Last-minute tips and Strategy for Quant Section – IBPS PO 2024 (Prelim and Main)

The Quantitative Aptitude section of the IBPS PO 2024 Prelim exam comprises 35 Qs and the marks allotted are 35, with each question carrying one mark. The total time allotted for the Quantitative Aptitude Section is 20 minutes, after which the test-taker will not be allowed to go back to this part of the exam. One has to utilize these 20 minutes in a very effective and efficient manner. Besides getting a competitive score overall, one must clear the sectional cut-off in the Prelim exam to qualify for the Main exam.

The section of the IBPS PO 2024 Main exam known as Data Analysis and Interpretation comprises 35 Qs, but the maximum marks are 60. Out of 35 questions, 25 questions are awarded 2 marks each and the remaining questions are awarded one mark each. For this section, 45 minutes is allotted. There are minimum qualifying marks for individual tests in the Main exam. Merely qualifying in individual tests may not add up to enough marks for getting an interview call. A student should also get a reasonably high total.

There is a negative marking scheme in both the Prelim and the Main exams, where 1/4th of the marks assigned for a question are deducted for each wrongly marked response.

Candidates should focus on the following question types for the Prelim exam:

• Simplifications
• Approximations
• Number Series (missing and wrong numbers)
• Quadratic Comparison
• Data Interpretation
• Individual quant questions on Arithmetic

In addition to the above question types, the following are important for the Main examination.

• Data Sufficiency (important for the Main exam; very rarely asked in the Prelim exam)
• Data Comparison (important for the Main exam, sometimes asked in the Prelim exam)
• Caselets / tables/graphs based on Arithmetic topics like Profit and Loss, Partnership, Time and Work, Time and Distance, Mensuration, and caselets / tables on Probability.
• Match the values in column I and column II in topics of Arithmetic.
• Condition-based questions on Number Series and Quadratic Equations.



Data Interpretation: Questions on Data Interpretation carry more weightage in the Main exam than in the Prelim. In the Main exam, at least ten questions and a maximum of nineteen questions were asked from this area in the last three years.

In the Prelim exam, questions on single graphs like Tables, Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, and Single Pie charts are usually asked. In 2023, five questions on a combination of double pie charts were asked.

In the Main exam, question types include a combination of graphs. Five questions on caselets have been asked almost every year in the last three years. Significantly, caselets based on arithmetic topics like Partnerships, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, Time and Distance, Averages, Mixtures and Alligations, and Mensuration were asked from, 2021 to 2023. Questions based on caselets should be attempted towards the end.

In the last three years, each year, five questions based on the missing data table, questions on condition-based Number series, and questions based on Data Sufficiency (Three Statements) were given. One must be thorough with basic concepts of Quantitative Ability to attempt these question types accurately.

Simplifications & Approximations:

Questions based on Simplifications and Approximations are asked quite frequently in the Prelim exam and are usually 5 to 6 in number. However, in the Main exam, these questions are rare. They are easy to solve and hence, students should not skip them.

To answer questions on Simplifications & Approximations and Data Interpretation, students should learn and practice the following:

• Multiplication Tables (20 X 20)
• Squares of the first 25 Natural numbers
• Cubes of the first 20 Natural numbers
• Powers of 2 (up to 12)
• Powers of 3 (up to 7)
• Fraction / Reciprocal values (up to 12)
• Complements of 100
• BODMAS
• Rules of Indices
• Basic percentage concepts

Arithmetic Questions:

Questions here test knowledge of fundamental concepts. These questions are important for both the Prelim and the Main examinations.

In the Prelim exams, a minimum of 8 questions and a maximum of 13 questions, based on Arithmetic, have been asked in the last three years.

In the Main exam, a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 19 questions, based on Arithmetic, which includes questions on caselets, have been asked in the last three years.

Important topics include – Ages, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Partnership, Time & Work, Trains, Boats & Streams, Mensuration, Simple & Compound Interest, Averages, Mixtures & Alligations, Permutations and Combinations, Probability, etc.

Number Series: Generally, there are 5 questions on Number Series (missing or wrong numbers). These are important for both the Prelim and the Main examinations. In the prelim exam, these questions are easy. In the main exam, the questions based on the Condition-based Number Series were asked which were difficult to solve.

Quadratic Comparison: Questions on Quadratic comparisons appear in both Prelim and Main exams. The questions asked in the Prelim Exam are easy, so candidates must attempt them. However, in the main exam, these questions are time-consuming but are doable.

Data Sufficiency & Data Comparison: These questions are a regular feature in the Main exam. Questions based on Data Sufficiency can be based on two or three statements.

Questions based on Data Comparison involve comparing two quantities or three quantities. These questions demand a thorough understanding of the basics and are tricky to solve. At times, both these question types can be asked in the Prelim exam as well, but their difficulty level would certainly be much lower, keeping in mind the basic nature of the exam. But in the last three years, no questions were asked on Data Sufficiency and Data Comparison, in the prelim exam.

The following table presents a topic-wise split of question types asked in the IBPS (PO) Prelim and Main exams in the years 2021, 2022 & 2023. [This data is based on feedback given by T.I.M.E. students who appeared for such exams earlier]

Strategy & Time Management:

To maximise the score and to manage time effectively, we recommend the below-mentioned plan for attempting questions.

It is advisable to attempt questions on Simplifications & Approximations, Number Series, Quadratic Comparisons, Individual questions on Arithmetic, Data Comparisons and Data Sufficiency first, before moving on to those on Data Interpretation.

Questions on Data Interpretation should be targeted at the end. Among these questions, Caselet-based questions should be attempted last.

Wishing you all the best!!!