IBPS PO Exam Syllabus: The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the IBPS Probationary Officer (PO) examination to recruit candidates for the position of Probationary Officer in various public sector banks in India. The examination is highly competitive and consists of multiple stages, including a preliminary examination, a mains examination, and an interview.
In this comprehensive guide, I will provide you with a detailed overview of the IBPS PO syllabus, covering all the subjects and topics you need to prepare for to succeed in this examination.
IBPS PO Exam Pattern
Before we dive into the detailed syllabus, it’s important to understand the exam pattern for IBPS PO. As of my knowledge cutoff date in January 2022, the IBPS PO examination consists of three main stages:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination
- Interview
Forest Guard Examination Pattern
The Forest Guard examination pattern may vary depending on the state or region where the examination is conducted. However, it generally consists of multiple stages, including:
- Preliminary Examination: This is the initial screening stage that assesses candidates on their knowledge of General Knowledge, General Science, and Mathematics.
- Main Examination: The Main Examination delves deeper into subjects related to forestry, wildlife management, and more.
- Physical Fitness and Efficiency Test: Candidates must pass a physical fitness and efficiency test to demonstrate their physical capabilities.
- Interview and Document Verification: The final stage involves an interview and document verification to ensure candidates meet all eligibility requirements.
Preliminary Examination
The preliminary examination is the first stage of the IBPS PO selection process. It consists of three sections:
- English Language
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Reasoning Ability
Each section has a fixed number of questions, and the duration of the preliminary exam is 1 hour. The preliminary exam is meant to be a screening test, and the scores obtained in this stage are not considered for the final selection.
Main Examination
The main examination is the second stage of the selection process and is more comprehensive than the preliminary examination. It consists of the following sections:
Objective Test:
- Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
- General/Economy/Banking Awareness
- English Language
- Data Analysis & Interpretation
Descriptive Test:
- Letter Writing
- Essay Writing
The objective test is conducted online and has a fixed duration, while the descriptive test is conducted in paper-pen mode. The scores of the main examination are considered for the final selection.
Interview
The interview is the final stage of the selection process. Candidates who qualify in the main examination are called for a personal interview. The interview panel assesses the candidate’s personality, communication skills, and banking knowledge. The interview is usually conducted by a panel of experts in the field.
Now, let’s delve into the detailed syllabus for each section of the IBPS PO examination
Preliminary Examination Syllabus
- English Language:
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Sentence Improvement
- Error Detection
- Fill in the Blanks
- Para Jumbles
- Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, Homonyms)
- Sentence Completion
- Spelling Errors
- Quantitative Aptitude:
- Simplification/Approximation
- Number Series
- Quadratic Equations
- Data Interpretation (Bar Graph, Line Graph, Pie Chart, Table)
- Arithmetic Topics (Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Time & Distance, Simple & Compound Interest, Averages, Mixtures & Alligations)
- Probability
- Permutation and Combination
- Mensuration
- Data Sufficiency
- Reasoning Ability:
- Puzzles (Seating Arrangement, Scheduling, Box-based, Floor-based)
- Syllogism
- Blood Relations
- Inequality
- Direction Sense
- Coding-Decoding
- Input-Output
- Alphanumeric Series
- Ranking/Ordering
- Data Sufficiency
Main Examination Syllabus
- Reasoning & Computer Aptitude:
- Puzzles and Seating Arrangement
- Data Sufficiency
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Computer Fundamentals and Terminology
- Computer Hardware & Software
- Internet & Networking
- Microsoft Office
- General/Economy/Banking Awareness:
- Current Affairs (National & International)
- Financial and Economic News
- Banking and Financial Terms
- RBI and Monetary Policies
- Fiscal and Monetary Policies
- Government Schemes and Policies
- Banking History and Terminology
- English Language:
- Reading Comprehension
- Letter Writing
- Essay Writing
- Precis Writing
- Descriptive Paper on current issues
- Grammar and Vocabulary
- Data Analysis & Interpretation:
- Data Interpretation (Table, Bar Graph, Line Graph, Pie Chart)
- Data Sufficiency
- Caselets
- Permutation and Combination
- Probability
- Number Series
- Percentage
- Profit and Loss
- Ratio & Proportion
- Simple and Compound Interest
- Time, Speed and Distance
Main Examination Syllabus Interview
The interview stage does not have a fixed syllabus, but it is crucial to prepare for questions related to banking and current affairs. Be prepared to discuss your educational background, work experience (if any), and questions about your strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, questions related to your hobbies, interests, and your views on various economic and banking issues may be asked.
Keep in mind that the syllabus may evolve over time, and it’s important to refer to the official IBPS website or the latest notification for any updates or changes in the exam pattern and syllabus. Additionally, practicing with previous years’ question papers and mock tests is essential to gain a better understanding of the type of questions asked in the IBPS PO examination.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The IBPS PO syllabus is a comprehensive outline of the topics and subjects that candidates are required to study for the IBPS Probationary Officer examination. It includes subjects like English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, Computer Aptitude, and Descriptive Writing.
- The core subjects of the IBPS PO syllabus usually remain consistent from year to year. However, there may be slight variations and updates, so it’s essential to refer to the official IBPS notification and website for the most up-to-date information.
- You can access the official IBPS PO syllabus from the IBPS official website (www.ibps.in). The syllabus is typically included in the official notification for the examination.
- No, the syllabus for the preliminary and main examinations differs. The preliminary examination has a simplified syllabus with subjects like English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. The main examination includes additional subjects like General/Economy/Banking Awareness, Computer Aptitude, and Descriptive Writing.
- To prepare for the English Language section, focus on improving your reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar skills. Regular reading of newspapers and practice with mock tests can be very helpful.
