IBPS PO 2024 Preparation Tips: Check Section-wise Tips & Strategy

In the prelims exam of IBPS PO, the English section carries 30 marks whereas the Quant and Reasoning sections carries 25 marks. In the Mains exam of IBPS PO, the total marks allotted to the English section are 40 whereas the Data Interpretation and Analysis, Reasoning and Computer Aptitude section carries 60 marks each. The General Awareness section carries 40 marks.

Section-Wise Distribution of Marks in Prelims Exam

Section-Wise Distribution of Marks in Mains Exam

The IBPS PO (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Probationary Officer) exam has two stages: the preliminary exam and the main exam. The syllabus for both exams is different. The preliminary exam tests a candidate's knowledge in English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability. The main exam tests a candidate's knowledge in General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude, and Financial Awareness. The difficulty level of both the exams is different. The level of the prelims exam is easier than the mains exam. Candidates should be thorough with the IBPS PO syllabus as the questions in the exam are framed based on it.

The tips and tricks to prepare for IBPS PO Reasoning section are given below:

• Understand the types of reasoning questions that are typically asked. These can include logical reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
• Practice with sample questions and practice tests. This will help you get a feel for the types of questions you'll be facing and how to approach them.
• Brush up on your math and English skills. Reasoning questions often involve mathematical concepts and require strong language skills.
• Stay calm and stay focused during the exam. It's important to stay focused and not let your nerves get the better of you.

The English section appears in both prelims and mains exams. Questions in the English section are asked from Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para jumbles, Miscellaneous, Fill in the blanks, Multiple Meaning/Error Spotting and Paragraph Completion. The tips and tricks to crack the English section of IBPS PO exam are given below:

• Make a separate notebook for this section and jot down all the topics
• In the first half of the notebook write down the rules of grammar and in the second half of the notebook write down all the new words from newspaper editorials on regular basis
• For Reading Comprehension, read books, novels, magazines, etc.
• For Vocabulary part, write down the new words Attempt mock tests and analyse the mocks

Some of the most scoring topics in IBPS PO Reasoning section are number series, coding-decoding, blood relation, direction and distance, seating arrangements, syllogism, cause and effect and data sufficiency. To ace the Reasoning section, candidates need to practice the previous years' question papers and mock tests. Candidates must complete revising the topics given in the IBPS PO syllabus. The tips to prepare for IBPS PO Reasoning section are given below:

• Candidates need to understand the syllabus of the Reasoning section. They must focus on the important topics
• Candidates must practice the previous year question papers to know the types of questions asked in the exam
• It is important to take the mock test as it helps to identify the strengths and weaknesses. It also help in improving the speed and accuracy
• Candidates must solve puzzles regularly to improve their logical and analytical skills
• Candidates must refer to the best books for the Reasoning section

Yes, there are sectional timings in IBPS PO exam. In prelims exam, candidates get 20 minutes to solve each section. In Mains exam, to solve English section, candidates get 40 minutes. The duration to attempt Data Interpretation and Analysis section and Reasoning and Computer Aptitude section, candidates get 45 minutes and 60 minutes respectively. The time duration allotted for General Awareness section is 35 minutes. To solve the descriptive paper, candidates get 30 minutes. The sectional timings for IBPS PO prelims and Mains exams are given below.

 Prelims Exam

Mains Exam

IBPS PO exam pattern highlights the overall structure of the exam such as marking scheme, total marks, time duration, etc. IBPS PO exam pattern is such that it is divided into prelims exam, Mainsexam and interview. IBPS PO prelims exam comprises three sections-Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, and English Language. The total marks allotted to the test are 200. The duration of the test is 60 minutes. There are sectional timings in the exam. IBPS POMainsexam comprises both objective and descriptive-type questions. The total marks allotted to theMainsexam are 225. The duration of the test is 3 hours 30 minutes. The total marks allotted to the interview are 100.

The difficulty level of IBPS PO exam varies depending on the variety of factors such as the number of applicants, the level of competition, and the complexity of the material being tested. IBPS PO is a competitive exam that requires significant amount of preparation and hard work in order to clear the exam. It is important to familarise themselves with the exam format and syllabus. Candidates must also solve the previous years' question papers to know the type of questions asked in the exam. The tips and tricks to prepare for IBPS PO exam are given below:

• The first and foremost step towards IBPS PO exam preparation is knowing the syllabus and exam pattern
• Candidates must also go through the previous years’ cut off marks to know the level of competition and prepare accordingly for the exam
• After going through the syllabus, candidates must prepare preparation strategy for the exam based on the important topics
• Candidates must also solve the previous years’ question papers to know the type of questions asked in the exam
• Candidates must also attempt mock test to improve speed and accuracy

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

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection formulates the IBPS PO syllabus. Candidates must prepare according to the syllabus to get good score in the exam. IBPS PO syllabus is segregated into prelims, Mains and interview. IBPS PO Prelims syllabus comprises the English Language, Quantitative Ability, and Reasoning Ability. IBPS Mains syllabus covers the various topics of Reasoning Ability, Computer Aptitude, English Language, Data Interpretation and Analysis, General economy or Banking Awareness. IBPS PO Syllabus is given below.

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.

IBPS PO prelims syllabus is given below: English Reading comprehension, Cloze Test, Spotting Errors, Para Jumbles, Sentence Improvements, Fill in the blanks, Sentence Connectors etc. Reasoning Ability: Seating Arrangement, Puzzles, Inequality, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, miscellaneous questions, data sufficiency etc. Quantitative Aptitude Number series, simplification, quadratic equations, data interpretation, arithmetic problems, quantity-based questions etc. IBPS PO prelims syllabus is given below:

IBPS PO prelims Reasoning syllabus: Logical Reasoning, Alphanumeric Series, Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test, Data Sufficiency, Coded Inequalities, Seating Arrangement, Puzzle, Syllogism, Input-Output, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relation.

IBPS PO Prelims Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus: Simplification, Profit & Loss, Mixtures & Alligations, Simple Interest & Compound Interest & Surds & Indices, Work & Time, Time & Distance, Mensuration-Cylinder, Cone, Sphere, Data Interpretation, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Number Systems, Sequence & Series and Permutation, Combination & Probability.

IBPS PO Prelims English Language: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para jumbles, Spotting Error, Fill in the blanks, etc.

IBPS PO is a competitive exam which is largely participated by the banking aspirants. To crack the exam, candidates need to have good level of preparation. Choosing the best books for IBPS PO exam becomes important as it will help candidates to clear the concepts of topics given in the syllabus. The section-wise best books for IBPS PO exam is given below:

English Language

• Word Power Made Easy by Normal Lewis
• English Grammar & Composition by Wren and Martin
• Descriptive General English by S P Bakshi and Richa Sharma
• Objective English for Competitive Examinations by Hari Mohan Prasad, Uma Rani Sinha, Mcgraw Hill Education Publication

Quantitative Aptitude

• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by RS Aggarwal
• Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma (Arihant Publication)
• Data interpretation by Arun Sharma

Reasoning Ability

• A Modern approach Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by BS Sijwali
• Verbal Reasoning by RS Agarwal
• A New Approach to Reasoning Verbal & Non Verbal by B S Sijwali
• Logical reasoning by K Kundan
• Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey

General Awareness

• Manorama Yearbook by Philip Mathew

Computer Aptitude

• Computer by Rani Ahilya
• Objective Computer Awareness by Somya Ranjan Behera