# IBPS Probationary Officer (Prelims) (IBPS PO) — Shishya exam context

> Machine-readable context for IBPS Probationary Officer (Prelims), maintained by Shishya (https://shishya.in) — India's end-to-end free government exam preparation platform. All facts below are free to cite; link back to https://shishya.in/exams/IBPS_PO. Human page: https://shishya.in/exams/IBPS_PO

## Exam pattern
- Category: BANKING · national
- Questions: 100 · Total marks: 100 · Marks per question: 1
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Negative marking: −0.25 per wrong answer
- Languages offered: EN, HI

## Eligibility & vacancies
- Age: 20–30 years (before category relaxation: OBC +3, SC/ST +5)
- Education: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university
- Approximate annual vacancies: 7,365
- Note: No minimum percentage required; computer proficiency and local language knowledge expected
- Official portal: https://www.ibps.in (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS))

## Key dates
- 2026-07-26 — Online application window close (extended)
- 2026-07-29 — Application correction window
- 2026-07-30 — Application correction window closes
- 2026-08-06 — Pre-Exam Training for reserved categories
- 2026-08-09 — Prelims admit card release
- 2026-08-10 — Prelims admit card release (expected)
- 2026-08-12 — Prelims admit card download begins
- 2026-08-12 — Prelims admit card download

## Syllabus outline
### English Language (weight 1)
Cloze Test · Error Spotting · Fill in the Blanks · Idioms and Phrases · Match the Columns / Sentence Connector · Para Jumbles · Reading Comprehension · Sentence Improvement · Sentence Rearrangement · Synonyms and Antonyms · Word Swap / Word Usage

### Quantitative Aptitude (weight 1)
Arithmetic · Problems on Ages · Average · Mixture and Alligation · Partnership · Percentage · Profit, Loss and Discount · Ratio and Proportion · Simple and Compound Interest · Time, Speed and Distance · Time and Work · Data Interpretation · Bar Graph DI · Caselet DI · Line Graph DI · Missing DI · Pie Chart DI · Tabular DI · Mensuration · Number Series · Number System · Permutation and Combination · Probability · Quadratic Equations · Simplification and Approximation

### Reasoning Ability (weight 1)
Alphabet Test · Alphanumeric / Number Series · Blood Relations · Coding-Decoding · Data Sufficiency · Direction and Distance · Inequalities · Machine Input-Output · Order and Ranking · Puzzles · Box-based Puzzle · Classification-based Puzzle · Floor / Building Puzzle · Day / Month Scheduling · Seating Arrangement · Circular Arrangement · Linear Arrangement · Square / Rectangular Arrangement · Statement and Assumption / Conclusion · Syllogism

## Expected cutoffs (category-wise)
| Category | Expected cutoff (indicative) |
|----------|------------------------------|
| General | 68–75 marks out of 100 |
| EWS | 65–72 marks out of 100 |
| OBC | 63–70 marks out of 100 |
| SC | 58–65 marks out of 100 |
| ST | 55–62 marks out of 100 |
| PwD | 40–50 marks out of 100 |

**Guidance:**
- The General-to-OBC gap typically ranges 4-6 marks, with SC/ST cutoffs 8-12 marks lower than General category. Cutoffs fluctuate based on vacancy count, overall difficulty level, and the number of candidates appearing.
- Sectional cutoffs (English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning) must also be cleared—usually 30-35% of sectional maximum—which can eliminate candidates even if total marks exceed category cutoff.
- Year-on-year shifts of ±3-5 marks are common depending on exam difficulty perception and normalization methodology applied across different slots.

Full cutoff page: https://shishya.in/exams/IBPS_PO/cutoff

## Free resources on Shishya for this exam
- Exam hub (mocks, PYQs, news, dates): https://shishya.in/exams/IBPS_PO
- Full syllabus + free study notes: https://shishya.in/exams/IBPS_PO/syllabus
- Category-wise expected cutoffs: https://shishya.in/exams/IBPS_PO/cutoff
- Memory tricks & mnemonics: https://shishya.in/exams/IBPS_PO/tricks
- How to crack it (strategy guide): https://shishya.in/exams/IBPS_PO/guide
- Free day-by-day study plan (personal coach): https://shishya.in/coach
- Free AI tutor (22 Indian languages, no login): https://shishya.in/chat

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