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Understanding the IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern is essential to plan your strategy and boost your chances of selection. The exam is conducted in two stages- Prelims and mains; both held online as computer-based tests (CBTs). The prelims are qualifying in nature, while the mains score determines the final selection, with no interview round involved. The IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern has also been revamped this year. This article provides a clear breakdown of the IBPS Clerk 2025 exam pattern, marking scheme, language options, and final selection process.
What is the new mains exam pattern for IBPS Clerk?
The IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2025 has seen two major changes: the overall duration has been reduced from 160 minutes to 120 minutes, and the marks for Reasoning Ability have been increased from 50 to 60. The total number of questions remains 190, carrying a total of 200 marks. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. The Mains score alone determines the final merit list, and there is no interview in the selection process.
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IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern 2025
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the IBPS Clerk 2025 exam to recruit candidates for clerical positions in various public sector banks. Understanding the IBPS Clerk exam pattern is crucial for effective preparation. The selection process consists of two stages – the Preliminary Exam and the Mains Exam. Candidates must qualify both stages to be considered for the final selection.
The IBPS Clerk exam follows an online computer-based test (CBT) format.
- Preliminary Exam: Qualifying in nature
- Mains Exam" Marks considered for final merit
- LLPT, which means the Local Language Proficiency Test, is conducted to check the local language knowledge, which is mandatory.
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IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2025
The preliminary exam serves as the first stage of the selection process. It consists of three sections: English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
- Each question carries 1 mark, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.
- Sectional timing applies, meaning candidates cannot switch between sections.
- The total duration of the exam is 1 hour (60 minutes).
- The prelims are qualifying in nature, and marks obtained in this stage do not contribute to the final selection.
| Section | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2025
The IBPS Clerk 2025 Mains Exam will have four sections: General/Financial Awareness, General English, Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude, and Quantitative Aptitude. The paper will consist of 155 questions carrying a total of 200 marks. Each section is separately timed, with a total exam duration of 120 minutes. The medium of the test will be English and Hindi (except for the English section). The updated IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern in table form is shared below.
| Sr. No. | Name of Tests (Not in Sequence) | Medium of Examination | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Allotted (Separately Timed) |
|---|
| 1 | General/Financial Awareness | * | 40 | 50 | 20 minutes |
| 2 | General English | English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | * | 40 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| 4 | Quantitative Aptitude | * | 35 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| | Total | | 155 | 200 | 120 minutes |
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Medium of Examination for IBPS Clerk 2025 by State/UT
In IBPS Clerk 2025, candidates can select the medium of examination based on the state or union territory they are applying from. While English and Hindi are commonly available across most regions, some states offer additional regional languages. This choice must be made carefully while filling out the online application form, as it cannot be changed later. Except for the English section, the language option will be applicable for other papers.
| Sr. No. | Name of State/UT | Version of Tests (Medium of Examination) |
|---|
| 1 | Andaman & Nicobar | English and Hindi |
| 2 | Andhra Pradesh | English, Hindi and Telugu |
| 3 | Arunachal Pradesh | English and Hindi |
| 4 | Assam | English, Hindi and Assamese |
| 5 | Bihar | English and Hindi |
| 6 | Chandigarh | English and Hindi |
| 7 | Chhattisgarh | English and Hindi |
| 8 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and Konkani |
| 9 | Delhi (NCT) | English and Hindi |
| 10 | Goa | English, Hindi and Konkani |
| 11 | Gujarat | English, Hindi and Gujarati |
| 12 | Haryana | English and Hindi |
| 13 | Himachal Pradesh | English and Hindi |
| 14 | Jammu & Kashmir | English, Hindi and Urdu |
| 15 | Jharkhand | English and Hindi |
| 16 | Karnataka | English, Hindi, Kannada and Konkani |
| 17 | Kerala | English, Hindi and Malayalam |
| 18 | Ladakh | English and Hindi |
| 19 | Lakshadweep | English, Hindi and Malayalam |
| 20 | Madhya Pradesh | English and Hindi |
| 21 | Maharashtra | English, Hindi, Marathi and Konkani |
| 22 | Manipur | English, Hindi and Manipuri |
| 23 | Meghalaya | English and Hindi |
| 24 | Mizoram | English and Hindi |
| 25 | Nagaland | English and Hindi |
| 26 | Odisha | English, Hindi and Odia |
| 27 | Puducherry | English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam |
| 28 | Punjab | English, Hindi and Punjabi |
| 29 | Rajasthan | English and Hindi |
| 30 | Sikkim | English and Hindi |
| 31 | Tamil Nadu | English, Hindi and Tamil |
| 32 | Telangana | English, Hindi, Telugu and Urdu |
| 33 | Tripura | English, Hindi and Bengali |
| 34 | Uttar Pradesh | English, Hindi and Urdu |
| 35 | Uttarakhand | English and Hindi |
| 36 | West Bengal | English, Hindi and Bengali |
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What is the marking scheme for IBPS Clerk?
In the IBPS Clerk Exam, each correct answer in both prelims and mains earns 1 mark.
- Negative marking of 0.25 marks per incorrect answer applies in both stages.
- No marks are deducted for unanswered questions.
- The Mains Exam score is considered for final selection.
Penalty for Wrong Answers in IBPS Clerk 2025
Yes, there is a penalty for wrong answers in both the IBPS Clerk preliminary and main exams. For each incorrect answer, 0.25 marks will be deducted. No marks will be deducted for unanswered questions.
Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) in IBPS Clerk 2025
Candidates must know the local language of the state/UT they are applying for. They have to choose one language during the application process. If they've studied it in Class 10 or above, they don't need to take the test. Otherwise, a language test will be conducted before final joining.
- Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the selected local language.
- Language should be selected during online application.
- A 10th or higher qualification with the language exempts the candidate from the test.
- LLPT will be qualifying and held after mains/provisional allotment.
- Failing the test will lead to disqualification from appointment.
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