IBPS SO Preparation books 2023: Being one of the top banking exams in India, the IBPS SO Recruitment Exam attracts many banking aspirants. The IBPS SO 2023 Selection process consist of preliminary, main, and interview rounds. Thousands of banking aspirants apply for the post, but only a select handful are successful in passing this comparative exam. Hence, it is very important for candidates to choose the right IBPS SO preparation books and study material for their preparation.
Candidates should choose books that have easy language, clearly explain all basic concepts, highlight important topics, and include an updated syllabus. Rather than referring to numerous prep books, candidates should stick to 2-3 books from top publishers.
The role of the specialist officers is to manage operations that call for a high level of expertise in one particular sector. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection conducts the IBPS SO 2023 Recruitment exam for the following posts at various public sector banks:
| Specialist officer | Scale |
|---|---|
| IT officer | Scale- I |
| Agriculture Field Officer | Scale- I |
| Marketing Officer | Scale- I |
| Personnel/ HR | Scale- I |
| Law Officer | Scale- I |
| Rajbhasa Adhikari | Scale- I |
IBPS SO 2023 Exam Pattern
Candidates should review the IBPS SO 2023 Exam Pattern and IBPS SO 2023 Syllabus before beginning their preparation. It will assist them in understanding the subject and topic covered in the exam, as well as the weighting and marking scheme.
| IBPS SO 2023 Exam | Total Question | Total Marks | Duration | Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Exam | 150 | 125 | 120 minutes | English, reasoning, quantitative aptitude/general awareness |
| Mains Exam | 60 | 60 | 60 minutes | Professional knowledge of IT/HR/Agriculture/Marketing/Law/Rajbhasa |
What are the best IBPS SO 2023 Preparation Books for Prelims?
The preliminary exam consists of three sections: English, reasoning, and quantitative aptitude. The General Awareness exam will replace the Quantitative Aptitude exam for those applying for the Rajhbhasa Adhikari position.
IBPS SO 2023 Preparation Books for English
The English section consists of 50 questions and includes topics such as the cloze test, error spotting, reading comprehension, sentence connectors, sentence completion, para jumbles, fill-in-the-blanks, and sentence improvement.
| Book Name | Author |
|---|---|
| English Grammar & Composition | Wren and Martin |
| Objective English for Competitive Examinations | Hari Mohan Prasad, Uma Rani Sinha, Mcgraw Hill |
| Objective General English | Arihant Publications |
IBPS SO 2023 Preparation Books for Reasoning
There are 50 questions in the reasoning segment. Topics covered in this section are seating arrangements, puzzles, time and work, distance and direction, blood relations, input-output, alphanumeric series order and ranking, syllogisms, and data sufficiency.
| Book Name | Author |
|---|---|
| A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S Agrawal |
| A New Approach to Reasoning | B S Sijwali |
| Analytical Reasoning | M.K.Pandey |
IBPS SO 2023 Preparation Books for Quantative Aptitude
The quantitative aptitude section is time-consuming; hence, candidates are advised to focus on this subject. The topics included in this section are number systems, simplification and approximation, ratio and proportion, time and distance, average, quartic equation, SI and CI, profit and loss, mensuration, time and energy, and data interpretation.
| Book Name | Author |
|---|---|
| The Magical Book on Quicker Maths | M Tyra |
| Fast Track Objective Arithmetic | Rajesh Verma |
| Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examination | The Pearson Guide |
IBPS SO 2023 Preparation Books for General Awareness
General awareness will replace quantitative aptitude for the Law Officer/Rajhbhasa Adhikari exam. This section consists of 50 questions and includes topics such as current affairs, general knowledge, banking awareness, financial headquarters, the prime minister’s scheme, important dates, books and authors, etc.
| Book Name | Author |
|---|---|
| Banking Awareness | B.K Raut and S.R Behera |
| Guide to Banking General Awareness | R Gupta |
| The Pearson General Knowledge Manual | Edgar Thorpe |
What are the best IBPS SO 2023 Preparation Books for Mains?
There is one section in the main exam that consists of only objective-type questions worth 60 marks. However, candidates for the Rajhbhasa Adhikari post have to give an objective and descriptive paper with a cumulative score of 60 marks. Candidates can check the subject-specific book for the main exam as per the various SO posts.
| Subject | Book Name | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Information Technology | Data Communications and Networking | Behrouz. A Forouzan |
| Objective Computer Knowledge | R Pillai | |
| A Computer for Competitive Exams | RPH Editorial Board | |
| Agriculture | Agriculture Field Officer IBPS | Vishal’s Editorial Board |
| IBPS – SO Agricultural Field Officer (Main) Exam | Dr Lalita Gaur | |
| Agriculture Field Office | R.Gupta | |
| Marketing | Marketing Specialist Exam book | Upkar Prakashan |
| Principles of Marketing | Kavita Sharma | |
| CWE-IBPS Bank-Marketing Specialist Officer Exam | Priyanka Prakashan | |
| Human Resource | Bank HR Specialist book | Kiran Prakashan |
| CWE-IBPS Bank-HR Specialist/Personal Officer Complete Book | Priyanka Prakashan | |
| Human Resource Management | K Aswathappa | |
| Rajbhasa | Hindi Vyakaran Aur Rachna | Upkar Prakashan |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari Guide | R.Gupta | |
| Rajbhasha/Hindi (Officers, Assistant, Managers) Recruitment Exam Guide (Popular Master Guide) | PH Editorial Board | |
| Law | IBPS Specialist Officer CWE LAW Officer Online Exam Practice Workbook | Kiran Prakashan |
IBPS SO 2023 Preparation Tips
Candidates who will appear for the IBPS SO exam must follow a strict study routine. Candidates can better understand the nature of the exam by solving previous years’ exam papers and taking practice tests. Doing this will also help them know their speed.
The books mentioned above are sufficient for preparation, but only consistent practice will enable one to pass the IBPS SO.
IBPS SO Preparation books 2023 FAQs
Ans-To clear their concepts, candidates should consult two or three books from top publishers or authors. Making a schedule and practising each section is essential. Additionally, candidates should routinely take practice exams to improve their speed.
Ans-English Grammar & Composition by Wren and Martin is the best book for English language preparation
Ans-The best prep book for law officers is IBPS Specialist Officer CWE LAW Officer Online Exam Practice Workbook by Kiran Prakashan
Ans- Yes, candidates can pass the exam on their first attempt if they study for 3–4 hours per day and consistently take practice exams.
Does taking the mock test matter more than just reading the books?
Both are equally important, you will find that the books are quite helpful in making sense of the topics and you can attempt the mock test once you’ve finished the chapters.
How should I prepare for the Data Interpretation question on the IBPS SO?
Candidates must try solving to a variety of questions from previous years question papers that are based on this subject. This will help you to direct your preparation strategy accordingly.
Can I pass the IBPS SO in six months?
Although the IBPS SO exam is challenging, candidates can definitely crack the exam with the aid of smart preparation strategy. Since millions of students apply every year, the competition has intensified. But you can still complete the IBPS SO syllabus in six months preparation with careful and intelligent planning. Allow adequate time for revision because what matters most is what you remember, not what you have read.
What are the top IBPS SO books for reasoning ability?
The section on reasoning ability is one of the hardest to do well in since candidates must be aware of various strategies and methods and be able to demonstrate their efficacy. The top books for IBPS SO Reasoning Ability are:
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning: A New Approach by B.S. Sijwali and Indu Sijwali
RS Agarwal’s Verbal Reasoning
MK Pandey’s Analytical Reasoning
Puzzle Magical Book by K. Kundan
How can I pick the finest books to prepare for the IBPS SO exam?
The books recommended in the above article are some of the best-recommended books by experts. If you still need more recommendations, you can also consult your fellow aspirants.