IBPS PO Mains Exam Analysis 2025 (12 October): Section-wise Review, Difficulty Level & GA Questions Asked
The IBPS PO Mains 2025 held on 12 October was the real decider for this year’s recruitment. Students coming out of the centre called it “balanced but time-tight”, with a few spikes in Reasoning/DI and a manageable English + GA mix. Below is a clean, plagiarism-free analysis written in simple Indian English, so you can quickly understand what came, how tough it felt, and what smart moves can improve your score.
Exam Structure at a Glance
| Part | Sections | Marks | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, English Language, General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 200 | ~145 | ~180 minutes (sectional timing) |
| Descriptive | English Essay & Letter | 25 | 2 | 30 minutes |
Note: Exact distribution can vary slightly year to year, but the pattern stays close to this format with sectional timing and negative marking in the objective part.
Overall Feel & Difficulty
The paper was Moderate to Difficult. Reasoning + DI carried the main weight with layered sets that demanded patience. English was fair and scoreable if you manage time well. GA was a mixed bag: some direct current-affairs facts plus banking-specific items. Descriptive tasks were standard, with topics connected to finance/social themes where a structured write-up earned marks.
Section-wise Review
1) Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
- Puzzles/Arrangements: 3–4 sets; a couple were multi-variable (floors + departments, circular/linear with conditions) and consumed time.
- Logical Reasoning: statement-assumption/inference, cause-effect, course of action—needed careful reading.
- Data Sufficiency & Misc: inequality, directions, blood relations popped up; solvable if you picked the right order.
- Computer Aptitude (blended): conceptual/flow-type logic rather than rote theory; nothing outlandish but time-sensitive.
Takeaway: Don’t lock yourself into one heavy puzzle early. Secure quick marks from shorter LR/inequality/DS items, then return to the bulky set.
2) Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Caselets & Charts: table + bar/line/pie combinations with comparison across years/branches/products.
- Arithmetic within DI: ratio, percentage change, profit-loss, mixtures—embedded inside sets.
- Level: Moderate to a shade tough because of multi-step calculations and “hidden” clues that unlocked 3–4 questions at once.
Takeaway: Start with the friendliest set (clean data, fewer variables). Keep approximations ready and write down key numbers neatly to avoid re-reading the set.
3) English Language (Objective + Descriptive)
- Objective: RC with inference/synonyms/phrase replacement, para-jumbles (meaningful order), grammar error-spotting, and close-test/fillers.
- Descriptive: One essay + one letter. Topics were practical (banking/customer service, digital payments, financial literacy, social responsibility etc.).
- Level: Mostly moderate. RCs were doable if you didn’t overthink; vocabulary was contextual.
Takeaway: For descriptive, plan 2–3 minutes, write a crisp intro, keep body paragraphs focused, and close with a clear conclusion. Keep tone formal and positive.
4) General / Economy / Banking Awareness (GA)
- Coverage: last 6–10 months’ current affairs, RBI/SEBI/GoI updates, banking terms, committees, schemes, market facts.
- Mix: a few direct one-liners + 2–3 thought-based items where elimination helped. Static banking was limited but present.
- Level: Moderate; score improves sharply if you followed monthly CA + banking capsules consistently.
Takeaway: Maintain a one-page cheat list for: rates/indices, flagship schemes, committees, important days/reports, & capital-market highlights.
Memory-Based GA Questions (Indicative)
Students reported questions touching areas like:
- AEPS and the body behind it (concept + implementing organisation).
- Recent committee names linked to rural banking/financial inclusion.
- Government schemes, their ministries, and year of launch.
- Capital market basics (SGB, G-secs flavour), and policy acronyms seen in news.
- Awards/honours where nomination process or category was tested.
These are memory-based themes to guide revision; exact wording can differ centre to centre.
Good Attempts (Estimated)
| Section | Good Attempt Range* | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | Moderate | Heavy puzzles; pick 2 solid sets + quick wins from LR/inequality. |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | Moderate | One easy-medium set + partials from tougher caselets can balance. |
| English (Objective) | Moderate to High | RC + grammar gave clean scoring if time managed well. |
| GA / Banking / Economy | Moderate | Well-prepared candidates found many direct hits. |
| Overall (Objective) | Balanced attempts with high accuracy | Don’t chase raw count; protect accuracy to beat normalisation. |
*Good attempts are indicative, not a rigid number. Your accuracy decides everything.
Descriptive Writing — What Worked
- Essay: Start with a problem statement or definition, add 2–3 concrete points with examples/data, conclude with solution-oriented lines.
- Letter: Follow format (sender/receiver, subject, salutation, body, closing). Keep language polite, direct, and error-free.
- Time Split: 12–15 mins essay, 12–15 mins letter; keep 1–2 mins buffer for proof-reading.
Last-Minute Prep Tips for Interview-Stage Aspirants
- Revise banking basics, RBI functions, digital products, and customer-service etiquette.
- Prepare a crisp “Why Banking?” answer with personal motivation, not generic lines.
- Read financial news daily; keep examples ready for NPA, inflation, UPI, inclusion, MSME credit, etc.
- For documentation, keep originals + photocopies neatly arranged; reach venue early and stay calm.
FAQs
Q1. Was the IBPS PO Mains 2025 paper tough?
Overall it felt moderate to difficult. Reasoning/DI took time; English and GA were more manageable with regular practice.
Q2. How important is GA in Mains?
Very important. GA is high-yield because questions are quick to attempt. A consistent CA routine for the last 6–10 months pays off big time.
Q3. What’s the best DI strategy?
Identify the cleanest set first. Don’t force a messy caselet. Even 7–10 accurate DI questions can be a match-winner if your reasoning/English are steady.