IBPS PO 2020 – About
IBPS PO is a national-level exam for selection of candidates for the post of Probationary Officer (PO) / Management Trainee in various public sector banks in the country. The exam is conducted every year by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). There are 11 public sector banks that are participating in IBPS PO 2020 and recruiting Probationary Officers / Management Trainees through this exam. IBPS PO exam, thus, provides a great opportunity for banking aspirants to start their careers and it is one of the best entry-level jobs in India.
The IBPS PO Notification 2020, recruitment notification has been announced for a total of 1417 vacancies. Every year, lakhs of candidates apply for IBPS PO 2020 and same trend is expected even this year. In this article, we will provide you with all the important information about the exam. Read on to find out.
IBPS PO 2020 Important Dates
The important dates for IBPS PO recruitment 2020 are as under:
| Events | Tentative Dates |
| IBPS PO Online Registration | August 05, 2020 |
| Last date for Payment of IBPS PO Application Fees | August 26, 2020 |
| Release of Call Letters for Pre-Exam Training* | September 2020* |
| Pre-Examination Training* | September 21 to 26, 2020* |
| Release of IBPS PO Prelims Admit Card | October 2020 |
| IBPS PO Prelims Exam | October 03, 10 & 11, 2020 |
| IBPS PO Prelims Result | October/November 2020 |
| Release of IBPS PO Mains Admit Card | November 2020 |
| IBPS PO Main Exam | November 28, 2020 |
| IBPS PO Main Result | December 2020 |
| Release of IBPS PO Interview Call Letter | January 2021 |
| IBPS PO Interview | January/February 2021 |
| Provisional Allotment | April 2021 |
*In case it is possible and safe to hold Pre- Examination Training.
IBPS PO 2020 Participating Banks
The participating banks of the IBPS PO 2020 recruitment are tabulated below:
| Bank of Baroda | Canara Bank |
| Indian Overseas Bank | UCO Bank |
| Punjab National Bank | Punjab and Sind Bank |
| Bank of India | Central Bank of India |
| Union Bank of India | Bank of Maharashtra |
| Indian Bank |
Check IBPS PO Exam Centres List Here
IBPS PO Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must meet the following IBPS PO eligibility criteria:
Nationality
A candidate must be either –
- (i) a Citizen of India or
- (ii) a subject of Nepal or
- (iii) a subject of Bhutan or
- (iv) a Tibetan Refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or
- (v) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India,
provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii), (iii), (iv) & (v) above shall be a person in whose favor a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
Educational Qualification
Candidates must be a graduate in any discipline from any recognized University.
Age Limit
The minimum age of the candidate for IBPS PO is 20 years. The upper age limit is 30 years for Unreserved category. Candidates who’re born on or after 2nd August 1990 and not later than 1st August 2000 are eligible for the job.
There is a relaxation of upper age limit for reserved candidates:
- 1. SC/ST – 5 years
- 2. OBC – NCL – 3 years
- 3. PwD -10 years
- 4. Ex-Serviceman – 5 years
IBPS PO Application Form 2020
IBPS PO application form is made available online and candidates can apply for the exam only in the online mode. Eligible candidates can apply for the exam through the IBPS PO official website: ibps.in. The steps to apply for the exam are tabulated as under:
| Step 1 | Go to the IBPS official website – ibps.in. |
| Step 2 | Click on the link for “CRP PO/MT”. |
| Step 3 | Click on “Click Here to Apply Online”. |
| Step 4 | Click on “Click Here for New Registration”. |
| Step 5 | Enter your basic information, like Name, Date of Birth, Email ID and Mobile Number and register yourself. |
| Step 6 | The system will generate a Provisional Registration Number and Password for you. Note them down. The Registration Number and Password will also be sent to you via your registered phone number and email ID. Do not delete them. You will require them until the end of the recruitment process. |
| Step 7 | Login with your Provisional Registration Number and Password, and edit the particulars if necessary. |
| Step 8 | Enter your Personal, Academic and other details. |
| Step 9 | Upload scanned images of your Photograph, Signature, Left Thumb Impression and a hand-written declaration. |
| Step 10 | Make payment of IBPS PO application form fees. |
| Step 11 | Submit your application. |
| Step 12 | Take a printout of your IBPS PO Online application form for future reference. |
IBPS PO 2020 Application Fees
The IBPS PO application fee can be paid only in the online mode by using:
- Credit Cards,
- Debit Cards (RuPay/Visa/Maestro/MasterCard),
- Internet Banking,
- Mobile Wallet/Cash Cards,
- IMPS.
The fees for different categories are tabulated below:
| SC / ST/ PwD Candidates | Rs. 175/- |
| All Others | Rs. 850/- |
The online registration is complete only after the payment of the fees is made.
Requirement Of Scanned Documents
While applying for the exam, candidates will have to upload scanned images of their Photograph, Signature, Left Thumb Impression and a Hand-Written Declaration. The requirement for each of these are as under:
Photograph: It should be a recent passport-sized color photo. The dimension of the Photograph should be 200 pixels X 230 pixels and the size of the Photograph should be 20-50 kb.
Signature, Left Thumb Impression, and Hand-Written Declaration: Signature of the candidate should be in black ink on white paper. Left Thumb Impression should be in black or blue ink on white paper. Hand-Written Declaration should be written in English with black ink on white paper. The dimension of these documents should be 140 pixels x 60 pixels and the size should be 10-20 kb.
IBPS PO Exam Pattern & Selection Process
IBPS PO is a three-tier exam, i.e. selection of Probationary Officers is conducted in three stages as under:
- Stage I: IBPS PO Preliminary Exam
- Stage II: IBPS PO Main Exam
- Stage III: Personal Interview
The Prelims and Mains are conducted Online and the Personal Interview is conducted Face-to-Face.
IBPS PO Preliminary Exam Pattern
The IBPS PO Prelims is conducted only to shortlist candidates for the Main exam. It is an Objective Test consisting of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ). The different sections of the Prelims along with the number of questions, maximum marks and time duration for each section are tabulated below:
| Sections | Total Number Of Questions/Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
| English Language | 30/30 | 20 mins |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35/35 | 20 mins |
| Reasoning Ability | 35/35 | 20 mins |
| Total | 100/100 | 60 mins or 1 hour |
As you can see, IBPS PO Prelims is separately timed, that is, candidates will have to finish each of the three sections within the allocated time. Candidates must clear the minimum IBPS PO cutoff marks for each section (sectional IBPS PO cutoff) as well as the overall or total qualifying marks (overall IBPS PO cutoff) in order to appear for the IBPS PO Main exam.
IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern
The Main exam has both Objective and Descriptive tests. The different sections of these tests along with the number of questions, marking scheme and time duration are tabulated below:
| Sections | Total Number Of Questions/Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
| English Language | 35/40 | 40 mins |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 35/60 | 45 mins |
| Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | 45/60 | 60 minutes |
| General Awareness | 40/40 | 35 minutes |
| Total in Objective Test | 155/200 | 3 hours |
| English Language (Letter Writing and Essay) | 2/25 | 30 mins |
| Grand Total | 157/225 | 3 hours and 30 mins |
The main exam too is separately-timed.
In both Prelims and Mains, there is a penalty or negative marking for wrong answers. For every incorrect answer, 0.25 percent of the marks assigned to the question will be deducted.
IBPS PO Personal Interview & Final Selection
Only candidates who clear the IBPS PO Main exam will be called for Personal Interview. The total marks for the Personal Interview round are 100 and the minimum qualifying marks is 35 percent for SC/ST/PwD candidates and 40 percent for others.
The final merit list will be compiled based on the marks secured by the candidates in IBPS PO Mains and Personal Interview. 80 percent weightage will be given to Mains while Personal Interview will have 20 percent weightage.
IBPS PO 2020: IBPS PO Syllabus
As can be seen above, the three sections of IBPS PO Prelims are there in the Mains as well. The syllabus for these three sections is the same for both the stages. Additionally, IBPS PO Main exam has Computer Aptitude (merged with Reasoning), General Awareness and Descriptive Test (Essay and Letter Writing).
The IBPS PO syllabus for each of the sections are as under:
IBPS PO Syllabus For English Language
Your knowledge of English grammar, comprehension, and vocabulary is tested in this section. The various topics included in this section are as under:
| 1. Reading Comprehension |
| 2. Basic English Grammar – Tenses, Articles, Prepositions, Subject-Verb Agreement, Parts of Speech, etc. |
| 3. Vocabulary – Antonyms and Synonyms |
| 4. Sentence Completion |
| 5. Para Jumbles |
| 6. Spell Checks |
| 7. Error Spotting |
| 8. Cloze Test |
| 9. Phrases and Idioms |
| 10. Fill in the Blanks |
IBPS PO Syllabus For Quantitative Aptitude / Data Analysis & Interpretation
Your analytical and Mathematical skills are tested here. The syllabus is based on basic, high school level Mathematics. The various topics included in this section are as under:
| 1. Number Series |
| 2. Number System |
| 3. Simplification |
| 4. Time and work |
| 5. Profit and Loss |
| 6. Percentage |
| 7. Time, Speed and Distance |
| 8. Ratio and Proportion |
| 9. Quadratic Equations |
| 10. Average |
| 11. Simple and Compound Interest |
| 12. Surds and Indices |
| 13. Permutation and Combination |
| 14. Probability |
| 15. Mensuration |
| 16. Pipes and Cisterns |
| 17. Boats and Streams |
| 18. Mixtures and Alligations |
| 19. Data Interpretation – Tables, Pie Charts, Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, etc. |
IBPS PO Syllabus For Reasoning Ability
Your ability to think critically and logically are tested in this section. The various topics that are included in this section are as under:
| 1. Syllogism |
| 2. Order and Ranking |
| 3. Classification |
| 4. Puzzle |
| 5. Blood Relations |
| 6. Statement and Argument |
| 7. Circular and Linear Sitting Arrangements |
| 8. Assertion and Reasoning |
| 9. Statement and Assumption |
| 10. Coding and Decoding |
| 11. Alpha-Numeric Series |
| 12. Coded Inequalities |
| 13. Data Sufficiency |
| 14. Directions and Distance |
| 15. Analogy |
IBPS PO Syllabus For Computer Aptitude
Your basic Computer skills are tested here. The topics in this section are tabulated below:
| 1. Computer Fundamentals and Terminologies, Input & Output Devices, Hardware & Software, Memory & Storage, etc. |
| 2. Operating System (OS) |
| 3. Generations of Computer |
| 4. Keyboard Shortcuts |
| 5. MS Office – MS Word, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, etc. |
| 6. Internet and Networking |
| 7. Basic security Concepts |
| 8. Computer Abbreviations |
| 8. Database Management |
IBPS PO Syllabus For General / Banking Awareness
Your General Knowledge, current affairs and knowledge of banking are tested here. The various topics that are included here are as under:
| 1. Current Affairs – Sports, Technology, Books and Authors, Awards, National and International Events, Defence, Summits, etc. |
| 2. Indian Geography |
| 3. Indian History |
| 4. Indian Constitution |
| 5. Culture |
| 6. Indian Economy & Business |
| 7. Financial Awareness (Railway Budget, Union Budget, etc.) |
| 8. Banking Awareness – History of Banking, RBI Guidelines, Financial Institutes in India, Banking Terms, Abbreviations, etc. |
IBPS PO Syllabus For Descriptive Test (English Language)
The Descriptive Test of English Language consists of Letter Writing and Essay. Usually, business or official letters are asked. For essay, any relevant social, economic, political or cultural topic is asked.
IBPS PO 2020: IBPS PO Books
The best books for IBPS PO for each of the sections are as under:
IBPS PO Books For English Language
- English Grammar by Wren and Martin
- Word Power made easy by Norman Lewis
- Objective English by S.P Bakshi
IBPS PO Books For Quantitative Aptitude
- Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma
- Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Kumar Verma
IBPS PO Books For Reasoning Ability
- Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey
- Test of Reasoning by Edgar Thorpe
- Modern Approach to Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal
IBPS PO Books For Computer Aptitude
- Objective Computer Awareness by Somya Ranjan Behera
- Lucent’s Computer by Rani Ahilya
IBPS PO Books For General Awareness
- Banking and Economic Awareness by Rakesh Kumar
- Lucent’s General Knowledge
- Banking, Financial & General Awareness by I K Pavel
IBPS PO 2020 Admit Card
IBPS PO Admit Card will be issued separately for each stage of the exam. IBPS PO Admit Card for Prelims will be generated for all the candidates who have successfully registered for the exam. For Mains, IBPS PO call letter will be generated only for those candidates who clear the Prelims. Likewise, for Personal Interview round, IBPS PO hall ticket will be issued only for those candidates who clear the Main exam.
The IBPS PO admit card is an important document without which candidates will not be allowed to enter the exam hall. Once the admit cards are issued, candidates will be notified through their registered email ID and mobile number. Candidates will then have to download their admit card from the official website of IBPS. They have to log in using their Provisional Registration Number and Password/Date of Birth and download their IBPS PO Admit Card.
IBPS PO Preparation 2020
Preparation for IBPS PO needs one to be methodical and serious. Most of the topics included in the syllabus are of class 10 level. But the syllabus is vast and the exam is highly competitive. So, you need to plan your preparation in a smart manner so that you can finish the whole syllabus as early as possible in the most efficient manner.
Start off with the basics – understand the theory behind the concepts is it related to Quantitative Aptitude, English Language or Reasoning Ability. Then memorize the formulas, steps to solve questions, various rules, etc. Going through the example problems will give you an idea about how to approach the problems. For General Awareness, Computer Aptitude, and English Language Descriptive Test, you need extensive reading. You also need to solve as many IBPS PO practice questions as possible. Once the whole syllabus is finished, you need to take IBPS PO previous year papers and IBPS PO mock tests. This will help you in getting used to the exam pattern, difficulty level, type of questions asked, etc. You will also identify your weaknesses – topics that you need to work on – after the tests. You should then work on improving them.
It is to be noted that time management plays a crucial role in IBPS PO exam. So, apart from improving your conceptual knowledge and problem-solving abilities, you need to work on your speed, ability to select the right questions to answer, and overall test-taking strategy as well.
IBPS PO Previous Year Paper
Taking IBPS PO previous year papers will help you get an idea about the nature of the exam, the type of questions asked, and their difficulty level.
| CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD IBPS PO PREVIOUS YEAR PAPER 2015 (PRELIMS). |
| CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD IBPS PO PREVIOUS YEAR PAPER 2015 (MAINS). |
IBPS PO 2020 Cutoff
As mentioned above, there are two types of IBPS PO cutoff for both Prelims and Mains: Sectional and Overall. Candidates will have to clear both the cutoffs in order to appear for the following stage of the selection process. The IBPS PO cut off changes every year based on:
- The number of vacancies,
- Total number of candidates appearing for the exam,
- Difficulty level of the overall paper as well as each section, etc.
Once the exam is conducted, IBPS will announce the IBPS PO cut off marks based on all the factors mentioned above. You can, however, check out the IBPS PO previous year cutoff to get an idea.
IBPS PO 2020 Result
IBPS PO Result will be declared separately for each stage on the IBPS PO official website. Once the result is declared, candidates will have to log in to their account using their Registration Number (generated at the time of online registration) and Date of Birth to see the result.
We hope this article on IBPS PO 2020 helps you. Make sure you take the free Bank Mock Test Series of Embibe as you prepare for the exam. Also, unlock Embibe’s Advanced Test Analysis to get detailed feedback on your tests.
Embibe wishes you all the best!
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