Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, IBPS conducted the first phase of its IBPS PO Prelims 2017 on 7th and 8th October, 2017. The examination was conducted across various centers in the country. Candidates who have written the examination of these two days reported the paper to be either moderate or difficult. No candidate reported the paper to be easy. We present here the detailed exam analysis of IBPS PO Prelims 2017 7th and 8th October slots. The next round of PO Prelims would be conducted on October 14 and 15, 2017.
Candidates are hereby also advised that there was no actual access to question papers. Whatever analysis has been provided is done on the memory based questions as shared by the candidates who have written the examination. As candidates would be aware, IBPS PO Prelims 2017 has three sections.
For the sections, most of the candidates reported the English Section regarding Phrase Replacement + Error Detection (new pattern) to be difficult. Around 20 questions out of the total 30 were from this pattern. The reading comprehension of 10 questions was fairly easy as reported by many.
As for reasoning ability, candidates reported the section to be moderate. Majority of questions were based on seating arrangement. Around 20 questions were based on 4 puzzles including Linear (1 Variable – 8 persons sitting in a line, some are facing North and some facing South, Square seating arrangement (1 variable, In and Out), Persons and Months and Floor (3 variables). 5 questions were based on Syllogism and remaining questions were divided among coding, decoding, directions, blood relations and inequality. The level reported by almost all candidates was fairly moderate. Expected cut off for reasoning is set high at about 19.
Quantitative Section, however, was reported more difficult than moderate by most candidates. Data interpretation had the maximum number of questions dedicated to it – almost 12 questions out of the total of 35. Another chunk of questions were asked from approximation. Candidates reported as many as 6 questions from approximation. While approximation questions along with other topics like compound interest, profit and loss, averages, relative speed, etc. were said to be of modetate difficulty level, questions from time and work as well as data interpretation were found to be difficult by many. The experts believe a good attempt for quantitative aptitude section should be about 17 questions with minimum 15 questions.
Overall, experts have asked the candidates who are preparing for the upcoming slots to focus on the new examination pattern and practice the questions on data interpretation as well as phrase and error detection. They also feel that candidates should aim at a 60 mark cut off to ensure that they qualify the IBPS PO Prelims 2017.
