Today was the first day of IBPS PO (Preliminary) Exam 2017. It has been held in four time slots - 2 each in morning and evening. The exam will span over a period of one week, ending on October 15, 2017.
A total of 100 questions had to be answered in 60 minutes. All the other sections, except the English Language section, were available bilingually, that is, in both English and Hindi. Each correct answer will fetch 1 mark while each incorrect answer will reduce the score by 0.25.
The detailed break- up of IBPS PO Prelims 2017 exam is as follows:
| Section | Total Questions |
Level of difficulty |
Good Attempts |
Approximate time taken |
English Language |
30 |
Moderate |
15-17 |
15 |
Reasoning Ability |
35 |
Easy-Moderate |
20-22 |
20 |
Quantitative Aptitude |
35 |
Easy-Moderate |
17-19 |
25 |
Total |
100 |
Moderate |
52-58 |
60 |
Sectional and overall expected cut-off of IBPS PO Preliminary Exam 2017:
| Subject | General |
SC/ST/OBC |
English Language (Out of 30) |
7-9 |
4.5-6 |
Reasoning Ability (Out of 35) |
8-10 |
5.5-7 |
Quantitative Aptitude (Out of 35) |
8-10 |
5-7 |
Overall Objective Test (Out of 100) |
47-50 |
OBC: 46-47 |
English Language Section of IBPS PO Preliminary Exam 2017:
| Topic | Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Reading Comprehension (Economy & Pollution Based) |
10 |
Easy-Difficult |
Spot the Error (Multiple Errors) |
10 |
Moderate |
Phrase Replacement |
10 |
Moderate |
The English Language section of IBPS PO Preliminary Exam 2017 comprised of questions based on Reading Comprehension, Spot the Errors and Phrase Replacement. The Reading Comprehension was based on economy. The RC had 4 synonym/antonym questions, 1 title based question, 1 fact based question and 4 inferential questions. The overall difficulty level of this section was moderate.
Reasoning Ability Section of IBPS PO Preliminary Exam 2017:
| Topic | Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
AR(Machine Input-Output) |
5 |
Moderate |
AR (Parallel Sitting Arrangement-10 Peoples/ Names/Colors) |
5 |
Difficult |
AR (Data Arrangement -Names/Heights/Colors/ Weights) |
3 |
Moderate |
AR (Data Arrangement- Box/Shape based) |
5 |
Difficult |
AR (Linear Sitting Arrangement) |
5 |
Easy |
AR (Floor Arrangement) |
1 |
Easy |
Directions |
1 |
Easy |
Coding/Decoding |
1 |
Easy |
Number Series |
1 |
Easy - Moderate |
Blood relation |
3 |
Moderate |
Mathematical Inequalities |
2 |
Easy- Moderate |
Syllogism |
3 |
Easy |
The Reasoning Ability section of IBPS PO Preliminary 2017 was dominated by questions based on Analytical Reasoning. There were two sets of Data Arrangement questions with three variables to be arranged. In Parallel Arrangement, 10 people were to be arranged in two parallel rows. In the other Data Arrangement set, names were to be ordered around a square table. Direction and Floor arrangement based questions required a smart approach. Syllogism questions were easy to solve. The overall difficulty level of this section was easy to moderate.
Quantitative Aptitude Section of IBPS PO Preliminary Exam2017:
| Topic | Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Number Series (Completion) |
5 |
Easy - Moderate |
Data Interpretation (Line Graph Based ) |
5 |
Easy - Moderate |
Data Interpretation (Table) |
5 |
Moderate |
Approximations |
5 |
Easy |
Comparison of Variables |
5 |
Moderate |
Profit , Loss and Discount |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
Simple Interest & Compound Interest |
1 |
Difficult |
Time & Work |
1 |
Moderate |
Mixture and Alligation |
1 |
Easy - Moderate |
Partnership |
1 |
Moderate - Difficult |
Time, Speed and Distance - Boats and Streams |
1 |
Easy |
Time, Speed and Distance |
1 |
Moderate |
Mensuration / Ratio |
1 |
Easy- Moderate |
Age |
1 |
Easy- Moderate |
Miscellaneous |
1 |
Easy- Moderate |
The Quantitative Aptitude section of IBPS PO Preliminary 2017 saw questions from a variety of topics. Some commonly asked topics were Time and Work, Mensuration, Time Speed and Distance, Simple Interest & Compound Interest, Partnership, Age, Mixtures & Allegations and Profit, Loss and Discount. There were two sets of data interpretation. The overall difficulty level of this section was easy to moderate.
Disclaimer: All information on cut-offs, analysis, answer key and scores are based on independent analysis and evaluation made by Career Launcher. We do not take responsibility for any decision that might be taken, based on this information.
All the Best!
Team CL
