Exams · IBPS PO
IBPS PO
IBPS PO Prelims exam ended 23 Aug 2026; Shishya's tracker has no announced date for the next exam yet. IBPS PO Preliminary Examination: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes, one fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer; a blank answer has no penalty (IBPS notice, 1 Jul 2026). Official site: ibps.in.
IBPS Probationary Officer (Prelims)
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection PO Prelims — 100 questions in 60 minutes on Reasoning, Quant, and English.
Free IBPS PO mock tests and previous year paper practice — start now.
Full-length mocks with instant scoring and solutions, PYQ-pattern papers, topic-wise tests and Ask Shishya when you're stuck. Your scores and a free day-by-day plan are saved to your account. All free, no credit card. Content is written with AI; dates marked Official link the conducting body's own site.
Updated 7 Oct 2026 ·Vacancy counts change every cycle — always confirm the exact number in the latest official notification before applying.
Sourced
Source: IBPS notice, 1 Jul 2026. How this works →
✦ Try a IBPS PO question — free, no signup
Reading ComprehensionRead the passage carefully and answer the question that follows: Financial inclusion remains a critical challenge for developing economies. In India, despite government initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, a significant portion of the rural population still lacks access to formal banking services. The barriers include physical distance to bank branches, low financial literacy, and complex documentation requirements. Microfinance institutions have emerged as important intermediaries, providing small loans to underserved communities. These institutions operate on a trust-based model, often requiring minimal paperwork and offering flexible repayment schedules. Their success demonstrates that tailored financial products can effectively address the needs of the economically disadvantaged. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
Tap an option to check your answer.
Start with a diagnostic
5 questions across the syllabus to see where you stand.
This becomes your exam: a Daily 5 email on mornings after you visit, and emails about your streak, live tests, exam date and result day, or after a week away. Each has an unsubscribe link.
🧩 Build your own mock — pick exact topics → · every mock readable in हिंदी + 17 languages inside the test
IBPS PO eligibility
Shishya's summary, as of 2026-05 — confirm the details on the official site ↗.
- Age
- 20 – 30 years (General)Reference date is 1 August of the exam year. Upper age relaxed by 3 yrs for OBC, 5 yrs for SC/ST, 10 yrs for PwBD.
- Education
- Bachelor's degree (any discipline) from a recognised university.
- The degree must be complete by the registration deadline — final-year students cannot apply.
- Working knowledge of computer is required (Class X computer, or any diploma in computer applications).
- Attempts
- No attempt limit other than the upper age cap.
- Nationality
- Indian citizen, Nepal/Bhutan subject, Tibetan refugee (pre-1962), or PIO with eligibility certificate.
IBPS PO cutoffs
Historical cutoffs are a guide, not a prediction. Use them to set a realistic target, not to predict next year's exact number.
Prelims cutoff — overall (qualifying for Mains)
out of 100 marksSectional cutoffs apply too (Reasoning / Quant / English) — typically 7-10 marks each section.
| Year | Category | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | General | 59.50 – 63.25 |
| 2024 | OBC | 57.25 – 60.50 |
| 2024 | EWS | 58.75 – 62.00 |
| 2024 | SC | 52.50 – 55.75 |
| 2024 | ST | 47.00 – 52.50 |
Source: official ↗ · as of 2026-05.
IBPS PO paper analysis — what actually got asked
Topic-by-topic weightage averaged across 2022-2024 papers. Use this to decide where to invest study hours, not where to skim. Source ↗ · as of 2026-05.
Reasoning Ability
30/100 marks avg
Puzzles + Seating Arrangements
~14 marks(14%)Inequality + Syllogism + Coding
~10 marks(10%)Blood Relations + Direction + Order
~6 marks(6%)
Quantitative Aptitude
34/100 marks avg
Data Interpretation
~16 marks(16%)Arithmetic Word Problems
~10 marks(10%)Simplification + Number Series + Quadratic
~8 marks(8%)
English Language
22/100 marks avg
Reading Comprehension
~8 marks(8%)Cloze Test + Error Spotting + Para Jumble
~8 marks(8%)Vocabulary + Phrase Replacement
~6 marks(6%)
Takeaways for prep planning
- Speed is the differentiator at Prelims — most candidates know the content; clearing the cutoff is about attempting ~25-28 questions per section in 20 minutes.
- Puzzles and DI together carry ~30% of the paper and reward consistent daily practice more than last-mile cramming.
- Sectional cutoffs mean you can't trade off — a candidate strong only in Quant will fail the Reasoning cutoff. Balanced section-wise prep is mandatory.
IBPS PO salary after selection
Approximate starting gross at an X-class (metro) posting. Actual pay depends on post, city, year of joining and prevailing DA.
Probationary Officer (Junior Management Grade Scale 1)
- Basic pay
- ₹48,480
- Gross monthly
- ₹57,000 – ₹65,000 (metro, after probation, including DA + HRA + special allowance + transport)
- Perks
- DA (revised quarterly)
- HRA / leased accommodation
- Medical reimbursement
- Pension under NPS
- LTC every 2 years
- Newspaper, mobile, briefcase allowances
Source: official ↗ · as of 2026-05.
IBPS PO — Frequently asked questions
Is Shishya free for IBPS PO preparation?
How many IBPS PO practice questions does Shishya have?
Are IBPS PO previous year question papers available?
How long is the IBPS PO exam?
What is the exam pattern of IBPS PO?
Is there negative marking in IBPS PO?
In which languages is IBPS PO conducted?
What is the expected cutoff for IBPS PO?
Is there a full-length IBPS PO mock test in the real exam pattern?
Can I build a topic-wise IBPS PO mock test?
How can I prepare for IBPS PO for free?
Previous year papers
100 questions across all yearsPrevious year paper practice: each year is a set of PYQ-pattern questions — freshly worded in the pattern of that year's paper, not the paper itself. Every card shows how many it holds against the real paper's count.
2025
21 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2025 paper (which had 100)
Practise these →2024
20 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2024 paper (which had 100)
Practise these →2023
20 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2023 paper (which had 100)
Practise these →2022
20 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2022 paper (which had 100)
Practise these →2021
19 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2021 paper (which had 100)
Practise these →
Mock tests
Take any mock in your preferred language — use the language picker inside the mock to switch (Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, and 15 more).
IBPS PO — Quantitative Aptitude Drill
SUBJECT15 questions · 20 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — Reasoning Ability Drill
SUBJECT15 questions · 20 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — English Language Drill
SUBJECT15 questions · 20 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — Full Length Practice
FULL100 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — Full Mock 1
FULL100 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — Full Mock 2
FULL100 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — Full Mock 3
FULL100 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — Full Mock 4
FULL100 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — Full Mock 5
FULL100 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — Full Mock 6
FULL100 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — Full Mock 7
FULL100 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — Full Mock 8
FULL100 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — Full Mock 9
FULL100 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — Full Mock 10
FULL100 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — 2025 PYQ-pattern set (20 of 100 questions)
SET20 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — 2022 PYQ-pattern set (20 of 100 questions)
SET20 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — 2024 PYQ-pattern set (20 of 100 questions)
SET20 questions · 60 min
Start mock →IBPS PO — Full-Length Mock (Real Pattern: 100Q · 60 min)
FULL100 questions · 60 min
Start mock →
Practice by subject & topic
Full-length subject tests below — 25 questions each, real exam format, instant scoring.Want to drill a single topic? Open it from the syllabus — a topic that has practice questions has a short quiz on its page.
English Language
91 QsQuantitative Aptitude
61 QsReasoning Ability
99 Qs
🎯 Build my own mock
Tell Shishya exactly what to test you on — topics, size, difficulty — and get a fresh mock in seconds. Leave the box blank and we'll target your weakest topics.
Your rank
vs everyone who has taken this examTake a mock to see where you stand on the leaderboard.
Students
18
Mocks taken
77
Average score
31%
Top score
100%
What can I get from IBPS PO?
Mock-score → expected rank → likely outcome. Use the mocks below to find your current band, then plan how many marks you need to climb.
Top 5% — premium postings likely
88–100% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •Probationary Officer (State Bank of India) — high likelihood of preferred location/metro posting
- •Probationary Officer (any participating PSB of choice) — approximately 4,000-5,000 vacancies annually across all banks
- •Excellent chance of clearing all stages with focused Mains and interview prep
- •Career fast-track possible — PO to Assistant Manager in 2-3 years typically
- •Consider simultaneous prep for SBI PO (separate exam) and RBI Grade B for career options
Top-tier PSB prospects
78–88% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •Probationary Officer (State Bank of India) — SBI PO Grade A, largest public sector bank, extensive branch network
- •Probationary Officer (HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank via IBPS pool) — if participating that year
- •Probationary Officer (Punjab & Sind Bank, UCO Bank) — smaller banks, faster promotions often possible
- •Strong probability of final selection with adequate Mains and interview performance
- •Posting likely in metro/urban branches initially
Strong contenders — mid-tier PSBs
68–78% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •Probationary Officer (Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Union Bank) — pay scale JMGS-I, starting ~₹57,000/month CTC
- •Probationary Officer (Punjab National Bank, Bank of India) — Grade A officer cadre
- •Good chance of clearing Mains with consistent preparation
- •Competitive for interview stage
- •Focus on general awareness and banking knowledge for Mains
Safe Prelims qualification zone
55–68% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •Probationary Officer (Regional Rural Banks) — RRB officer cadre, scale I, pay level 5-6
- •Probationary Officer (smaller public sector banks) — Bank of Maharashtra, Central Bank, Indian Bank
- •Typically clears Prelims for all categories comfortably
- •Competitive for Mains but will need strong performance there
- •Prepare thoroughly for Mains descriptive paper and interview
Borderline — marginal qualification
40–55% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •May clear Prelims cut-off for SC/ST/OBC categories in some years
- •Borderline for General category — depends on exam difficulty and vacancy count
- •Probationary Officer (various public sector banks) — if qualified, likely lower-tier banks
- •Will need significant improvement for Mains exam
- •Focus on accuracy and speed to move into safe zone
Below cut-off range
0–40% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
AI-curated from historic cut-off patterns. Always verify with the latest official notification before making decisions.
News & timeline
See older updates →Latest news
IBPS declared the Prelims result on 23 September 2026. Qualified candidates can now appear for the Mains exam scheduled for 4 October 2026.
IBPS issued a corrigendum on 27 August 2026 revising the total indicative vacancies from 6,715 to 7,565 for CRP PO/MT-XVI.
IBPS released the Prelims admit card on 14 August 2026 for the examination held on 22 and 23 August 2026.
IBPS extended the online registration period from the original deadline of 21 July to 26 July 2026 through a corrigendum dated 21 July 2026.
Important dates
Prelims result status released (CRP PO/MT-XVI)
passedWed, 23 Sept, 2026
Officialibps.in ↗IBPS posted the result status of the online preliminary examination for CRP PO/MT-XVI on 23 Sep 2026; Mains call letters followed on 24 Sep 2026.
Mains Admit Card
passedThu, 24 Sept, 2026
Officialibps.in ↗Released 24 September 2026
Prelims answer key published
passedTue, 29 Sept, 2026
Reportedcareerpower.inOfficial answer key with candidate response sheet released, first time for IBPS PO
🏦Mains exam (CRP PO/MT-XVI, tentative)
passedSun, 4 Oct, 2026
Officialibps.in ↗IBPS Tentative Calendar 2026-27 (dated 16.01.2026). The Mains call letter is out (24 Sep 2026) — the date on it is final.
Mains result (expected)
35 days awaySun, 15 Nov, 2026
ExpectedNotification indicates November 2026; typically mid-month
Interview (expected)
51 days awayTue, 1 Dec, 2026
ExpectedScheduled for November/December 2026 per notification
Final result & provisional allotment (expected)
96 days awayFri, 15 Jan, 2027
ExpectedNotification indicates January 2027
Syllabus
Tap any topic for its study notes + a 10-question topic test
English Language
Reading Comprehension
Passage-based questions on banking, economy, and social topics — main idea, inference, vocabulary, and tone.
Cloze Test
Fill multiple blanks within a passage — single and double-fill variants used in IBPS PO Prelims.
Error Spotting
Identify the part of a sentence with a grammatical error — typical IBPS PO sentence-correction style.
Sentence Improvement
Choose the best alternative for an underlined part of the sentence.
Para Jumbles
Re-arrange jumbled sentences into a coherent paragraph; identify the correct opening or closing sentence.
Fill in the Blanks
Single and double-blank sentence completion testing vocabulary and grammar.
Sentence Rearrangement
Re-order parts of a single sentence into the most logical sequence.
Word Swap / Word Usage
Swap incorrectly placed words in a sentence; identify the right word from a set.
Match the Columns / Sentence Connector
Connect two sentence halves using the correct connector or phrase.
Synonyms and Antonyms
Word-meaning questions, often appearing within reading comprehension passages.
Idioms and Phrases
Meaning of common English idioms and phrasal verbs in context.
Quantitative Aptitude
Simplification and Approximation
BODMAS, fractions, decimals, square/cube roots — core 5-mark scoring topic in IBPS PO.
Number Series
Missing-number and wrong-term series — arithmetic, geometric, and mixed patterns.
Quadratic Equations
Compare two quadratic equations; relation between x and y.
Data Interpretation
Arithmetic
Permutation and Combination
Basic counting, arrangement, and selection problems.
Probability
Single-event probability — coins, dice, cards, balls in a bag.
Mensuration
Areas and volumes — rectangles, circles, cylinders, cones, spheres.
Number System
HCF/LCM, divisibility, factors, fractions and decimals.
Reasoning Ability
Puzzles
Seating Arrangement
Syllogism
Two- and three-statement deductions using all/some/no/only quantifiers; reverse syllogism.
Inequalities
Direct and coded inequalities — relation between A, B, C, D using >, <, =.
Coding-Decoding
Letter-letter, letter-number, and new-pattern symbol-based coding.
Blood Relations
Family-tree, generation-based, and pointing-style relation problems.
Direction and Distance
Compass-based movement and shortest-distance calculations.
Order and Ranking
Ranking from top/bottom, position-based, age-based ordering.
Alphanumeric / Number Series
Letter, number, and symbol series with operations applied.
Data Sufficiency
Decide whether the given statements are sufficient to answer the question.
Machine Input-Output
Step-by-step word/number rearrangement following a hidden rule.
Statement and Assumption / Conclusion
Logical inference from a given statement — IBPS-style critical reasoning.
Alphabet Test
Word-formation, letter-pair counting, position-based questions.