IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern: Two Phases, No Interview
A 1-hour screening test, then a 2-hour-40-minute mains. No interview: the mains score is the whole selection.
IBPS Clerk has two phases and no interview. Prelims is a 60-minute, 100-mark online screening test across three sections. Mains is a 160-minute, 200-mark objective test across four sections. Final selection is based only on the mains score: there is no interview round and prelims marks are not counted.
That structure is unusual among officer-track banking exams and it changes the arithmetic of preparation: every mains mark is a merit mark, and there is no later stage to recover a weak paper.
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Phase 1: Preliminary Examination
Online CBT, 60 minutes, 100 marks in total.
English Language
Questions
30
Marks
30
Numerical Ability
Questions
35
Marks
35
Reasoning Ability
Questions
35
Marks
35
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
Phase 2: Main Examination
Online CBT, 160 minutes, 200 marks in total.
General/Financial Awareness
Questions
50
Marks
50
English Language
Questions
40
Marks
40
Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude
Questions
50
Marks
60
Quantitative Aptitude
Questions
50
Marks
50
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General/Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| English Language | 40 | 40 |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 |
No Interview: What That Actually Means
Unlike IBPS PO, where the final merit blends mains with a 100-mark interview, IBPS Clerk selection ends at mains. Your mains total directly determines your rank and your bank allotment. A working target: 95 or more out of 200 puts you in serious contention.
The absence of an interview cuts both ways. There is no subjective stage where presentation can lift a borderline score, and equally no stage where nerves can sink a strong one. The exam is the whole game, which rewards candidates who optimise ruthlessly for marks per minute.
Questions in the format described here. No signup.
Prelims Has Sectional Cut-Offs
You must clear the minimum score in each prelims section individually, not just the overall cut-off. Typical general-category sectional cut-offs run around 7-8+ in English, 9-11+ in Reasoning, and 8-10+ in Quant. Practise all three sections under time from week one.
The Pattern at a Glance
- check_circleTwo phases: Prelims and Mains, both online CBT
- check_circlePrelims: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes, screening only
- check_circleMains: 190 questions, 200 marks, 160 minutes
- check_circleNo interview; final merit is the mains score alone
- check_circleLocal-language proficiency of the posting state is required at eligibility
FAQs
How many phases does IBPS Clerk have?expand_more
Two: a 60-minute, 100-mark preliminary exam and a 160-minute, 200-mark main exam. There is no interview; selection is based only on the mains score.
Is there an interview in IBPS Clerk?expand_more
No. Final selection is based entirely on the main examination score. Prelims is a qualifying screen whose marks are not counted.
How long is the IBPS Clerk mains exam?expand_more
2 hours 40 minutes (160 minutes), covering 200 marks across General/Financial Awareness, English, Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, and Quantitative Aptitude.
What score should I target in IBPS Clerk mains?expand_more
Aim for 95 or more out of 200. Since there is no interview, the mains total alone determines rank and bank allotment, so every additional mark improves your allotment odds.
Next steps
Take a full IBPS Clerk mock testSimulate the real prelims format before the real thing.