How Difficult is the IBPS PO Exam, Check Here

Every year, the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the IBPS PO exam to recruit graduates for entry-level officer posts in various public sector banks. This year, the IBPS PO Notification was released on 30th June 2025, and the application process will continue until 21st July 2025.

The IBPS PO exam is highly competitive, and even well-prepared candidates often fall short, especially during the interview stage. While many clear the Prelims and Mains, securing the final selection as a Bank PO remains a challenge. In this blog, we will go through the key reasons behind these setbacks and answer the pressing question: “How tough is the IBPS PO exam?”

How difficult is the IBPS PO Exam

The IBPS PO exam is known for its high level of competition, with thousands of aspirants appearing each year to secure a limited number of officer positions in public sector banks. As the number of applicants continues to rise annually, the difficulty level of the examination has also increased. Many candidates face multiple attempts before finally clearing the exam, highlighting the intense competition and challenging nature of the selection process.

Reasons for Failing in the Bank PO Exam:

To clear the IBPS PO Exam requires more than just hard work—it demands a smart strategy, consistent practice, and awareness of common pitfalls. Despite being well-prepared, many aspirants fail to succeed due to avoidable mistakes that cost them valuable marks or derail their preparation journey.

Mistake	How It Affects	Process to Resolve
Ignoring the Syllabus	Leads to studying irrelevant topics and wasting time	Analyze the IBPS PO syllabus thoroughly and prioritize high-weightage topics
Skipping Previous Year Papers & Cut-offs	Misses insight into question types and real exam difficulty	Solve past papers and study cut-off trends to gauge performance levels
Attempting Too Many Guess-Based Questions	Increases the chances of negative marking	Attempt only those questions you’re confident about
Not Managing Exam Anxiety	Affects focus and accuracy, especially under time pressure	Practice full-length mock tests to improve time management and build confidence

How difficult is the IBPS PO exam?

The IBPS PO Exam may seem difficult due to the high number of applicants, but the actual question difficulty is moderate. With the right preparation plan and mindset, cracking IBPS PO in the first attempt is very much possible.

• Prelims are only qualifying – Only sectional and overall cut-offs need to be cleared to move to Mains.
• Cut-off varies – Depends on the number of applicants, vacancies, and exam difficulty.
• Question level is easy to moderate – Mostly based on basic concepts from core subjects.
• 4–5 months of smart preparation – Enough if focused on concept clarity and mock test practice.
• The main challenge is competition – Limited vacancies and a high number of serious aspirants.
• Focus on mocks, time management, concept clarity, and avoid common mistakes – Key to cracking the exam in fewer attempts.

IBPS PO Prelims Revised Exam Pattern 2025

The IBPS PO 2025 Preliminary Exam Pattern has undergone notable changes. While the total number of questions remains the same, the mark distribution for two key sections Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability has been revised.

Quantitative Aptitude

• Earlier: 35 Questions | 35 Marks
• UPDATED: 35 Questions | 30 Marks

Reasoning Ability

• Earlier: 35 Questions | 35 Marks
• UPDATED: 35 Questions | 40 Marks

Name of Test	Questions/ Marks	Time Allotted (Separately Timed)
English Language	30/30	20 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	35/30	20 minutes
Reasoning Ability	35/40	20 minutes
Total	100/100	60 minutes

IBPS PO Mains Revised Exam Pattern 2025

IBPS has revised the IBPS PO 2025 Mains Exam Pattern, bringing important changes to the Objective sections. Although the total marks remain the same, there are updates in the number of questions, section-wise marks distribution, and focus areas. The revised IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern is as follows:

Name of Test	Questions/Marks	Time Allotted
Reasoning	40/60	50 minutes
General/Economy/Banking Awareness / Digital/Financial Awareness (incl. RBI)	35/50	25 minutes
English Language	35/40	40 minutes
Data Analysis & Interpretation	35/50	45 minutes
Total (Objective Test)	145/200	160 minutes

IBPS PO Exam General Tips and Tricks

With the right strategy, focused practice, and proper resources, you can significantly improve your chances of clearing the exam on your first attempt. Here are few tips to crack the exam:

Tip	How to achieve it
Make a Time Table	Create a structured study plan covering all subjects and topics.
Read Good Books	Stick to standard books or trusted coaching notes avoid multiple resources.
Practice Regularly	Consistent practice builds accuracy and speed, key to success.
Attempt Mock Tests	Simulate exam conditions to improve performance and time management.
Solve Previous Year Papers	Understand question patterns and exam difficulty level through past papers.

How Difficult is the IBPS PO Exam – FAQs

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• IBPS PO Shift Timings 2025, Prelims Exam Reporting Time
• IBPS PO PET Question Paper 2025, Download and Practice
• Inequality Formulas, Concepts, Short Tricks and Tips
• IBPS PO Reserve List 2025 Out, CRP PO/MT-XIV Allotment List Link
• IBPS CRPs Reserve List 2025 Out: PO, Clerk, SO Allotment List
• IBPS PO Apply Online 2025, Last Date Extended till 28th July