IBPS PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026 (Prelims, Mains, Interview)

IBPS PO Recruitment is conducted in three stages- Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The candidate has to qualify in each stage to get shortlisted for the vacancies. To ace the IBPS PO Exam, it is necessary to know the Exam pattern and detailed syllabus of this exam. This helps the candidates to prepare appropriately for the IBPS PO Exam. As per IBPS PO Notification 2026, the pattern for mains exam has been revised in terms of marks. Let’s understand the IBPS PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026 one by one. 

IBPS PO Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026

The officials have released the IBPS PO Syllabus & Exam Pattern for the IBPS PO exam. There is separate sectional timing for each section in the preliminary exam. IBPS PO 2026 Prelims and Mains exams will be conducted through online mode as a computer-based test. A candidate must clear each level of examination to get selected for the post of Probationary Officer in multiple Public Sector Banks.

IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2026 Changed

This year, IBPS has made the same revision in the IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern. Earlier, there were 145 questions (objective), which have now been increased to 170 in the main exam. However, the total marks remained the same, i.e., 200. Candidates who are going to appear for IBPS PO 2026 must know the exam pattern to prepare in the right direction.

IBPS PO Preliminary Exam Pattern 2026

• The IBPS PO preliminary examination will be conducted online and candidates are allocated a total duration of 1 hour to complete the preliminary exam.
• It consists of 3 sections with a total of 100 questions and a maximum score of 100 marks.
• There is negative marking in IBPS PO preliminary exam, and 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer attempted by a candidate.
• It is necessary to clear the cut-off in all 3 sections to qualify for the IBPS PO Main exam.

IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026 (NEW)

The Mains Exam carries maximum weightage in the final selection. The main exam consists of MCQs and a descriptive paper. There are 172 questions for 225 marks. Check all details below.

• Descriptive Paper: Essay + Comprehension (25 marks, 30 minutes)
• Total objective duration: 160 minutes
• Total exam duration (including descriptive): 190 minutes (3 hrs 10 min)
• Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies to the objective test only
• There will be a penalty of 0.25 marks for wrong answers marked in the Objective Tests.

IBPS PO Descriptive Test

A descriptive paper has been introduced in IBPS PO 2026 mains exam, similar to SBI PO. Candidates must score the minimum cut-off in the descriptive section for it to count in merit.

IBPS PO 2026 Interview Process

Candidates who qualify for the Mains Exam are finally called for the Interview Process by IBPS. The Interview Process will constitute of 100 marks and the minimum marks for qualifying this round will be 40% which is reduced to 35% for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/PWD categories.

Penalty for Wrong Answers:

0.25 marks will be deducted for every question attempted wrong by a candidate in both IBPS PO 2026 Preliminary Exam and IBPS PO Mains Exam. There will be no deduction of marks for a question left blank/unattempted by a candidate.

Final Selection

The final selection of the candidate for the post of Probationary Officer will be made by taking into consideration the cumulative score of Mains Exam and the interview process.

The weightage of both these phases of examination will be in the ratio 80:20 respectively. A merit list will be generated after the Interview Process of the IBPS PO 2026 Exam has been conducted. Candidates who make it to the list will be thus offered the joining letter by the Bank of their choice.

IBPS PO 2026 Notification Out for 7365 Posts- Click to Check

IBPS PO Syllabus 2026

To ace the IBPS PO 2026 exam, it is really necessary to know the detailed IBPS PO syllabus. The syllabus is a bit different for the IBPS PO Preliminary Exam and IBPS PO Mains Exam. Let’s have a look at the syllabus of both these phases of the IBPS PO Exam:

Q. What type of DI questions are asked in the IBPS PO 2026 exam?

Ans: Data Interpretation (DI) questions can be asked from Table DI, Bar DI, caselet DI & Pie Chart.

Q. What Type Seating Arrangement & Puzzles questions are asked in IBPS PO exam?

• Circle Seating Arrangement
• Linear seating Arrangement
• Designation Based puzzle
• Floor-Based Puzzle
• Box-Based Puzzle
• Parallel row seating arrangement
• Square/Rectangular Arrangement
• Floor & Flat Puzzle
• Day/Date/Month Puzzle
• Year/Age Puzzle

IBPS PO Mains Syllabus 2026

The main exam is the important phase of the IBPS PO Mains Exam. Maximum weightage is given to the score obtained by the candidate in the IBPS PO Mains Exam in the final selection to the post of Probationary Officer. The Mains Examination of IBPS PO consists of 4 + 1 sections: Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude & General Awareness. IBPS has introduced a descriptive paper in its mains exam for the selection of candidates for the post of Probationary Officer.

Reasoning & Computer Aptitude

• Complex Puzzles
• Circular Seating Arrangement
• Linear Seating Arrangement
• Double Lineup
• Scheduling
• Syllogism
• Input-Output
• Code Inequalities
• Blood Relations
• Directions & Distances
• Ordering & Ranking
• Data Sufficiency
• Verbal Reasoning
• Coding-Decoding
• Computer Fundamentals
• Operating Systems
• MS Office
• Computer Hardware & Software
• Networking Basics
• Internet & Keyboard Shortcuts
• Computer Abbreviations
• Memory

Data Analysis & Interpretation

• Data Interpretation (DI)
• Caselet DI
• Missing DI
• Simplification
• Average
• Percentage
• Ratio & Proportion
• Mixture & Allegations
• Quadratic Equations
• Interest (SI & CI)
• Problems of Ages
• Profit & Loss
• Number Series
• Speed, Distance & Time
• Time & Work
• Mensuration & Geometry
• Number System
• Data Sufficiency
• Linear Equations
• Permutation, Combination & Probability

General/Economy/Banking Awareness (incl. Digital & Financial Awareness + RBI Circulars)

Tip: The GA section carries 50 marks in Mains. Focus on the last 6 months of banking/financial current affairs, RBI circulars, and government schemes. This section can be your score booster, as it requires no calculation.

English Language

• Reading Comprehension (RC)
• Vocabulary (Contextual)
• Grammar
• Cloze Test
• Para Jumbles
• Fill in the Blanks
• Error Detection
• Sentence Improvement
• Word Swap
• Column-Based Questions
• Sentence Connectors
• Phrase Replacement
• Idioms & Phrases
• Para Completion
• One Word Substitution

Final Score Calculation for IBPS PO Exam

The final score for the IBPS PO exam is calculated keeping the following points in mind:

• Marks obtained in the Preliminary Exam (Tier-1) will not be considered in the final score and are only for qualifying to Mains Exam (Tier-2).

• Candidates must qualify for Phase-2 and the Interview separately to be eligible for the final merit.

• The weightage (ratio) of the IBPS PO Main exam and interview for the final merit list will be 80:20, respectively.

• The aggregate score out of 100 is used for the final merit list for each category. Candidates with top merit rank in each category are finally selected.

Attempt IBPS PO Mock Test to Maximise Your Scores