IBPS PO reasoning ability syllabus
Reasoning appears twice in IBPS PO and the mains version is a different paper. Prelims has 35 reasoning questions in 20 minutes, while mains pairs reasoning with computer aptitude in a 45-question section worth 60 marks. This page sits under the full IBPS PO syllabus.
Pattern
| Stage | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims, Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Mains, Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 minutes |
Each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks. Weightage by topic is not published by IBPS.
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Prelims and mains reasoning topics
- Puzzles: floor-based, box-based, day and month scheduling, comparison and category puzzles
- Seating arrangement: linear in one or two rows, circular facing inside or outside, square and rectangular
- Syllogism: all, some, no and some-not statements, possibility cases and either-or conclusions
- Inequalities: direct and coded forms, with symbols standing for greater than, less than or equal to
- Coding-decoding: letter shift, number substitution and mixed coding
- Blood relations: family trees, coded relations and generation-based problems
- Direction and distance: movement, shadow-based directions and shortest distance
- Order and ranking: position from left, right, top and bottom, and total counts
- Data sufficiency: deciding whether one or both statements answer the question
Mains-only reasoning topics
- Input-output: machine rearrangement of words and numbers by a rule
- Logical reasoning: statement-and-assumption, statement-and-argument, inference, course of action and cause and effect
- Multi-layered puzzles: puzzles that combine seating with age, designation or floor
- Verbal reasoning: conclusion from a paragraph, strengthening and weakening an argument
Computer aptitude (mains)
- Fundamentals: generations of computers, input and output devices, memory types and units
- Software: system and application software, operating systems, MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint basics and shortcuts
- Networking and internet: LAN and WAN, protocols, browsers, email terms, cloud basics
- Security: viruses, firewalls, phishing, encryption and passwords
- Number systems and databases: binary, octal and hexadecimal conversion, DBMS terms
What is not in the syllabus
- Non-verbal reasoning with figures and patterns
- Programming languages and code writing
- Advanced networking such as routing configuration
- Calendar and clock problems as standalone topics
How to spend the time
Spend the largest share on puzzles and seating arrangement, which usually take the most marks and the most time. Learn to identify the easy sets in the first minute and attempt those first. Syllogism and inequalities are quick scoring topics once the rules are fixed. For mains, give computer aptitude a short daily revision slot, since it is a memory topic. Take sectional tests with the 20-minute and 60-minute limits to match the real paper.
Common mistakes
- Starting with the hardest puzzle set because it appears first
- Drawing a seating diagram before reading all the clues
- Missing the "possibility" and "either-or" cases in syllogism
- Treating computer aptitude as optional
- Practising untimed puzzles only
Reasoning across the sections of IBPS PO
| Feature | Prelims reasoning | Mains reasoning and computer |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 35 | 45 |
| Marks | 35 | 60 |
| Time | 20 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Computer content | None | Included |
| Puzzle depth | Single-layer | Multi-layer |
Frequently asked questions
How many reasoning questions are in IBPS PO prelims?
35 questions for 35 marks in 20 minutes.
How many are in mains?
45 questions for 60 marks in 60 minutes, combined with computer aptitude.
Is computer aptitude part of the prelims?
No. It appears only in mains.
Is there non-verbal reasoning?
No. The paper uses verbal and puzzle-based reasoning.
Which topics carry the most questions?
Puzzles and seating arrangement usually take the largest share, but IBPS does not publish topic-wise counts.
Is there negative marking?
Yes, 0.25 marks per wrong answer.
What is input-output reasoning?
A machine rearranges a list of words or numbers by a fixed rule and you predict a later step.
How is mains reasoning different from prelims?
Puzzles combine more attributes and questions on logic and verbal reasoning appear.
Do I need coding knowledge for computer aptitude?
No. The topics are fundamentals, software, networking and security terms.
Can sectional time be shared between sections?
No. Each section has its own timer.