RBI Grade B Exam Pattern: How the Three Stages Work
Phase 1 only screens. Phase 2 and the interview decide. Here is the full mark-by-mark structure.
The RBI Grade B exam pattern has three stages. Phase 1 is a 200-mark objective screening test of 120 minutes with one-fourth negative marking, and it is qualifying only. Phase 2 has three 100-mark papers. Final selection is decided by Phase 2's 300 marks plus a 75-mark interview.
The single most misread fact about this exam sits in that structure: Phase 1 marks are not counted in the final merit list. A candidate who scrapes past the Phase 1 cut-off and writes a strong Phase 2 finishes ahead of one who tops Phase 1 and writes an average Phase 2. Every preparation decision follows from that.
You save ₹700 today
- Phase I full mocks
- Phase II descriptive banks
- English Writing Skills prep
One payment, no subscription
RBI Grade B Pattern at a Glance
Phase 1 (Preliminary)
Format
Online objective, 4 sections
Duration
120 min
Marks
200 (qualifying only)
Phase 2, Paper 1: Economic & Social Issues
Format
50% objective + 50% descriptive
Duration
120 min
Marks
100
Phase 2, Paper 2: English (Writing Skills)
Format
Fully descriptive, typed
Duration
90 min
Marks
100
Phase 2, Paper 3: Finance & Management
Format
50% objective + 50% descriptive
Duration
120 min
Marks
100
Interview
Format
Personal interview
Duration
About 30 min
Marks
75
| Stage | Format | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 (Preliminary) | Online objective, 4 sections | 120 min | 200 (qualifying only) |
| Phase 2, Paper 1: Economic & Social Issues | 50% objective + 50% descriptive | 120 min | 100 |
| Phase 2, Paper 2: English (Writing Skills) | Fully descriptive, typed | 90 min | 100 |
| Phase 2, Paper 3: Finance & Management | 50% objective + 50% descriptive | 120 min | 100 |
| Interview | Personal interview | About 30 min | 75 |
Phase 1 Section Breakdown
One 120-minute paper, 200 questions, 200 marks, one-fourth negative marking:
General Awareness
Questions
80
Marks
80
Reasoning Ability
Questions
60
Marks
60
English Language
Questions
30
Marks
30
Quantitative Aptitude
Questions
30
Marks
30
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 |
| Reasoning Ability | 60 | 60 |
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 |
How the Phase 2 Papers Are Structured
Economic & Social Issues and Finance & Management share one format: 30 objective questions worth 50 marks answered on screen, plus 6 descriptive questions worth 50 marks typed as full answers, in 120 minutes per paper. Half of each paper is therefore writing, not option-picking.
The English paper is different. It is 90 minutes, fully descriptive, and tests essay, precis, comprehension and business correspondence. There is no objective component to cushion a weak writing day.
Questions in the format described here. No signup.
How Final Merit Is Calculated
Final merit is Phase 2 plus the interview: 300 marks from the three papers and 75 from the interview, 375 in total. Phase 1 marks are used only to shortlist candidates for Phase 2 and are then discarded. To qualify in Phase 1 you must clear both sectional and overall cut-offs.
Negative Marking Applies in Phase 1
Phase 1 deducts one-fourth of a question's marks for every wrong answer. With sectional cut-offs in play, blind guessing in a weak section can push you below the line in that section even when your total looks safe. Practise with negative marking on, not off.
RBI Grade B Pattern FAQs
Do Phase 1 marks count in the final RBI Grade B merit list?expand_more
No. Phase 1 is qualifying only. Final merit is calculated from Phase 2's 300 marks plus the 75-mark interview.
Is there negative marking in RBI Grade B?expand_more
Yes, in the objective components. Phase 1 carries one-fourth negative marking per wrong answer.
How much does the interview count for?expand_more
75 marks, added to Phase 2's 300 for a 375-mark final merit calculation.
Are the Phase 2 papers objective or descriptive?expand_more
Both. ESI and Finance & Management are half objective (50 marks) and half descriptive (50 marks) each. The English paper is fully descriptive.
Next steps
Take a full RBI Grade B mock testSimulate the real 200-mark Phase 1, negative marking included.