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IBPS PO | Preliminary Examination

IBPS PO Prelims: sectional timing practice set 1

A shorter set that keeps the real Prelims pace, marking scheme and sectional locking, so you can rehearse the interface before a full-length attempt.

Before you start

  • Each section has its own clock. When a section's time is over it locks, and you cannot return to it.
  • The per-question pace matches the real Prelims exactly: 40 seconds per question in English, and about 34 seconds per question in Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning.
  • One fourth of a mark is deducted for every wrong answer. Questions left unanswered carry no penalty.
  • You may change an answer any time while its section is still running.
  • Marking a question for review does not submit it. A marked question with an answer selected is still evaluated.

Sections in this test

SectionQuestionsTime
English LanguageEnglish Language53 min
Quantitative AptitudeQuantitative Aptitude85 min
Reasoning AbilityReasoning Ability74 min

Sample questions with worked solutions

A few questions from this test, with the answer key and the method behind it. The full set of 20 runs under a timer, and every solution is on the analysis screen once you submit.

English Language · solved example

Find the part of the sentence that contains an error. If there is no error, choose option E. Each of the candidates (A) / were asked (B) / to submit their documents (C) / before the deadline (D).

  • Each of the candidates
  • were askedCorrect
  • to submit their documents
  • before the deadline
  • No error

Solution

'Each of' is always followed by a plural noun but takes a singular verb, so 'were asked' must become 'was asked'. The trap is the plural noun 'candidates' sitting right before the verb, which makes the plural sound natural. Test it by reducing the sentence to its core: 'Each was asked', not 'Each were asked'.

Quantitative Aptitude · solved example

What is the value of 15% of 480 + 25% of 320?

  • 144
  • 148
  • 152Correct
  • 156
  • 160

Solution

15% of 480 = 480 x 15/100 = 72. 25% of 320 is a quarter of 320 = 80. Adding gives 72 + 80 = 152. Converting percentages to fractions first (15% is 3/20, 25% is 1/4) is faster than multiplying out, and it is the habit that saves seconds across a whole section.

Reasoning Ability · solved example

Statements: All roses are flowers. Some flowers are red. Conclusions: I. Some roses are red. II. Some flowers are roses.

  • Only conclusion I follows
  • Only conclusion II followsCorrect
  • Both conclusions follow
  • Neither conclusion follows
  • Either I or II follows

Solution

Conclusion II follows directly: if all roses are flowers, then at least some flowers are roses, which is the valid converse of a universal affirmative. Conclusion I does not follow. The red flowers mentioned in the second statement need not include any rose, so 'some roses are red' is only a possibility, not a certainty. In syllogism, a possibility is never a valid conclusion unless the question asks for possibility cases.

English Language · solved example

Choose the pair of words that fits both blanks most appropriately. The committee's report was so ______ that even its harshest critics found it difficult to ______ the conclusions.

  • vague / accept
  • thorough / refuteCorrect
  • brief / summarise
  • partial / support
  • delayed / postpone

Solution

'Even its harshest critics' signals a concession, so the report must have a quality that works against criticism. 'Thorough' supplies that, and 'refute' is what critics would want to do but cannot. Check the others: a vague report would be easy to reject, not hard to accept; 'brief / summarise' produces no contrast at all; a partial report would be easy for critics to attack; 'delayed / postpone' is unrelated to the conclusions.

English Language · solved example

Arrange the four sentences into a coherent paragraph. A. However, the transmission of these cuts to actual lending rates remained slow. B. The central bank reduced the repo rate three times during the year. C. This was intended to lower borrowing costs across the economy. D. Banks cited the high cost of their existing deposits as the reason.

  • BCADCorrect
  • BACD
  • CBAD
  • BCDA
  • ABCD

Solution

B is the only sentence that introduces a subject without referring back to anything, so it opens. C explains the purpose of B, and its 'This' points directly at the rate cuts. A introduces the contrast with 'However'. D then explains the reason for the slow transmission described in A. That gives B-C-A-D. Note that D cannot precede A, because the 'reason' in D only makes sense once a problem has been stated.

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How this test is marked

Correct answer

+1

Wrong answer

-0.25

Unanswered

0

Because a blank carries no penalty, guessing only pays when you can eliminate at least two options. The analysis screen after the test shows you exactly where guessing cost you marks.