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The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released its notification for its flagship IBPS PO 2017 examination. If you have begun your preparation, use this Detailed Syllabus for IBPS PO Prelims as a guide to help you crack the first stage of this year’s examination! Get info about weightage and marks distribution for each topic and chapter in the Syllabus for IBPS PO Prelims. The Online Resource Guide is also a good system for you to figure out tonnes of free online study material and quizzes for IBPS PO.
IBPS PO Prelim Exam Pattern & Specifics
The Preliminary paper is distinguished by the fact that it has only three sections and is likely to be easier than the Main paper. However the 1 hour duration in which you need to attempt 100 questions ensures that the paper will be a competitive one. Here is the section-wise structure of the two papers.
Name of Section | No. of Qs. | Max Marks | Duration |
English Language |
30 | 30 | Composite Time of 1 hour |
Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | |
Reasoning Ability |
35 | 35 | |
TOTAL | 100 | 100 |
- BILINGUAL TEST: Every section (except English Language) in the paper will be available in Hindi as well.
- NEGATIVE MARKING: Each wrong answer deducts 0.25 of the marks assigned to that question from your total. In this case, since each question is worth 1 mark, you lose ¼ marks per wrong answer.
- CUT-OFFS: Each section has an individual cut-off. Besides this, there is a minimum overall score decided by the IBPS after the results are tallied, that you need to cross to move to the next round. Qualifying the Prelims in this way gets you to the Main Exam. And securing the Mains cut-off qualifies you for the Interview round.
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Detailed Syllabus for IBPS PO Prelims
Here is a subject-wise list of the Prelims syllabus. The list is classified in order of priority – important chapters first. The Nature of Questions tells you whether it is a scoring chapter or a tricky topic or a time consuming one.
#1. Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus for IBPS PO Prelims with Marks Distribution
Remember that these sections are not time-bound. You have only 60 minutes for the whole paper. It is easy to get stuck in Quant as you use long calculations to solve the problem. The real trick is to use shortcuts and quick mental calculations. You need to ensure that you complete the quant section in 20 minutes. Since it won’t be possible for you to solve all 35 questions in 30 minutes, you need to ensure you pick the right questions. So the trick is to recognize patterns in questions that tell you how easy or tough it will be.
Here are the different chapters covered under Quant according to the Syllabus for IBPS PO Prelims. Try to prepare these topics in the order mentioned.
(1) Simplification
- Weightage: 5 Questions
- Easy to Solve, Less Time Consuming, High Accuracy Possible.
- Question Types: BODMAS Rule, Approximation, Decimals, Fractions, Surds & Indices, Percentages etc.
(2) Average
- Weightage: 0 – 1 Questions
- Easy to Solve, Less Time Consuming, High Accuracy Possible.
- Question Types: Average Weight/Height/Age/Marks, Average Money Expenditure, Average Temperature etc. But the concept remains simple. We have to use a single formula i.e. Average = Sum of Quantities/Number of Quantities
(3) Percentage
- Weightage: 1 – 2 Questions
- Easy to Solve, Less Time Consuming, High Accuracy Possible.
- Question Types: Calculation-oriented basic percentage.
(4) Ratio and Proportion
- Weightage: 1 – 2 Questions
- Easy to Solve, Less Time Consuming, High Accuracy Possible.
- Question Types: Simple Ratios, Compound Ratios, Componendo and Dividendo, Direct & Indirect Proportions.
(5) Data Interpretation
- Weightage: 5-10 Questions (1-3 sets)
- Easy to Moderate in Difficulty, Moderately Time Consuming, High Accuracy Possible
- Question Types: Line Graphs, Bar Graphs, Pie Charts, Tables, Miscellaneous Infographics, Missing Data Type Caselets.
(6) Mensuration
- (6)Weightage: 1-3 Questions
- Easy to Moderate in Difficulty, Moderately Time Consuming, High Accuracy Possible.
- Question Types: Area/Volume of Square, Rectangle, Trapezium, Parallelogram, Rhombus, Circle, Semicircle, Triangle, Cone, Cylinder, Cube, Cuboid. Also, Moulding from one shape to another etc.
(7) Quadratic Equations
- Weightage: 0-5 Questions (as 1 set of 5 or will not appear at all)
- Scoring, Easy if Proper Steps Followed, Less Time Consuming.
- Question Types: Comparing values of x and y when two equations given.
(8) Interest
- Weightage: 1-2 Questions
- Scoring, Easy if Formulas & Proper Steps Followed, Moderately Time Consuming.
- Question Types: Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Mixed Interest, Installments.
(9) Problems on Ages
- Weightage: 0-1 Questions
- Scoring, Easy if Proper Steps Followed, Less Time Consuming.
- Question Types: Ages of family using algebra, ratio of ages, average of ages etc.
(10) Profit and Loss
- Weightage: 1-3 Questions
- Scoring, Easy if Proper Steps Followed, Moderately Time Consuming.
- Question Types: Successive Selling type questions, Partnerships, Discount & MP, Dishonest Dealings.
(11) Number Series
- Weightage: 5 Questions
- Scoring, Moderate in Difficulty, Moderately Time Consuming
- Question Types: Complete the Series, Find the Missing Term, Find the Wrong Term etc.
(12) Speed, Time and Distance
- Weightage: 1-3 Questions
- Moderate in Difficulty, Moderately Time Consuming
- Question Types: Relative Speed, Average Speed, Problems on Train, Boat & Stream.
(13) Time and Work
- Weightage: 1-2 Questions
- Moderate in Difficulty, Moderately Time Consuming
- Question Types: Work Efficiency, Work & Wages, Pipes & Cisterns etc.
(14) Number System
- Weightage: 0-1 Questions
- Could be tricky, Moderately time Consuming
- Question Types: Divisibility & Remainder, Multiples & Factors, Integers, LCM & HCF.
(15) Data Sufficiency
- Weightage: 0-5 Questions
- Moderate in Difficulty, Moderately Time Consuming, Tricky
- Question Types: DS questions based on Number System, Averages, Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Time Speed & Distance, Time & Work, Problems on Age, Mensuration, Mixtures & Alligations.
(16) Linear Equations
- Weightage: 0-1 Questions
- Could be tricky, Easy if Proper Steps Followed, Moderately Time Consuming
- Question Types: Basic linear equations with 1 or 2 variables.
(17) Permutation & Combination / Probability
- Weightage: 0-1 Questions
- Less Time Consuming, Scoring, Easy if all cases considered
- Question Types: Basic Selection & Arrangement Problems, Very basic problems on Probability.
(18) Mixtures & Alligations
- Weightage: 1 Question
- Tricky, Time Consuming
- Question Types: Mixture of two or more entities/mixtures, dishonest dealings.
#2. Reasoning Ability Syllabus for IBPS PO Prelims with Marks Distribution
The Reasoning Ability section is always key. Your performance in this section can be the make or break section. Give this section about 20 minutes. DO NOT GET STUCK ON ANY PROBLEM. Just move on if you cannot figure out a problem. The various topics expected in the Reasoning Ability section are as below:
(1) Coded Inequalities/ Mathematical Inequalities
- Weightage: 5 Questions (likely of Coded Inequalities)
- Scoring, Easy if Steps Followed properly, Moderately time consuming, High Accuracy possible.
- Question Types: Coded relations between letters to be decoded and solved.
(2) Syllogisms
- Weightage: 5 Questions
- Easy to Moderate in difficulty, Less time consuming, Moderate Accuracy possible, Very likely to appear.
- Question Types: Direct questions with 2-3 statements & 2-3 conclusions, possibility based questions, negative information based questions.
(3) Coding & Decoding
- Weightage: 5 Questions
- Moderate in Difficulty, Moderate to Highly Time Consuming, Moderate Accuracy possible.
- Question Types: Coding by Letter Shifting, Coding by Analogy, Coding in Fictitious Language, Coding Letters of a Word.
(4) Circular Seating Arrangement
- Weightage: 5 Questions
- Moderate to Difficult, Moderate to Highly Time Consuming, Moderate to High Accuracy possible, Requires clean charting with proper technique and step-by-step solving.
- Question Types: Uni- & Bi-directional problems on circular, square, rectangular, hexagonal tables. May be combined with other information to make it a Blood Relations or Double Lineup type problem as well.
(5) Linear Seating Arrangement
- Weightage: 5 Questions
- Moderate to Difficult, Could be tricky, Moderate to Highly Time Consuming, Moderate to High Accuracy possible, Requires clean charting with proper technique and step-by-step solving.
- Question Types: Single or Double rows facing each other/ away from each other/ in the same direction. May be combined with other information to make it a Blood Relations or Double Lineup type problem as well.
(6) Blood Relations
- Weightage: 2-4 Questions
- Moderate in difficulty, Low to Moderately time consuming, Moderate to High Accuracy possible, Requires clean charting with proper technique and step-by-step solving.
- Question Types: Family Tree Problems, Coded Blood Relations.
(7) Directions & Distances
- Weightage: 0-3 Questions
- Easy but could be tricky, Less time consuming, High Accuracy possible, Requires clean charting with proper technique and step-by-step solving.
- Question Types: Arranging by age, height, weight, rank, order in row etc.
(8) Ordering & Ranking
- Weightage: 2-5 Questions
- Easy to Moderate in difficulty, Less time consuming, High Accuracy possible.
- Question Types: Floor Based Puzzles, Arranging by age, height, weight, rank, order in row etc.
(9) Arrangement & Pattern
- Weightage: 0-5 Questions
- Easy to Moderate in difficulty, Less time consuming, High Accuracy possible.
- Question Types: Random Sequence of Alphabets (based on group of 5 terms each of 3 alphabets OR series of alphabets), Number Arrangements (based on group of 5 terms each of 3 digits OR series of numbers), Mixed Series Dictionary or Alphabet based Arrangements etc.
(10) Double Lineup
- Weightage: 0-5 Questions
- Moderate to Difficult, Could be tricky, Moderate to Highly Time Consuming, Moderate Accuracy possible, Requires clean charting with proper technique and step-by-step solving.
(11) Scheduling
- Weightage: 0-5 Questions
- Moderate to Difficult, Could be tricky, Moderate to Highly Time Consuming, Moderate Accuracy possible, Requires clean charting with proper technique and step-by-step solving.
(12) Analogy
- Weightage: 0-2 Questions
- Easy to Moderate, Quick Solve, Moderate to High Accuracy possible.
- Question Types: Meaning based, Letter based, Number based.
(13) Classification
- Weightage: 0-3 Questions
- Easy to Moderate, Quick Solve, High Accuracy possible.
- Question Types: Letter based, Meaningful Words based, GK based, Number based.
(14) Data Sufficiency
- Weightage: 0-3 Questions
- Moderate Difficulty, Moderately Time Consuming, Moderate Accuracy possible.
- Question Types: Ordering & Ranking, Blood Relations, Coding in Fictitious Language, Circular Arrangements, Directions & Distances, Ages & Birthdates.
(15) Series
- Weightage: 0-2 Questions
- Easy to Moderate, Less Time Consuming, Moderate to High Accuracy
- Question Types: Complete the Alphabet Series, Number Series and Mixed Series.
#3. English Language Syllabus for IBPS PO Prelims with Marks Distribution
The English Syllabus for IBPS PO Prelims is pretty much the standard Banking exam fare, except for a few changes in question type here and there. You will need to solve 30 questions in 15 minutes. So this section will be the your real test of speed. But while attempting in speed, do not forget about accuracy. The section can be broadly divided into four parts:
(1) Reading Comprehension
- Weightage: 10 Questions (1 Passage)
- Tougher than Prelims RC, Moderate to More Time Consuming, Moderate Accuracy Possible.
- Question Types: The passage will be focussed on topics like Banking & Economy, Business, Social Issues etc. Fact and Inference based questions – easy to moderate, Vocab & Theme based questions – moderate to tough.
(2) Grammar (Error Spotting, Phrase Replacement, Fill in the Blanks)
- Weightage: 5 Questions
- Easy to Moderate in Difficulty, Less to Moderately Time Consuming, Moderate Accuracy Possible.
- Question Types: Error Spotting, Phrase Replacement/ Sentence Correction, Fill in the Blanks.
- Topics Covered: Tenses, Articles, Prepositions, Subject Verb Agreement, Parallelism, Degrees of Comparison, Sentence Construction, Phrasal Verbs, Pronouns, Adverbs, Non-Finite Verbs, Common Errors etc.
(3) Vocabulary (Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks, Error Spotting, Phrase Replacement)
- Weightage: 10 Questions
- Easy to Moderate Difficulty, Quick Solve based on Contextual usage, Moderate to High Accuracy possible.
- Question Types: Error Spotting, Phrase Replacement, Cloze Test (single passage with 5-10 questions), Fill in the Blanks (Double Blanks).
(4) Verbal Ability (Para Jumbles)
- Weightage: 5 Questions
- Easy, Low to Moderately Time Consuming, High Accuracy possible.
- Question Types: Para Jumbles
Make sure to try the simplest method of improving all your four English skills – Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability, Vocabulary & Grammar. Use:
It is important to start preparing in earnest for the IBPS PO Prelim paper immediately. Plan out a study map based on the above given syllabus. Allocate time wisely and test yourself regularly on your speed, proficiency and concepts. Good luck!