Bank PO preparation
A study tracker built for Bank PO preparation
IBPS PO and SBI PO share the same core structure - three sectional-timed Prelims sections, four Mains sections plus a descriptive test, -0.25 negative marking throughout - but they differ in ways that change preparation: IBPS PO enforces a per-section cutoff at Prelims that SBI PO does not, and SBI PO adds a Group Exercise stage IBPS PO simply does not have. Tracking sections separately, not one blended score, is what surfaces whether you would actually clear the stricter of the two.
Bank PO at a glance
| Prelims format | 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes split into three fixed 20-minute sections with no carryover |
|---|---|
| Prelims sections | English Language, Quantitative/Numerical Aptitude, Reasoning Ability |
| Mains format | 170 objective questions, 200 marks, plus a descriptive test - IBPS PO 190 min total, SBI PO 210 min total |
| Negative marking | -0.25 per wrong answer on objective sections, both exams, both stages |
| Sectional cutoff | IBPS PO applies one per section at Prelims; SBI PO uses only an overall cutoff |
| Final selection | IBPS PO: Mains + Interview. SBI PO: Mains + Group Exercise + Interview |
Two exams, two different floors
IBPS PO requires clearing a minimum score in each Prelims section individually - a below-cutoff English score disqualifies you even with strong Quant and Reasoning. SBI PO uses only an overall Prelims cutoff, which means a candidate can lean harder into their strong sections there than they safely can on IBPS PO.
A clock you cannot borrow from
Both exams lock each Prelims section to exactly 20 minutes, with zero time carryover between them - finishing English early buys nothing in Quant. Mock practice with a single flexible 60-minute timer, rather than three enforced 20-minute blocks, produces a misleadingly comfortable result that the real exam will not match.
The Group Exercise stage only one of them has
SBI PO's final selection adds a 20-mark Group Exercise, combined with the Interview into a 50-mark stage worth 25% of final merit. IBPS PO has no equivalent - its final selection is Mains (80%) plus Interview (20%) only. A candidate preparing for both needs separate preparation time for this stage, since it does not exist on the IBPS PO side at all.
Bank PO study tracker: common questions
- Is this Bank PO study tracker free?
- Yes. Unlimited subjects, sessions and mock logs, with no payment and no coaching package attached.
- What is the negative marking for Bank PO exams?
- -0.25 marks for each wrong answer in the objective sections, on both Prelims and Mains, for both IBPS PO and SBI PO. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
- What is the sectional time limit in Bank PO Prelims?
- Exactly 20 minutes per section (English, Quant, Reasoning), inside a strict 60-minute total, on both exams - with zero time carryover between sections.
- What is the difference between IBPS PO and SBI PO?
- IBPS PO applies a sectional cutoff at Prelims and has no Group Exercise stage. SBI PO has no sectional cutoff at Prelims but adds a Group Exercise to final selection. SBI PO Mains also runs 20 minutes longer.
- How many stages does Bank PO selection have?
- Three for IBPS PO: Prelims, Mains, Interview. Three for SBI PO too, but the last stage combines a Group Exercise with the Interview rather than Interview alone.
- Is the Prelims score counted in the final Bank PO merit list?
- No - for both exams, Prelims is purely qualifying. Only Mains plus Interview (IBPS PO) or Mains plus Group Exercise/Interview (SBI PO) count toward final merit.
- Does it work for exams other than Bank PO?
- Yes. Nothing is hardcoded to one exam - your subjects define it. Presets exist for CAT, JEE, NEET, GATE, GRE, GMAT, XAT, UPSC, NMAT and IELTS, and any other exam can be typed in.
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