How many questions are there in IBPS PO English section?

The IBPS PO Prelims English Language section has 30 questions for 30 marks, with a dedicated 20-minute time limit. In Mains, the English Language section has 35 questions for 40 marks with a 40-minute time limit. There is negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer in both stages.

What is the cut off for English section in IBPS PO Prelims?

The IBPS PO Prelims English section cut off for the General/UR category has been around 11.50 out of 30 in recent cycles (2023 data). For SC/ST/OBC/PwBD categories, the sectional cut off was 8.25 out of 30. These are minimum qualifying marks — scoring near the cut off leaves you exposed to the overall cut off pressure.

Which topics come in IBPS PO English language section?

IBPS PO English Language section covers: Reading Comprehension (10 questions typically), Cloze Test (5–7 questions), Error Spotting/Sentence Correction (4–5 questions), Sentence Rearrangement/Para Jumbles (5 questions), Fill in the Blanks (3–4 questions), and occasionally Word Usage or Phrase Replacement. Reading Comprehension alone accounts for 30–35% of the section.

How to score 20+ in IBPS PO English section in 20 minutes?

Attempt Cloze Test, Error Spotting, and Fill in the Blanks first — these are fastest per mark. Save Reading Comprehension for last if you're a slow reader. Never spend more than 90 seconds on any single question. Eliminate wrong options to improve accuracy on guesses. Target 22–25 attempts with 85%+ accuracy rather than 30 attempts with 65% accuracy.

Is PrepBanker's IBPS PO English sectional test free?

Yes. Register free at app.prepgrind.com to access IBPS PO English sectional tests at no cost. Each test has 30 questions in a 20-minute timed format matching the real Prelims pattern. After submitting, you get instant scores, topic-wise accuracy breakdown, and detailed solutions for every question — all without any payment.

Is IBPS PO English section hard for non-English medium students?

The section is moderate in difficulty for most candidates, but it creates genuine challenges for students who studied in Hindi or regional language medium schools. The good news: the questions test applied grammar and comprehension — not advanced vocabulary. 45–60 days of structured practice focusing on Cloze Tests and RC passages builds enough competency to clear the sectional cut off and score 18–22 comfortably.

How much time should I practice IBPS PO English every day?

30–45 minutes daily is enough if the time is structured: 15 minutes on RC passages (1 per day), 10 minutes on one grammar topic (rotating), and 10–15 minutes on a timed Cloze Test or Error Spotting set. Consistency matters more than duration. Six weeks of this routine can take an average scorer from 12–14 to 20–24 in the section.

Is IBPS PO English harder than SBI PO English section?

SBI PO English is generally considered slightly more difficult — the RC passages are denser, vocabulary questions are less predictable, and the Mains descriptive component is more demanding. IBPS PO English is more pattern-driven and formula-able. If you can consistently score 20+ in IBPS PO English mocks, you likely have the foundation to score 18+ in SBI PO as well.

What is the best order to attempt IBPS PO English section?

Recommended order: (1) Cloze Test — fastest marks, 2–3 minutes. (2) Error Spotting — fixed pattern, 3–4 minutes. (3) Fill in the Blanks — short, decisive, 2 minutes. (4) Sentence Rearrangement — 4–5 minutes. (5) Reading Comprehension last — 7–9 minutes for 10 questions. This order protects your score if time runs out before you finish RC.

Do IBPS PO English sectional tests on PrepBanker match the real exam pattern?

Yes. PrepBanker's IBPS PO English sectional tests are built on the exact Prelims pattern: 30 questions, 20-minute timed format, with negative marking enabled (0.25 per wrong). Topics are weighted to match IBPS's historical question distribution — roughly 10 RC questions, 6 Cloze Test, 5 Error Spotting, 5 Para Jumbles, and 4 Fill in the Blanks.

How many questions come from English in IBPS PO Prelims?

IBPS PO Prelims has 30 English Language questions worth 30 marks, to be solved in 20 minutes.

How many marks is English worth in IBPS PO Mains?

IBPS PO Mains has 40 English Language questions worth 20 marks, with 40 minutes allotted — more questions than Prelims but at a lower per-question mark value.

Is English Language easier in Mains than Prelims?

Not necessarily easier — Mains English has more questions (40 vs 30) in double the time, but each question carries fewer marks, so speed and consistency matter more than in Prelims.

What topics are most important in IBPS PO English Language?

Reading Comprehension carries the highest weightage in the English section, followed by Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Error Detection, Sentence Improvement, and Fill in the Blanks.

Is the IBPS PO Descriptive Test part of the English Language section?

No — the Descriptive Test (Essay and Letter Writing, worth 25 marks) is a separate paper in Mains, distinct from the 40-question objective English Language section.

How can I improve my score in IBPS PO English quickly?

Practicing grammar-based topics like Error Detection, Sentence Improvement, and Fill in the Blanks first builds quick, rule-based accuracy, while daily editorial reading improves Reading Comprehension speed over time.

What is the fastest-improving section in IBPS PO?

English Language typically improves fastest, since most lost marks come from avoidable grammar or context errors rather than a lack of underlying concept knowledge, unlike Quant or Reasoning.

Are there free IBPS PO English mock tests available?

Yes, free IBPS PO English sectional and topic-wise tests are available on PrepBanker, covering both the Prelims and Mains pattern.

What is the negative marking for wrong answers in IBPS PO English?

IBPS PO deducts 0.25 marks for every wrong answer in the English Language section, same as all other objective sections.

How many English practice tests should I attempt before Prelims?

Attempting at least 15–20 English sectional tests along with topic-wise Reading Comprehension and grammar tests before Prelims is enough to build both speed and accuracy for most candidates.

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Sectional Practice

IBPS PO English Language Sectional Tests 2026

Sectional and topic-wise English practice for Prelims and Mains — Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Error Detection, and vocabulary, built on the latest 2026 exam pattern.

30 Marks in Prelims|20 Marks in Mains|25+ RC, Cloze & Grammar tests

✓ Updated 27 July 2026✓ Based on revised pattern✓ Free + Premium tests

Attempt a Free English Test See Full IBPS PO Exam Pattern

English Key Stats

Prelims Questions30 Qs / 20 min

Mains Questions40 Qs / 40 min

Mains Mark Value0.5 per question

Negative Marking-0.25 mark penalty

The descriptive paper is evaluated separately and deserves dedicated typewriter mock focus.

Overview Guide Notification Admit Card Vacancy Syllabus Important Dates Cut Off Exam Pattern Eligibility Selection Process Salary Mock Tests English Tests Quant Tests Reasoning Tests Study Plan

On This Page

1Weightage breakdown
2What's Inside prep catalog
3Topics covered
4Preparation strategy
5Why English is key
6Free vs Premium features
7Resources & FAQs

English Language Weightage in IBPS PO 2026

Sectional Parameter Breakdown

Preliminary Stage

Screening

Questions30 Qs

Marks30 Marks

Duration20 Mins

Main Stage

Scored

Questions40 Qs

Marks20 Marks

Duration40 Mins

*English carries fewer marks per question in Mains than Prelims — but more questions overall, which means speed and elimination technique matter more at the Mains stage, not less.

What's Inside PrepBanker's English Test Series

Prelims20 Tests

Prelims English Sectionals

30 Qs, 20 min locks, latest difficulty standards.

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Mains15 Tests

Mains English Sectionals

40 Qs, 40 min locks, higher analytical standard.

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RC Special15 Tests

Reading Comprehension

Editorial passages with inference-based check patterns.

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Context15 Tests

Cloze Test & Para Jumbles

Tests contextual syntax fitting and paragraph sequencing.

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Grammar15 Tests

Error Detection & Grammar

Drills core rules and phrasing improvements quickly.

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Past PapersPast 5 Years

Previous Year English Papers

Actual questions tagged topic-wise to benchmark scores.

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Topics Covered in English Tests

Reading Comprehension

Cloze Test

Para Jumbles

Error Detection

Sentence Improvement

Fill in the Blanks

Vocabulary drills

Phrase Replacement

Sentence Rearrangement

Word Usage

How to Use These Tests to Improve Fastest

Prioritize Reading ComprehensionRC carries the highest weightage. Daily passage solves improve general text interpretation speeds.

Core Base

Nail Grammar Scoring RulesGrammar patterns (Error Spotting, Improvements) are rule-based. Master static rules for swift marks.

Speed Wins

Scan Context Prior to Choice AnalysisIdentify syntax flow before matching options. This mitigates silly elimination choices.

Tactical

Repeat Weak Sectional Tests LaterRe-solve failed topic tests after 4 days to check rule retention instead of plain keys memory.

Audit

Why English Is the Fastest Section to Improve

Sectional Value

No Formulas. No Puzzle Grids. Just Rules.

Unlike Quant or Reasoning, English rewards comprehension speed. Mistakes usually stem from misreading connector words, or picking near-right synonyms. Topic drills clarify these 2–3 recurring patterns quickly.

Free vs Premium Access

Standard

Free Tier

3 Full English Sectional Tests (Prelims & Mains).
Sample vocabulary & error detection topic drills.
Basic scorecard analysis.

Attempt Free Tests

Recommended

Premium Master Pass

Full 80+ test library across all sectional and topic blocks.
Detailed explanation keys for all parameters.
All-India rank matching & scorecard metrics analysis.

See Full Test Series

Target Sectional Weaknesses

Reasoning Ability Tests Quantitative Aptitude Tests Complete Mock Tests Notification Guidelines Exam Syllabus details Previous Year Cut Offs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Reviewed by: PrepBanker Exam Desk· Last Updated: 27 July 2026· Target url: PrepGrind online practice engine

Disclaimer: This page is independently maintained by PrepBanker for candidate convenience. For final mock tests access and live score analytics engine configurations, please sign up directly on the PrepGrind system.

PrepBanker Editorial & Verification Standards

Written By

Yashraj Deshmukh

Senior Content Manager – Banking Exams, PrepBanker

Cleared IBPS PO (2021) • 7+ Years Experience • Verified 500+ mock papers

Yashraj Deshmukh has been writing and reviewing banking exam content for 7 years. He cleared IBPS PO in 2021, has a background in banking awareness content for 5+ years, and has reviewed 500+ mock test papers for accuracy against the latest SBI pattern. At PrepBanker, Yashraj tracks every SBI and IBPS notification the day it's released and personally verifies vacancy, salary, and exam-date updates against the official SBI/IBPS PDFs before they go live on this page.

Reviewed By

Divya Bhosale

Subject Matter Expert, Quantitative Aptitude, PrepBanker

IDBI Junior Assistant Manager • Bank of Maharashtra Customer Service Associate via IBPS PO

Divya Bhosale has been reviewing quantitative aptitude and banking exam material for PrepBanker. She has cleared the IDBI Junior Assistant Manager exam and served as a Customer Service Associate at the Bank of Maharashtra via IBPS PO, bringing invaluable real-world exam expertise to PrepBanker.

Last updated: July 10, 2026

Next scheduled review: August 22, 2026 (admit card release)