IBPS PO Revised Exam Pattern 2025: The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has announced significant changes to the Probationary Officer (PO) exam pattern for 2025. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the IBPS PO exam annually to recruit Probationary Officers/Management Trainees (PO/MT) for 11 public sector banks in India. The IBPS PO selection process consists of four stages: Preliminary Exam, Mains, Personality Tests & Interview. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the updated exam pattern, including sectional changes, marking schemes, and preparation tips to boost your preparation according to the latest pattern.
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Introduction to IBPS PO 2025 Exam (Revised)
The IBPS PO exam is a highly competitive recruitment process that consists of four stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, Personality Test and Interview. The Preliminary Exam serves as a screening test and the Mains Exam comprises both objective and descriptive sections. Candidates who qualify in both stages are shortlisted for the Personality test, then the interview round.
IBPS PO 2025 Exam Pattern Highlights
The IBPS PO 2025 exam will be conducted on 17th, 23rd, 24th August 2025 and the Mains will be conducted on 12th October 2025. Before starting the preparation it is important to know the latest pattern for the IBPS PO 2025 exam. Here we are providing the IBPS PO 2025 exam pattern overview in the table below.
| IBPS PO 2025 Exam Pattern Highlights | |
| Organisation | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Posts | Probationary Officer |
| Exam Name | IBPS PO 2025 |
| Category | Syllabus & Exam Pattern |
| IBPS PO Exam Date 2025 | Prelims- 17th, 23rd, 24th August 2025 Mains- 12th October 2025 |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Duration of Exam | Prelims- 60 minutes Mains- 160 minutes |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks |
| Recruitment Stages | Prelims, Mains, and Interview |
| Official website | www.ibps.in |
IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2025 [Revised]
The IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2025 has been revised this year. The selection process contains four stages — Prelims, Mains, Personality Tests and Interview. The Prelims Exam will have three sections: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability, and the Mains Exam contains five sections: English Language, Data Analysis & Interpretation, Reasoning, General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness / Digital/ Financial Awareness including RBI circulars, and Descriptive English. Each section has a sectional timing, and candidates must clear both sectional and overall cut-offs to qualify for the next round.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2025 [Revised]
The Preliminary Examination is an objective test designed to filter candidates for the Main Examination. The updated pattern for 2025 is as follows:
Structure of Prelims
- Total Number of Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 100
- Total Time Allotted: 60 minutes
- Medium of Exam: English and Hindi
- Timing: Each section is separately timed
The Prelims consist of three sections, each with a specific number of questions, marks, and time allocation:
- English Language
- Number of Questions: 30
- Maximum Marks: 30
- Time Allotted: 20 minutes
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Number of Questions: 35
- Maximum Marks: 30
- Time Allotted: 20 minutes
- Reasoning Ability
- Number of Questions: 35
- Maximum Marks: 40
- Time Allotted: 20 minutes
Important Points for IBPS PO Prelims Exam
- Candidates must qualify in each of the three sections by securing the minimum cut-off marks as decided by IBPS.
- The adequate number of candidates in each category, based on cut-off marks determined by IBPS, will be shortlisted for the Mains Examination.
IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2025 [Revised]
The Main Examination is a more important phase that includes both objective and descriptive tests. The revised pattern for 2025 is detailed below:
Structure of Mains
- Total Number of Questions (Objective): 145
- Total Marks (Objective): 200
- Total Time Allotted (Objective): 160 minutes
- Descriptive Paper Marks: 25
- Descriptive Paper Time Allotted: 30 minutes
- Medium of Exam: English and Hindi (except for the English Language and Descriptive Paper, which are in English)
- Timing: Each test is separately timed
The Mains consist of four objective sections and one descriptive section
Reasoning
- Number of Questions: 40
- Maximum Marks: 60
- Time Allotted: 50 minutes
- General Economy/ Banking Awareness/ Digital/ Financial Awareness, including RBI circulars
- Number of Questions: 35
- Maximum Marks: 50
- Time Allotted: 25 minutes
- English Language
- Number of Questions: 35
- Maximum Marks: 40
- Time Allotted: 40 minutes
- Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Number of Questions: 35
- Maximum Marks: 50
- Time Allotted: 45 minutes
- Descriptive Paper (Essay and Comprehension)
- Number of Questions: 02
- Maximum Marks: 25
- Time Allotted: 30 minutes
1. IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2025 for Prelims
The Prelims exam is conducted online and consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The total duration is 60 minutes, with sectional timing for each subject.
| Sr. No. | Name of Tests | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam | Time allotted for each test (Separately timed) |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | English | 20 minutes |
| 2 | Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes |
- Negative Marking: A penalty of 0.25 marks is deducted for each wrong answer. Unanswered questions incur no penalty.
- Qualification Criteria: Candidates must secure both sectional and overall cut-off marks, determined by IBPS based on performance and vacancy requirements.
2. IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2025 For Mains
The Mains exam is the second stage and is more comprehensive and Moderate to difficult level. It includes both objective and descriptive tests, with a total duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes.
| Sr. No. | Name of Tests | No. of Questions | Maximu m Marks | Medium of Exam | Time allotted for each test (Separately timed) |
| 1 | Reasoning | 40 | 60 | English & Hindi | 50 minutes |
| 2 | General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness / Digital/ Financial Awareness including RBI circulars | 35 | 50 | English & Hindi | 25 minutes |
| 3 | English Language | 35 | 40 | English | 40 minutes |
| 4 | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 50 | English & Hindi | 45 minutes |
| TOTAL | 145 | 200 | 160 minutes | ||
| 5 | Descriptive Paper* (Essay and Comprehension) | 02 | 25 | English | 30 minutes |
- The objective test is conducted online and is separately timed for each section.
- The descriptive paper is also conducted online, immediately after the objective test, and is compulsory for candidates who qualify in the objective portion.
- The total duration of the Main Examination, including both objective and descriptive tests, is 3 hours and 30 minutes.
3. Personality Test For IBPS PO
Candidates who qualify in the Main examination will be called for a Personality Test (self-report). Personality profiles of the candidates will be placed before the Interview panel. The Personality Test will be non-qualifying in nature. However, appearing in the Personality Test will be mandatory for being eligible to appear for the Interview process.
4. Interview Stage
Candidates who clear the Mains exam are called for an interview, which carries 100 marks. The interview assesses communication skills, banking knowledge, and overall personality. The minimum qualifying marks are 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PWD candidates). The final merit list is based on the Mains exam (80% weightage) and Interview (20% weightage).
Expert Scenario Analysis for IBPS PO 2025 Prelims & Mains (Revised Pattern)
IBPS PO 2025 Prelims Exam: Revised Pattern & Expected Difficulty
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Expected Difficulty | Expert Observation |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | Same to Slightly Easier | Since marks are reduced (35 Qs → 30 Marks), question selection would be crucial. Expect moderate DI, simplification, number series and arithmetic-heavy sets but with balanced difficulty. As per the trend of previous year papers, we have not seen the difficulty level of this section changing. |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | Higher Difficulty | Reasoning now carries the highest weight. Expect 3-4 sets of puzzles/seating, tough critical reasoning, and new pattern syllogism/inequalities. Increased marks indicate more challenging and time-consuming questions. Selecting Easy & Moderate Questions becomes very important. |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | Moderate | No pattern shift here. Expect 8-10 questions of RC (moderate level), fillers, error spotting, and new pattern word swapping/para jumbles. |
Expert Summary:
In Prelims 2025, Quantitative Aptitude is likely to remain moderate, no drastic difficulty spike expected since marks are trimmed.
Reasoning Ability is expected to be the game-changer this year, with increased marks, IBPS may introduce 2-3 tough puzzle/caselet sets, making time management critical.
English will continue on similar lines as 2024, with a focus on comprehension and grammar.
IBPS PO 2025 Mains Exam: Revised Pattern & Expected Scenario
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Expected Difficulty | Expert Observation |
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 | Tough | Highest weight. Expect 4-5 puzzles (floor, box-based, month-date puzzles), input-output, data sufficiency, and decision making. |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 50 | Moderate to Tough | DI sets (caselet, double pie chart, missing DI) will dominate. 20–25 questions from DI, rest from approximation, quadratic and data sufficiency. |
| General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness / Digital/ Financial Awareness including RBI circulars | 35 | 50 | Moderate | The GA section is tougher this year, comprising 35 questions worth 50 marks. Focus on banking awareness (20 Qs), static (5–8 Qs), and current affairs (last 4-6 months). |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | Moderate | 2 RCs (10–12 Qs), para jumbles, fillers, inference-based and phrase replacement questions. New pattern grammar expected. |
| Essay & Comprehension (Descriptive) | 2 | 25 | Moderate | The Descriptive section is considered moderate to tough as it tests a candidate’s ability to present ideas clearly through an Essay and Comprehension. Topics from banking reforms, financial inclusion, digital economy likely. Letter format knowledge essential. |
Expert Summary:
Reasoning will remain the most difficult section in Mains 2025 with tricky puzzles, critical reasoning, and multi-layered questions.
Data Analysis & Interpretation is likely to be slightly less difficult than Reasoning but will test calculation speed with 3–4 lengthy DI sets.
General Awareness will be moderate, heavily banking and economy-focused.
English remains balanced with RCs and critical grammar-based questions.
Descriptive Writing demands clarity in structure and banking/finance awareness.
Key Takeaways for Aspirants
Prelims 2025: Reasoning will be the make-or-break section due to increased marks and likely tougher puzzles. Quant is expected to stay balanced with a marginal drop in difficulty.
Mains 2025: Reasoning + Data Analysis will jointly test both speed and accuracy. Selection of the right set to attempt will be crucial. The difficulty of these sections is expected to remain on the higher side compared to other sections.
Overall:
- Time management and question selection in Reasoning for both Prelims and Mains is crucial.
- Emphasis on practicing multi-variable puzzles, high-level DI sets, and new pattern English should be your priority.
- Descriptive Paper should not be underestimated, as it often makes a difference in the final merit.
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Also Read
IBPS PO Revised Exam Pattern 2025 FAQ
Yes, IBPS has officially revised the exam pattern for both the Prelims and Mains stages of the IBPS PO 2025 recruitment process.
The marking scheme for Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability has been revised, with Quantitative Aptitude now carrying 30 marks (instead of 35) and Reasoning Ability contain 40 marks (instead of 35). Each section has a fixed 20-minute time limit.
Yes, there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer in the Prelims and Mains exam.
The Mains exam comprises an objective test (200 marks, 145 questions) and a descriptive test (25 marks). Candidates can check detailed pattern in the article below.
The Mains exam lasts 3 hours and 30 minutes, with 3 hours for the objective test and 30 minutes for the descriptive test.
Yes, candidates must clear both sectional and overall cut-offs in the Prelims and Mains exams to qualify for the next stage.
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