In this guide
The IBPS notification lists only section names: English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning, and in the mains, General/Financial Awareness and Computer Aptitude. That tells you very little. To prepare well you need to know which question types sit inside each section, and which of them are worth learning first.
The good news is that bank clerk papers are more predictable than their size suggests. The formats change a little each year, but the core stays the same, and each core type can be learnt as a method.
How the sections map to the two stages
| Section | Prelims | Mains |
|---|---|---|
| English | 30 questions | 40 questions |
| Numerical / Quantitative Aptitude | 35 questions | 40 questions (reported) |
| Reasoning | 35 questions | 40 questions, with computer aptitude |
| General / Financial Awareness | Not asked | 40 questions |
| Computer Knowledge | Not asked | Inside the reasoning section |
Three sections are common to both stages. Prepare them once, at mains depth, and the prelims becomes a matter of speed. See the exam pattern for marks and timings.
English (prelims and mains)
| Priority | Question types |
|---|---|
| High | Reading comprehension, cloze test, error detection, fillers |
| Medium | Para jumbles, phrase replacement, word swap, sentence connectors |
| Lower | Misspelt words, odd sentence out, vocabulary in context |
English rewards daily reading more than any trick. Reading comprehension usually carries the most questions, and every other type gets easier when you are used to reading quickly and accurately.
Numerical Ability / Quantitative Aptitude
| Priority | Question types |
|---|---|
| High | Simplification, approximation, number series, data interpretation |
| Medium | Arithmetic: percentage, ratio, averages, ages, profit and loss, interest |
| Medium | Time and work, speed and distance, mixtures, partnership |
| Lower | Quadratic equations, mensuration, probability |
In the prelims, calculation-based types (simplification, approximation, series) can make up a large share of the section. That is the strongest reason to practise calculation every day. In the mains, DI and arithmetic carry more weight and the numbers are less friendly.
Reasoning
| Priority | Question types |
|---|---|
| High | Puzzles and seating arrangements, inequalities, syllogism |
| Medium | Coding–decoding, blood relations, direction sense, order and ranking |
| Medium | Alphanumeric series, alphabet-based questions |
| Mains extras | Input–output, data sufficiency, harder multi-variable puzzles |
Puzzles decide the reasoning score. They often come as sets of five questions, so one solved arrangement earns five answers, and one abandoned arrangement loses five.
General / Financial Awareness (mains only)
| Area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Current affairs | Usually the last several months: banking and economy news, appointments, schemes, awards, sports, summits |
| Banking awareness | The RBI and its tools, types of accounts, cheques and instruments, payment systems, banking terms |
| Financial awareness | Government schemes, regulators (RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA), budget and economy basics |
| Static GK | Headquarters, international organisations, national parks, capitals and currencies |
Awareness cannot be crammed in the last two weeks. The current affairs window is several months long, and banking terms need to be understood, not just memorised.
Computer Knowledge (inside mains reasoning)
- Basics of computers and their generations
- Hardware, software, input and output devices
- Memory and storage units
- Operating systems
- MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and common shortcuts
- Internet, networking and email
- Security and malware
- Abbreviations and number systems
These questions are short and direct. A few weeks of steady revision covers most of what is asked.
One sample question per major type, solved
Seeing a type once makes the syllabus real. Each of these is typical in level for the prelims.
1. Simplification. 25% of 480 + ¾ of 160 = ?
25% of 480 = 120. ¾ of 160 = 120. Total = 240.
2. Approximation. 39.97 × 15.02 + 199.8 ÷ 4.01 ≈ ?
Round to 40 × 15 + 200 ÷ 4 = 600 + 50 = 650.
3. Number series. 3, 7, 15, 31, 63, ?
Each term is the previous one × 2 + 1: 3 × 2 + 1 = 7, 7 × 2 + 1 = 15, and so on. 63 × 2 + 1 = 127.
4. Inequality. Statement: P > Q ≥ R = S < T. Conclusions: I. P > S, II. T > Q.
I: P > Q ≥ R = S, so P > S. True. II: Q ≥ S and T > S, but T and Q are never compared directly. Cannot be decided. Answer: only I follows.
5. Syllogism. All pens are books. Some books are bags. Conclusion: Some pens are bags.
The bags that are books may be books that are not pens. Does not follow.
6. Filler. The branch has been open ___ 2021. (for / since / from / by)
"Has been" with a point in time takes since.
7. Computer. How many bytes make one kilobyte in the binary convention used in computer exams? 1,024.
Where to start
- Calculation: tables to 30, squares to 50, cubes to 20, fraction–percentage equivalents. This is the base of the numerical section. The simplification guide has drills.
- Reasoning basics: inequality and syllogism first, then puzzles every day.
- English reading: one article a day from day one.
- Awareness: daily news from the start, plus banking basics.
- Computer knowledge: steady revision in the last two months before the mains.
A topic checklist
| Section | Topic | Learnt | Practised | Revised |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numerical | Simplification and approximation | |||
| Numerical | Number series | |||
| Numerical | Data interpretation | |||
| Numerical | Arithmetic (percentage to interest) | |||
| Reasoning | Puzzles and seating | |||
| Reasoning | Inequality | |||
| Reasoning | Syllogism | |||
| Reasoning | Coding, blood relations, direction | |||
| English | Reading comprehension | |||
| English | Cloze test and fillers | |||
| English | Error detection | |||
| Awareness | Banking basics | |||
| Awareness | Current affairs, month by month | |||
| Computer | Fundamentals and MS Office |
Extend the table with every topic in this post. Seeing the gaps is the first step to closing them.
What to do next
- Copy the checklist into a notebook and mark what you already know.
- Solve the seven sample questions above without looking at the answers, and time yourself.
- Follow the three-month plan to cover the topics in a sensible order.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection website .
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