Pariksha SaathiIBPS PO 2026: exam pattern, marks, negative marking, age limit
Every figure on this page is copied from an official document linked next to it, with the date we last checked it. Pattern, age limit and dates are from the CRP PO/MT-XVI (vacancies of 2027-28) notification. Last verified: 15 October 2026.
At a glance
- Selection stages
- Preliminary Examination (Online) → Main Examination (Online) → Personality Test and Interview
- First stage: Questions / Marks / Time
- 100 / 100 / 60 min
- Negative marking
- One-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for an unanswered question.
- First stage dates
- 22 August 2026 to 23 August 2026
- Tentative vacancies
- 7,565 (as on 27 August 2026)
Weekly live mock: Sunday, 8 November 2026, 10:00–12:00 IST · 50 questions in 60 minutes, one paper for everyone · Sit it in the Android app →
Exam pattern
Preliminary Examination (Online)
Preliminary Examination (Objective Test)
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Marks | Time (min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 1 | 30 | 20 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | — | 30 | 20 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | — | 40 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 |
Time allowed: 60 minutes. Each test is separately timed (20 minutes). Candidates eligible for a scribe and registered for compensatory time get 20 minutes for every hour of the examination, or as otherwise advised. Negative marking: One-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for an unanswered question. This part is qualifying only: it does not add to the merit score.
- The notice prints marks per test, not per question: 30 marks for the 35 Quantitative Aptitude questions and 40 marks for the 35 Reasoning Ability questions. The per-question figures in the table are marks divided by questions.
- Objective multiple-choice test. English Language is set in English; Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability are in English and Hindi.
- A candidate has to qualify in each of the three tests by securing the minimum cut-off marks decided by IBPS. An adequate number of candidates in each category, as decided by IBPS, is shortlisted for the Main Examination. Only Main Examination marks count towards the final merit.
- When the exam is held in several sessions, corrected scores are normalised using the equi-percentile method.
Main Examination (Online)
Main Examination: Objective Tests
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Marks | Time (min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 1.50 | 60 | 45 |
| General / Economy / Banking Awareness / Digital / Financial Awareness including RBI circulars | 50 | 1.20 | 60 | 35 |
| English Language | 40 | 0.50 | 20 | 35 |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 40 | 1.50 | 60 | 45 |
| Total | 170 | 200 | 160 |
Time allowed: 160 minutes. Each test is separately timed. With the 30-minute descriptive paper the notice gives the Main Examination duration as 3 hours 10 minutes. Candidates eligible for a scribe and registered for compensatory time get 20 minutes for every hour, or as otherwise advised. Negative marking: One-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for an unanswered question.
- The notice prints marks per test, not per question; the per-question figures in the table are marks divided by questions. The tests are not taken in this sequence.
- Reasoning, the awareness test and Data Analysis and Interpretation are in English and Hindi; English Language is in English.
- A candidate needs a minimum score in each test and a minimum total score to be shortlisted for the Personality Test and Interview; cut-offs depend on the number of vacancies. Only Main Examination marks are used for shortlisting and final merit, and they are not shared with candidates before the interview process is complete.
Main Examination: Descriptive Paper (Essay and Comprehension)
Time allowed: 30 minutes. Marks: 25.
- 2 questions (essay and comprehension), 25 marks, answered in English, 30 minutes.
- May be broadly based on economic and social issues, emerging trends in banking and technology, current events, ethics and similar topics. The notice says it may be evaluated by an automated scoring mechanism for writing-proficiency features.
- The notice does not say how these 25 marks are combined with the 200 objective marks.
Personality Test and Interview
Personality Test (self-report)
This part is qualifying only: it does not add to the merit score.
- Candidates who qualify in the Main Examination are called for a Personality Test. The personality profile is placed before the interview panel.
- The notice calls it non-qualifying: it adds no marks to the merit, but appearing is mandatory to be eligible for the interview. It may be held in proctored mode or at identified centres, as IBPS decides.
Interview
Marks: 100.
- Minimum qualifying marks in the interview will not be less than 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates).
- The relative weightage of the Online Main Examination and the interview is 80:20. The final score combines the two, and a candidate must qualify in both and rank high enough in merit for provisional allotment.
- Interviews are conducted by the participating banks and coordinated by the nodal bank in each State/UT/region, at selected centres.
Source: Notification: CRP PO/MT-XVI, Common Recruitment Process for Recruitment of Probationary Officers/Management Trainees in Participating Banks (Vacancies of 2027-28), dated 1 July 2026 ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
Free IBPS PO mock tests in this official pattern →
Syllabus: subjects tested
The subjects in short, as the official syllabus lists them. The exam body's own notification is final.
- Reasoning (& Computer Aptitude in Mains)
- Puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism, coding-decoding, inequalities, and basic computer-aptitude topics at the Mains stage.
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Number series, simplification, quadratic equations, data interpretation, and arithmetic word problems.
- English Language
- Reading comprehension, cloze test, error spotting, sentence rearrangement, and vocabulary.
- General / Banking / Economy Awareness
- Banking terms and regulations, financial and economic current affairs, and general static GK relevant to the sector.
Full syllabus, stage by stage → · Official website ↗
Age limit and qualification
20 to 30 years as on 1 July 2026 (born between 2 July 1996 and 1 July 2006, both dates inclusive). Upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), 10 years for persons with benchmark disabilities and 5 years for eligible ex-servicemen, commissioned officers, ECOs and SSCOs who meet the service conditions in the notice. Age is counted as on 1 July 2026.
| Posts | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Probationary Officer / Management Trainee | A degree (graduation) in any discipline from a university recognised by the Government of India, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. The final result must have been declared on or before 21 July 2026. |
Candidates must reach the minimum cut-off marks IBPS sets for each Preliminary test, and a minimum score in each Main test and in the Main total. Interview: minimum qualifying marks not less than 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD).
Source: Notification: CRP PO/MT-XVI, Common Recruitment Process for Recruitment of Probationary Officers/Management Trainees in Participating Banks (Vacancies of 2027-28), dated 1 July 2026 ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
Important dates
| Event | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Online registration and payment of fees | 1 July 2026 to 21 July 2026 | official notice ↗ |
| Online Preliminary Examination (tentative, per IBPS calendar of 16 January 2026) | 22 August 2026 to 23 August 2026 | official notice ↗ |
| Result of Online Preliminary Examination | September 2026 (tentative, per the notification) | official notice ↗ |
| Online Main Examination (tentative, per IBPS calendar of 16 January 2026) | 4 October 2026 | official notice ↗ |
| Result of Online Main Examination | November 2026 (tentative, per the notification) | official notice ↗ |
| Personality Test | November 2026 (tentative, per the notification) | official notice ↗ |
| Interview | November / December 2026 (tentative, per the notification) | official notice ↗ |
| Provisional allotment | January 2027 (tentative, per the notification) | official notice ↗ |
Source: Notification: CRP PO/MT-XVI, Common Recruitment Process for Recruitment of Probationary Officers/Management Trainees in Participating Banks (Vacancies of 2027-28), dated 1 July 2026 ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
Source: Tentative vacancies ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
Practice questions by section
Free questions, each with its answer, in the subjects this exam tests. Every topic opens a list of question pages.
Reasoning
- Syllogism 115 questions
- Blood Relations 89 questions
- Coding-Decoding 88 questions
- Analogy 39 questions
- Direction Sense 38 questions
- Seating Arrangement 29 questions
- Calendar 19 questions
- Clock 19 questions
Computer Knowledge
Quantitative Aptitude
- Geometry: Lines and Triangles 24 questions
- Number System 21 questions
- Percentage 21 questions
- Trigonometry 20 questions
- Boat and Stream 19 questions
- Mensuration: 2D 16 questions
- Permutation and Combination 15 questions
- Probability — Tier II 15 questions
English
- Error Spotting 94 questions
- Fill in the Blanks 56 questions
- Sentence Improvement 52 questions
- Cloze Test 38 questions
- Direct and Indirect Speech 30 questions
- One Word Substitution 19 questions
- Degrees of Comparison 13 questions
- Active and Passive Voice 12 questions
General Studies
- General Science 480 questions
- Static General Knowledge 240 questions
- Indian Geography 239 questions
- Physical and World Geography 239 questions
- Indian Polity and Constitution 238 questions
- Environment and Ecology 237 questions
- Modern Indian History and Freedom Struggle 235 questions
- Indian Art and Culture 234 questions
General Awareness
All practice questions by topic →
Free notes (PDF)
Notes for every topic in this exam’s syllabus, one PDF per subject: each lesson ends with a quick-revision box, and each PDF ends with a revision sheet. Written by an AI assistant and not reviewed by a subject-matter expert.
- Quantitative Aptitude (89 pages, 1.1 MB)
- Reasoning (74 pages, 954 KB)
- English (65 pages, 819 KB)
- General Awareness (208 pages, 2.3 MB)
- Computer Knowledge (18 pages, 314 KB)
- Descriptive, interview and physical tests (22 pages, 339 KB)
Latest notices
- IBPS PO/MT-XVI: Preliminary exam scores releasedresult · 1 October 2026
- IBPS PO/MT-XVI: prelims result declared, Main exam call letter releasedadmit card · 26 September 2026
- IBPS releases updated vacancies for PO/MT-XVI recruitmentnotification · 19 September 2026
IBPS PO admit card, result and answer key: every notice →
Recent current affairs for this exam
- TRAI releases Telecommunication Interconnection (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026: shift to LSA-level and IP-based interconnection, effective 1 January 20273 November 2026
- India to pursue solution-oriented and equitable climate action at UNFCCC COP31 in Antalya: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav3 November 2026
- Coal Ministry's Coal Controller Organisation develops SUVIKALP, a digital mine repurposing tool for closed and abandoned mines3 November 2026
- NITI Aayog and TEXMiN sign a Joint Statement of Intent to strengthen India's critical minerals ecosystem3 November 2026
- APEDA facilitates trial export of 1.5 MT of Arunachal Pradesh kiwi from Ziro to Dubai3 November 2026
Prepare
- Exam calendar: official dates across every exam
- Syllabus and subjects tested
- Job profile and salary
- Free lessons
- Start practising
Frequently asked questions
What are the selection stages of IBPS PO?
Preliminary Examination (Online) → Main Examination (Online) → Personality Test and Interview, as per the CRP PO/MT-XVI (vacancies of 2027-28) notification.
How many questions are in the IBPS PO first stage?
Preliminary Examination (Online): 100 questions for 100 marks in 60 minutes, as per the CRP PO/MT-XVI (vacancies of 2027-28) notification.
Is there negative marking in IBPS PO?
Preliminary Examination (Online), as per the CRP PO/MT-XVI (vacancies of 2027-28) notification: One-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for an unanswered question.
Is there negative marking in IBPS PO Main Examination?
Main Examination (Online), as per the CRP PO/MT-XVI (vacancies of 2027-28) notification: One-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for an unanswered question.
Which parts of the IBPS PO exam are qualifying?
As per the CRP PO/MT-XVI (vacancies of 2027-28) notification, these are qualifying: Preliminary Examination (Online): Preliminary Examination (Objective Test); Personality Test and Interview: Personality Test (self-report).
What is the age limit for IBPS PO?
20 to 30 years as on 1 July 2026 (born between 2 July 1996 and 1 July 2006, both dates inclusive). Upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), 10 years for persons with benchmark disabilities and 5 years for eligible ex-servicemen, commissioned officers, ECOs and SSCOs who meet the service conditions in the notice. Age is counted as on 1 July 2026.
What qualification do I need for IBPS PO?
Probationary Officer / Management Trainee: A degree (graduation) in any discipline from a university recognised by the Government of India, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. The final result must have been declared on or before 21 July 2026.
Can final-year students apply for IBPS PO?
As per the CRP PO/MT-XVI (vacancies of 2027-28) notification: A degree (graduation) in any discipline from a university recognised by the Government of India, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. The final result must have been declared on or before 21 July 2026.
What are the minimum qualifying marks in IBPS PO?
Candidates must reach the minimum cut-off marks IBPS sets for each Preliminary test, and a minimum score in each Main test and in the Main total. Interview: minimum qualifying marks not less than 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD).
How many vacancies are there in IBPS PO?
7,565 tentative vacancies for CRP PO/MT-XVI (vacancies of 2027-28), as officially published on 27 August 2026.
What are the IBPS PO first-stage exam dates?
Preliminary Examination (Online): 22 August 2026 to 23 August 2026, as per the CRP PO/MT-XVI (vacancies of 2027-28) notification.
Which subjects does the IBPS PO exam test?
The official syllabus lists: Reasoning (& Computer Aptitude in Mains); Quantitative Aptitude; English Language; General / Banking / Economy Awareness.
Source: Notification: CRP PO/MT-XVI, Common Recruitment Process for Recruitment of Probationary Officers/Management Trainees in Participating Banks (Vacancies of 2027-28), dated 1 July 2026 ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
How this page is made
These facts are transcribed from the official documents linked above and checked against them on the date shown. If anything here differs from the official notification, the official notification is right. Please tell us through the Contact page. See also our editorial standards. Contact · Editorial standards