Banking as a Career

IBPS PO
The IBPS CRP PO/MT CRP-XII is for applicants to be selected for the 11 public sector banks.
IBPS serves all public-sector banks (PNB, BOB, and so on), SBI, RBI, NABARD, SIDBI, LIC & Insurance companies, and other financial institutions that are registered contributors to the IBPS society. IBPS launched the Common Recruitment Process (CRP) in 2011 to recruit officials and clerks in Indian banks, and it now accepts online forms through its official site. The IBPS PO exam is held in various locations across India and is only available online.
The IBPS POexam is one of the most competitive examinations in India. Over the past few years, the number of applicants for the Probationary Officers exam has massively increased and it is important that the candidates have a clear idea of the latest IBPS PO exam pattern and syllabus to continue with their preparation.
Though the syllabus is not as hard as some other examinations, the number of applicants and the extremely limited time allowed for the IBPS exam play a major role in raising the overall difficulty level.
In view of the above, it is imperative that aspirants familiarize themselves with the IBPS Exam Pattern.
This would enable them to develop an effective preparation strategy for the upcoming bank exams.
Exam Pattern – Prelims
The IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern consists of one paper with objective type questions comprising 100 questions divided into three sections. The sections being:
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Reasoning Ability
- English Language
The total time allotted to the candidates to solve these 100 questions is 60 minutes with 20 minutes time duration allotted for each section.
Exam Pattern – Mains
The IBPS Main exam consists of two papers, both of which are conducted online by the Institute.
As per the IBPS PO Mains Pattern, the papers are an Objective Test and a Descriptive test.
In the IBPS PO Mains Pattern, the objective test is divided into four sections.
Only those who clear the cut off marks in prelims are invited for the mains exam.
The IBPS PO Mains exam Pattern is as follows:
IBPS PO Exam Pattern – Mains | ||||
IBPS PO Mains Pattern- Paper | Section | Number of Questions | Marks Allotted | Time Allotted |
Objective Test | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 min |
English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 min | |
Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 min | |
General Awareness, Economy & Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 min | |
Descriptive Test | English Language (Letter Writing & Essay) | 2 | 25 | 30 min |
IBPS CLERK
IBPS Clerk is a Common Written Exam (CWE) administered by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) to hire staff in nationalized banks in India for clerical level positions. CWE is a requirement for hiring personnel for Clerical cadre positions in Public Sector Banks. Candidates chosen for the clerical cadre must serve a 6-month probation period. After the trial period, they must appear for an assessment test/performance evaluation in order to be confirmed as permanent employees.
The clerical position is an entry-level cadre for anyone aspiring to be a banker. They primarily participate in day-to-day banking operations and are also responsible for answering customer questions and providing guidance.
. This IBPS Clerk Exam consists of two stages:
- IBPS Clerk Prelims
- IBPS Clerk Mains

IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern for Prelims is as follows : | ||||
Name of the Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration | |
English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes | |
Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | |
Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | |
Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
IBPS Exam Pattern for Mains is as follows : | ||||
Name of the Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration | |
General/Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 minutes | |
General English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes | |
Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 minutes | |
Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 minutes | |
Total | 190 | 200 | 160 minutes |

SBI PO
The State Bank of India conducts the PO exam annually to recruit new entrants for managerial cadre positions.
The SBI PO syllabus is quite similar to any other bank exam syllabus.
The syllabus of SBI PO exam is segregated into three tiers:
- Prelims (online written test)
- Mains (online written test)
- Group Discussion & Interview
Given below is the latest SBI PO exam pattern in brief:
SBI PO Exam Pattern | ||||
Preliminary Exam | Subjects | Number of Questions | Marks | Duration |
Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | |
Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | |
English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes | |
Mains Examination | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 minutes |
Reasoning Ability | 45 | 60 | 60 minutes | |
English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 minutes | |
General & Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes | |
English (Descriptive Test) | 2 | 50 | 30 minutes | |
Group Discussion | — | — | 20 | — |
Interview | — | — | 30 |
SBI Clerk
The State Bank of India conducts the PO exam annually to recruit new entrants for managerial cadre positions.
The SBI PO syllabus is quite similar to any other bank exam syllabus.
The syllabus of SBI PO exam is segregated into three tiers:
- Prelims (online written test)
- Mains (online written test)
- Group Discussion & Interview

SBI Clerk Exam | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration |
Preliminary Exam | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | |
Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | |
Mains Examination | English Language | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 minutes | |
Reasoning Ability | 50 | 60 | 45 minutes | |
General Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 m |

IBPS RRB
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), Regional Rural Banks of India (RRBs) notifies for recruitment to the post of Office Assistant, Officer Scale-I (Assistant Manager),
- Officers Scale I: Preliminary, Mains, and Interview
- Office Assistant: Preliminary and Mains
- Prelims: 45 minutes duration
Mains: 2 hours duration
IBPS RRB Office Assistant Preliminary Exam Pattern
S.No. | Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
1 | Reasoning | 40 | 40 | Composite Time of 45 minutes |
2 | Numerical Ability | 40 | 40 | |
Total | 80 | 80 |
IBPS RRB Office Assistant Mains Exam Pattern
S.No. | Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
1 | Reasoning Paper | 40 | 50 | Composite Time of 2 hours |
2 | General Awareness Paper | 40 | 40 | |
3 | Numerical Ability Paper | 40 | 50 | |
4 | English/Hindi Language Paper* | 40 | 40 | |
5 | Computer Knowledge Syllabus Paper | 40 | 20 | |
Total | 200 | 200 |
IBPS RRB
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), Regional Rural Banks of India (RRBs) notifies for recruitment to the post of Office Assistant, Officer Scale-I (Assistant Manager),
- Officers Scale I: Preliminary, Mains, and Interview
- Office Assistant: Preliminary and Mains
- Prelims: 45 minutes duration
Mains: 2 hours duration

IBPS RRB PO Exam Pattern
For IBPS RRB PO exam will be conducted in three phases:- Preliminary Exam
- Mains Exam
- Interview Process
IBPS RRB Officer (Scale-1) Prelims Exam Pattern
S.No. | Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
1 | Reasoning | 40 | 40 | Composite Time of 45 minutes |
2 | Numerical Ability | 40 | 40 | |
Total | 80 | 80 |
IBPS RRB Officer (Grade I) Mains Exam Pattern
S.No. | Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
1 | Reasoning Paper | 40 | 50 | Composite Time of 2 hours |
2 | General Awareness Paper | 40 | 40 | |
3 | Numerical Ability Paper | 40 | 50 | |
4 | English/Hindi Language Paper* | 40 | 40 | |
5 | Computer Knowledge Syllabus Paper | 40 | 20 | |
Total | 200 | 200 |
Frequently Asked
Questions
he IBPS CRP PO exam is designed for selecting candidates for 11 public sector banks, including PNB, BOB, SBI, RBI, and more. It serves as a common recruitment process for clerical positions in these esteemed financial institutions.
The Common Recruitment Process (CRP) by IBPS was initiated in 2011 to efficiently recruit officials and clerks in Indian banks. This process streamlines recruitment, making it accessible through online forms via the official IBPS website.
Certainly! The IBPS PO exam is a highly competitive test for aspirants seeking a career in banking. Its popularity has surged over the years, necessitating a clear understanding of the latest exam pattern and syllabus. The combination of numerous applicants and a restricted exam duration elevates the overall difficulty level.
The IBPS PO Prelims Exam comprises three sections: Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, and English Language. Candidates have a total of 60 minutes to complete these 100 questions, with each section getting 20 minutes.
Certainly! The IBPS PO Mains Exam involves two papers: an Objective Test and a Descriptive Test. The Objective Test encompasses sections like Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, English Language, Data Analysis & Interpretation, and General Awareness. The Descriptive Test focuses on English Language, requiring candidates to write a letter and an essay.
The IBPS Clerk is a Common Written Exam (CWE) designed to recruit personnel for clerical positions in nationalized banks in India. These clerks are vital in day-to-day banking operations, customer interaction, and providing assistance.
Certainly! The IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam involves English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability sections, each allotted 20 minutes. The Mains Exam covers General/Financial Awareness, General English, Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude, and Quantitative Aptitude.
The State Bank of India (SBI) conducts the PO exam annually for managerial cadre positions. It comprises Preliminary and Mains exams, along with Group Discussion and Interview rounds.
The SBI PO Preliminary Exam consists of three sections: Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, and English Language. Each section has 20 minutes allotted for completion.
Certainly! The SBI PO Mains Exam includes sections like Data Analysis & Interpretation, Reasoning Ability, English Language, General & Banking Awareness, and a Descriptive Test.
IBPS RRB Office Assistant and Officer Scale-I exams are meant for recruitment in regional rural banks. They encompass Preliminary, Mains, and Interview stages.
The IBPS RRB Office Assistant Prelims Exam consists of sections like Reasoning and Numerical Ability, with 45 minutes allotted for both. The Mains Exam involves sections like Reasoning, General Awareness, Numerical Ability, English/Hindi Language, and Computer Knowledge.
The IBPS RRB Officer (Scale-1) Prelims Exam includes sections like Reasoning and Numerical Ability, each allotted 45 minutes.
Certainly! The IBPS RRB Officer (Grade I) Mains Exam includes sections like Reasoning, General Awareness, Numerical Ability, English/Hindi Language, and Computer Knowledge.