IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2026: Check Latest Prelims & Mains Pattern & Exam Duration

IBPS PO Mocks are similar to the actual exam. Solving mocks will give candidates an idea of the kind of questions that can be expected on exam day IBPS PO mock tests familiarise candidates with the kind of syllabus, pattern, and difficulty level of the actual exam IBPS PO mock tests help candidates to keep a check on their preparation. Mock tests help candidates in effective time management. The importance of solving IBPS PO mock tests are given below:

• IBPS PO mock tests help candidates to ascertain the difficulty level of the actual exam
• Section-wise IBPS PO online mock tests are formulated in line with the latest syllabus and helps in revision and practice
• Candidates gain clarity of IBPS PO exam pattern and scope of questions by regularly solving IBPS PO mock tests
• Solving IBPS PO mock tests help candidates to identify the weak areas and work upon improving those areas
• Solving mock tests help candidates to improve speed and accuracy

IBPS PO scores are calculated based on the marking scheme given by the exam authority. For correct answers, candidates score one mark and for incorrect  0.25 marks are deducted. The Mains exam was conducted on October 12. 

IBPS calculates the IBPS PO marks of the candidates through a method called normalisation that help candidates to get a rounded-up figure. Since the exam is conducted in multiple shifts and days the difficulty level of the question paper varies from one shift to another. Normalisation of score is done to balance and assist in fair evaluation. This method is followed both for prelims and Mains exams. Some of the benefits of normalisation are given below: The first assumption made for normalisation of marks is that the candidates across all the shifts of the exam have similar abilities The number of candidates appearing in the exam conducted by IBPS in large shifts is randomly done.

The scorecard for SBI Clerk exam is released along with the result. To download the scorecard, candidates need to enter the required credentials. The hard copy of the scorecard is not sent to candidates by post. The scorecard comprises the section-wise marks, overall marks, cut off marks, etc. The scores of candidates are calculated after applying penalty for wrong answers. 1/4th of the mark assigned to a particular question is deducted for wrong answers. For correct answers, candidates score one mark. The total marks allotted to the prelims exam are 100. The mains exam carries a total of 200 marks. The marks obtained in the mains exam are considered for the final selection of candidates. Candidates qualifying the mains exam are called for the language proficiency test.

IBPS PO Mains syllabus is given below:

Quantitative Aptitude: Simplification, Average, Percentage, Permutation and Combination Age Problems, Interest, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, Probability Mixture and Alligations Speed, Time and Distance, etc. English Cloze test, para jumbles, fill in the blanks, sentence improvement, reading comprehensions, detecting the errors etc.

Reasoning Ability: Syllogism, coding-decoding, miscellaneous questions, input-output, seating arrangement, data sufficiency, logical reasoning, computer aptitude etc.

General Awareness: Banking, Financial Awareness, Current Affairs Static General Awareness

Descriptive Test: The syllabus comprises essay writing and letter writing.

Candidates qualifying the mains exam of IBPS PO are called for the interview. The marks obtained in the mains exam are counted for the final merit list.

There is a negative marking in the SBI Clerk exam. 1/4th mark assigned to a particular question is deducted as a penalty for wrong answers. For correct answers in the exam, candidates score one mark. The total marks of candidates are calculated based on the number of correct and incorrect answers. The corrected scores obtained by each candidate in different sessions of the exam are normalised using the equi-percentile method. Scores upto two decimal points are taken for the purpose of calculations. The marks of candidates are calculated as per marking scheme. Candidates should attempt maximum number of questions to secure the desired score in the exam.

IBPS PO scores are calculated based on the marking scheme given by the exam authority. For correct answers, candidates score one mark and for incorrect  0.25 marks are deducted. The Mains exam was conducted on October 12. 

SBI Clerk exam comprises prelims and Mains exams. Total marks allotted to test are 100. Total marks for the mains test are 200. Candidates qualifying the mains exam are also required to appear for LPT. Prelims marks are not counted for the final merit list.

A reserve list to the extent of approximately 10 percent of the vacancies under each category may be kept, subject to the availability of candidates. This does not guarantee provisional allotment to/recruitment by the participating banks. In the event of Participating Banks providing further vacancies, provisional allotment may be carried out three to four times for the candidates in the reserve list.  

The Reasoning Ability section tests the knowledge of candidates and their capability of solving the general ability problems with their intelligence. Questions are asked basically from Logical Reasoning and Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The Reasoning Ability section of SBI Clerk carries questions from topics such as Puzzle, Seating Arrangement, Blood Relations, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Input-Output, Inequalities, Statement and Assumptions, Order and Ranking, Data Sufficiency and Alphanumeric Series.

SBI Clerk Reasoning Ability Syllabus for Prelims

• Alphanumeric Series
• Ranking/ Direction/ Alphabet Test
• Data Sufficiency
• Coded Inequalities
• Seating Arrangement
• Puzzle
• Tabulation
• Syllogism
• Blood Relations
• Input-Output
• Coding-Decoding

SBI Clerk Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude Syllabus for Mains

• Internet
• Machine Input/Output
• Syllogism
• Blood Relation
• Direction Sense
• Inequalities
• Puzzles
• Coding-Decoding
• Ranking
• Statement & Assumptions
• Hardware
• Software
• Generation of Computers
• DBMS
• Networking
• Internet
• MS Office
• Input-Output Devices
• Important Abbreviations

 

The English section appears in both prelims and Mains exams of SBI Clerk. Questions in English Language section of SBI Clerk exam are asked from Reading Comprehension, Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Rearrangement, Cloze Test, Vocabulary, etc. Candidates need to be thorough with the grammar and vocabularly inorder to ace the exam. SBI Clerk prelims and mains syllabus for English is given below:

SBI Clerk Prelims English Syllabus

• Cloze Test
• Para jumbles
• Miscellaneous
• Fill in the blanks
• Multiple Meaning /Error Spotting
• Paragraph Completion
• Reading Comprehension
• Sentence Rearrangement
• Match the Following
• Synonyms and Antonyms

SBI Clerk Mains English Syllabus

• Reading Comprehension
• Fillers
• New Pattern Cloze Test
• Phrase Rearrangement
• Old Sentence out cum Para Jumbles
• Inference
• Sentence Completion
• Connectors
• Paragraph Conclusion
• Phrasal Verb Related Questions
• Error Detection
• Word Usage/Vocab-Based Questions

The difficulty level of the prelims exam is usually easy. The English and Reasoning sections are easy, whereas, Maths section is easy to moderate. The Mains exam paper is usually moderate. The difficulty level of the English Language section is easy, Quant section is moderate, Reasoning & Computer Aptitude section is moderate and General/Financial Awareness section is moderate. The prelims exam of SBI Clerk carries questions from Reasoning, English Language and Quantitative Aptitude. The total marks allotted to the test are 100. The mains exam of SBI Clerk carries questions from General/ Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude. The total marks allotted to the test are 200. Candidates qualifying the mains exam are called for Language Proficiency Test.

SBI Clerk exam is little tougher than IBPS Clerk. The syllabus and pattern for both the exams are same. The level of questions asked in SBI Clerk exam is high.

There are many books available in the market, however, candidates must choose those books that have covered the entire syllabus. For Quant, candidates can refer to Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by RS Agarwal. For Reasoning, candidates can refer to A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R S Agarwal. For English candidates can refer to English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin. For the General Awareness section, candidates can refer to Banking Awareness by B K Raut and SR Behera.

No, SBI follows a similar SBI Clerk exam pattern for different states. SBI Clerk exam pattern is such that it comprises prelims exam, Mains exam and language proficiency test. The prelims and Mains exams are conducted online. The prelims exam carries three sections-English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. The total marks allotted to the test are 100. The Mains exam is conducted for the qualified candidates of the prelims exam. The Mains exam carries four sections: General/ Financial Awareness, General English Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude. The total marks allotted to the test are 200. Candidates qualifying the Mains exam are called for language proficiency. It is mandatory to clear the language proficiency test.

A wait list of up to 50% of vacancies (State-category wise) is maintained. Candidates are released from this waitlist on quarterly basis against non-joining and resignation out of the current batch only,  subject to the candidates securing minimum qualifying marks as may be stipulated by the Bank for selection. This wait list is valid for a period of one year from the date of declaration of final result.

SBI Clerk exam comprises prelims and Mains exams. Total marks allotted to test are 100. Total marks for the mains test are 200. Candidates qualifying the mains exam are also required to appear for LPT. Prelims marks are not counted for the final merit list.