PO Reasoning Tests Series | |
| Reasoning Topic Tests | Attempt Now |
| Reasoning Mini mock Tests | Attempt Now |
| Reasoning Sectional Mock Tests | Attempt Now |
| A Free Full-length Mock Test | Attempt Now |
3. English Test Series:
| IBPS PO English Tests Series | |
| English Topic Tests | Attempt Now |
| English Mini mock Tests | Attempt Now |
| English Sectional Mock Tests | Attempt Now |
| A Free Full-length Mock Test | Attempt Now |
Let’s break it down topic-by-topic in simple tips:
Inequality
Start with direct inequality problems to understand the basic rules of symbol comparison. Once confident, move to coded inequalities and reverse logic. Practice regularly using short quizzes and try to complete each question within 30 seconds as you progress.
Syllogism
Begin with traditional Venn diagram-based syllogisms to grasp basic logic, then move on to possibility-based and “only a few” type questions. Use diagrams for clarity and avoid guessing.
Blood Relations
Use family trees and symbol representations (+ for male, – for female) to quickly organize relationships. Practice both direct and puzzle-based problems. Repetition is key to improve visualization.
Direction Sense
Draw diagrams for every turn and movement to avoid mistakes. Get comfortable identifying left/right from the subject’s perspective. Mix up practice with basic and complex two-person scenarios.
Order and Ranking
Understand how positions from the top and bottom are calculated and how to find total numbers. Use simple formulas and draw positions when needed. Practice cases where people are removed or added.
Alphanumeric Series
Memorize letter positions (A=1, Z=26) and look for common patterns like alternating letters or fixed gaps. Practice identifying forward and backward sequences quickly. Include symbol-based and number-letter combinations.
Coding-Decoding
Start with letter shifting and number-based coding questions to understand basic logic. Then practice sentence or word-based coding. Try to spot repeating patterns or word-to-letter relationships quickly.
Puzzles
Begin with single-variable puzzles before moving to double-variable ones. Learn to organize data in tables or grids for better clarity. Always note fixed clues first, then use possibilities. Solve at least two puzzles a day to build confidence and familiarity with newer types of logic setups.
Seating Arrangements
Practice both linear and circular seating arrangements daily. Understand direction-based placement (facing in/out) and fix positions step-by-step. Start with easy sets and gradually increase the difficulty level.
Miscellaneous Reasoning
These are quick and scoring questions like word formation, number pairs, meaningful words, etc. Revise these topics regularly as they help you gain easy marks in less time. Practice mixed sets to improve versatility.
1. Target Accuracy First
In the IBPS PO Prelims exam, every mark matters, and negative marking can pull your score down. So instead of aiming to attempt all 35 questions, focus on solving 25–30 with high accuracy. Start with topics like Inequalities, Syllogism, and Direction Sense, as they are generally straightforward and less time-consuming.
2. Practice Puzzles Daily
Puzzles and seating arrangements form the major portion of the reasoning section often 20+ marks. To master them, make it a rule to solve at least 2 puzzles every day: one easy (single-variable) and one moderate (double-variable or conditional). Focus on types like floor-based, box-based, circular, linear, and month-day puzzles.
3. Take Sectional Mock Tests Twice a Week and Analyze Every Mistake
Giving mocks is not enough analyzing them is where the real improvement happens. Attempt at least 2 reasoning-only sectional tests every week under exam-like conditions (set a timer of 20 minutes). After completing the test, spend time checking each mistake and understanding where you went wrong.
4. Maintain a Reasoning Notebook for Rules, Tricks & Formats
Create a special notebook to write down shortcuts, formulas, family trees, and solving methods. For example, draw the blood relation symbols (+ for male, – for female), note common syllogism cases, or write steps for direction-based problems. Keep updating this notebook as you solve new questions.
5. Use Elimination Method in Complex Puzzles and Seating Questions
Sometimes, puzzles or arrangements can feel too confusing. Instead of getting stuck, use the elimination method. Don’t panic if your first arrangement fails just try another logical structure.
6. Set a 20-Minute Timer Daily to Train for Actual Exam Speed
The biggest challenge in reasoning is solving questions within the 20-minute time limit. Train your brain to work under pressure by setting a timer every time you solve a reasoning set. Attempt 35 questions in 20 minutes at least three times a week.
7. Revise Your Weak Topics Every 3–4 Days
Keep track of topics where you often make mistakes, like input-output or coded inequalities. Every 3–4 days, revise those topics. Solve 5–10 extra questions from these areas to gain command. Don’t avoid weak topics—face them regularly so that they no longer become a scoring barrier in the real exam.
8. Stay Calm and Practice with Confidence
Lastly, don’t let reasoning scare you. It’s all about practice and pattern recognition. The more questions you solve, the easier it becomes. Keep your preparation consistent, revise regularly, and trust the process. With daily efforts and mock analysis, scoring 35+ in reasoning is completely possible.
Click the link below to join our exclusive Telegram group for expert guidance, real-time doubt clearing, and personalized tips to boost your banking exam prep.
Also Read:
Understand all types of banking licences in India—Universal Banks, SFBs, Payments Banks, RRBs & more.…
Scared of the vast SSC CGL General Awareness syllabus? Discover the best books to score…
Read The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary to know difficult words with its meanings. We provide monthly…
Preparing for banking exams in 2026? Discover the top 10 most important banking reforms from…
Read the latest current affairs today for banking, SSC & govt exams. Stay updated with…
RBI’s anti-fraud proposals decoded: delays, kill switch, and risks of blunt regulation in India’s fast-growing…