14. Banking Exams (IBPS, SBI, RBI — PO/Clerk/Specialist Officer)


Banking exams in India — conducted by IBPS, SBI, and RBI for PO, Clerk, and Specialist Officer posts — generally follow a highly structured, tiered selection process: a three-tier pattern (Prelims, Mains, Interview) for Officer/PO levels, and a two-tier pattern (Prelims and Mains) followed by a Local Language Proficiency Test (LPT) for Clerical levels.


Core Subject-Wise Syllabus


1. Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability


  • Speed Maths: Simplification, Approximation, Missing and Wrong Number Series, Quadratic Equations.
  • Arithmetic: Percentages, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Simple & Compound Interest, Averages, Time & Work, Time-Speed-Distance, Mixtures & Alligations, Probability.
  • Data Interpretation: Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie Charts, Tabular DI, Caselet DI, and Radar DI (crucial for Mains).


2. Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude

  • Logical & Analytical Reasoning: Syllogism, Inequalities, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Order & Ranking, Alphanumeric Series.
  • High-Level Puzzles: Seating arrangements (linear, circular, square), floor puzzles, box puzzles, scheduling, machine input-output.
  • Critical Reasoning: Statement & Assumptions, Cause & Effect, Course of Action, Inferences.
  • Computer Aptitude: Computer fundamentals, Hardware/Software, Networking, MS Office, Cyber Security basics.


3. English Language


  • Reading Comprehension: Economy, corporate, or social editorial passages.
  • Grammar & Usage: Error Spotting, Sentence Improvement, Phrase Replacement.
  • Vocabulary & Verbal Ability: Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Word Swap, Fill in the Blanks.


4. General / Economy / Banking Awareness (Mains only)


  • Current Affairs: Domestic and international news spanning the last 6 months.
  • Banking Awareness: History of banking, RBI functions, Monetary Policy, banking terms, types of accounts/loans.
  • Financial & Digital Banking: Union Budget, Economic Survey, NEFT/RTGS/UPI infrastructure, and latest RBI Circulars.


⏱️ Typical Exam Patterns


Phase 1: Preliminary Exam (Qualifying Round)

The Prelims exam strictly tests speed and accuracy over 60 minutes. Marks scored here are not added to the final merit list.

  • Format: Objective MCQs.
  • Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer.
  • Sectional Timers: 20 minutes per section is automatically enforced.


SectionNo. of QuestionsMaximum MarksDuration
English Language303020 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude353520 minutes
Reasoning Ability353520 minutes
Total10010060 minutes

Certain updated variants, like the SBI PO Prelims structure, adjust the questions slightly to English-40, Quant-30, Reasoning-30, but total marks remain 100.

Phase 2: Main Exam (Merit Scoring)


Mains questions are highly conceptual and analytical. This stage includes an Objective Test and, for PO positions, an immediate Descriptive Test.

  • Reasoning & Computer Aptitude: ~40–45 questions | 60 marks
  • Data Analysis & Interpretation: ~30–40 questions | 60 marks
  • General/Banking Awareness: ~50–60 questions | 60 marks
  • English Language: ~40 questions | 20–40 marks
  • Total Objective Time: 160 to 180 minutes

Descriptive Test (PO level): Lasts 30 minutes online and requires typing on a keyboard. Standard exams like IBPS PO Mains focus on 1 essay and 1 comprehension/letter-writing task worth 25–30 marks.


Phase 3: Interview / Final Selection


  • For Clerk: No interview. Provisional selection relies entirely on the Mains score plus passing the local Language Proficiency Test.
  • For PO/Officer: A group exercise/psychometric test and a personal interview panel, weighted generally at an 80:20 ratio alongside Mains scores to create the final merit ranking.

Build speed and accuracy for Prelims and Mains with sectional and full-length banking mocks.


Practice Banking Mock Tests