IBPS PO Selection Process
Last verified 31 Jul 2026
IBPS PO selection runs through the stages below.
- Preliminary Examination (qualifying only)
- Main Examination
- Interview
Exam pattern by stage
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims — English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Prelims — Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Prelims — Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Prelims total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
| Mains — Reasoning | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Mains — General / Economy / Banking Awareness | 50 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| Mains — English Language | 40 | 20 | 35 minutes |
| Mains — Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Mains — Descriptive (Essay and Comprehension) | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Mains total | 172 | 225 | 190 minutes |
What counts towards the final merit
Only the Main Examination and the Interview count. The Preliminary Examination is purely a screening test and its marks are discarded once you clear it.
Document verification
Originals are checked against everything declared in the application — qualification, category, age and any relaxation claimed. Certificates must be in the prescribed formats and dated on or before the closing date of the application. A candidate found ineligible at this point loses the candidature regardless of score.
The marks and the question counts do not line up
In CRP PO/MT-XVI the Preliminary Examination carries 30 questions in English for 30 marks, 35 in Quantitative Aptitude for 30 marks and 35 in Reasoning for 40 marks. Earlier cycles marked all three at one mark per question. Reasoning is now worth more per question than Quantitative Aptitude, which should change how you allocate the 20 minutes given to each section.