Complete section-wise syllabus breakdown for IBPS PO 2026 Prelims and Mains with topic lists and marking scheme.
Understanding the IBPS PO syllabus thoroughly is the first step toward effective preparation. The exam is conducted in two phases: Prelims (a qualifying screen) and Mains (merit-based selection), followed by an interview round. The Prelims paper has 100 questions to be solved in 60 minutes, with strict sectional timing of 20 minutes per section.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
There is no fixed passing score: cutoffs move every year with paper difficulty and the number of vacancies. As a working target, aim for 70+ attempts with around 90% accuracy in Prelims, and remember that you must clear every sectional cutoff as well as the overall one.
This section tests calculation speed and core arithmetic. The important topics are:
Puzzles and seating arrangements carry the heaviest weight in this section, often more than half the questions. The full topic list:
The English section rewards reading habit and grammar fundamentals more than memorised rules:
The Mains exam is far more comprehensive: 145 questions in 160 minutes, plus a descriptive English test of 25 marks (letter and essay writing). It adds three new areas on top of the Prelims syllabus: Data Analysis & Interpretation, General / Economy / Banking Awareness, and Computer Aptitude (merged with Reasoning).
Every wrong answer attracts a negative marking of 0.25 marks in both phases, which makes accuracy exactly as important as speed. Build your study plan topic by topic from the lists above, and validate each topic with topic-wise tests before you move on to full-length mocks. Give Data Interpretation and puzzles the largest share of your practice time, since they decide the bulk of the Prelims score, and revisit PYQ papers regularly to see exactly how each topic is asked in the real exam.
It has 100 questions for 100 marks in 60 minutes: Quantitative Aptitude 35, Reasoning Ability 35, and English Language 30, with a 20-minute sectional limit each.
The Mains has 145 questions for 200 marks in 160 minutes across four sections, plus a separate descriptive English test of 25 marks in 30 minutes.
Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer in both Prelims and Mains. There is no penalty for unattempted questions.
Puzzles and seating arrangements dominate the Reasoning section, often more than half the questions, so they deserve the largest share of your practice.
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