IBPS PO tricks & mnemonics — save minutes on exam day
Subject-wise short tricks and memory hacks for IBPS Probationary Officer (Prelims). Each one is meant to be used in the exam hall — read it, then lock it in with a quick practice question.
Alligation rule — (Cheaper quantity)/(Dearer quantity) = (Mean price - Cheaper price)/(Dearer price - Mean price). Cross-subtract for ratio.
SI vs CI difference — For 2 years at R%, difference = P×(R/100)². For ₹10,000 at 10%: difference=₹100.
Speed-Distance base conversions — km/h to m/s: multiply by 5/18. m/s to km/h: multiply by 18/5. Essential for quick conversions.
Time-Work inverse rule — If A does work in x days and B in y days, together they finish in (x×y)/(x+y) days.
Ages difference constant — Age difference between two people never changes. If A is 5 years older today, A remains 5 years older always.
Profit percentage formula — Profit% = (Profit/CP)×100. Loss% = (Loss/CP)×100. Always on Cost Price, not Selling Price.
Average addition/removal — New average = Old average ± (difference/number of items). When one item changes, adjust proportionally.
Reasoning Ability
EJOTY alphabet positions — E=5, J=10, O=15, T=20, Y=25. Every 5th letter for quick position reference.
Blood relation gender markers — Mother's/Father's side determines maternal/paternal. Spouse's parents become in-laws. Only child's parents = no siblings for them.
Direction net displacement — North-South cancel out; East-West cancel out. Track separately: (+N/-S) and (+E/-W), then apply Pythagoras if needed.
Coding-Decoding letter shift — If A→C (forward 2), apply same shift consistently. For reverse: Z→X (backward 2). Pattern must be uniform.
AI-curated from widely-used exam techniques — always sanity-check a trick on a practice question before relying on it in the hall.
Tricks stick when you USE them
Take a free IBPS PO mock right now — apply these tricks under the clock and see your speed jump. No signup needed to try a 5-question quiz.
Inequality sign reversal — When multiplying/dividing by negative number, flip the sign. Otherwise, treat like normal algebra.
Seating arrangement compass — In circular: clockwise=right, anticlockwise=left. In linear: fix one person first as anchor, build others relative to them.
Puzzle elimination method — Use definite statements first to create fixed slots. Negative information ("A is not with B") eliminates possibilities faster.
Floor/Building number trick — Ground floor = 0 in most questions unless specified. Count carefully: between 3rd and 7th = 3 floors (4th, 5th, 6th).