EXAM PATTERN

Both P.O. and clerical recruitments comprise at least two stages of exams, viz. a written test, and an interview. The written test normally comprises an objective type test and a descriptive test (for PO exams like SBI, NICL, RBI etc.).
There is no descriptive test for clerical exams. The interview is normally a personal interview or sometimes, a combination of group discussion and personal interview. 

Bank PO/Clerical Exams: Almost all bank exams have gone the online mode from the traditional pen-paper mode. The test areas in the objective type test of PO/Clerical exams include tests from amongst Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, English language, Marketing Aptitude and Computer Knowledge. The Descriptive Writing Test (for PO exams like SBI, NICL, RBI etc.). is to check the proficiency of the student in English Language. It would consist of a test on English Composition comprising Letter Writing, Essay Writing, Precis Writing etc

Pattern of IBPS CWEs for PSBs

(i) IBPS CWE for PO/MT (PSBs) [ONLINE EXAM – OBJECTIVE TEST]:

IBPS has changed the selection procedure for PO V and Clerks V. IBPS has decided to hold two-tier examinations for recruitment of PO/MT and Clerks from CWE-V onwards ie from 2015-16 onwards.There is no change in selection procedure for RRB IV and SO V.

Please note the following important points which have been mentioned in the official notice as released by IBPS.

• On successful registration under CWE PO/MT-V and CWE CLERK-V, candidates will be called for Preliminary Examination.
• Based on the performance in the preliminary examination, certain number of candidates will be short listed for Main Examination.
• There will be fewer number of questions in the Preliminary Examination with shorter duration.
• There will be fewer number of questions in the Preliminary Examination with shorter duration.
• Marks obtained in the Main Examination will only be considered for short listing for interview (Marks of Prelim. examination will not be considered for preparing the final merit list)

The pattern of recent IBPS PO and Clerk Exams are given below:

- The above tests, except the Test of English Language will be available bilingually, i.e.English and Hindi.

- There is no Descriptive Writing Test for IBPS CWE for PO/MT

(a) Negative Marking - 1/4th or 0.25 marks assigned to the question will be deducted. 

(b) Interview Marks : The total marks allotted for Interview are 100. The minimum qualifying marks in interview is 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PWD candidates).The weightage (ratio) of marks of CWE and interview will be 80:20. 

(c) Final Selection : The combined final scores of candidates shall be arrived at on the basis of scores obtained by the candidates in Main Examination and Interview. The weightage (ratio) of marks of CWE and interview will be 80:20.

Pattern of SBI / SBI Associate Banks Exams

The SBI and Associate Banks of SBI conduct separate written test for the selection process of PO and do not consider the IBPS score.

(i) SBI/SBI Associate Banks PO Exam (Online Exam):

SBI has changed the selection process for recruitment of POs, from 2015 onwards. SBI has gone back to its old selection process where the selection was done in a three phase manner - Preliminary Examination (Phase I), Main Examination (Phase II) and GD Interview (Phase III).

Phase I - Preliminary Examination: Preliminary Examination consisting of Objective Tests for 100 marks will be conducted online. This test would be of 1 hour duration consisting of 3 Sections as follows. 

S No	Name of Test	No of Qs	Marks	Duration
1	English Language	30	30	Composite time of 1 hour
2	Quantitative Aptitude	35	35
3	Reasoning Ability	35	35
	Total	100	100

Candidates have to qualify in each of the three tests by securing passing marks to be decided by the Bank. Adequate number of candidates in each category as decided by the Bank (approximately 20 times the numbers of vacancies subject to availability) will be short listed for the Main Examination

Phase II Main Examination : Main Examination will consist of Objective Tests for 200 marks and Descriptive Test for 50 marks. Both the Objective and Descriptive Tests will be online. Candidates will have to answer Descriptive test by typing on the computer. Immediately after completion of Objective Test, Descriptive Test will be administered.

S.No	Name of Tests	No. of Qs	Max Marks	Duration
1	Reasoning	50	50	2 hours
2	English Language	50	50
3	Data Analysis & Interpretation	50	50
4	General Awareness, Marketing & Computers	50	50
	TOTAL	200	200

The candidates are required to qualify in each of the Tests by securing passing marks, to be decided by the Bank.

(ii) Descriptive Test (Online): The Descriptive Test of 1 hour duration with 50 marks will be a Test of English Language (Letter Writing & Essay).

Note : Descriptive Test paper of only those candidates will be evaluated who have scored qualifying marks in the Objective Tests and are placed adequately high as per total marks in objective tes

Phase - III: Group Discussion (20 marks) & Interview (30 marks)

The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination (Phase-I) will not be added for the selection and only the marks obtained in Main Examination (Phase-II) will be added to the marks obtained in GD & Interview (Phase-III) for preparation of the final merit list.

(ii) SBI / SBI Associate Banks Clerical Exam (Online Exam): 

The SBI and Associate Banks of SBI conduct separate written test for the selection process for Clerks and will not consider the CWE score. 

S.No	Name of Obj Test	No. of Questions	Max Marks	Total Time
1	Reasoning	40	40	2 hours 15 minutes
2	General English	40	40
3	Quantitative Aptitude	40	40
4	General Awareness	40	40
	Marketing & Computer knowledge	40	40
	TOTAL	200	200

Final Selection will be made based on the performance in the written test and Interview taken together.

Pattern of IBPS CWEs for RRBs

(i) Exam pattern of CWE for Office Assistant : 

S.No	Name Of the Test	No. Of Questions	Max Marks	Total Time
1	Reasoning	40	50	2 hours
2	Numerical Ability	40	50
3	General Awareness	40	40
4	English Language	40	40
5	Computer Knowledge	40	20
	Total	200	200

(ii) Exam pattern of CWE for Officers (Scale I, Scale II (GBO) and Scale III ):

Note A – Quant for Scale -I and Quant & DI for Scale –II (GBO) and Scale -III
Note B – General Awareness for Scale -I and Financial Awareness for Scale –II (GBO) and Scale -III 

S.No	Name Of the Test	No. Of Questions	Maximum Marks	Total Time
1	Reasoning	40	50	2 hours
2	Quant / Quant & DI	40	50
3	General Awareness / Financial Awareness	40	40
4	English Language	40	40
5	Computer Knowledge	40	20
	Total	200	200

(ii) Exam pattern of CWE for Officers (Scale II – Specialist Officer) :

S.No	Name Of the Test	No. Of Questions	Maximum Marks	Total Time
1	Reasoning	40	40	2 hours 30 minutes
2	Quant & DI	40	40
3	Financial Awareness	40	40
4	English Language	40	20
5	Computer Knowledge	40	20
6	Professional Knowledge	40	40
	Total	240	200

Pattern of RBI Officer & Assistant Exams

RBI has revised the Grade B Officers recruitment process from 2015. The changes that are worth noting are listed below. 

• The maximum permissible number of attempts (for candidates belonging to Unreserved/General Category) has been increased from 4 to 6.


• The gap between the Phase I and Phase II examinations is reduced to 2-3 weeks (Earlier the gap used to be about 2 months)


• All the three papers of Phase II have gone online from pen paper mode.


• Paper I of Phase II is Descriptive English and this goes online from the pen paper mode. Duration reduced from 3 hours to 90 minutes


• Paper II and Paper III become MCQ based papers from Descriptive, go online from pen paper mode and duration is reduced from 3 hours to 90 minutes.


• Two more options of subjects - Economics / Statistics included in Paper III ( Statistics / Economics / Finance & Management)


• Syllabus of Finance stands revised.

There is no change in the following. 

• The Phase-I examination will continue as per the existing Phase-I examination


• The interview will continue in its existing format.


• No change in eligibility criteria.

(A) Scheme of Selection: 

Selection will be through Examinations and Interview. Examinations will be held in two phases [Phase-I ON-LINE Examination (Objective Type) and Phase-II ON-LINE Examinations - Paper I is Descriptive and Paper II and II are Objective] 

(I) Phase-I ON-LINE Examination (Objective Type): 

Duration - 120 Minutes
Max Marks - 200
Paper pattern : The objective paper comprises of i) General Awareness ii) English Language iii) Quantitative Aptitude and iv) Reasoning. 
Cut off marks : Candidates have to secure minimum marks separately for each test as well as aggregate.
Candidates, who secure minimum marks separately for each Test will be shortlisted for Phase-II of the Examination based on the aggregate marks obtained in the Objective Test. 

(II) Phase-II ON-LINE Examination - Paper I is Descriptive and Paper II and II are Objective] : Phase-II of the examination will be conducted within two to three weeks of Phase-I of the examination. 

Paper pattern : Three Papers - 300 marks

1. Paper-I – English ( writing skills) - 1½ hours - 100 marks


2. Paper-II – Economic and Social Issues – 1½ hours – 100 marks


3. Paper-III - Optional Paper (Finance & Management/ Economics/ Statistics) – 1½ hours - 100 marks

(B) Final Selection : Final selection will be through merit lists which will be prepared by adding marks secured by candidates in Phase-II (Paper-I + Paper-II + Paper-III) and Interview. 

Click here for official notification. 

Pattern of RBI Assistants Exam (Online Exam): 

Selection will be through Online Examination and Interview.

S.No	Name of Obj Test	No. of Questions	Max Marks	Total Time
1	Reasoning	40	40	2 hours
2	English Language	40	40
3	Numerical Ability	40	40
4	General Awareness	40	40
5	Computer Knowledge	40	40
	TOTAL	200	200

(i) A candidate has to qualify in each part of the Objective test separately.
(ii) Negative marks : 1/4th marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.
(iii) Final selection will be on the basis of candidate's performance in the written examination and interview taken together in order of merit.