IBPS PO Exam Pattern: Prelims, Mains and Interview
The pattern below is from IBPS's notification for the Common Recruitment Process for Probationary Officers and Management Trainees (CRP PO/MT-XVI), issued in 2026.
· Last reviewed
Stages of Selection
- Online preliminary exam: screening for the mains.
- Online main exam: objective tests plus a descriptive paper.
- Personality test: not scored for merit, but you must take it to be called for interview.
- Interview, conducted by the participating banks.
Preliminary Exam
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Each section is timed separately. You must clear a minimum mark in each of the three sections, set by IBPS, to be shortlisted for the mains. English is in English only; the other two sections are in English and Hindi.
Main Exam
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General, Economy, Banking, Digital and Financial Awareness (including RBI circulars) | 50 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 35 minutes |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Total (objective) | 170 | 200 | 160 minutes |
| Descriptive paper: essay and comprehension | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
You need a minimum score in each test and in the total to be called for interview. The descriptive paper is in English and may be marked by an automated scoring system.
Negative Marking and Scores
- A quarter of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer, in both prelims and mains. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
- Scores are normalised where the exam runs in several shifts.
- Prelims marks are used only for shortlisting and do not count in the final merit.
Interview and Final Merit
The interview carries 100 marks. The minimum to pass is 40%, or 35% for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates.
The final merit list combines the main exam and the interview in the ratio 80:20. You must pass both. When two candidates have the same score, the older one is placed higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are IBPS PO prelims marks counted in the final result?
No. Prelims only decide who sits the mains. The final merit uses the main exam and the interview, weighted 80:20.
Is there sectional cut-off in IBPS PO?
Yes. You must clear a minimum in each prelims section, and in each mains test as well as the mains total.
What is the negative marking in IBPS PO?
One quarter of the marks of a question is deducted for each wrong answer, in both prelims and mains.
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