The IBPS RRB Clerk exam is one of the most sought-after banking exams in India, attracting lakhs of aspirants every year. To stand out in this competition, it’s not enough to just study hard—you need to study smart. One of the smartest ways to prepare is by knowing the topic-wise weightage in the Preliminary Exam so you can focus on what really matters.
IBPS RRB Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern
Each section in the IBPS RRB Clerk Exam carries 40 marks, making a total of 80 marks to be attempted in 45 minutes. The prelims stage consists of two sections:
- Reasoning Ability – 40 Questions
- Quantitative Aptitude – 40 Questions
Why Focus on Topic-Wise Weightage?
Every year, certain topics dominate the question paper. Understanding which topics appear most frequently allows you to:
- Prioritize important chapters
- Maximize your scoring potential
- Reduce time spent on low-weightage topics
- Plan revision and practice more effectively
IBPS RRB Clerk Reasoning Ability Topic Wise Weightage
The Reasoning section checks your logical thinking and pattern recognition. Here’s the typical topic distribution:
Topic | Typical No. of Questions |
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 20–25 |
Inequality | 3–5 |
Syllogism | 3–5 |
Direction & Distance | 2–4 |
Blood Relation | 2–4 |
Coding-Decoding | 0–5 |
Order & Ranking | 0–4 |
Alphanumeric Series / Alphabet | 0–3 |
Miscellaneous (Pairing, Odd One Out, etc.) | 2–4 |
Key Takeaways:
- Puzzles and seating arrangements dominate the section, forming more than half the questions.
- Syllogism, inequality, and direction sense are stable and scoring areas.
- Miscellaneous logic-based questions provide an opportunity to pick up easy marks.
IBPS RRB Clerk Quantitative Aptitude Topic Wise Weightage
This section tests your numerical skills and speed. Here’s how the topics are usually distributed:
Topic | Typical No. of Questions |
Arithmetic Word Problems | 10–15 |
Data Interpretation (Charts/Graphs) | 10–16 |
Simplification/Approximation | 5–8 |
Number Series (Missing/Wrong Term) | 5–6 |
Quadratic Equations | 0–5 |
Quantity Comparison / Data Sufficiency | 0–5 |
Key Takeaways:
- Arithmetic and data interpretation are the heaviest contributors.
- Simplification and number series are high-scoring with regular practice.
- Topics like quadratic equations and data sufficiency may appear, so it’s wise to prepare them lightly.
How to Use This Weightage Strategically?
- Master high-weightage topics first: focus on puzzles, arithmetic, DI, and simplification.
- Improve accuracy in medium-weight topics like syllogism, number series, and inequality.
- Give light but smart attention to low-frequency topics such as blood relations or order & ranking.
FAQs
Ans: The IBPS RRB Clerk Prelims exam consists of 2 sections: Reasoning Ability and Quantitative Aptitude, each with 40 questions carrying 1 mark each. The total duration is 45 minutes.
Ans: Puzzles and seating arrangements are the most important topics in the reasoning section, contributing around 20–25 questions, making up over 50% of the section.
Ans: Key high-weightage topics include arithmetic word problems (10–15 questions) and data interpretation (10–16 questions), both crucial for scoring well.
Ans: Yes, syllogism and inequality are consistently asked in the reasoning section, each contributing 3–5 questions, and are considered scoring topics.
Ans: Understanding topic-wise weightage helps in creating a focused study plan, allowing candidates to prioritize high-yield areas, improve accuracy, and enhance overall exam strategy.

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