IBPS PO Mains Exam Analysis 2025 — Section-Wise Review, Difficulty Level, Good Attempts & Expected Cut-off
Overview
The IBPS PO Mains 2025 Examination was conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) in various centers across India. The exam was designed to assess candidates’ analytical, reasoning, and banking awareness skills.
According to student feedback and expert reviews, the overall paper was Moderate to Difficult in nature, with some sections being more time-consuming than others.
The examination comprised Objective Tests (200 marks) and a Descriptive Paper (25 marks), totaling 225 marks. Candidates will qualify for interviews based on their overall performance in the Mains exam.
Exam Structure at a Glance
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 45 | 60 | 60 min |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 min |
| General / Economy / Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 min |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 min |
| Descriptive Test (Essay + Letter Writing) | 2 | 25 | 30 min |
| Total | 157 | 225 | 210 min |
Overall Difficulty Level
| Section | Level |
|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | Moderate to Difficult |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | Difficult |
| English Language | Moderate |
| General / Banking Awareness | Moderate |
| Descriptive Test | Moderate |
| Overall Level | Moderate to Difficult |
Section-Wise IBPS PO Mains 2025 Analysis
1️⃣ Reasoning Ability
This section was lengthy and logic-intensive. Candidates reported multiple puzzle and seating arrangement questions.
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Topics Covered: Puzzles, Logical Reasoning, Input-Output, Blood Relation, Coding-Decoding, Syllogism.
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Overall Level: Moderate
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Good Attempts: 22–25 Questions
2️⃣ Data Analysis & Interpretation
The Quantitative section was calculation-heavy and required excellent time management.
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Topics Covered: Caselet DI, Missing Data, Bar Graph, Pie Chart, Data Sufficiency, and Arithmetic Word Problems.
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Overall Level: Difficult
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Good Attempts: 16–18 Questions
3️⃣ English Language
This was relatively scoring if approached strategically. Reading comprehension passages were lengthy but direct.
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Topics Covered: Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Cloze Test, Error Detection, Word Swap, Fillers.
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Overall Level: Moderate
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Good Attempts: 22–24 Questions
4️⃣ General / Economy / Banking Awareness
Questions were mostly from the last 4–5 months of current affairs, focusing heavily on banking and digital finance.
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Topics Covered: RBI Circulars, Monetary Policy, Financial Awareness, Budget & Schemes, Current Affairs.
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Overall Level: Moderate
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Good Attempts: 25–28 Questions
5️⃣ Descriptive Paper
The descriptive section included one essay and one letter. Essay topics revolved around Digital Banking, Financial Literacy, and Economic Reforms.
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Overall Level: Moderate
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Tip: Clarity, structure, and vocabulary were key scoring factors.
Overall Good Attempts
| Section | Good Attempts |
|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 22–25 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 16–18 |
| English Language | 22–24 |
| General / Banking Awareness | 25–28 |
| Overall (Objective Paper) | 85–95 |
| Descriptive Paper (Expected Marks) | 15–18 |
Expected IBPS PO Mains 2025 Cut-off
| Category | Expected Cut-off (Out of 225) |
|---|---|
| General | 98–105 |
| OBC | 90–95 |
| EWS | 92–98 |
| SC | 80–85 |
| ST | 70–75 |
⚠️ Note: These cut-offs are based on analysis and candidate feedback. The official cut-off will be released by IBPS after the result declaration.
Exam Day Highlights
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Data Interpretation was the toughest section, followed by Reasoning.
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Many students found the GA section balanced but slightly conceptual.
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Time management played a decisive role in overall performance.
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English and GA sections were the most scoring areas this year.
Preparation Insights for Next Year Aspirants
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Focus on Accuracy & Speed: Especially for DI and Reasoning puzzles.
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Revise Current Affairs: Cover at least 5 months of GA with a focus on banking terms and RBI updates.
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Mock Tests: Take full-length Mains mocks regularly with sectional timing.
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Practice Writing: Improve descriptive answers with real exam timing.
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Stay Consistent: Regular reading of business newspapers helps in both English and GA.
Conclusion
The IBPS PO Mains 2025 Exam maintained a balanced difficulty level with a focus on analytical thinking and conceptual clarity.
Candidates who managed time well and prepared strategically across all sections stand a strong chance to qualify for the next stage — the IBPS PO Interview.