📝 IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus and Pattern 2024

Complete guide to IBPS PO preliminary examination syllabus, pattern, marking scheme, and preparation strategy for 2024 exam.

🎯 IBPS PO Prelims Exam Overview

Exam Importance

The IBPS PO preliminary exam is the first stage of the selection process. It’s a qualifying exam where candidates need to secure minimum cutoff marks to proceed to the mains examination.

Key Features

• Mode: Online Computer-Based Test
• Duration: 1 hour (60 minutes)
• Total Questions: 100
• Total Marks: 100
• Nature: Objective Multiple Choice Questions
• Languages: English and Hindi (except English language section)

Selection Process

Prelims → Mains → Interview → Final Selection

📊 Detailed Exam Pattern

Section-wise Distribution

Sectional Time Management

• Total Duration: 60 minutes
• No sectional time limits (candidates can attempt sections in any order)
• Recommended Time Allocation:
  • English Language: 20 minutes
  • Quantitative Aptitude: 20 minutes
  • Reasoning Ability: 20 minutes

Marking Scheme

• Correct Answer: +1 mark
• Wrong Answer: -0.25 marks
• Unattempted: 0 marks
• No marks deduction for unattempted questions

📚 Detailed Subject-wise Syllabus

1. English Language (30 Questions)

A. Reading Comprehension (7-10 questions)

• Topics: Banking, Economy, Finance, Social Issues, Technology
• Focus: Main idea, specific details, inference, vocabulary
• Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult

B. Cloze Test (5-7 questions)

• Topics: Banking and Finance articles
• Focus: Vocabulary, grammar, contextual understanding
• Difficulty Level: Moderate

C. Error Spotting (5-7 questions)

• Topics: Grammar rules, sentence structure
• Focus: Subject-verb agreement, tenses, prepositions, articles
• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

D. Para Jumbles (3-5 questions)

• Topics: Banking scenarios, general topics
• Focus: Logical arrangement of sentences
• Difficulty Level: Moderate

E. Fill in the Blanks (3-5 questions)

• Topics: Vocabulary in context
• Focus: Prepositions, articles, conjunctions, vocabulary
• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

F. Vocabulary/Synonyms/Antonyms (3-5 questions)

• Topics: Banking terms, business vocabulary
• Focus: Word meanings, synonyms, antonyms
• Difficulty Level: Moderate

2. Quantitative Aptitude (35 Questions)

A. Number System (2-3 questions)

• Topics: LCM & HCF, divisibility rules, remainders
• Focus: Basic number properties
• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

B. Simplification and Approximation (3-5 questions)

• Topics: BODMAS rules, percentage approximations
• Focus: Mental calculations, shortcuts
• Difficulty Level: Easy

C. Percentage, Ratio and Proportion (3-5 questions)

• Topics: Percentage calculations, ratio comparisons
• Focus: Business and financial contexts
• Difficulty Level: Moderate

D. Profit and Loss (2-3 questions)

• Topics: Basic profit/loss, discount, partnership
• Focus: Business applications
• Difficulty Level: Moderate

E. Time and Work (2-3 questions)

• Topics: Work efficiency, pipes and cisterns
• Focus: Work distribution problems
• Difficulty Level: Moderate

F. Time and Distance (1-2 questions)

• Topics: Speed, distance, relative speed
• Focus: Train problems, boat problems
• Difficulty Level: Moderate

G. Simple and Compound Interest (2-3 questions)

• Topics: Interest calculations, installments
• Focus: Financial applications
• Difficulty Level: Moderate

H. Data Interpretation (5-8 questions)

• Topics: Tables, bar graphs, pie charts, line graphs
• Focus: Banking data, financial analysis
• Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult

I. Mensuration (1-2 questions)

• Topics: Area, perimeter, volume of 2D and 3D shapes
• Focus: Geometrical calculations
• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

J. Algebra (2-3 questions)

• Topics: Linear equations, quadratic equations
• Focus: Problem-solving applications
• Difficulty Level: Moderate

3. Reasoning Ability (35 Questions)

A. Puzzle and Seating Arrangement (8-12 questions)

• Types: Linear, circular, square, complex arrangements
• Focus: Logical arrangement, position identification
• Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult

B. Syllogism (3-5 questions)

• Topics: Two or three statement syllogisms
• Focus: Logical deduction, Venn diagrams
• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

C. Blood Relations (2-4 questions)

• Topics: Family relationships, coded blood relations
• Focus: Family tree construction
• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

D. Direction Sense (2-3 questions)

• Topics: Directions, distances, turns
• Focus: Spatial understanding
• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

E. Coding-Decoding (2-3 questions)

• Topics: Letter coding, number coding, mixed coding
• Focus: Pattern recognition
• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

F. Inequality (2-3 questions)

• Topics: Mathematical inequalities, coded inequalities
• Focus: Logical conclusions
• Difficulty Level: Easy

G. Alphanumeric Series (3-5 questions)

• Topics: Letter-number sequences, pattern completion
• Focus: Pattern identification
• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

H. Logical Reasoning (2-3 questions)

• Topics: Cause-effect, assumption, conclusion
• Focus: Critical thinking
• Difficulty Level: Moderate

🔢 Previous Year Analysis

Topic-wise Distribution (2020-2023)

English Language

Quantitative Aptitude

Reasoning Ability

Topic	Average Questions	Difficulty
Puzzles & Seating	10-12	Difficult
Syllogism	3-5	Easy-Moderate
Blood Relations	3-4	Easy-Moderate
Coding-Decoding	2-3	Easy
Direction Sense	2-3	Easy
Inequality	2-3	Easy
Series	3-4	Easy-Moderate
Logical Reasoning	2-3	Moderate

📊 Cut-off Marks Analysis

Category-wise Cut-off (2023)

Section-wise Cut-off Analysis

• English Language: 16-18 marks
• Quantitative Aptitude: 17-20 marks
• Reasoning Ability: 18-22 marks

Success Rate

• Total Applicants: 7-8 lakhs
• Selected for Mains: 10,000-12,000
• Success Rate: 1.5-2%

🎯 Preparation Strategy

Phase 1: Foundation Building (45 Days)

Week 1-3: Basic Concepts

Daily Schedule:
- Quantitative Aptitude: 2 hours
- Reasoning Ability: 1.5 hours
- English Language: 1 hour
- Current Affairs: 30 minutes
- Revision: 30 minutes

Focus Areas

• Basic arithmetic concepts
• Fundamental reasoning techniques
• English grammar rules
• Reading comprehension basics

Phase 2: Practice and Improvement (30 Days)

Week 4-6: Problem Solving

Daily Schedule:
- Practice Tests: 1 hour
- Weak Area Improvement: 1 hour
- Speed Practice: 30 minutes
- Mock Test Analysis: 30 minutes

Focus Areas

• Time management
• Accuracy improvement
• Pattern recognition
• Quick solving techniques

Phase 3: Mock Test and Revision (15 Days)

Week 7-8: Final Preparation

Daily Schedule:
- Full Mock Test: 1 hour
- Analysis and Review: 1 hour
- Revision of Weak Areas: 1 hour
- Current Affairs: 30 minutes

⏰ Time Management Tips

During the Exam

1. Scan all questions first (30 seconds)
2. Attempt easy questions first
3. Spend 15-20 seconds per question initially
4. Allocate 45-60 seconds for difficult questions
5. Leave tough questions if time is running out

Section-wise Time Allocation

English Language: 20 minutes (35-40 seconds per question)
Quantitative Aptitude: 20 minutes (35-40 seconds per question)
Reasoning Ability: 20 minutes (35-40 seconds per question)

Smart Time Management

- Attempt your strongest section first
- Skip and return to difficult questions
- Don't spend more than 1 minute on any question
- Keep 5 minutes buffer for review

🎯 Quick Reference

Exam Pattern

• Total Questions: 100
• Total Duration: 60 minutes
• Negative Marking: -0.25 per wrong answer
• No sectional time limit

Subject-wise Questions

• English Language: 30 questions
• Quantitative Aptitude: 35 questions
• Reasoning Ability: 35 questions

Preparation Focus

• English: Reading speed, vocabulary, grammar
• Quantitative: Data interpretation, arithmetic
• Reasoning: Puzzles, logical reasoning

📱 Recommended Resources

Books

• Quantitative Aptitude: RS Aggarwal, Arun Sharma
• Reasoning: MK Pandey, B.S. Sijwali
• English: Wren & Martin, SP Bakshi

Online Resources

• Official Website: ibps.in
• Current Affairs: GK Today, AffairsCloud
• Banking Awareness: Banking Chronicle

Remember: IBPS PO prelims is about accuracy and speed. Practice regularly, manage time well, and success will follow!