IBPS POMains 2026 — Exam Pattern & Syllabus
Objective test (170 questions, 200 marks, 160 minutes across 4 sections) plus a Descriptive test (Essay & Comprehension, 25 marks, 30 minutes). Sectional and overall cut-offs apply. Only Main Exam marks are used to shortlist for the Personality Test and Interview.
IBPS PO Mains objective paper, section by section
Every section is separately timed. Sections are not presented in a fixed sequence, and unused time in one section does not carry into the next.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 |
| General / Economy / Banking / Digital & Financial Awareness (incl. RBI circulars) | 50 | 60 |
| English Language | 40 | 20 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 |
| Total · 160 minutes | 170 | 200 |
Negative marking of one fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned applies to every wrong answer in the objective tests. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
The descriptive paper
Descriptive Writing
- Essay
- Economic & social issues
- Banking & technology trends
- Current events
- Ethics
- Comprehension
- Reading & précis
The descriptive paper is typed on the computer and is administered immediately after the objective test. Practise typing your answers rather than writing them — candidates routinely lose marks to typing speed rather than to content.
What changes from Prelims to Mains
Preparing for Mains as though it were a longer Prelims is the most common way candidates lose the paper. The two stages differ in scale, in scope and in what the marks are worth.
Size and time
Prelims is 100 questions for 100 marks in 60 minutes. Mains is 170 questions for 200 marks in 160 minutes, plus 30 minutes of descriptive writing.
Marks are not one per question
In Prelims each question carries one mark. In Mains the sections are weighted differently — Reasoning carries 60 marks for 40 questions, and General / Economy / Banking / Digital & Financial Awareness (incl. RBI circulars) carries 60 marks for 50 questions. A question is not worth the same everywhere.
New sections appear
Mains adds ground Prelims never tests — General, Economy, Banking and Financial Awareness is pure recall and cannot be reasoned out on exam day. Start it as a daily habit months out, not a final-week cram.
These marks decide your rank
Preliminary marks are not carried forward. Everything that determines your position in the merit list is scored here.
IBPS PO Mains mock tests
IBPS PO Mains papers in production
Every paper is built to the blueprint above and every answer is verified before it goes live, so nothing is published early.
- IBPS PO Mains Mock Test 1Free170 Q160 min200 marksComing soon
- IBPS PO Mains Mock Test 2Premium170 Q160 min200 marksComing soon
- IBPS PO Mains Mock Test 3Premium170 Q160 min200 marksComing soon
- IBPS PO Mains Mock Test 4Premium170 Q160 min200 marksComing soon
IBPS PO Mains — FAQs
What is the IBPS PO Mains exam pattern?
The IBPS PO Main Examination is an online objective test of 170 questions for 200 marks in 160 minutes, with 4 separately timed sections, followed immediately by a descriptive paper of 2 questions for 25 marks in 30 minutes. There is a penalty of one fourth of the marks assigned for each wrong answer in the objective tests.
How many sections are there in IBPS PO Mains and how is time divided?
There are 4 objective sections, each separately timed: Reasoning (40 questions, 60 marks); General / Economy / Banking / Digital & Financial Awareness (incl. RBI circulars) (50 questions, 60 marks); English Language (40 questions, 20 marks); Data Analysis & Interpretation (40 questions, 60 marks). Sections are not presented in a fixed sequence, and you cannot carry unused time from one section into another.
Is the IBPS PO descriptive paper typed or handwritten?
It is typed on the computer, administered immediately after the objective test. It carries 25 marks over 30 minutes.
Do Preliminary marks count in the IBPS PO final merit?
No. The Preliminary Examination is a screening stage only. Objective test (170 questions, 200 marks, 160 minutes across 4 sections) plus a Descriptive test (Essay & Comprehension, 25 marks, 30 minutes). Sectional and overall cut-offs apply. Only Main Exam marks are used to shortlist for the Personality Test and Interview.