The IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2025 consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The Preliminary Exam is a 2-hour test with sections on Reasoning, English, and either Quantitative Aptitude or General Awareness, depending on the post. The Mains focuses on Professional Knowledge, while the Rajbhasha Adhikari exam includes both objective and descriptive questions. The final merit is prepared by combining the Mains (80%) and Interview (20%) scores. A negative marking of 0.25 marks applies for each incorrect answer in both Prelims and Mains.
IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2025
The IBPS SO 2025 exam follows a structured selection process with different phases. The IBPS SO 2025 Exam Pattern is structured in two phases: Preliminary and Main Examination both conducted online. The prelims assess general aptitude with sections like reasoning, English language, and either quantitative aptitude or general awareness, depending on the post. The main exam focuses solely on professional knowledge related to the specific specialist officer role applied for. Only candidates who qualify in each stage move forward in the recruitment process.
| Particular | Details |
|---|
| Exam Conducting Authority | Institute of Banking & Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Exam Name | IBPS SO 2025 |
| Mode of Examination | Online |
| Prelims Exam Date | 30th August 2025 |
| Mains Exam Date | 9th November 2025 |
| Duration | Prelims: 120 minutes, Mains: 45-60 minutes |
| Selection Process | Prelims - Mains - Interview |
| Negative Marking | 1/4 of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted |
| Official Website | ibps.in |
IBPS SO Selection Process 2025
The selection process is carried out in the following three stages. Only candidates who qualify all three stages are provisionally allotted Specialist Officer posts.
- Preliminary Exam: This is the first phase and acts as a qualifying round.
- Mains Exam: Candidates who qualify Prelims appear for the Mains, which tests domain-specific knowledge.
- Interview: Shortlisted candidates are called for a personal interview round coordinated by IBPS and participating banks.
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IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern 2025
The IBPS SO Prelims exam is conducted in online mode. It consists of three sections with a total of 150 multiple-choice questions. The duration of the exam is 120 minutes, with separate sectional timing for each part. Below is the detailed pattern for different posts.
For Law Officer & Rajbhasha Adhikari:
| S No. | Section | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|
| 1 | Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| 2 | English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
| 3 | General Awareness (with Special Reference to Banking) | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Total | - | 150 | 125 | 120 minutes |
For Other Specialist Officers (IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer):
| S No. | Section | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|
| 1 | Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| 2 | English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Total | - | 150 | 125 | 120 minutes |
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IBPS SO Mains Exam Pattern 2025
The IBPS SO Mains Exam is designed to test candidates' professional knowledge in their respective fields. The table below highlights the exam pattern for various posts.
For the Posts of Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer:
Check the Mains Exam pattern for Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer below-
| Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam | Duration |
|---|
| Professional Knowledge | 60 | 60 | English & Hindi | 45 minutes |
For the Post of Rajbhasha Adhikari:
The Rajbhasa Adhikari follows a two-phase exam pattern for mains. It includes an objective and a descriptive test.
| Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam | Duration |
|---|
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 45 | 60 | English & Hindi | 30 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Descriptive) | 2 | English & Hindi | 30 minutes |
IBPS SO Interview Process
The IBPS SO Interview Process is the final stage of selection and is conducted for candidates who qualify the Main Examination. Coordinated by participating banks and IBPS, the interview carries 100 marks, with a minimum qualifying score of 40% (or 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates). It assesses a candidate's subject knowledge, communication skills, and suitability for the specialist officer role. The final merit list is prepared based on a weightage ratio of 80:20 for the Main Exam and Interview respectively. Only those who qualify both stages and fulfill the document requirements are considered for provisional allotment.
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Final Allotment and Provisional Posting
After the Interview round, IBPS prepares the final merit list based on 80% weightage to the Mains score and 20% to the Interview. Candidates who make it to the merit list are provisionally allotted to one of the participating public sector banks depending on their preferences, merit rank, and vacancy availability. The final appointment is subject to verification of documents and meeting eligibility criteria.
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