If you are planning to appear for IBPS PO exam 2025, then one of the most common questions is How many marks are required to clean the IBPS PO Prelims Exam? Knowing the cutoff trends helps you set a clear goal while preparing. In this article, we will explain the number of marks you required and also share the cutoff for the last five years so that you get a full idea.
How many marks are required to clean the IBPS PO Prelims Exam?
IBPS PO Preliminary Examination is the first step in the selection process for the post of probation officer in various public sector banks. It is a computer-based test that lasts for 1 hour. Paper has three sections English language, quantitative ability and logic capacity. Each section is given separate time for 20 minutes.
There are a total of 100 questions carrying 1 marks. So the maximum marks are 100. For each wrong answer, 0.25 points are cut. This means that accuracy is very important in this exam. You have to obtain a minimum marks in each section (sectional cutoff) and a minimum total score (overall cutoff) to qualify for the next stage, which is the IBPS PO Menon exam.
How many points should you target?
The number of digits required to vacate prelims varies every year. There is no fixed cutoff, but if we look at the trend for years, it is usually beach 48 to 59 marks out of 100 for general category candidatesFor candidates related to reserved categories like SC, ST, or OBC, the cutoff is slightly lower.
It is important to note that the cutoff is decided on the basis of factors, such as the difficulty level of examination, which appears the number of students, and how many vacancies are available in that year. So even if you score 50 a year, it can be enough, but in another year, it may not happen.
In addition to the overall digits, you also have to clean the sectional cutoff. For example, in 2024, a general category student required about 10 marks in English, 7 in quantitative qualification and about 6.75 in logic capacity. If you score them down in one section, you will not qualify, even if your total score is good.
Trend in IBPS PO Prelims Cutoff in last 5 years
To give you a better understanding, here is a table that shows the overall cutoff marks for the general category in the last five years:
| Trend in IBPS PO Prelims Cutoff in last 5 years | |
| Year | Cut off (ur category) |
| 2024 | 48.50 |
| 2023 | 54.25 |
| 2022 | 49.75 |
| 2021 | 50.50 |
| 2020 | 58.75 |
As you can see, the cutoff has gone up and down depending on the conditions of the examination. In 2020, it was as higher as 58.75, while in 2024, it fell to 48.50. So you should always try to score as high as possible to stay on a safe side.
What should be your goal?
To be safe, it is better to go a least goal 55 to 60 digits If you belong to the general category, in the prelims. In this way, even if the cutoff is high, you still have a good chance. If you belong to a reserved category, you can target slightly less, about 45 to 50 digits, but high scores always give you more confidence. Also, keep in mind that it is equally important to clean the sectional cutoff. Practice all three classes regularly and do not ignore any one subject.
