IBPS PO & Clerk Syllabus: Prelims & Mains Exam Pattern and Topics

By Pamela Lee
February 9, 2026
5 Min
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IBPS PO & Clerk Syllabus 2025: Prelims & Mains Exam Pattern and Topics

If you’re asking about the IBPS PO & Clerk Syllabus for 2025, here’s the deal: both exams have distinct Prelims and Mains stages. Each stage tests three or four core areas with specific timing, negative marking, and a descriptive section (for PO). Read on for a complete breakdown.

IBPS PO Examination Structure: Prelims & Mains Demystified

IBPS PO Prelims Overview

The Preliminary exam is simple and quick—just 60 minutes, three sections: English, Quant, Reasoning. It’s 100 questions, 100 marks, with 0.25 negative for each wrong answer. Specifically:
– English: 30 questions (30 marks, 20 min)
– Quantitative Aptitude: 35 questions (30 marks, 20 min)
– Reasoning Ability: 35 questions (40 marks, 20 min)

IBPS PO Mains Layout

Mains gets heavier and more involved. Objective part spans 145 questions, 200 marks, in 160 minutes—all timed by section—plus a 30-minute, 25‑mark descriptive English test. Sections:
– Reasoning & Computer Aptitude: 40 Qs (60 marks, 50 min)
– General/Economy/Banking Awareness (incl. Digital & RBI circulars): 35 Qs (50 marks, 25 min)
– English Language: 35 Qs (40 marks, 40 min)
– Data Analysis & Interpretation: 35 Qs (50 marks, 45 min)

It’s streamlined from earlier patterns—questions dropped, but sections got sharper.

Sections are separately timed, and negative marking of 0.25 exists across both phases.

IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern Simplified

Prelims (Clerk)

Clerk Prelims mirrors PO’s prelims: 100 questions, 60 minutes, three subjects:
– English: 30 marks
– Numerical Ability: 35 marks
– Reasoning: 35 marks
Negative marking also applies (0.25).

Prelims is just qualifying—marks don’t count toward final merit.

Clerk Mains Structure

More breadth here, but tighter time:
– Reasoning & Computer Aptitude: 40 Q (60 marks, 35 min)
– English Language: 40 Q (40 marks, 35 min)
– Quantitative Aptitude: 35 Q (50 marks, 30 min)
– General/Financial Awareness: 40 Q (50 marks, 20 min)
Total: 155 Qs, 200 marks, 120 minutes.

What to Expect: Section‑Wise Syllabus Highlights

PO Prelims Topics

English: Reading Comprehension, Cloze, Error Spotting, Para Jumbles, Vocabulary
Reasoning: Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Inequalities, Coding‑Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction, Series, Input‑Output, Data Sufficiency
Quant: Simplification, Approximation, Number Series, Profit & Loss, Interest, Speed‑Time‑Distance, Ratio & Proportion, Mixture, Probability, DI, Age, Work

PO Mains: Deeper Syllabus

Reasoning & Computer: As above plus Computer Basics, Networking, Internet, Input‑Output
General Awareness: Economy, Banking, RBI circulars, Digital & Financial Awareness, Current Affairs
Data DI: Graphs, Caselets, Probability, Permutation & Combination
English: Comprehension, Spotting Errors, Fill‑in, Para Jumbles, Vocabulary
Descriptive: Essay & Letter Writing

Clerk Detailed Syllabus (Mains)

Reasoning & Computer: Similar topics as PO
English: RC, Cloze, Error Spotting, Jumbles, Vocabulary, Idioms & Phrases
Numerical: DI, Simplification, QA, Mensuration, Averages, Equations, Probability, Permutation & Combination
General Awareness: Financial basics, Computer fundamentals, Banking terms; no descriptive part though

Why These Updates Matter

Exam patterns keep evolving. Latest changes show a shift toward:
– Fewer questions
– Tighter timings
– Section‑wise time limits
– Inclusion of digital and financial literacy

This means candidates must shift strategies—focus on high‑yield topics, incremental pace, timed drills, and strong awareness of banking/economic news in real time.

Real Talk: What Aspirants Are Feeling

One aspirant shared on a forum how repeated setbacks in IBPS PO and Clerk cycles led to doubt and a fallback to private sector prep. They said:

“I have attempted a lot in English which I think can lead to negative marking… I wonder what should I do.”

This shows—apart from syllabus mastery, resilience and adaptability matter. Your prep must include timed mocks, error analysis, GA updates, and mental grit.

Quick Reference Table

Expert Insight

“With updated exam patterns, the focus has shifted to precision and banking awareness rather than just speed. A balanced prep that integrates current affairs and data interpretation will give candidates an edge.”

Conclusion

You’ve got it—IBPS PO and Clerk for 2025 now have compact, sharply timed prelims, and more detailed mains. PO mains adds a descriptive test; Clerk does not. Both include reasoning, language, quant, and financial/general awareness, with negative marks and sectional limits. Recent pattern changes demand smart, focused prep: timed practice, awareness reading, and topic mastery.

FAQs

What’s new in IBPS PO Prelims vs earlier years?

The marks for Quant have dropped from 35 to 30, while Reasoning’s increased to 40, with sectional timing of 20 minutes each.

Does IBPS Clerk have an interview round?

No. Clerk selection is based purely on Prelims (qualifying) and Mains scores. No interview stage.

Are there negative marks in both exams?

Yes. Both Prelims and Mains in PO and Clerk deduct 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer. No penalty for unattempted questions.

What’s the descriptive section in PO Mains?

It includes 2 tasks—essay and letter writing—that total 25 marks, with a 30‑minute limit. It tests clarity, structure, and expression.

How much time is allowed overall for PO Mains?

Objective part: 160 minutes (separately timed per section). Descriptive: another 30 minutes. Total ~190 minutes.

Stay sharp, prep smart, and don’t let pattern changes trip you up. You’ve got this.