IBPS PO (Probationary Officer) Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

Quantitative Aptitude syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Quantitative Aptitude in IBPS PO (Probationary Officer), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Number System and Simplification

   3 topics

   • Number Properties
     • Factors, multiples, LCM and HCF
     • Divisibility rules and remainders
     • Prime and composite numbers
   • Simplification and Approximation
     • BODMAS rule application
     • Approximation of decimals and fractions
     • Surds and indices simplification
   • Fractions, Decimals and Squares
     • Square roots and cube roots
     • Comparison of fractions
     • Recurring decimals
2. 2

   Arithmetic Word Problems

   5 topics

   • Percentage and Ratio-Proportion
     • Percentage increase and decrease
     • Successive percentages
     • Ratio, proportion and partnership
   • Profit, Loss and Discount
     • Cost price, selling price and marked price
     • Successive discounts
     • Dishonest dealer problems
   • Simple and Compound Interest
     • SI and CI formulae
     • Half-yearly and quarterly compounding
     • Difference between SI and CI
   • Average, Mixture and Alligation
     • Average of numbers and ages
     • Rule of alligation
     • Replacement of mixtures
   • Time, Speed and Work
     • Time, speed and distance
     • Boats and streams, trains
     • Time and work, pipes and cisterns
3. 3

   Data Interpretation

   3 topics

   • Tabular and Graphical DI
     • Tables and bar graphs
     • Line graphs and pie charts
     • Mixed and combined graphs
   • Caselet and Missing DI
     • Paragraph-based caselets
     • Missing data interpretation
   • Data Sufficiency
     • Two-statement sufficiency
     • Quantity comparison (Quantity I vs II)
4. 4

   Algebra and Advanced Maths

   3 topics

   • Quadratic Equations
     • Roots and factorisation
     • Comparison of two equations
   • Permutation, Combination and Probability
     • Arrangements and selections
     • Basic probability of events
   • Mensuration and Number Series
     • Area and volume of 2D/3D figures
     • Missing and wrong number series

Quantitative Aptitude flashcards for IBPS PO (Probationary Officer)

21 of 50 cards from the Quantitative Aptitude deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the divisibility rule for 8?

   A number is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number divisible by 8 (e.g., 1,256 → 256 ÷ 8 = 32, so divisible).

2. What is the divisibility rule for 11?

   A number is divisible by 11 if the difference between the sum of digits at odd places and the sum of digits at even places is 0 or a multiple of 11.

3. How are LCM and HCF of two numbers related to the numbers themselves?

   For two numbers a and b: LCM × HCF = a × b.

4. State the formula for the sum of the first n natural numbers.

   Sum = n(n + 1) / 2.

5. State the formula for the sum of squares of the first n natural numbers.

   Sum = n(n + 1)(2n + 1) / 6.

6. State the formula for the sum of cubes of the first n natural numbers.

   Sum = [n(n + 1) / 2]², i.e., the square of the sum of the first n natural numbers.

7. How do you find the number of factors of a number from its prime factorization?

   If N = p^a × q^b × r^c, the number of factors = (a+1)(b+1)(c+1).

8. What is the unit digit of any power of a number ending in 5 or 6?

   It always ends in 5 (for numbers ending in 5) or 6 (for numbers ending in 6), regardless of the power.

9. What is the order of operations used in simplification (BODMAS)?

   Brackets, Orders (powers/roots), Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction — performed in that priority order.

10. In BODMAS, in what order are brackets solved?

    Innermost first: ( ) round brackets, then { } curly braces, then [ ] square brackets — i.e., from inside out.

11. In approximation questions, how should √ values and percentages be handled for speed?

    Round each number to the nearest convenient value (e.g., 49.8 ≈ 50, 19.7% ≈ 20%) before computing, since only an approximate answer is required.

12. What is the value of 'of' in expressions like '1/2 of 60' under BODMAS?

    'of' means multiplication and is treated with the highest priority (like brackets), so 1/2 of 60 = 30, computed before division/multiplication elsewhere.

13. How do you convert a recurring decimal like 0.̅(ab) (pure recurring) to a fraction?

    Place the repeating block over as many 9s as there are repeating digits, e.g., 0.363636… = 36/99 = 4/11.

14. What is the fraction equivalent of 0.125, 0.25, and 0.375?

    0.125 = 1/8, 0.25 = 1/4, 0.375 = 3/8.

15. What is the square of a number ending in 5 (e.g., 35², 65²)?

    For (a5)²: write a×(a+1) followed by 25. E.g., 35² = (3×4)|25 = 1225; 65² = (6×7)|25 = 4225.

16. List the squares of 11 to 15.

    11²=121, 12²=144, 13²=169, 14²=196, 15²=225.

17. What fraction equals 1/6, 1/7, and 1/8 as a percentage (approx)?

    1/6 ≈ 16.67%, 1/7 ≈ 14.28%, 1/8 = 12.5%.

18. How do you increase a number by x% then decrease by x%? What is the net effect?

    Net result is always a decrease of x²/100 percent. E.g., +20% then −20% gives a net −4%.

19. If A is x% more than B, by what percent is B less than A?

    B is less than A by [x / (100 + x)] × 100 percent.

20. What is the formula for percentage change?

    Percentage change = [(New value − Old value) / Old value] × 100.

21. If a : b = 2 : 3 and b : c = 4 : 5, what is a : b : c?

    Make b common: a:b = 8:12, b:c = 12:15, so a:b:c = 8:12:15.

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