The IBPS PO Mains 2025 exam held on October 12 marked a major checkpoint for thousands of banking aspirants across India. As the second phase of the recruitment process, this exam plays a crucial role in deciding who moves ahead to the interview round.
If you appeared for the test or plan to take it next year, this detailed analysis will give you a clear picture of what went down — including difficulty level, good attempts, and section-wise breakdown.
Let’s cut into how the exam fared in terms of pattern, question types, and candidate feedback.
Overview
The IBPS PO Mains exam consists of 147 questions in total — 145 objective-type and 2 descriptive questions. These carry a combined weightage of 225 marks, split between objective (200 marks) and descriptive (25 marks) sections. The objective paper had four sections: Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, and English Language.
According to feedback from candidates, the overall exam was of moderate to difficult level. Time management played a critical role this year due to the complexity in certain sections.
Pattern
Here’s a quick glance at the IBPS PO Mains 2025 exam structure:
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 minutes |
| Descriptive (Essay & Letter Writing) | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 147 | 225 | 190 minutes |
Attempts
The number of good attempts varied depending on the section. Below is an estimate of the difficulty level and reasonable number of attempts to be in the safe zone:
| Section | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | Moderate | 23–28 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | Moderate to Difficult | 15–20 |
| English Language | Moderate | 20–25 |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | Moderate to Difficult | 18–23 |
| Overall | Moderate to Difficult | 76–88 |
Candidates who managed their time well and had a good grasp on current affairs and reasoning puzzles had an edge.
Awareness
The General/Economy/Banking Awareness section leaned toward the tougher side. Questions focused heavily on current events from April to September 2025. Some recurring themes were RBI circulars, government schemes, and international events.
Key topics included:
- PM Svanidhi Scheme
- Pravaah Portal
- Sovereign Gold Bond
- KCC Scheme
- RBI Circular-based questions
- Currency and Aadhaar Enabled Payment Systems
- Winter Paralympic location and mascot
- ZAPAD military exercise
- Padma Awards
- Foreign Remittance Scheme
The section had a mix of 1-mark and 2-mark questions, making accuracy crucial. Overall, it tested awareness, not just rote memory.
Reasoning
The Reasoning & Computer Aptitude section was time-consuming but not overwhelmingly difficult if your concepts were strong. Puzzles dominated, and logical deduction was tested in depth.
2-Mark Questions:
- Three-row arrangement (16 persons) – 5 questions
- Circular arrangement (4 facing in, 4 out) – 5 questions
- Designation & state-sport based puzzle – 5 questions
- Coded direction and distance – 3 questions
- Word-based arrangement – 1 question
1-Mark Questions:
- Data sufficiency (2–3 statements) – 3 to 4 questions
- Machine input-output (both sides) – 5 questions
- New pattern coding – 3 questions
- Logical reasoning (assumption, conclusion) – 4 questions
This section truly rewarded logical thinkers.
English
The English section offered a fair mix of grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension. It was balanced — neither too easy nor too tricky. Candidates who regularly read newspapers or practiced editorial content did well here.
Topics included:
- Reading comprehension
- Para jumbles
- Error detection
- Phrase replacement
- Cloze test
- Vocabulary and word usage
- Sentence completion
The key was not just understanding English but interpreting it under time pressure.
DI
Data Interpretation, always the trickiest section, lived up to its reputation. This year, it leaned towards the difficult side with a heavy focus on complex caselets and arithmetic-based DI.
Types of sets seen included:
- Pie chart + table combination
- Caselets with variable data
- Arithmetic-based questions (profit-loss, time & work, ratio)
- Data sufficiency
Candidates who had strong quantitative fundamentals and speed could manage about 15–20 good attempts here.
The DI section was less about numbers and more about interpretation — like solving a puzzle with a timer ticking.
The IBPS PO Mains 2025 wasn’t a walk in the park — but it wasn’t an unsolvable maze either. Smart preparation, time management, and staying updated with current affairs were the keys to cracking it. For aspirants waiting for results, fingers crossed. And if you’re preparing for next year, let this serve as your blueprint.
FAQs
How many questions were in IBPS PO Mains 2025?
A total of 147 questions including 2 descriptive.
What was the difficulty level of mains 2025?
It ranged from moderate to difficult overall.
Which section was the toughest in mains exam?
Data Interpretation and Reasoning were the toughest.
What was the GA section focused on?
Mostly on current affairs from April to September 2025.
What is a good number of attempts?
Around 76 to 88 good attempts are considered safe.
