Overall analysis for Preliminary exam for the post of Probationary Officers (PO) 2016 : Date - 16/10/16

Dear Aspirants,

Today, IBPS has conducted the Preliminary exam for the post of Probationary Officers (PO).

The exam is being conducted in 4 slots on various shifts i.e 9 am, 11.30 am, 2 pm, 4.30 pm. Most of you have appeared for the same. The overall level of today’s exam was of moderate level.

Below is the detail analysis of all the sections -

I. English Language (30 Qs)

Level - Moderate

1. Reading Comprehension -

1 slot - RC was based on Economy (Moderate) - 5 Qs

2nd slot - RC (Moderate) - 8Qs

3rd slot - RC – (Moderate) (Based on Globalisation) - 8Qs

Note: No Antonym Synonym was asked

2. Cloze test

1 slot - Cloze test - 10 Qs (Easy) based on Economy\

2nd slot - Cloze Test – 7 Questions (Moderate) (Based on Britain Exit)

3rd slot - Cloze Test – 7 Questions (Moderate)

3. Parajumble - 5 Qs (Easy to Moderate) Environment based

4. Spotting Error - 10 Qs (Easy to Moderate)

II. Reasoning Ability (35 Qs)

Level - Moderate

1. Puzzle (floor based) - 5 Qs - (Moderate) - 1st slot

2. Arrangement / Puzzle -

1st slot- Seating arrangement (circular)- 5 Qs facing inward outward (5 inside and 3 outside) (Moderate)
2nd slot Puzzle and Arrangement - 15 Questions (Moderate) (Building arrangement and Circular arrangement)
3rd slot - Puzzle and Sitting Arrangement– 15 Questions (Moderate – Difficult) (Floor based, Circular Arrangement)
3. Linear Seating Arrangement - 5 Qs - 8 persons facing north south

4. Inequality (Direct)- 5 Qs

5. Direction - 3 Qs (Easy t0 moderate)

6. Blood Relation - 3 Qs (Moderate)

7. Syllogism - 5 Qs

8. Rest Miscellaneous

III. Quantitative Aptitude (35 Qs)

Level - Moderate

1. Number Series - 5 Qs

Pattern - Multiplication, Subtraction, Square

2. Data Interpretation -

1st slot - 2 set (10 Qs) - One Line Grpah & Table graph DI (Calculative)
2nd slot - 2 set (10 Qs) - (Easy to Moderate) (Line and Tabular graphs)
3rd slot - (2 Sets) – 10 Questions (Easy to Moderate) (Tabular based)
Note: No Missing DI

3. Approximation - 5 Qs (Easy)

4. Quadratic Equation - 5 Qs (Easy)

5. Miscellaneous - 10 Qs (Moderate)

Some topics - Time & work, Profit & Loss, CI, SI

Do’s & Don’t

Please plan sectional timing properly & attempt the exam in following sequence, you can follow your own strategies also...

1. Quant - 20 min

2. Reasoning : 25 mins

3. English Lang - 15 min

1. English Section –

English was quite moderate & doable, with Reading Comprehension & typical Parajumble question. Rest of the questions like Cloze test were easy. Don’t start section with Parajumble question. You can easily attempt 20 – 22 questions with 99% accuracy.

2. Quantitative Aptitude –

This section was of moderate level. Quadratic Equation questions was easy to moderate, try to attempt these questions first to clear the sectional cutoff.

The Number series questions was of easy to moderate level, you can attempt 5 questions. Some Miscellaneous questions was of moderate & time consuming, so don’t waste time on these question. You can easily attempt 20 – 22 question in this section.

3. Reasoning Section –

This time the level of the Reasoning section was of moderate to tough level. There were 3 puzzle, mostly puzzle was of moderate and time consuming. To clear the sectional cutoff of this section, don't start with puzzle questions. You can start questions with Inequality, Blood relation, etc. Try to attempt questions with 100% accuracy. If you can manage to attempt 15 -16 questions, you can easily clear the section cutoff of this section.

Good Attempts -

1. English Language - 20 - 22

2. Reasoning Ability - 15 - 20

3. Quantitative Aptitude - 22 - 25

Section-wise Expected Cut off

1. English Section – 7 - 8

2. Reasoning – 8 - 9

3. Quantitative Aptitude – 8 - 9

All The Best!!

Team Excellence !!