IBPS PO Exam Pattern (2026)
Everything you need to know about the exam pattern for the IBPS Probationary Officers / Management Trainees organized by Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). Tackle the high competition (~0.5 - 1% (Highly competitive banking exam with lakhs of applicants) success rate) and hard difficulty with these detailed insights.
Stages & Pattern
Preliminary Examination
Preliminary Examination (objective)
Duration: 60 minutes (20 minutes per section) mins | Marks: 100 | Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer
Main Examination
Mains - Objective Test (objective)
Duration: 3 hours (Separate sectional timings apply) mins | Marks: 200 | Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer
Mains - Descriptive Paper (descriptive)
Duration: 30 minutes mins | Marks: 25 | Negative Marking: N/A (Descriptive typing test)
Personal Interview
Personal Interview (verbal)
Duration: 15-20 minutes typically mins | Marks: 100 | Negative Marking: No