If you’re preparing for IBPS PO 2026, the fastest way to stop feeling “lost” is to align your study with the actual structure of the exam: Prelims = speed + accuracy, Mains = depth (DI + puzzles + GA + computer) + descriptive writing, and Interview = clarity + banking awareness + confidence. IBPS runs the PO/MT Common Recruitment Process and publishes the official notification and schedule on its website—always treat that as the final authority.

IBPS PO (Probationary Officer / Management Trainee) selection typically happens in 3 stages:

1. Prelims (qualifying/screening)
2. Mains (major selection weight)
3. Interview (final selection weight)

Prelims is time-bound and sectional-timed. The structure in recent official notifications is:

Negative marking (objective tests): typically 0.25 per wrong answer.

Mains includes objective sections + a descriptive English test. Recent official notifications show the common structure below.

Negative marking (objective tests): typically 0.25 per wrong answer.

• Reading Comprehension
• Cloze Test
• Error Detection / Sentence Improvement
• Fill in the Blanks
• Para-jumbles / Para completion
• Vocabulary (context-based)

• Simplification / Approximation
• Number Series
• Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Average
• Profit & Loss, SI/CI
• Time & Work, Time & Distance
• DI (basic tables/line/bar)

• Puzzles & Seating Arrangement (basic)
• Syllogism, Inequality
• Coding-Decoding
• Blood Relations, Direction, Order & Ranking
• Alphanumeric series

Reasoning (Mains level):

• High-level puzzles (floor/box/scheduling)
• Input-Output
• Data sufficiency (logic-based)
• Logical reasoning (statement/assumption/inference)
• Critical reasoning sets

Computer Aptitude:

• Basics of Hardware/Software
• Internet, Networking, Cyber hygiene
• MS Office basics
• DBMS basics

• Caselet DI
• Missing DI
• Tabular/Line/Bar/Pie DI
• Data sufficiency (quant)
• Probability (basic), permutation/combination (basic, trend-based)
• Speed math/approximation as a skill

• Longer RCs (inference-based)
• Para-jumbles (advanced)
• Sentence rearrangement, word swap (trend-based)
• Grammar + vocabulary in context

• Current Affairs (last 4–6 months, minimum)
• Banking terms & abbreviations
• RBI basics (repo, reverse repo, inflation terms, policy tools)
• Budget/economic indicators (basic understanding)
• Static banking awareness

• Essay: banking/economy/social issues
• Letter: formal letter (complaint, request, application, editorial-style)

Prelims speed is necessary—but Mains depth decides selection. So start:

• 1 DI set/day (timed)
• 1 puzzle/day (timed)
• GA 20–25 min/day (with weekly revision)

Track every week:

• mocks attempted
• accuracy %
• time per section
• weakest 3 topics
• improvement plan for next week

A winning mock cycle:

1. Mock
2. Identify wrong + slow questions
3. Note “why it happened” (concept gap / speed / silly error)
4. Fix with 30–60 min targeted practice
5. Retest that topic in 48 hours

• Month 1–2: Basics + sectional tests + daily puzzle/DI + GA habit
• Month 3–4: Full mocks weekly + descriptive weekly + GA revision system
• Month 5–6: Mains-focus mocks + interview basics
• Final: high-frequency mocks + revision + accuracy tightening

• 90 days: build speed + topic coverage
• 60 days: full mocks + analysis + GA revision
• 30 days: score stabilization + mixed mocks + weak-area finishing

Daily “Core 4” (minimum):

• 1 puzzle
• 1 DI set
• 1 RC
• 20 min GA

Prelims score boosters: simplification, approximation, arithmetic basics
Mains score boosters: DI speed + arithmetic accuracy

Mains score boosters: puzzles + seating (most time-consuming, most rewarding)

Fastest marks: error detection + RC accuracy + vocab-in-context

Difference maker in Mains: daily + weekly revision

1. Preparing only for Prelims and starting GA after Prelims
2. Avoiding puzzles/DI (then Mains feels “new”)
3. Giving mocks without analysis
4. Reading current affairs without weekly revision
5. Blind guessing → negative marking damage
6. Starting descriptive writing too late

• Make English your accuracy cushion (high ROI)
• Fix 5 arithmetic topics first before jumping to advanced quant
• Repeat same puzzle models until speed improves (don’t chase variety daily)
• Use a strict “skip rule” to control negative marking
• Revise GA weekly (one fixed slot)

Student A starts GA + descriptive from month 1 and does 2 mocks/week with analysis.
Student B only does Prelims practice and starts GA after Prelims.
Result: A feels stable in Mains; B struggles with GA + DI + puzzles under time pressure.

In Short:

• Prelims = speed + accuracy
• Mains = DI + puzzles + GA + computer + descriptive
• Start Mains readiness early
• Mocks + analysis decide improvement
• Weekly revision + error-log prevents repeat mistakes

• IBPS Home / updates:
• CRP PO/MT page (official):
• Detailed Notification PDF (CRP-PO-XV):
• Detailed Notification PDF (CRP-PO-XIV):
• Combined window/schedule PDF (CRP-XV):

• RBI (policy updates, RBI terms): (official RBI site) (IBPS is the exam authority; RBI is the banking authority—use RBI for authentic banking info)
• PIB (Press Information Bureau) for government releases (useful for current affairs)
• Union Budget / Economic Survey (official portals)