LIC AAO vs IBPS PO – Which Exam is Tougher & Which Books to Refer (2025-2026 Edition)

In India’s competitive job market, LIC AAO (Assistant Administrative Officer) and IBPS PO (Probationary Officer) are two of the most sought-after roles for graduates aiming for prestigious, stable, and well-paying government sector jobs.

While both positions come with attractive salaries, perks, and career growth opportunities, the exam patterns, difficulty levels, and preparation strategies differ significantly. This makes it crucial for aspirants to understand which exam is tougher and how to prepare effectively.

In this blog, we’ll do an in-depth LIC AAO vs IBPS PO comparison, break down the syllabus, analyze the difficulty, and recommend subject-wise books strictly from Ashirwad Publication’s listed publishers such as Arihant Publication, Lucent Publication, Kiran Prakashan, Crown Publication, and Disha Publication.

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LIC AAO vs IBPS PO: Basic Overview

LIC AAO Exam Pattern (2025-2026)

Prelims

• Reasoning Ability – 35 questions (35 marks)
• Quantitative Aptitude – 35 questions (35 marks)
• English Language – 30 questions (30 marks)
• (English not counted in merit ranking)

Mains

• Reasoning Ability – 30 questions (90 marks)
• General Knowledge, Current Affairs – 30 questions (60 marks)
• Data Analysis & Interpretation – 30 questions (90 marks)
• Insurance & Financial Market Awareness – 30 questions (60 marks)
• Descriptive (English) – Letter & Essay Writing (25 marks)

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IBPS PO Exam Pattern (2025-2026)

Prelims

• English Language – 30 questions (30 marks)
• Quantitative Aptitude – 35 questions (35 marks)
• Reasoning Ability – 35 questions (35 marks)

Mains

• Reasoning & Computer Aptitude – 45 questions (60 marks)
• Data Analysis & Interpretation – 35 questions (60 marks)
• General Awareness (Economy/Banking) – 40 questions (40 marks)
• English Language – 35 questions (40 marks)
• Descriptive (Letter & Essay) – 25 marks

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Syllabus Differences

• LIC AAO:
  • Prelims is moderate, but Mains insurance & finance awareness section can be tough for non-commerce students.
  • Reasoning is logical, less abstract than IBPS PO.
• IBPS PO:
  • Mains reasoning & data interpretation sections are more calculation-intensive.
  • Computer aptitude is a scoring section but requires specific preparation.
  • High competition due to a large number of aspirants.

Verdict:

• Quantitative & Reasoning Difficulty – Higher in IBPS PO.
• Specialized GK Difficulty – Higher in LIC AAO.
• Overall Difficulty – Slight edge to IBPS PO for difficulty due to time pressure and tougher DI.

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Subject-Wise Best Book Recommendations (Ashirwad Publishers Only)

1. Reasoning Ability

• A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand Publication)
• Kiran’s Bank PO Reasoning Chapterwise Solved Papers – Kiran Prakashan

Why: R.S. Aggarwal builds basics, Kiran gives exam-level practice.

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2. Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation

• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams – R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand Publication)
• Data Interpretation for Banking Exams – Arihant Publication

Why: Covers arithmetic, DI sets, caselets, and approximation.

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3. English Language

• Objective General English – S.P. Bakshi (Arihant Publication)
• Descriptive English – Arihant Publication

Why: One for grammar & comprehension, one for essay & letter writing.

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4. General Awareness (Banking & Insurance)

• Banking Awareness – Arihant Publication
• Lucent’s General Knowledge – Lucent Publication
• Insurance & Financial Awareness Guide – Arihant Publication

Why: Arihant covers both banking & insurance in depth; Lucent is for static GK.

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5. Current Affairs

• Disha Current Affairs Yearly – Disha Publication
• Crown Current Affairs Special – Crown Publication

Why: Updated events, schemes, RBI/IRDAI news.

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6. Computer Aptitude (IBPS PO only)

• Objective Computer Awareness – Arihant Publication
• Lucent Computer – Lucent Publication

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Preparation Strategy for LIC AAO

• Master Insurance Awareness Early – Use Arihant’s Insurance Guide.
• Reasoning & Maths – Focus on accuracy more than speed in prelims.
• Descriptive Writing – Practice formal letter formats and essay topics.
• Current Affairs – Prioritize last 6–8 months before exam.

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Preparation Strategy for IBPS PO

• Speed + Accuracy in DI & Reasoning – Daily timed practice.
• Computer Awareness – Prepare from Lucent + Arihant.
• Banking Awareness – Understand RBI policies and banking reforms.
• Mock Tests – At least 20 before the exam.

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Common Preparation Tips for Both

• Stick to trusted publishers.
• Make handwritten notes for GK.
• Revise daily, don’t accumulate pending topics.
• Analyze previous year question patterns.

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Which Exam Should You Choose?

• Choose LIC AAO if you prefer a desk job, moderate work pressure, and financial sector focus.
• Choose IBPS PO if you are comfortable with field work, targets, and faster promotions.

If you have a commerce/finance background, LIC AAO may feel easier; if you have strong quantitative & reasoning skills, IBPS PO might suit you better.