IFSCA Grade A Exam Pattern: How the Three Stages Work
Four written papers of 100 marks each across two phases, then a 50-mark interview. Here is the full structure.
The IFSCA Grade A exam pattern has three stages. Phase 1 is an online screening of two 100-mark objective papers of 60 minutes each, with one-fourth negative marking. Phase 2 is the main exam: two more 100-mark papers, a descriptive English paper and a discipline paper. Phase 3 is a 50-mark interview, and final merit combines Phase 2 with the interview.
Four written papers, every one worth exactly 100 marks, is an unusually symmetric structure. The asymmetry hides in what counts: Phase 1 is qualifying, so only the last two papers and the interview decide who joins at GIFT City.
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IFSCA Grade A Pattern at a Glance
Phase 1, Paper 1 (general)
Format
Online objective, 4 sections
Duration
60 min
Marks
100 (qualifying)
Phase 1, Paper 2 (stream)
Format
Online objective, 50 questions
Duration
60 min
Marks
100 (qualifying)
Phase 2, Paper 1 (English)
Format
Descriptive, typed
Duration
60 min
Marks
100
Phase 2, Paper 2 (stream)
Format
Descriptive/objective; coding test for IT
Duration
60 min
Marks
100
Phase 3, Interview
Format
Personal interview
Duration
About 30 min
Marks
50
| Stage | Format | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1, Paper 1 (general) | Online objective, 4 sections | 60 min | 100 (qualifying) |
| Phase 1, Paper 2 (stream) | Online objective, 50 questions | 60 min | 100 (qualifying) |
| Phase 2, Paper 1 (English) | Descriptive, typed | 60 min | 100 |
| Phase 2, Paper 2 (stream) | Descriptive/objective; coding test for IT | 60 min | 100 |
| Phase 3, Interview | Personal interview | About 30 min | 50 |
Phase 1 Paper 1: Section Breakdown
The common paper, 60 minutes, one-fourth negative marking:
General Awareness (financial sector)
Questions
25
Marks
25
English Language
Questions
25
Marks
25
Quantitative Aptitude
Questions
25
Marks
25
Reasoning
Questions
25
Marks
25
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness (financial sector) | 25 | 25 |
| English Language | 25 | 25 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 |
Questions in the format described here. No signup.
Cut-offs and How Merit Is Assembled
Phase 1's indicative cut-offs in the last notified cycle were around 30% on Paper 1 and 40% on Paper 2, applied with one-fourth negative marking. Clearing them qualifies you for Phase 2; Phase 1 marks then stop counting.
Phase 2 scores drive shortlisting for the interview, and the final list is prepared discipline-wise on the combined Phase 2 plus interview score, 250 marks in all: 200 written, 50 interview.
Sixty Minutes Is the Real Constraint
Every written paper is one hour. Phase 1's Paper 2 packs 50 discipline questions into that hour, and Phase 2's papers ask for typed descriptive work in the same window. Time pressure, not question difficulty, is what most mock-test first-timers report as the shock.
IFSCA Grade A Pattern FAQs
How many papers does IFSCA Grade A have?expand_more
Four written papers of 100 marks each: two objective papers in Phase 1 and two main papers in Phase 2, followed by a 50-mark interview in Phase 3.
Do Phase 1 marks count toward final selection?expand_more
No. Phase 1 is a qualifying screen with roughly 30% and 40% indicative cut-offs on Papers 1 and 2. Final merit is built from Phase 2 and the interview, discipline-wise.
Is there negative marking in IFSCA Grade A?expand_more
Yes, one-fourth per wrong answer on the Phase 1 objective papers.
What is different for the IT stream?expand_more
Its Phase 2 discipline paper includes a coding test alongside the technical content.
Next steps
Take a full IFSCA Grade A mock testSimulate both Phase 1 papers, negative marking included.