IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern
For the post of Clerical cadre, IBPS will conduct the exam in two different phases: Preliminary Exam and Mains Exam. Both the papers follow the online method of conducting the written examination. Candidates have to qualify to be listed in the merit list that is prepared after the conduction of both the exam.
Phase-1: IBPS Clerk Preliminary Examination
The duration of the IBPS Clerk preliminary examination is One Hour. It is conducted Online. The exam testing a candidate on the basis of their aptitude, intellect, and English. It has 3 sections with having 100 questions in total and the maximum score is 100 marks. Candidates are required to solve the question paper in the time frame of 20 minutes for each section. The section-wise details are given below:
| Name of the Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration for each exam |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
There is a negative marking in IBPS Clerk Pre Exam. 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer. Candidates must clear the sectional cut-off to qualify for the IBPS Clerk Main exam. The cut-off is decided by IBPS and it changes every year depending on the level of difficulty of the exam.
Phase-2: IBPS Clerk Mains Examination
The exam pattern of IBPS Clerk Mains is also changed. The duration of the exam is 160 minutes. The main exam is also held online. It has 4 sections and there are 190 Questions. The maximum score is 200 marks.
Previously, Computer Aptitude and Reasoning Ability Section used to be conducted separately. But, in the recent update by IBPS, both these sections are merged together and will consist of 50 questions. It needs to be solved in a time duration of 45 minutes.
The section-wise details are given below:
| Name of the Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration for each exam |
| General/Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 minutes |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 160 minutes |
IBPS CLERK EXAM SYLLABUS
The IBPS Clerk syllabus 2023 is no different from any other Bank Exam. The basic subjects that a candidate needs to master are Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, and English Language. The syllabus for both Pre and Mains Exam is different. A candidate is also required to be proficient in computers and must have General Awareness knowledge specifically in the field of Banking.
IBPS Clerk Syllabus- Prelims :
The IBPS Clerk Prelims syllabus consists of three subjects making up the objective type paper. As per the IBPS Clerk Prelims syllabus. The paper is divided into three sections. The subjects are as follows:
- English Language
- Reasoning Ability
- Numerical Ability
The IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2020 for Prelims is as follows:
| English Language | Reasoning Ability | Numerical Ability |
| Reading ComprehensionCloze Test(Fill in the Blanks)Jumbled ParagraphsMultiple MeaningError Spotting CorrectionParagraph Comprehension | Logical ReasoningAlphanumeric SeriesAlphabetic Series and RankingData Sufficiency TestsCoded InequalitiesDirection Test,Seating ArrangementsPuzzlesTabulationSyllogismInput/OutputCoding and DecodingBlood Relations | Profit, Loss, and DiscountsMixtures and AlligationsSimple and Compound InterestSurds and IndicesWork and Time EquationsTime and Distance EquationsMensuration: Cone, Sphere, CylinderData InterpretationRatio, Proportion, and PercentageNumber SystemsSequences and SeriesPermutation, Combination, and Probability |
IBPS Clerk Syllabus- Mains :
The IBPS Clerk Mains syllabus covers the topics from prelims in a detailed manner. As per the IBPS Clerk Mains syllabus. The paper is divided into four sections. The topics covered as follows:
- General and Financial Awareness
- General English
- Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude
- Quantitative Aptitude
The IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2020 for Prelims is as follows:
| General And Financial Awareness | General English | Reasoning Ability& Computer Aptitude | Quantitative Aptitude |
| Current AffairsIndia’s Financial and Banking SystemBudget and Monetary Plans of the GovernmentKey National InstitutionsBasics of Banking | VocabularyGrammarReading Comprehension | Reasoning AbilityAnalogyAssumptions and StatementsSyllogismCoding and DecodingBlood RelationsSense of Direction and DistanceAlphanumeric SeriesNon-Verbal ReasoningComputer AptitudeBasics of Hardware and SoftwareOperating SystemsInternet and associated topicsMicrosoft Office and other word processing softwareHistory of ComputingBasic Computer NetworkingBasics of DatabasesBasics of Cyber Security Tools and Processes | Ratio and ProportionTime, Speed and DistanceWork and Time EquationsMixtures and AlligationsMeasures of Central Tendency and Basic Statistics( Mean, Average, Median and Variance etc.)Stocks, Shares and DebenturesPercentagesClock Ray QuestionsVolume and Surface AreaLogarithmsPermutation and CombinationPartnershipsHeights and DistancesProbabilitySimple and Compound InterestProfit, Loss and DiscountsBasic AlgebraBasic TrigonometryCharts, Bars and GraphsData Interpretation |
IBPS Clerk Syllabus Topic Wise: Important Topics & Weightage
(1) For English Language Section (Prelims & Mains):
| Important Topics | Weightage |
| Reading Comprehension | 10 Questions (1 Passage) |
| Grammar (Error Spotting, Phrase Replacement, Fill in the Blanks) | 5 Questions |
| Vocabulary (Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks, Error Spotting, Phrase Replacement) | 10 Questions |
| Verbal Ability (Para Jumbles) | 5 Questions |
(2) For Reasoning Ability Section (Prelims):
| Important Topics | Weightage |
| Arrangement & Pattern | 5-8 Questions |
| Analogy | 0-5 Questions |
| Classification | 0-4 Questions |
| Coded Inequalities or Mathematical Inequalities | 0-5 Questions (likely of Coded Inequalities) |
| Directions & Distances | 0-2 Questions |
| Coding-Decoding | 4-10 Questions |
| Blood Relations | 1-5 Questions |
| Order & Ranking | 0-5 Questions |
| Circular Seating Arrangement | 5 Questions |
| Linear Seating Arrangement | 5 Questions |
| Analytical Decision Making | 0-5 Questions |
| Syllogisms | 0-5 Questions |
| Data Sufficiency | 0-5 Questions |
| Double Line-Up | 0-5 Questions |
| Scheduling | 0-5 Questions |
| Grouping & Selection Problems on teams and committees asked. | 0-5 Questions |
| Series | 0-2 Questions |
| Verbal Reasoning | 0-5 Questions |
| Puzzles | 5-10 Questions |
(3) For Numerical Ability Section (Prelims):
| Important Topics | Weightage |
| Simplification | 10-15 Questions |
| Number Series | 3-5 Questions |
| Average | 1-3 Questions |
| Interest | 1-3 Questions |
| Mensuration | 2-4 Questions |
| Percentage | 1-2 Questions |
| Ratio & Proportion | 1-3 Questions |
| Algebra | 3-5 Questions |
| Profit & Loss | 1-3 Questions |
| Time, Speed & Distance | 1-4 Questions |
| Data Interpretation | 5-10 Questions (1-2 sets) |
| Time & Work | 1-2 Questions |
| Permutation & Combination / Probability | 0-1 Questions |
| Mixture Problems | 0-2 Questions |
| Number System | 0-1 Questions |
| Data Sufficiency | 0-5 Questions |
(4) For Computer Aptitude Section (Main):
| Important Topics | Weightage |
| MS Office | 6 Questions |
| Computer Hardware | 6 Questions |
| Computer Software | 5 Questions |
| Computer Memory | 5 Questions |
| Internet | 5 Questions |
| Networking | 3 Questions |
| Operating System | 2 Questions |
| Data representation | 1 Questions |
| Others | 9 Questions |
(5) For Reasoning Ability (Mains):
| Important Topics | Weightage |
| Linear Seating Arrangement | 5 Questions |
| Circular Seating Arrangement | 5 Questions |
| Number series | 5 Questions |
| Coding and Decoding | 5 Questions |
| Math Inequalities | 5 Questions |
| Syllogism | 5 Questions |
| Data Sufficiency | 3 Questions |
| Direction Sense | 2 Questions |
| Arrangement & Pattern | 5 Questions |
(6) For Quantitative Aptitude (Mains):
| Important Topics | Weightage |
| Simplification | 10-15 Questions |
| Arithmetic and Geometry | 15 Questions |
| Data Interpretation | 10-15 Questions |
| Series | 5 Questions |
(7) For General Awareness Section (Mains):
| Important Topics |
| General Knowledge |
| Current Affairs |
| Banking Awareness |
| Miscellaneous |
Familiarity with the syllabus is an important aspect of success in the IBPS Clerk Exam. Aspirants should cover all topics thoroughly and practice previous years’ papers to be successful in the bank clerk exam and make it to the final merit list. A thorough IBPS Clerk Preparation will help them score well in the 2020 Exam.