The IBPS PO exam is a competitive gateway for Probationary Officer roles in public sector banks. The 2025 exam follows a three-stage selection process: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Exam Format for IBPS PO 2025
- Prelims (Screening Stage)
- Duration: 1 hour
- Sections & Marks:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time Allocation |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 mins |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
- Negative Marking: 0.25 per incorrect answer.
- Mains (Advanced Assessment)
- Objective Test (200 marks):
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 mins |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 mins |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 mins |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 mins |
- Descriptive Test (25 marks): Letter/Essay writing in 30 mins.
- Interview (100 marks):
Final selection based on combined Mains (80%) and Interview (20%) scores.
Preparation Strategy for 2025
- Section-Specific Focus:
- Quantitative Aptitude: Prioritize simplification, data interpretation, and arithmetic problems. Solve 15+ daily questions on profit/loss, ratios, and time-speed-distance.
- Reasoning: Practice 5-10 puzzles daily (seating arrangements, syllogisms) and coding-decoding.
- English: Read The Hindu for vocabulary, attempt 2 reading comprehensions daily, and practice error spotting.
- General Awareness: Follow monthly banking/economic updates .
- 3-Month Study Plan:
| Month | Focus |
| 1 | Master basics: Formulas, grammar rules, and current affairs |
| 2 | Advanced practice: Mock tests and sectional time trials |
| 3 | Full-length mocks (3-4/week) and weak-area revision |
- Key Tools:
- Mock Tests: Analyze performance gaps.
- Previous Papers: Identify recurring topics like data interpretation (DI) and puzzles.
- Time Management: Allocate 8-9 minutes per puzzle and skip time-consuming questions.
Opportunities and Trends in 2025
- Vacancies: While 2025 figures are pending, 2024 saw ~5,000+ vacancies across participating banks.
- Post-Placement Roles: Probationary Officers typically handle customer relations, loan processing, and branch management after a 2-year probation.
Below is the category-wise cutoff data for IBPS PO Prelims, Mains, and Final stages over the last five years:
2024
| Category | Cutoff |
|---|---|
| General | 48.50 |
| OBC | 48.50 |
| SC | 48.00 |
| ST | 41.00 |
| EWS | 48.50 |
| Category | Cutoff |
|---|---|
| General | 66.50 |
| OBC | 66.00 |
| SC | 54.25 |
| ST | 47.50 |
| EWS | 64.75 |
2023
| Category | Cutoff |
|---|---|
| General | 63.00 |
| OBC | 62.25 |
| SC | 50.25 |
| ST | 41.00 |
| EWS | 61.00 |
2022
| Category | Cutoff |
|---|---|
| General | 49.75 |
| OBC | 49.75 |
| SC | 46.75 |
| ST | 40.75 |
| EWS | 49.75 |
| Category | Cutoff |
|---|---|
| General | 71.25 |
| OBC | 69.75 |
| SC | 59.25 |
| ST | 53.25 |
| EWS | 70.50 |
2021
| Category | Cutoff |
|---|---|
| General | 50.50 |
| OBC | 50.50 |
| SC | 44.50 |
| ST | 38.00 |
| EWS | 50.50 |
| Category | Cutoff |
|---|---|
| General | 80.75 |
| OBC | 75.75 |
| SC | 65.50 |
| ST | 57.75 |
| EWS | 77.25 |
2020
| Category | Max Score | Min Score |
|---|---|---|
| General | 62.98 | 47.89 |
| OBC | 55.82 | 43.96 |
| SC | 52.20 | 39.73 |
| ST | 52.11 | 35.56 |
| EWS | 52.40 | 42.98 |
:
: Cutoffs fluctuated between 48.50 (2024 Prelims) and 80.75 (2021 Mains), reflecting varying exam difficulty and vacancies
: SC/ST cutoffs remained 30-60% lower than General, with PwBD categories (HI/OC/VI/ID) showing thresholds as low as 15.50 (2024 Prelims).
:
English Language: General candidates needed 7.75+ in Mains (2024).
Quantitative Aptitude: SC/ST faced lower thresholds (3.50 vs 7.00 in Prelims 2024).
For state-wise or reserved category (HI/ID/OC/VI) specifics, refer to IBPS’s annual notifications.