IBPS PO Syllabus 2025 PDF Download, Know Exam Pattern for Prelims and Mains

The IBPS PO Syllabus 2025 has been released by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). The IBPS PO selection process includes various stages: Prelims, Mains, Personality Test, and Interview. To begin your preparation, it is very important to understand the latest syllabus and exam pattern before giving your exam preparation a go. The prelims exam was successfully conducted, and now it’s time to prepare for the mains exam, as hardly 48 days left. In this article, we have provided the complete revised exam pattern and syllabus for the IBPS PO prelims and mains. Candidates can find a detailed, section-wise syllabus for both the Prelims and Mains in the article below, along with the IBPS PO Syllabus PDF.

IBPS PO Syllabus

The IBPS has released the IBPS PO Syllabus 2025 and Exam Pattern for the IBPS PO Exam, and in this article, we are providing the updated exam pattern or syllabus for the IBPS PO 2025 Exam. There is a sectional timing for each section of the preliminary examination. There are four stages for the selection of the IBPS PO 2025 Exam: the preliminary exam, the mains exam, the personality test and the interview process. To be considered for selection for the position of Probationary Officer in various Public Sector Banks, a candidate must pass all exam levels.

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IBPS Probationary Officer Syllabus 2025: Overview

The IBPS Official Notification provides the IBPS PO 2025 section-wise Syllabus. Here we are providing the IBPS Probationary Officer Syllabus detailed overview in the table below. Candidates can see all the highlights here.

IBPS PO Selection Process

Candidates looking for the IBPS PO MT 2025 Notification details must also check out the complete selection process to get the final selection as IBPS PO. The IBPS PO Selection process consists of 3 phases, which are given below.

• Prelims
• Mains
• Interview

IBPS PO is one of the well-known exams, and now that its notification is out, one must not wait to start its preparation. Start preparing for the examination with the help of mock tests

IBPS PO Exam Pattern Changes 2025

The IBPS PO Exam Pattern Changes for 2025 are given below in clear pointers:

IBPS PO Prelims New Exam Pattern 2025

• Sections & Question Count remain the same: English (30 Qs/30 marks), Quantitative Aptitude (35 Qs), Reasoning Ability (35 Qs).
• Marking scheme adjustments:
  • Quant now carries 30 marks (down from 35)
  • Reasoning now carries 40 marks (up from 30)
• Time per section: 20 minutes each (total 60 minutes).
• Negative marking: –0.25 per wrong answer.

IBPS PO Mains New Exam Pattern 2025 (Objective & Descriptive Paper)

After the prelims examination, it is now time for mains preparation. There are changes in the mains exam pattern. Now, the number of questions has been dropped from 155 to 145, and the time has also been reduced from 180 minutes to 160 minutes. Hardly 48 days are left, and to complete the vast syllabus of IBPS PO Mains, you need to strategise your preparation. Below we have given a detailed mains pattern and syllabus for your reference.

Objective Test (Total: 145 Qs, 200 marks, 160 minutes)

• Reasoning & Computer Aptitude: 40 Qs, 60 marks, 50 minutes (computer aptitude merged with reasoning).
• General/Economy/Banking/Digital/Financial Awareness: 35 Qs, 50 marks, 25 minutes (expanded syllabus includes RBI circulars & digital/financial awareness).
• English Language: 35 Qs, 40 marks, 40 minutes.
• Data Analysis & Interpretation: 35 Qs, 50 marks, 45 minutes – reduced from 60 marks earlier.

Total reduction: Questions dropped from 155 to 145; time reduced from 180 to 160 minutes.

Descriptive Paper

• Format: Essay & Letter Writing
• Length: 2 tasks, 25 marks total, 30 minutes allotted

Key Highlights at a Glance

What this Means for Students

Prelims:
Since reasoning now has more weight, focus more on puzzles, seating arrangements, syllogisms, and basic logical reasoning. These topics can help you score well quickly if you’re accurate.

Mains :
Each section has a fixed time, so practice with a timer. Focus more on General Awareness, especially current updates related to RBI, banking, and fintech.

Descriptive Paper:
This tests your writing. Practice writing formal letters (around 150 words) and structured essays (around 250 words) to improve speed and clarity.

Total Time in Mains:
You now get 190 minutes in total 160 minutes for objective and 30 minutes for descriptive, which is 20 minutes less than before.

Penalty for Wrong Answers:

There will be a penalty for wrong answers marked in the Objective Tests. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate one fourth or 0.25 of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as a penalty to arrive at the corrected score. If a question is left blank, i.e., no answer is marked by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question.

IBPS PO Exam Pattern for Prelims

The IBPS PO Prelims 2025 will consist of three sections: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. Each section is separately timed for 20 minutes with a total exam duration of 60 minutes. Notably, Reasoning carries 40 marks for 35 questions, increasing its weightage compared to the previous pattern. Candidates must qualify in each section by securing sectional cut-offs to move to the Mains stage.

IBPS PO Exam Pattern for Mains

The IBPS PO Mains 2025 consists of four objective sections — Reasoning, General/Banking Awareness, English Language, and Data Analysis & Interpretation — followed by a Descriptive Paper. Each section is separately timed, and the total marks for the objective paper are 200, while the descriptive paper carries 25 marks. Reasoning has the highest weightage of 60 marks, and candidates must perform well across all sections, including essay and letter writing in the descriptive part.

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

• Conducted by: Participating banks
• Marks: 100
• Qualifying Marks: 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD)
• Weightage in Final Score:
  • Mains (Objective + Descriptive): 80%
  • Interview: 20%

Final Selection for IBPS PO 2025

The final selection is based on:

• Mains exam score (80% weightage)
• Interview score (20% weightage)

• Based on the combined marks of the Mains + Interview.
• Prelims marks are not counted in the final merit list (only qualifying).

IBPS PO Syllabus 2025 for Prelims and Mains

The IBPS Officer Scale 1 syllabus 2025 is an important factor to start the upcoming exam preparation. The IBPS Probationary Officer recruitment process is divided into four stages: Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, Personality Test and Interview. The preliminary exam includes sections on English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability. The mains exam is more comprehensive, consisting of descriptive tests for Reasoning, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, English Language, and Data Analysis and Interpretation, as well as Essay and Letter Writing. Candidates can check the section-wise syllabus in the article below.

IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus 2025

The IBPS PO Preliminary Exam is the primary selection round of the IBPS PO Exam. To move to the mains round of the IBPS PO selection process, candidates must clear the primary round, which is the IBPS PO Preliminary Exam. As per the official IBPS Calendar, IBPS PO 2025 Prelims Exam was held on the 17th, 23rd, and 24th August 2025. In this article, we have provided a detailed IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus 2025. Candidates are advised to go through the article very carefully. The Prelims Exam consists of three Sections: English language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. Here we are providing the IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus with subtopics.

IBPS PO Mains Syllabus 2025

Those candidates who cleared the primary round (Preliminary Round) move to the second round of the selection process of the IBPS PO Exam. The IBPS PO Mains Exam is the second round of the IBPS PO selection process. The IBPS PO mains syllabus 2025 consists of four sections: Reasoning, General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness / Digital/ Financial Awareness, including RBI circulars, English Language, and Data Analysis & Interpretation. There is an additional section of the English Language exam, which is a Descriptive Paper* (Essay and Comprehension), that will be taken separately on the same date as the mains exam. Here we are sharing the detailed IBPS PO/MT syllabus 2025 for the mains exam.

IBPS PO Mains Descriptive Paper (Essay and Comprehension) Syllabus 2025

The IBPS PO Descriptive Paper is part of the Main Exam and includes Essay Writing and Letter Writing, designed to assess your written communication skills, clarity of thought, and grammatical accuracy.

IBPS PO Mains Descriptive Paper Syllabus

IBPS PO Interview 2025

After clearing the IBPS PO Mains Examination, candidates are shortlisted for the final stage of selection – the Personal Interview, which carries 100 marks. The interview round is crucial as it evaluates a candidate’s personality, communication skills, banking awareness, confidence, and clarity of thought.

IBPS PO Interview Topics

Here is the list of topics on which the interview can be conducted. The interview will be conducted after Mains exam.

• Personal Details/Educational Details
• Banking Awareness
• Current Affairs
• About IBPS & Role of PO
• About the Bank preference
• Current Economic Scenario
• HR/General Questions

IBPS PO Interview Process 2025

Candidates who have been shortlisted in the Online Main examination for CRP- PO/MT-XIV will subsequently be called for an Interview to be conducted by the Participating Banks and coordinated by the Nodal Bank in each State/ UT/ Region with the help of IBPS.

• Interviews will be conducted at select centres. The centre, address of the venue, time & date of the Interview will be informed to the shortlisted candidates in the call letter.
• Candidates are required to download their interview call letters from the authorised IBPS website www.ibps.in. Please note that any request regarding a change in date, centre, etc., of the interview will not be entertained. However, IBPS reserves the right to change the date/ venue/ time/ centre, etc. of the interview or hold a supplementary process for a particular date/session/venue/centre/set of candidates at its discretion, under unforeseen circumstances, if any.

• The total marks allotted for the Interview are 100. The minimum qualifying marks in the interview will not be less than 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PWBD candidates).
• The weightage (ratio) of the Online Main Exam and interview will be 80:20, respectively.
• The combined final score of candidates shall be arrived at on the basis of scores obtained by the candidates in the Online Main Examination of CRP-PO/MT-XIV and Interview.
• Interview scores of the candidates failing to secure minimum qualifying marks or otherwise barred from the interview or further process shall not be disclosed.
• A candidate should qualify both in the Online Main Exam and interview and be sufficiently high in the merit to be shortlisted for the subsequent provisional allotment process, details of which will be made available subsequently on the authorised IBPS website www.ibps.in

IBPS PO Syllabus 2025 PDF Download

The IBPS PO Syllabus 2025 PDF provides a detailed outline of topics for the Prelims and Mains examinations. It covers sections like Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, English Language, and General Awareness. Candidates can get the official IBPS PO Syllabus 2025 PDF Download to plan their preparation effectively.

Must Do Topics for IBPS PO Exam

Here is a list of must-do topics in the table given below-

Best Books to Cover the IBPS Probationary Officer Syllabus 2025

To cover all topics for the IBPS PO 2025 Syllabus, like: Prelims – Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, English Language; Mains – General/Economy/Banking Awareness, Data Analysis & Interpretation, Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, English Language, and Descriptive Writing. Start with basics, practice daily, revise regularly, and take full-length mocks for a real-time exam experience.

Best Books for IBPS PO Preparation:

1. Quantitative Aptitude:

• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal
  
• Data Interpretation & Data Analysis by Arun Sharma
  

2. Reasoning & Computer Aptitude:

• A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal
  

3. English Language:

• Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi
  

4. General/Economy/Banking Awareness:

• Banking Awareness by Arihant Experts

5. Descriptive Writing:

• Descriptive English by S.C. Gupta & R.K. Gupta
  
• Practice essays and letters from recent exam topics

IBPS PO Syllabus Subject-wise Preparation Tips

Subject-wise preparation tips for IBPS PO Exam are given below

English Language
1. Read newspapers and magazines daily to boost your vocabulary and comprehension skills.
2. Practice timed reading comprehension exercises regularly.
3. Understand essential grammar rules along with their exceptions.
4. Build a personal list of newly learned vocabulary.
5. Do daily exercises on spotting grammatical errors in sentences.

Reasoning Ability
1. Begin with basic topics like coding-decoding before moving to advanced puzzles.
2. Aim to solve 5 puzzles and seating arrangement sets each day.
3. Use diagrams for direction sense and blood relation questions.
4. Time yourself while attempting reasoning problems for better speed.
5. Learn quick methods for solving syllogisms and inequality-based questions.

Quantitative Aptitude
1. Grasp key formulas and learn time-saving calculation tricks.
2. Enhance mental math abilities for quicker problem-solving.
3. Focus on data interpretation involving various charts and tables.
4. Target solving 20–30 quantitative questions every day.
5. Memorize multiplication tables, squares, cubes, and percentage values.

General/Banking Awareness
1. Read financial dailies like Economic Times or Financial Express.
2. Write short notes on key banking updates and review them weekly.
3. Stay updated with RBI releases and changes in banking rules.
4. Get familiar with major government financial schemes.
5. Use current affairs apps for on-the-go revision.

Computer Aptitude
1. Study common computer terms and standard abbreviations.
2. Know the basics of software, hardware, and operating systems.
3. Practice with questions on MS Office tools and keyboard shortcuts.
4. Understand internet basics like protocols and network types.

Descriptive Writing Tips
1. Write essays on current economic and banking issues for practice.
2. Focus on formal letter formats such as complaints and applications.
3. Work on improving handwriting clarity and neatness.
4. Structure essays with an introduction, body, and conclusion.
5. Practice writing essays within a 15–20 minute time frame.

Tips to Cover the IBPS PO Exam Syllabus 2025

Mastering the IBPS PO Exam Syllabus 2025 requires a focused, strategic approach since the competition is tough and the syllabus is vast. Here are key tips to help you prepare effectively and efficiently:

Understand the IBPS PO 2025 Exam Structure

The exam is conducted in three phases:

1. Preliminary Exam
2. Mains Exam
3. Personality Test
4. Interview

Each phase requires distinct preparation strategies to prepare its syllabus.

Know the Detailed Syllabus Thoroughly

Prelims:

• English Language: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Error Detection, Sentence Improvement, Para Jumbles.
• Quantitative Aptitude: Simplification, Data Interpretation, Quadratic Equations, Arithmetic Word Problems.
• Reasoning Ability: Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Inequality, Coding-Decoding.

Mains:

• Includes everything from Prelims + Current Affairs and General Awareness
  • General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness / Digital/ Financial Awareness including RBI circulars 
  • Data Analysis & Interpretation
  • Reasoning
  • Essay & Comprehension (Descriptive) (Essay & Letter Writing)

Create a Smart Study Plan and Execute it

• Allocate daily time slots for each subject.
• Give more time to weak areas.
• Reserve weekends for mock tests and revision.
• Stick to your schedule but stay flexible to tweak based on progress.

Attempt Topic-Wise Practice First

• Master the basics of every topic before jumping to full-length tests.
• Use previous years’ papers to identify high-frequency topics.
• Focus on accuracy in the beginning, then work on speed.

Take Regular Mock Tests

• Use Practicemock full-length and sectional tests from reputed platforms.
• Analyse every test to identify errors and weak zones.
• Improve time management and develop an exam-day strategy.

Focus on Reading & Vocabulary

• Read editorials from The Hindu, Indian Express, or LiveMint.
• Maintain a vocabulary journal for new words and idioms.
• Practice comprehension and cloze tests regularly.

Sharpen Mental Math and Shortcuts

• Learn multiplication tables, squares, and cubes up to 30.
• Practice Vedic math tricks and shortcuts for arithmetic.
• Regularly revise formulas and concepts.

Stay Updated with Current Affairs and General Awareness

• Read daily current affairs (especially banking, economy, and government schemes).
• Follow monthly PDF compilations from trusted sources.
• Practice daily quizzes and use apps for revision.

Prepare for Descriptive Paper

• Practice essay and letter writing at least 2–3 times a week.
• Focus on format, clarity, grammar, and coherence.
• Stay updated with recent economic and social issues.

Do Parallel Work on Interview Preparation

• Stay aware of basic banking terms and current affairs.
• Be ready to answer HR questions and situational questions.
• Practice mock interviews with mentors or friends.

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