IBPS SO Syllabus: Prelims, Mains, Exam Pattern, Practice Set

IBPS SO Syllabus is listed in this article, after extensively analyzing previous years IBPS SO exams questions papers. However, the IBPS SO syllabus is not specified in the IBPS SO advertisement, for which candidates find it difficult to cover all topics relevant in IBPS SO Exam preparation.

The IBPS SO exam is conducted every year by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) for Special Officers posts after receiving the numbers of the vacancy from the participating banks. The IBPS SO Exam is conducted for recruitment of candidates having professional knowledge in below fields:

  1. Agriculture Officer
  2. Information Technology Officer
  3. Human Resources/Personnel Officer
  4. Marketing Officer
  5. Law Officer
  6. Rajbhasha Adhikari

The competition level in the IBPS SO Exam is very high, hence aspirants should familiarise themselves with the IBPS SO syllabus to have a clear concept on the various topics covered in the exam.

IBPS SO Exam is being conducted in three phases:
1) IBPS SO Prelims
2) IBPS SO Mains
3) IBPS SO Interview

IBPS SO Syllabus
IBPS SO Syllabus

IBPS SO Exam Pattern

IBPS SO Perlims Exam Pattern

Below is the structure of online IBPS SO Prelims test:

Sr.No.Name of TestsNo. of QuestionsMaximum MarksTime Allotted
1English Language502540 Minutes
2Reasoning505040 Minutes
3Quantitative Aptitude505040 Minutes
Total1501252 Hours

IBPS SO Mains Exam Pattern

60 Objective inquiry on Professional Knowledge will be posted in the Main Examination for the post of Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer. The time designated for this test is 45 Minutes and the all-out Marks granted are 60.

For the post of Rajya Sabha Adhikari Main Exam will comprise of 45 Objective Questions and 2 Descriptive Questions on Professional Knowledge. The time apportioned for the Objective inquiry paper is 30 Minutes and 30 Minutes for Descriptive inquiry paper. Absolute Marks granted are 60.

IBPS SO Syllabus – Prelims

The IBPS SO Prelims exam consists of three subjects and it is an objective type paper. As per the IBPS SO Prelims syllabus, the paper is divided into three subjects. Below are the subjects for IBPS SO Prelims exam:

  1. English Language
  2. Reasoning
  3. Quantitative Aptitude
IBPS SO Syllabus - Prelims
IBPS SO Syllabus – Prelims

IBPS SO Syllabus – Prelims – English Language

  1. Reading Comprehension
  2. Tenses Rules
  3. Preposition Rules
  4. Fill in the Blanks
  5. Synonyms and Antonyms
  6. Jumbled Paragraphs
  7. Error Spotting & Correction
  8. Idioms and Phrases

IBPS SO Syllabus – Prelims – Reasoning Ability

  1. Alphanumeric Series
  2. Direction Test
  3. Blood Relation
  4. Classification
  5. Analogy
  6. Syllogism
  7. Order and Ranking
  8. Seating Arrangements
  9. Coding and Decoding
  10. Input and Output
  11. Statement and Assumptions
  12. Statement and Conclusion

IBPS SO Syllabus – Prelims – Quantitative Aptitude

  1. Surds and Indices
  2. Percentage Calculation
  3. Sequences and Series
  4. Ratio and Proportion
  5. Profit, Loss, and Discounts
  6. Mixtures and Alligations
  7. Speed, Time, and Distance
  8. Work and Time
  9. Simple and Compound Interest
  10. Mensuration: Cone, Sphere, Cylinder
  11. Permutation and Combination
  12. Probability
  13. Data Interpretation

IBPS SO Syllabus – Mains

The IBPS SO Mains exam consists of a professional subject, objective-type question paper. For Law Officer and Rajya Sabha Adhikari’s post, the IBPS SO Mains exam consists of Objective and Subjective parts. Below are the subjects for the IBPS SO Mains exam:

IBPS SO Syllabus - Mains
IBPS SO Syllabus – Mains

IBPS SO Syllabus for IT Officer Scale I

The IBPS SO IT Officer syllabus for Scale I consists of the following topics:

  1. Database Management Systems
  2. Data Communication and Networking
  3. Operating Systems
  4. Software Engineering
  5. Data Structures
  6. Embedded Systems and Microprocessors
  7. Computer Organization
  8. Basics of Cyber Security Tools and Processes
  9. Object-Oriented Programming

IBPS SO Syllabus for Agriculture Officer

The IBSP SO Agriculture Officer syllabus for Scale I consists of the following topics:

  1. Basics of Crop Production and Horticulture
  2. Agronomy, Irrigation and Seed Science
  3. Agricultural Economics and Practices
  4. Soil resources
  5. Animal Husbandry
  6. Agroforestry
  7. Ecology
  8. Government Schemes related to Agriculture

IBPS SO Syllabus for Marketing Officer

The IBPS SO Marketing Officer Syllabus covers a large number of topics.

These are as follows:

  1. Basics of Marketing Management
  2. Brand Management
  3. Advertising, Public Relations and Sales
  4. Retail Business
  5. Business Ethics
  6. Market Segmentation
  7. Market Research and Forecasting
  8. Product Life Cycle Management
  9. Corporate Social Responsibility
  10. Marketing Strategies in Services Marketing

IBPS SO Syllabus for Law Officer

The IBPS SO Law Officer syllabus is as follows:

  1. Banking Regulations
  2. Compliance and Legal Aspects
  3. Relevant Law and Orders related to negotiable instruments, securities, foreign exchange
  4. Prevention of Money-laundering, Limitation Act
  5. Consumer Protection Act
  6. Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act
  7. Banking Ombudsman
  8. Laws and Actions with a direct link to Banking Sector
  9. Bankers Book Evidence Act
  10. Debt Recovery Tribunals Act

IBPS SO Syllabus for HR/Personnel Officer

The following topics form the syllabus for HR/Personnel officers for IBPS SO exam:

  1. Human Resource Development
  2. Business policy and strategic analysis
  3. Transnational Analysis
  4. Training and Development
  5. Recruitment and Selection
  6. Rewards and Recognition
  7. Business Policy and Strategic Analysis
  8. Grievance and Conflict Management
  9. Performance Management and Appraisals

IBPS SO Syllabus for Rajbhasha Adhikari

The Rajbhasha Adhikari primarily deals with Hindi communications, advertising material, and related documents handled by the bank.

The topics covered in the Rajbhasha Adhikari syllabus are as follows:

  1. Grammar
  2. Error Correction
  3. Fill in The Banks
  4. Reading Comprehension
  5. Letter Writing
  6. Essay Writing

IBPS SO Exam Practice Set

Test yourself with a similar set of questions asked in the IBPS SO Exam Click Here.

More Details

More details or updates related to IBPS SO Syllabus will be available on the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), the best source is the IBPS website, click here.