Details of the IBPS PO Exam Pattern

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has changed the exam pattern of the Mains examination last year. This newly introduced exam pattern is similar to SBI PO exam pattern. IBPS conducts this exam every year to recruit Probationary Officers (Management Trainees) in various public sector banks in India (except State Bank of India and its associate banks). According to the IBPS PO 2019-20 notification, there have been changes done in Prelims exam also. So, let us now, discuss the changes that have taken place in this article, and the changes are:-

As we know, the recruitment process for IBPS Probationary Officers takes place in three major stages- Preliminary Exams, Main Exams and Personal Interview round. Last year, the exam pattern for the Mains exam was changed but from this year the pattern for Prelims exam has also been changed.

Phrases of IBPS PO Exam Pattern

IBPS PO is an online examination

Phase	Mode
Prelims	Online
Mains	Online
Personal Interview	Face-to-Face

IBPS PO Exam Pattern for Prelims

The exam pattern for the IBPS PO Prelims exam is same as before and there are three sections which are shown below:

Sections of the Examination	Total Number Of Questions & Maximum Marks
English Language	30/30
Quantitative Aptitude	35/35
Reasoning Ability	35/35
Total	100/100

IBPS PO Prelims exam will be of one hour duration (60 minutes). Until last year, all the three sections (English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability) were not separately timed. From this year onwards, all the three sections are allotted time duration of 20 minutes each and will have separate cut-off marks. The candidates who will clear the cut-off marks of all three sections as well as clear the overall cut-off marks will be permitted to appear in the Mains exam through Bank PO Coaching Durgapur. 

IBPS PO Exam Pattern for Mains

From 2017 onwards, the IBPS PO exam pattern for the Main exam has changed. The total number of the asked questions and the maximum marks for each section of IBPS PO Main exam are shown below:

Sections of the Examination	Total Number Of Questions & Maximum Marks
English Language	35/40
Data Analysis and Interpretation	35/60
Reasoning and Computer Aptitude	45/60
General Awareness	40/40
Total in Objective Test	155/200
English Language (Letter Writing and Essay)	2/25
Grand Total	157/225

The sections of Mains Exam are separately timed. The total allotted time duration for the Main exam is 3 hours and 30 minutes. The time allotted for each section is shown below:-

Sections of the Examination	Maximum Time Allotted
English Language	40 minutes
Data Analysis and Interpretation	45 minutes
Reasoning and Computer Aptitude	60 minutes
General Awareness	35 minutes
English Language (Letter Writing and Essay)	30 minutes

There will be negative marking both Prelims and Mains exams. For every wrong answer, there will be deduction of 25 percent of marks assigned to a question. There will be no deduction in marks for the un-attempted problems.

Types of changes made in IBPS PO Exam Pattern

Since 2017, there are five major changes which are done in the IBPS PO exam and these changes are:-

·      a) The sections of the Prelims exam have been separately timed. Each section will be of 20 minutes.

·      b) In IBPS PO Mains exam, the number of questions has been decreased.

·      c) The time duration of IBPS PO Mains exam has been increased.

·      d) In the IBPS PO Mains Exam; the sections of Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude have been merged into one section.

·      e) In the IBPS PO Mains Exam, a descriptive section (English Language – Letter Writing and Essay) has been added. 

Reasons for the changes implemented in the IBPS PO Exam Pattern

In order to follow the exam pattern of SBI PO, the new changes have been introduced. It implies that all the banking exams will be having the same exam pattern and this will make the preparation easier for the aspiring candidates through banking Exam preparation books.

We want every aspirant to be well-aware of the recent changes done to the IBPS PO exam and therefore we advise you to read this article carefully.

All the Best!!!