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The IBPS Probationary Officer selection consists of three stages:
- Preliminary Exam
- Main Exam
- Interview
Candidates must qualify each advance stage to be selected.
1. Preliminary Exam
- Type: Online multiple-choice
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 100
- Duration: 60 minutes (20 minutes per section)
- Sections:
- English Language – 30 questions, 30 marks
- Quantitative Aptitude – 35 questions, 35 marks
- Reasoning Ability – 35 questions, 35 marks
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each incorrect response
- This is a screening exam: scores are not included in the final merit list but you must clear both sectional and overall cut‑offs to move to Stage 2
2. Main Exam
The Main Exam has two parts: Objective test and Descriptive test.
Objective Test
- Total Questions: 155
- Marks: 200
- Duration: 160 minutes
- Sections and details:
- Reasoning & Computer Aptitude – 45 questions, 60 marks, 60 minutes
- General/Economy/Banking Awareness – 35 questions, 40 marks, 25 minutes
- English Language – 35 questions, 40 marks, 40 minutes
- Data Analysis & Interpretation – 35 questions, 60 marks, 45 minutes
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer
Descriptive Test
- Tasks: 1 Essay and 1 Letter
- Marks: 25
- Time: 30 minutes
- Designed to assess writing skills in English
- Must meet the required cut-off to qualify
IBPS PO Recruitment 2025 – Apply Online for 5,208 Probationary Officer Posts
3. Interview
- Marks: 100
- Qualifying Marks: Minimum 40% for general category, 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates
- This interview tests communication skills, personality, and suitability for a banking career
- Conducted at select centres by a panel organised by the nodal bank
Final Selection
- Weightage for Merit List: Mains Objective + Descriptive = 80%, Interview = 20%
- Final merit list generated based on combined scores. Preliminary exam marks are not included in final rankings
Summary Table
| Stage | Sections / Tasks | Questions/Tasks | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims | English, Quant, Reasoning | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
| Mains (Obj) | Reasoning & Computer Apt, GA, English, Data | 155 | 200 | 160 minutes |
| Mains (Desc) | Essay + Letter | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Interview | Personal evaluation | – | 100 | – (face-to-face) |
Tips to Remember
- Prepare separately for each Prelims section since cut-offs apply section-wise
- In Mains, both accuracy and speed matter—focus on time management
- Practice essay and letter writing to score well in the Descriptive Test
- Improve communication and banking awareness for the interview
- Accuracy is crucial—avoid guesswork due to negative marking
IBPS PO Recruitment 2025 – Apply Online for 5,208 Probationary Officer Posts
