Overview
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the syllabus and exam pattern for Clerk. Full subject-wise topics and the marking scheme are given below.
Key Details
- Organization
- Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
Important Links
- Official WebsiteOpen Link
Exam Pattern
IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern The Prelims paper is divided into three sections, each with its own sectional time limit of 20 minutes. Section: Questions | Marks | Duration English Language: 30 | 30 | 20 minutes Numerical Ability: 35 | 35 | 20 minutes Reasoning Ability: 35 | 35 | 20 minutes Total: 100 | 100 | 60 minutes Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer. Qualifying criteria: Category-wise (UR/EWS/OBC/SC/ST) minimum qualifying marks for Prelims are not specified in the reference sources used for this article - candidates should check the official notification for exact sectional and overall cut-offs. IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern The Mains paper has four sections, each with an independent sectional time limit, and is conducted in a bilingual format (English and Hindi) except for the English Language section. Section: Questions | Marks | Duration Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude: 40 | 60 | 35 minutes English Language: 40 | 40 | 35 minutes Quantitative Aptitude: 35 | 50 | 30 minutes General/Financial Awareness: 40 | 50 | 20 minutes Total: 155 | 200 | 120 minutes Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer. Merit weightage: The final selection is based entirely on Mains marks, provided the candidate also clears the Language Proficiency Test. Category-wise minimum qualifying marks for Mains are not specified in the reference sources used for this article.
Syllabus
The Prelims and Mains papers share three common subjects - Reasoning Ability, English Language, and Quantitative/Numerical Ability - while Mains additionally tests Computer Aptitude (combined with Reasoning) and General/Financial Awareness. The topic lists below cover both stages; where Mains adds extra topics to a Prelims subject, this is noted under that subject. 1. Reasoning Ability This section checks logical thinking, pattern recognition, and problem-solving speed. It is common to both Prelims and Mains, with a few extra topics appearing only in Mains. • Seating Arrangement & Puzzles • Syllogism • Coding-Decoding • Blood Relations • Direction Sense • Inequalities (including coded inequalities in Mains) • Alphanumeric Series, Order & Ranking • Input-Output (including machine input-output in Mains) • Data Sufficiency • Statement & Conclusions, Statement & Assumptions, Statement & Arguments • Series Test, Odd Figure Out, Analogy, Classification • Assertion and Reasoning, Decision Making (Mains) 2. English Language This section tests grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension. It is identical for Prelims and Mains. • Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, Homonyms, Word Formation, Spelling • Grammar: Spotting Errors, Sentence Improvement/Correction, Phrases and Idioms, Active/Passive Voice, Direct and Indirect Speech • Reading & Comprehension: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Fill in the Blanks, Passage Completion, Theme Detection, Deriving Conclusions 3. Quantitative/N…
Selection Process
Prelims, Mains, and Language Proficiency Test (LPT)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the selection process?
Prelims, Mains, and Language Proficiency Test (LPT)