IBPS PO/MT: Common Recruitment Process for Probationary Officers / Management Trainees

Conducted by: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
Question paper languages: English, Hindi
Last checked against official sources: 2026-10-14

Notes and practice for IBPS PO are coming soon. Until then, this guide has the official pattern, marking, syllabus and links.

Exam pattern and marking

Online Preliminary Examination60 minutes100 marks

Sections, questions and marking for Online Preliminary Examination
Section	Questions	Marks per question	Question types
English Language	30	—	MCQ
Quantitative Aptitude	35	—	MCQ
Reasoning Ability	35	—	MCQ

Online Main Examination (objective)160 minutes200 marks

Sections, questions and marking for Online Main Examination (objective)
Section	Questions	Marks per question	Question types
Reasoning	40	—	MCQ
General / Economy / Banking / Digital / Financial Awareness	50	—	MCQ
English Language	40	—	MCQ
Data Analysis and Interpretation	40	—	MCQ

Descriptive Paper (Essay and Comprehension)30 minutes25 marks

Sections, questions and marking for Descriptive Paper (Essay and Comprehension)
Section	Questions	Marks per question	Negative marking	Question types
Essay and comprehension	2	—	0	DESCRIPTIVE

Personality Test and Interview100 marks

CRP PO/MT-XVI. Prelims: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 min, three separately timed tests of 20 min (English 30 Q/30 marks, Quant 35 Q/30 marks, Reasoning 35 Q/40 marks); sectional cut-offs. Mains: objective 170 Q / 200 marks / 160 min (Reasoning 40/60/45 min, General-Economy-Banking-Digital-Financial Awareness incl. RBI circulars 50/60/35 min, English 40/20/35 min, DA&I 40/60/45 min) + descriptive (essay and comprehension, 2 Q, 25 marks, 30 min). Penalty 1/4 of the marks of the question. Main:interview weight 80:20. English tests in English only; others in English and Hindi.

MCQ = single correct answer · MSQ = one or more correct answers · NAT / numeric = type a number. Negative marking is the number of marks deducted for a wrong answer.

Syllabus

69 subjects, topics and subtopics from the official syllabus. Tap a subject to expand it.

Explore the syllabus map

English Language11
- Reading comprehension
  - Comprehension passages
  - Vocabulary in context
- Grammar
  - Error detection
  - Sentence improvement
  - Fillers (single and double)
- Verbal ability
  - Cloze test
  - Para jumbles / sentence rearrangement
  - Word usage, word swap, phrase replacement
Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation19
- Arithmetic
  - Simplification and approximation
  - Number series (missing / wrong number)
  - Quadratic equations (comparison of roots)
  - Percentage
  - Ratio, proportion, partnership
  - Averages and ages
  - Profit and loss
  - Simple and compound interest
  - Time and work, pipes and cisterns
  - Time, speed and distance; boats and streams; trains
  - Mixture and alligation
  - Mensuration
  - Permutation, combination and probability
- Data interpretation and analysis
  - Tabular DI
  - Bar, line and pie chart DI
  - Caselet DI
  - Data sufficiency
Reasoning Ability21
- Puzzles and seating arrangement
  - Linear seating arrangement
  - Circular and square seating arrangement
  - Floor, box and scheduling puzzles
- Logical reasoning
  - Syllogism
  - Inequalities
  - Blood relations
  - Direction and distance
  - Order and ranking
  - Coding-decoding
  - Alphanumeric series
  - Input-output (machine)
  - Data sufficiency
- Verbal and critical reasoning
  - Statement and assumption / argument / course of action
  - Inference, cause and effect
- Computer aptitude (SBI mains)
  - Computer fundamentals, hardware, software, memory
  - Internet, networking, security
  - MS Office, shortcuts, database basics
General, Economy and Banking Awareness11
- Banking awareness
  - RBI: functions, monetary policy, circulars
  - Banking terms, products and regulation
  - Digital payments, UPI, fintech
- Economy and finance
  - Indian economy, budget, fiscal policy
  - Financial markets, SEBI, insurance
  - Government financial schemes
- Current affairs
  - National and international news
  - Static GK: organisations, capitals, currencies
Descriptive writing (English)2
- Essay on economic and social issues, banking and technology trends, current events, ethics
- Comprehension (written answers)

Official sources

Always confirm details on the official website before applying.