IBPS PO Main Exam 2024 comes with some notable changes. This year, the exam will be conducted in two shifts: morning (8:00 AM) and afternoon (1:00 PM), earlier the exam was conducted in a single shift. Additionally, for the first time, a normalization factor will be applied to the IBPS PO Mains Result. These changes have increased curiosity and speculation among candidates and many are seeing them as a sign of promising opportunities.
Double shift in IBPS PO Mains 2024
The decision to conduct the IBPS PO Mains exam in two shifts marks a significant change in the approach of IBPS. Earlier, the exam was conducted in a single shift ensuring uniformity in difficulty levels. However, the introduction of two innings increases the use of score normalization to balance out any changes in the level of difficulty between the two innings.
Normalization ensures fairness by adjusting the marks to take into account any disparity in the difficulty of the question paper. While normalization is a common practice in banking exams, its introduction in IBPS PO Mains has raised questions on the reason behind the change.
Increasing vacancies or higher selection ratio?
Two reasons can explain the implementation of double shift in IBPS PO Mains 2024.
- Increased Vacancies: One possibility is a significant increase in the number of vacancies for the IBPS PO 2024 recruitment cycle. Due to increase in vacancies there will be a need to accommodate more candidates in the main examination, leading to the introduction of double shifts. However, clarity on the exact number of vacancies will be provided on 01 April 2025 when the final notification regarding seat availability will be released along with IBPS PO Final Result.
- High Selection Ratio: Another explanation is the high selection ratio in the early stage. In previous years, IBPS had shortlisted candidates in the ratio of 1:10, which means 10 candidates were called for every available post. This year, the ratio may increase to 1:15 or more, leading to a larger pool of Mains candidates and requiring a two-shift format.
What does this mean for candidates?
Double shift, normalization and increasing vacancies in IBPS PO Mains 2024 indicate positive developments for banking aspirants. The increase in vacancies or wider selection ratio indicates increased opportunities for those aiming to secure a prestigious PO post in public sector banks. However, it also requires careful preparation as candidates will have to face tough competition with a large pool of candidates. The implementation of normalization adds another layer of transparency and fairness to the selection process.
While the exact reasons behind these changes remain speculative, the change and normalization of the two shifts underlines IBPS’s commitment to evolving its processes. Be it increased vacancies or higher selection ratio, these changes indicate that 2024 could be a landmark year for IBPS PO aspirants.
