
IBPS PO and Clerk Mains Strategy: Clearing the IBPS PO mains stage is an absolute requirement to become an IBPS PO or a Clerk. The prelims are merely the gate opener, and the selections are made in the mains themselves.
An effective IBPS PO & Clerk Mains preparation strategy can assist aspirants in overcoming the fear of giving attempts, giving a logical plan to attempts, and transforming preparation stages into final marks.
The biggest mistake that the aspirants make is that they consider the IBPS mains to be highly challenging. The fact is that with a proper IBPS PO and Clerk Mains strategy, these exams are not that tough to crack. Even compared to the SBI PO Mains, the level of IBPS Mains is easy to moderate.
The IBPS PO as well as the IBPS Clerk Main have 200 questions which are to be attempted within a time span of 2 hours, with the following components:
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IBPS PO & Clerk Mains Exam Pattern |
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Section |
No. of Questions |
Marks |
Duration |
|
Reasoning Paper |
40 |
50 |
30 minutes |
|
General Awareness Paper |
40 |
40 |
15 minutes |
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Numerical Ability Paper |
40 |
50 |
30 minutes |
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English Language / Hindi Language |
40 |
40 |
30 minutes |
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Computer Knowledge Paper |
40 |
20 |
15 minutes |
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Total |
200 |
200 |
2 Hours |
Each section has fixed sectional timing, making IBPS PO mains time management a decisive factor.
An ideal IBPS PO Mains section-wise strategy is always to aim to score maximum marks, but not to do everything. For a preparation section-wise strategy, we always attempt to identify the tendencies of the subjects from past year papers.
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IBPS PO & Clerk Mains – Section-wise Attempt Analysis (based on 2024) |
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Section |
No. of Questions |
Good Attempts |
Important Topics |
Difficulty Level |
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Reasoning Ability |
40 |
27–30 |
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement, Critical Reasoning, Inequality (Conclusion-Based), Data Sufficiency, Blood Relations |
Easy to Moderate |
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General Awareness |
40 |
17–19 |
Banking & Financial Awareness, Static GK, Current Affairs (Last 4–6 Months), Government Schemes |
Moderate |
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Numerical Ability |
40 |
15–17 |
Data Interpretation (Bar + Table, Pie Chart, Caselet), Arithmetic (Profit & Loss, Time & Work, SI–CI), Wrong Number Series, Simplification |
Moderate |
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English / Hindi Language |
40 |
18–20 |
Reading Comprehension, Fillers, Error Spotting, Cloze Test, Vocabulary-Based Questions |
Easy to Moderate |
|
Computer Knowledge |
40 |
18–20 |
Computer Fundamentals, Hardware & Software, Networking Basics, MS Office, Internet & Security |
Easy |
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Overall |
200 |
95–106 |
Moderate |
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For aspirants targeting 2026, the following IBPS PO mains preparation tips 2026 are essential:
Remove fear associated with mains exams
Strengthen reasoning and GA as core scoring areas
Practice DI daily to reduce calculation time
Analyze every mock test seriously
A calm mindset combined with a realistic IBPS PO and Clerk Mains Strategy significantly improves selection chances.
An effective IBPS Clerk mains study plan includes:
Daily GA revision (minimum 1 hour)
Alternate-day full-length mocks
Dedicated time for weak sections
Regular puzzle and DI practice
Consistency matters more than long study hours. Even self-study candidates can succeed with a disciplined IBPS PO and Clerk Mains Strategy.
The Clerk mains paper is slightly easier than PO mains. Topics like syllogism, letter coding, data sufficiency, and number-based reasoning are frequently asked. Puzzles include age-based, month-based, circular seating, and floor-based arrangements. The IBPS Clerk mains scoring strategy revolves around:
Attempting 110–120 questions overall
Maintaining strong accuracy in reasoning and English
Not overthinking moderate-level quant questions
Following a disciplined IBPS PO and Clerk Mains Strategy ensures that Clerk aspirants comfortably reach the cutoff range.
How to Prepare for IBPS PO, Tips and Strategy
This video covers the real level of difficulty, the way of approaching section by section, the attempt plan, and mock tests for IBPS PO & Clerk Main.
Mock tests are the backbone of IBPS mains preparation without coaching. Aspirants should:
Start with sectional mocks for all five sections
Gradually shift to full-length mains mocks
Practice sitting continuously for 2 hours
It’s a fact that most students are unsuccessful, not because they lack knowledge, but because of a lack of endurance and temperament in the exam. Mocks must be practiced daily after the release of the admit card to work on your IBPS PO mains time management.
Understanding the ideal attempt range helps aspirants align their efforts with the expected cutoff trends in IBPS mains exams. A realistic attempt and score target, backed by mock analysis, strengthens your overall preparation strategy.
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Target Attempts & Score Range |
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Exam |
Target Attempts |
Expected Score Range |
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IBPS PO Mains |
90–100 questions |
75–80 marks |
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IBPS Clerk Mains |
110–120 questions |
Around 100 marks |
These numbers are realistic and achievable when your IBPS PO and Clerk Mains Strategy is based on mock analysis and section-wise planning.
Absolutely. IBPS mains preparation without coaching is possible. Sectional mocks, last year’s papers, and targeted revision are enough, along with the online course as required. This is proven by most toppers who believe in intelligent practice, thereby proving that a proper IBPS mains topper strategy is more important than a coaching class enrollment.
The IBPS PO and Clerk Mains, far from being feared exams, are really exams that need to be understood and prepared for. The keys to IBPS PO & Clerk Mains success are a proper strategy and proper preparation.
Always be consistent, trust your preparations, and make that extra effort in the last leg. Passing IBPS mains is not all about doing things. It is all about doing things that need to be done at the right times.