IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2025: Check Exam Pattern for Prelims and Mains Exam

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By Smartkeeda
4 Aug 2025
IBPS Clerk Syllabus

IBPS has released the IBPS Clerk notification on 31st July, announcing 10277 vacancies for the post. This is great news for all the banking aspirants. With the release of the notification, candidates should gear up and start their preparation. In this blog, we will deep dive into the IBPS Clerk Syllabus, IBPS Clerk Exam pattern, and the best books for the preparation. Stay tuned!

IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2025 Overview

If you are an IBPS Clerk aspirant, then knowing the IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2025 is crucial to your preparation. The IBPS Clerk Syllabus is designed to evaluate the candidate’s speed, accuracy, and knowledge of core concepts. The selection process includes two stages, Prelims and Mains, which cover subjects like English, Reasoning, Quant, GA, and Computer Aptitude. Aspirants are advised to go through the detailed IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2025 that we have provided before starting their preparation.

IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern for Prelims 

The IBPS Clerk Prelims exam is a computer-based, objective exam. The total marks of Prelims are 100, and 60 minutes are given to finish the exam.

IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern

S.No.

Name of Tests

No. of Questions

Maximum Marks

Duration

1

English Language

30

30

20 minutes

2

Numerical Ability

35

35

20 minutes

3

Reasoning Ability

35

35

20 minutes

Total

100

100

1 Hour

Note: There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.

IBPS Clerk Syllabus for Prelims

The IBPS Clerk Exam syllabus is similar to most bank exam syllabus. There are 3 sections in Prelims: Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, and English Language. The complete subject-wise breakdown of the syllabus for the IBPS Clerk Prelims exam is given in the table below:

IBPS Clerk Syllabus for English Language

Topic

Sub-topics & Details

Reading Comprehension

Short passage followed by questions on theme, vocabulary, and inference.

Cloze Test

A passage with missing words; you must choose the most appropriate word from the options.

Spotting Errors

Identifying grammatical or usage errors in a given sentence.

Sentence Correction/Improvement

Replacing a bolded or underlined part of a sentence to make it grammatically correct.

Para Jumbles

Arranging a set of jumbled sentences into a logical and coherent paragraph.

Fillers

Sentences with one or two blanks to be filled with the correct word(s).

Vocabulary

Questions on synonyms, antonyms, and word usage in different contexts.

Idioms and Phrases

Understanding the meaning and usage of common idioms and phrases.

 

IBPS Clerk Syllabus for Reasoning Ability

Topic

Sub-topics & Details

Puzzles

Puzzles based on seating arrangements, floor plans, and schedules (e.g., day-based).

Seating Arrangement

Arranging people in a circular, linear, or rectangular layout.

Syllogism

Questions based on statements and conclusions, often solved using Venn diagrams.

Inequalities

Problems involving symbols like <, >, =, ≤, and ≥.

Alphanumeric Series

A series combining letters, numbers, and symbols where you must identify patterns.

Coding-Decoding

Deciphering a given code or pattern to find the answer.

Blood Relations

Questions based on family relationships and identifying the connection between individuals.

Direction Sense Test

Problems involving directions and distances.

Order and Ranking

Questions related to the position or rank of individuals in a line.

Data Sufficiency

Simple questions where you must determine if the provided statements are sufficient to answer the question.

 

IBPS Clerk Syllabus for Numerical Ability

Topic

Sub-topics & Details

Simplification/Approximation

Quick calculations involving BODMAS, square roots, cube roots, decimals, and percentages.

Number Series

Finding the missing number or the wrong number in a given sequence.

Data Interpretation (DI)

Simple DI sets based on tables, bar graphs, line charts, or pie charts.

Quadratic Equations

Solving and comparing variables in quadratic equations.

Arithmetic Word Problems 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Percentage

- Ratio & Proportion

- Profit & Loss

- Time & Work

- Simple & Compound Interest

- Time, Speed, & Distance

- Averages

- Partnership

Mensuration

Basic questions on the area and perimeter of 2D shapes (square, rectangle, circle, etc.).

 

IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern for Mains

The IBPS Clerk Prelims and IBPS Clerk Mains examinations follow a similar pattern, but they differ in difficulty level. The difficulty level of the Mains exam is higher than that of the Prelims exam.

The Mains exam also includes a General/Financial Awareness section, and Reasoning & Computer Aptitude are combined into one section. The pattern of the Mains exams is as follows:

IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern

S.No.

Name of Tests

No. of Questions

Maximum Marks

Duration

1

Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude

40

60

35 minutes

2

English Language

40

40

35 minutes

3

Quantitative Aptitude

35

50

30 minutes

4

General/ Financial Awareness

40

50

20 minutes

Total

155

200

120 minutes

 

Note: There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.

IBPS Clerk Syllabus for Mains

The IBPS Clerk Exam syllabus is similar to most bank exam syllabus. There are 5 sections in Mains, with Computer Awareness and General Awareness as the two added sections. The complete subject-wise breakdown of the syllabus for the IBPS Clerk Mains exam is given in the table below:

IBPS Clerk Syllabus for General and Financial Awareness

Topic

Sub-topics & Details

Current Affairs

National and International news from the last 5-6 months, especially related to banking and economy

Banking & Financial Awareness

Indian Financial System, History of Banking, RBI, SEBI, Monetary Policy

Banking Terms & Abbreviations

NEFT, RTGS, CRR, SLR, NPA, etc.

Government Schemes

Important schemes related to finance, social welfare, etc.

Static GK

Countries & Capitals, Currencies, National Parks, Dams, Important Days

Awards & Honors

Recent national and international awards

Books and Authors

Recent and prominent publications

 

IBPS Clerk Syllabus: Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude

Reasoning Ability

Computer Aptitude

Puzzles (Box-based, Floor-based, Day/Month-based, etc.)

Fundamentals of Computers (History, Generations, Types)

Seating Arrangements (Circular, Linear, Square, etc.)

Computer Hardware & Software (Input/Output devices, OS, Applications)

Syllogism (Advanced level)

Operating Systems (Windows, Linux, etc.)

Coded Inequalities

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Input-Output

Internet & Networking (Basic terms, web browsers, security)

Logical Reasoning (Statement & Argument, Conclusion, Assumption)

Computer Security (Viruses, Malware, Firewall)

Data Sufficiency (2-3 statements)

Database Basics (DBMS)

Coding-Decoding (Advanced patterns)

 

Blood Relations (Complex family tree questions)

 

Direction Sense (Multi-step problems)

 

Order and Ranking

 

Alphanumeric Series

 

 

IBPS Clerk 2025 General English Syllabus

Topic

Sub-topics & Details

Reading Comprehension

Longer and more dense passages, questions on tone, theme, and inference

Cloze Test

Advanced vocabulary and sentence structure

Spotting Errors

Advanced grammar and usage rules

Sentence Correction/Improvement

Replacing a part of a sentence with a more suitable option

Para Jumbles

Arranging a set of sentences into a coherent paragraph

Fillers

Single and Double Fillers based on vocabulary and grammar

Word Swap/Usage

Identifying the correct word to fit a sentence's context

Vocabulary

Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms and Phrases

 

IBPS Clerk Syllabus for General Aptitude

Topic

Sub-topics & Details

Data Interpretation (DI)

Tabular, Bar Graph, Pie Chart, Line Graph, Mixed Graphs, Caselet DI

Number Series

Missing Number, Wrong Number Series (More complex patterns)

Simplification/Approximation

BODMAS, Square roots, Cube roots, Percentages, Decimals

Quadratic Equations

Solving equations and comparing variables

Data Sufficiency

Questions to determine if given data is enough to solve a problem

Arithmetic Word Problems

Profit & Loss, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Partnership

Time and Work

Pipes & Cisterns

Time, Speed, and Distance

Boats & Streams, Problems on Trains

Simple & Compound Interest

Calculations for different time periods and rates

Mixtures and Allegations

 

Permutation and Combination

 

Probability

 

Mensuration

Area & Volume of 2D and 3D shapes (Cylinder, Cone, Sphere, etc.)

 

IBPS Clerk Mock Test

Best Books for IBPS Clerk Prelims

Subject

Recommended Books

Author/Publisher

English Language

High School English Grammar and Composition

Wren and Martin

Objective General English

S.P. Bakshi (Arihant Publications)

Word Power Made Easy

Norman Lewis

A Mirror of Common Errors

Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh

   

Numerical Ability

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations

R.S. Aggarwal

Fast Track Objective Arithmetic

Rajesh Verma (Arihant Publications)

Magical Book on Quicker Maths

M. Tyra

Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency

Arun Sharma

   

Reasoning Ability

A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning

R.S. Aggarwal

Analytical Reasoning

M.K. Pandey

A New Approach to Reasoning

B.S. Sijwali and Indu Sijwali (Arihant Publications)

Reasoning Smartbook

Testbook Publications

 

Best Books for IBPS Clerk Mains

Subject

Recommended Books

Author/Publisher

Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude

A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning

R.S. Aggarwal

Analytical Reasoning

M.K. Pandey

Objective Computer Knowledge & Literacy

Kiran Prakashan/Arihant Publications

Objective Computer Awareness

Arihant Experts

Quantitative Aptitude

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations

R.S. Aggarwal

Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency

Arun Sharma

Magical Book on Quicker Maths

M. Tyra

A Complete Book of Data Interpretation

Adda247 Publications

   

General English

Objective General English

S.P. Bakshi (Arihant Publications)

High School English Grammar and Composition

Wren and Martin

Word Power Made Easy

Norman Lewis

A Mirror of Common Errors

Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh