IBPS RRB Exam Pattern: One Recruitment, Three Tracks
Office Assistant, Scale I and Scale II/III each run a different track. Here is each one, stage by stage.
IBPS RRB runs three selection tracks inside one recruitment. Office Assistant (Multipurpose): a qualifying 45-minute prelims, then a 200-mark mains that alone decides selection, with no interview. Officer Scale I: the same prelims-then-mains structure plus a 100-mark interview, with final merit from mains and interview in an 80:20 split. Officer Scale II and III: no prelims at all, one 200-mark exam followed by an interview.
Two rules span every track: 0.25 marks are deducted per wrong answer on every objective paper, and prelims marks, where a prelims exists, are qualifying only. The tables below give each track in full.
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Office Assistant: Preliminary Exam
Online CBT (Qualifying), 45 minutes. Marks do not carry forward.
Reasoning
Questions
40
Marks
40
Numerical Ability
Questions
40
Marks
40
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 |
| Numerical Ability | 40 | 40 |
Office Assistant: Main Exam
Online CBT, 120 minutes. This score alone decides Office Assistant selection; there is no interview.
Reasoning
Questions
40
Marks
50
Numerical Ability
Questions
40
Marks
50
General Awareness
Questions
40
Marks
40
English or Hindi Language
Questions
40
Marks
40
Computer Knowledge
Questions
40
Marks
20
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 50 |
| Numerical Ability | 40 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| English or Hindi Language | 40 | 40 |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 20 |
Officer Scale I: Preliminary Exam
Online CBT (Qualifying), 45 minutes. Qualifying only.
Reasoning
Questions
40
Marks
40
Quantitative Aptitude
Questions
40
Marks
40
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 40 |
Officer Scale I: Main Exam
Online CBT, 120 minutes. Carries 80% of final merit; the interview carries 20%.
Reasoning
Questions
40
Marks
50
Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation
Questions
40
Marks
50
General Awareness
Questions
40
Marks
40
English or Hindi Language
Questions
40
Marks
40
Computer Knowledge
Questions
40
Marks
20
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | 40 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| English or Hindi Language | 40 | 40 |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 20 |
Real prelims-style questions. No signup.
Officer Scale II & III: Single Exam
Online CBT (followed by Interview). No prelims; this exam plus the interview completes selection.
Reasoning
Questions
40
Marks
50
Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation
Questions
40
Marks
50
Financial Awareness
Questions
40
Marks
40
English or Hindi Language
Questions
40
Marks
40
Computer Knowledge
Questions
40
Marks
20
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | 40 | 50 |
| Financial Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| English or Hindi Language | 40 | 40 |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 20 |
How Each Track's Merit Is Built
- check_circleOffice Assistant: main exam score only. No interview at all for this post.
- check_circleOfficer Scale I: mains 80% plus the 100-mark interview at 20%.
- check_circleOfficer Scale II & III: the single exam plus a 100-mark interview.
- check_circleEvery objective paper: 0.25 negative marking per wrong answer.
- check_circlePrelims (where it exists): qualifying only; clear sectional and overall cut-offs and the marks are done working.
The 45-Minute Prelims Is Its Own Discipline
Eighty questions in 45 minutes across just two sections is a faster paper than IBPS PO or Clerk prelims. Candidates trained on 60-minute formats routinely misjudge the pace. Practise at the real timing from the start; the qualifying bar is cleared on speed, not knowledge.
Pattern Details Are Per-Notification
Vacancies, fees, dates, cut-offs and eligibility thresholds are revised per CRP RRB notification. Figures here reflect the 2025-26 cycle as last notified. Confirm the current notification on ibps.in before you act on them.
IBPS RRB Pattern FAQs
Is there an interview for all IBPS RRB posts?expand_more
No. Office Assistant (Multipurpose) has no interview; selection is on the main exam alone. All officer posts (Scale I, II and III) have a 100-mark interview, which counts 20% toward final merit for Scale I.
Do IBPS RRB prelims marks count in the final result?expand_more
No. The preliminary exam is qualifying only. Final merit is based on the main exam for Office Assistant, and on mains plus interview (80:20) for officers.
Is there negative marking in IBPS RRB?expand_more
Yes. 0.25 marks are deducted per wrong answer in every objective paper, prelims and mains alike.
How long is the IBPS RRB prelims?expand_more
45 minutes for 80 questions worth 80 marks, across two sections: Reasoning and Numerical Ability (Office Assistant) or Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude (Officer Scale I).
Next steps
- Syllabusarrow_forward
- Office Assistant vs Scale Iarrow_forward
- Eligibilityarrow_forward
- IBPS RRB Guidearrow_forward
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