Test booklet: प्रश्न पुस्तिका
Booklet No.: 2279211
Series: C

IBPS PO Prelims Paper 3

Questions: 100
Maximum marks: 100
Minutes allowed: 60

Instructions निर्देश

This booklet has 100 questions in 3 parts: A. English Language (30), B. Quantitative Aptitude (35), C. Reasoning Ability (35).
Each part has its own clock. When it runs out, that part closes and the next opens.
Each question has 5 options and one right answer. Marks per question are shown with each part. Negative marking differs by part, as in the notice. A question left blank scores nothing.
Fill one bubble per question on the answer sheet. Unlike a real sheet, you can clear it and change your mind.

Scripting is off, so this page is a printed paper: answer on paper, then open each question’s working.

Part BQuantitative Aptitude

35 questions, 0.86 marks each, 0.21 off for a wrong answer

Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − 19x + 84 = 0
II. y² − y − 90 = 0

Question 31 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = 7 or 12. II gives y = −9 or 10. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
The average of 5 numbers is 78. When one number is removed, the average of the rest is 80. Which number was removed?

Question 32 80 78 72 70 68

Answer and working
Answer D
Total of 5 = 5 × 78 = 390. Total of 4 = 4 × 80 = 320. Removed = 390 − 320 = 70.
A train 190 m long passes a signal post in 19 seconds. What is its speed in km/h?

Question 33 45 km/h 36 km/h 10 km/h 54 km/h 18 km/h

Answer and working
Answer B
Speed = 190 ÷ 19 = 10 m/s = 10 × 18/5 = 36 km/h.
Find the wrong number in the series: 3, 60, 2, 56, 7, 52, 9, 48

Question 34 2 56 3 60 52

Answer and working
Answer A
The rule: two series alternate: 3, 5, 7 … rising by 2, and 60, 56, 52 … falling by 4. The term in place of 2 should be 5, so the wrong number is 2.
Find the wrong number in the series: 3, 8, 15, 24, 38, 48, 63

Question 35 48 8 38 24 15

Answer and working
Answer C
The rule: the terms are 2², 3², 4² … minus 1. The term in place of 38 should be 35, so the wrong number is 38.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − x − 42 = 0
II. y² − 11y = 0

Question 36 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = −6 or 7. II gives y = 0 or 11. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² + 3x = 0
II. y² + 3y − 40 = 0

Question 37 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = −3 or 0. II gives y = −8 or 5. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
Find the wrong number in the series: 1, 4, 13, 16, 25, 36, 49

Question 38 16 1 13 25 36

Answer and working
Answer C
The rule: the terms are 1², 2², 3² …. The term in place of 13 should be 9, so the wrong number is 13.
If A : B = 7 : 4 and B : C = 5 : 2, what is A : B : C?

Question 39 35 : 8 : 10 20 : 35 : 8 7 : 10 : 4 35 : 20 : 8 7 : 4 : 2

Answer and working
Answer D
Make B the same in both: A : B = 35 : 20 and B : C = 20 : 8. So A : B : C = 35 : 20 : 8.
Simplify: ¹⁄₄ + ¹⁄₂ + ⁷⁄₁₂

Question 40 ³⁄₂ ⁵⁄₃ ⁴⁄₃ 1 ¹⁄₂

Answer and working
Answer C
Over the common denominator 12: the sum is ⁴⁄₃. Adding tops and bottoms separately (9/18) is the trap.
Find the wrong number in the series: 10, 17, 26, 37, 54, 65, 82

Question 41 17 37 54 65 10

Answer and working
Answer C
The rule: the terms are 3², 4², 5² … plus 1. The term in place of 54 should be 50, so the wrong number is 54.
Simplify: 18 + 9 × 4 − 18 ÷ 2

Question 42 48 47 45 63 99

Answer and working
Answer C
Division and multiplication first: 9 × 4 = 36 and 18 ÷ 2 = 9. Then 18 + 36 − 9 = 45.
Which number replaces the question mark? 8, 16, 32, ?, 128, 256

Question 43 48 65 64 63 96

Answer and working
Answer C
The rule: each term is the previous × 2. The missing term is 64.
A bag holds 5 red, 2 blue and 4 green balls. Two balls are drawn at random without replacement. What is the probability that both are red?

Question 44 ¹⁄₁₁ ⁵⁄₁₁ ²⁄₁₁ ²⁵⁄₁₂₁ ²⁰⁄₁₂₁

Answer and working
Answer C
Ways to pick 2 red: 10. Ways to pick any 2: 55. Probability = ²⁄₁₁.
Two trains 230 m and 290 m long run on parallel tracks in opposite directions at 55 km/h and 89 km/h. How long do they take to cross each other?

Question 45 15 seconds 26 seconds 13 seconds 14 seconds 47 seconds

Answer and working
Answer C
Relative speed = 55 + 89 = 144 km/h = 40 m/s. Distance = 230 + 290 = 520 m. Time = 520 ÷ 40 = 13 seconds.
The fare for a journey goes from ₹600 to ₹960. What is the percentage increase?

Question 46 37.5% increase 65% increase 55% increase 50% increase 60% increase

Answer and working
Answer E
Change = ₹360. On the original value: 360 ÷ 600 × 100 = 60%, a 60% increase. Dividing by the new value, 960, is the usual slip.
Directions for questions 47 to 51
Study the table and answer the questions that follow.
Saplings planted by five villages, in two successive years
Village Year 1 Year 2
Village P 600 480
Village Q 680 612
Village R 680 816
Village S 740 666
Village T 520 598
By what percent did Village T’s figure change from Year 1 to Year 2?

Question 47 13.04% increase 20% increase 10% increase 15% increase 15% decrease

Answer and working
Answer D
Change = 598 − 520 = 78. On Year 1: 78 ÷ 520 × 100 = 15% increase.
Village T’s Year 2 figure is what percent of Village R’s Year 2 figure?

Question 48 73.28% 76.47% 63.28% 83.28% 136.45%

Answer and working
Answer A
598 ÷ 816 × 100 = 73.28%.
What is the total for Village T over the two years?

Question 49 1,196 1,098 1,138 1,118 1,000

Answer and working
Answer D
520 + 598 = 1,118.
Which one grew the most in percentage terms from Year 1 to Year 2?

Question 50 Village P Village T Village S Village R Village Q

Answer and working
Answer D
Growth: Village P −20%, Village Q −10%, Village R 20%, Village S −10%, Village T 15%. The highest is Village R.
What is the average Year 2 figure of the five?

Question 51 634.4 644.4 644 624.4 639.2

Answer and working
Answer A
Sum of Year 2 = 3,172. ÷ 5 = 634.4.
A shopkeeper marks his goods 25% above the cost price and allows a discount of 15%. What is his profit or loss percent?

Question 52 40% profit 11.25% profit 6.25% loss 10% profit 6.25% profit

Answer and working
Answer E
Take CP = 100. Marked price = 125. After 15% off: 125 × 85/100 = 106.25. So 6.25% profit.
A shopkeeper marks his goods 20% above the cost price and allows a discount of 20%. What is his profit or loss percent?

Question 53 4% profit 0% profit 4% loss 40% profit 1% profit

Answer and working
Answer C
Take CP = 100. Marked price = 120. After 20% off: 120 × 80/100 = 96. So 4% loss.
1,715 is what percent of 1,960?

Question 54 175% 12.5% 92.5% 82.5% 87.5%

Answer and working
Answer E
1,715 ÷ 1,960 × 100 = 87.5%.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² + 3x − 10 = 0
II. y² − 3y − 4 = 0

Question 55 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = −5 or 2. II gives y = −1 or 4. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
A is four times as efficient as B. Together they finish a job in 36 days. How long would A take alone?

Question 56 180 days 45 days 49 days 9 days 144 days

Answer and working
Answer B
If B does 1 unit a day, A does 4; together 5 units a day for 36 days = 180 units. A alone: 180 ÷ 4 = 45 days.
What is the simple interest on ₹50,500 at 8% per annum for 5 years?

Question 57 ₹4,040 ₹20,200 ₹16,160 ₹70,700 ₹22,725

Answer and working
Answer B
SI = P × R × T / 100 = 50,500 × 8 × 5 / 100 = ₹20,200.
A boat covers 72 km downstream in 4 hours and 72 km upstream in 6 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water?

Question 58 30 km/h 15 km/h 3 km/h 16 km/h 18 km/h

Answer and working
Answer B
Downstream speed = 72 ÷ 4 = 18 km/h; upstream = 72 ÷ 6 = 12 km/h. Boat = (18 + 12) ÷ 2 = 15 km/h.
The sum of the present ages of a father and his son is 46 years. 3 years ago, the father was 4 times as old as the son. How old is the son now?

Question 59 9 years 24 years 11 years 8 years 14 years

Answer and working
Answer C
Let the son be s. Then (46 − s − 3) = 4(s − 3), so 55 = 5s and s = 11 years.
What is the compound interest on ₹14,625 for 3 years at 20% per annum, compounded annually?

Question 60 ₹25,272 ₹8,775 ₹10,647 ₹13,572 ₹6,435

Answer and working
Answer C
Amount = 14,625 × (1 + 20/100)³ = ₹25,272. CI = 25,272 − 14,625 = ₹10,647.
Simplify: ¹⁄₂ + ⁴⁄₅ + ³⁄₄

Question 61 2 ⁴¹⁄₂₁ ⁴¹⁄₂₀ ¹³⁄₂₁ ²¹⁄₁₀

Answer and working
Answer C
Over the common denominator 60: the sum is ⁴¹⁄₂₀. Adding tops and bottoms separately (13/21) is the trap.
63 litres of a mixture contains milk and water in the ratio 5 : 2. How much water must be added to make the ratio 1 : 1?

Question 62 25 litres 45 litres 35 litres 27 litres 29 litres

Answer and working
Answer D
Milk = 45 l, water = 18 l. For 1 : 1, water must be 45 × 1/1 = 45 l. Add 45 − 18 = 27 litres.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − 11x + 24 = 0
II. y² − 5y − 6 = 0

Question 63 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = 3 or 8. II gives y = −1 or 6. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
Simplify: ¹⁄₂ + ³⁄₅ + ¹⁄₃

Question 64 ⁴³⁄₃₀ ⁷⁄₅ ⁶⁄₁₃ ⁴³⁄₃₁ ²²⁄₁₅

Answer and working
Answer A
Over the common denominator 30: the sum is ⁴³⁄₃₀. Adding tops and bottoms separately (6/13) is the trap.
Simplify: 43 + 9 × 11 − 10 ÷ 2

Question 65 139 137 281 147 567

Answer and working
Answer B
Division and multiplication first: 9 × 11 = 99 and 10 ÷ 2 = 5. Then 43 + 99 − 5 = 137.

IBPS PO Prelims Paper 3

Instructions निर्देश

Part AEnglish Language

Part BQuantitative Aptitude

Part CReasoning Ability

Village	Year 1	Year 2
Village P	600	480
Village Q	680	612
Village R	680	816
Village S	740	666
Village T	520	598