IBPS PO Study Plan 2025: Dear candidates! The Institute of Banking Personnel (IBPS) has released the exam dates for the Prelims and Mains exams for the position of Probationary Officers (PO). The IBPS PO prelims exam will be conducted on 4th, 5th, and 11th October, whereas the IBPS Mains Exam is scheduled for 29th November 2025. Now that the exam dates are out, you need to follow a well-designed study plan to cover both the syllabus and set goals and priorities. In this blog, we’ll help you make an effective study plan that will help you create a sense of control by focusing on what’s most important and avoiding wasting time. Plus, it will also be complemented with a free mock test and other free resources. Start by keeping in mind that ‘well begun is half done!’
With the IBPS PO Prelims just months away, it’s the perfect time to step up your preparation. The mock test drill below is ideal for those who haven’t started or need focused preparation. These tests are designed not just for preparation but also for revision. These tests will help you:
| IBPS PO Free Mock Test | Sign Up & Attempt |
| IBPS PO Free Reasoning Topic Test | Sign Up & Attempt |
| IBPS PO Free Quant Topic Test | Sign Up & Attempt |
| IBPS PO Free English Topic Test | Sign Up & Attempt |
| IBPS PO Previous Year Question Paper | Sign Up & Attempt |
| Free 600+ Question PDFs for IBPS PO Prelims Section | Sign Up & Download |
A six-month plan is ideal for serious aspirants aiming for strong foundational and advanced preparation. With smart scheduling and consistent practice, success becomes achievable.
This plan suits candidates who can consistently focus for 90 days. Balancing learning, practice, and revision is key to cracking the exam in this time frame.
Two months of smart, focused study can still lead to success. It demands efficient time use, mock test practice, and daily discipline.
Only a month left? It’s challenging but doable with the right plan. Prioritize speed, accuracy, and focused revision.
Typically, there is only a short gap between IBPS PO Prelims and Mains. Therefore, let’s now discuss the making of a well-detailed schedule that targets both the IBPS PO Prelims and Mains exams. You can either follow the daily study routine given here or modify it based on your preferred study schedule or study style. The 7 to 8 tips mentioned below include preparation tips aligned with a preparation schedule divided into daily time slots.
The Syllabus for the IBPS Prelims and Mains is the same, but their difficulty level is what makes the difference. So, you should first understand the whole syllabus thoroughly before moving forward. The IBPS PO Prelims is worth 100 marks, and the IBPS PO Mains is of 200 marks. Therefore, you should keep in mind the negative marking scheme. Don’t forget that 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer given.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern: The IBPS PO Prelims exam consists of 3 subjects: English Language, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. Take a look at the table below to learn about the total number of questions, marks, and time allotted for the exam.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
| English | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern: The IBPS PO Mains exam consists of 5 subjects. They are English Language, Reasoning, Computer Aptitude, General Awareness, and Quantitative Aptitude. You will have to deal with 2 exams: an objective test followed by a descriptive test.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 minutes |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| English | 35 | 40 | 40 minutes |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 155 | 200 | 180 minutes |
The study routine for the IBPS PO Prelims and Mains exam can be different for each aspirant. You should stick to the routine that suits you best. Below is a sample daily routine that you can make use of to build your own and follow. You can make suitable changes in it as per your requirements.
| Time | Work |
| 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Study Slot 1 [3 hours] |
| 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM | Break |
| 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM | Study Slot 2 [3 hours] |
| 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Break |
| 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM | Study Slot 3 [2 hours] – Revision |
| 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Recall all concepts learned |
| 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM | Practice topic-wise quiz |
| 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM | Sleep |
| 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM | Morning routine [Freshen up] |
Time is precious! So, try to utilize time as best as you can in the allotted study slots. You have 2 slots of study slots per day. So, first, try to cover the topics that seem easy to you. Here are some topics that should be covered first to build the foundation for the exam. As the Prelims exam is in October first week, you have 5 months to prepare for the exam.
Focus on completing the syllabus concepts. Do not ignore any topic that seems important to you. Take the help of the online available resources and the people who guide you. It is never too late to start a new topic. Try to cover the basic concepts associated with the topic. It is necessary to understand the syllabus topic-wise and learn each subject so that it will benefit you in the long run.
Aspirants should try to stick to the study routine during the preparation. Though it is hard to follow the same routine every day, you can try to make yourself sit for at least one slot for study in the entire day. Everyone makes a routine, but very less people follow the same for a longer period. As only a few months are remaining for the IBPS PO Prelims and Mains exam, it becomes necessary to make a study plan and stick to it.
Distribute the topics such that they will be easy to cover. Topic distribution is one of the most essential things an aspirant can do while preparing. Distribute the topics in a way that leads you to cover the syllabus thoroughly. This ensures that you don’t burden yourself with the entire syllabus on the very first day. Therefore, first choose some topics from each subject that you have to cover on a particular day.
Revise the concepts as much as possible. This will help you score better in the mock test. Revision is the most important pillar of preparation. You may have covered the syllabus, but without revising it, you will end up mixing all the learned concepts. So, to avoid this situation, you must revise all the necessary formulas and the methods of solving different types of questions. As you do this regularly, you will benefit in many ways, such as improving your speed and accuracy during the tests.
Practice mock tests topic-wise for each subject. Practicing mocks will give an insight into where you stand in your preparation. Whether you have learned the concepts properly or not. Weekly mock tests will enhance your speed in doing the questions. Time-bound tests will provide you with a clear picture of your All India rank. Make a note of wrong answers and learn the solution to those problems that you have answered incorrectly.
A study plan will give proper direction to your study routine, which will help you cover topics within a few months.
Yes, attempting a few mock tests boosts confidence before the exam.
Your study routine should be divided into some study slots per day, which will help you cover the syllabus in a few weeks.
Yes, with daily practice, you can clear the IBPS PO Prelims and Mains both exams in 4 to 5 months.
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