CAIIB Exam Pattern
Five papers, 100 marks each, two ways to pass. Here is exactly how the exam is structured and scored.
CAIIB under the revised 2023 scheme is five online papers: four compulsory plus one elective. Each paper is 100 questions for 100 marks in 2 hours, with no negative marking, and some papers include case studies. You do not have to sit all five at once; papers can be spread across sessions within your attempt block.
This page covers the mechanics: paper structure, marking, pass criteria and how the attempt block works. For what each paper contains, see the syllabus page.
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CAIIB Exam Pattern at a Glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Papers | 5 (4 compulsory + 1 elective) |
| Questions per paper | 100 |
| Marks per paper | 100 |
| Duration per paper | 2 hours |
| Mode | Online CBT |
| Negative marking | None |
| Pass mark | 50% per paper, or 45% in each with 50% aggregate in one sitting |
| Attempts | Up to 5 within a 3-year block |
The Five Papers
Every paper follows the same 100-question, 2-hour format.
| Paper | Type |
|---|---|
| Advanced Bank Management (ABM) | Compulsory |
| Bank Financial Management (BFM) | Compulsory |
| Advanced Business & Financial Management (ABFM) | Compulsory |
| Banking Regulations & Business Laws (BRBL) | Compulsory |
| Rural Banking / HR / IT & Digital Banking / Risk Management / Central Banking | Elective, choose 1 |
How a Pass Is Calculated
There are two routes to clearing CAIIB papers. The straightforward one: score 50 out of 100 in a paper and it is cleared, permanently carried forward within your block. The aggregate route: score at least 45 in every paper in a single sitting with an overall aggregate of 50% (250 out of 500), and all papers clear together.
The aggregate route only helps candidates attempting all papers in one sitting. If you are spreading papers across sessions, the 50-per-paper rule is the one that applies to you.
Questions in the format described above. No signup.
Attempts and Carry-Forward
- check_circleYou get up to 5 attempts within a 3-year block.
- check_circlePapers you clear carry forward within that block; you re-attempt only what you failed.
- check_circleExams run in two cycles a year, May-June and November-December, so a failed paper usually costs about half a year.
- check_circleCase-study questions appear in some papers, so expect applied scenarios, not just recall.
No Negative Marking Changes Your Exam-Day Strategy
With no penalty for wrong answers, an unanswered question is the only guaranteed zero. Attempt everything, and practise keeping a pace that gets you through all 100 questions inside 2 hours.
Confirm the Current Cycle's Rules With IIBF
Paper structure, dates and administrative rules are set by IIBF and can change between cycles. Confirm the current pattern on IIBF's CAIIB page before registering.
FAQs
How many questions per CAIIB paper and how much time?expand_more
100 questions for 100 marks per paper, in 2 hours. All five papers follow this format.
Is there negative marking in CAIIB?expand_more
No. There is no negative marking in any CAIIB paper.
What are the CAIIB pass marks?expand_more
50 out of 100 in each paper, or at least 45 in every paper with a 50% aggregate (250/500) in a single sitting.
Do cleared papers carry forward?expand_more
Yes. Within your 5-attempt, 3-year block, a cleared paper stays cleared and you re-attempt only the papers you failed.
Can I attempt the papers in any order?expand_more
Papers can be spread across sessions within the block, so you can plan which papers to sit in which cycle.
Next steps
Take a full CAIIB mock testSimulate the real 100-question, 2-hour paper.