Structure of IBPS Bank Clerk written exam
IBPS clerks CWE is an objective type two tiers exam with multiple options provided (singly correct out of five options given). It consists 100 questions of 100 marks in Preliminary Exam & 200 questions of 200 marks in Main Exam, one mark for each question. The Preliminary Exam paper is divided into three sections of 30/35 questions & Main Exam paper is divided into five sections of 40 questions. The duration of the exam is one hour for Preliminary Exam & two hours 15 minutes for Main Exam. There is also penalty of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. Please note that there will be no penalty for the un-attempted questions.
Eligibility Criteria for IBPS Clerk
A. Nationality / Citizenship: To apply for IBPS CWE Clerk, a candidate must be either citizen of India or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan or a Tibetan Refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Additionally for the candidates except India, they need to have a certificate of eligibility favoring the same, issued by the Government of India.
B. Age: Candidates Age should be between 20 to 28 years.
C. Educational Qualifications: A Degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a University recognized by the Govt. Of India or any equivalent qualification recognized as such by the Central Government.
Exam Pattern of IBPS Clerk Exams
IBPS Clerk Preliminary Exam Pattern
| Sr. No. |
Name of Tests |
No. of Qs |
Maximum Marks |
Duration |
| 1 |
English Language |
30 |
30 |
Composite time of 1 hour |
| 2 |
Numerical Ability |
35 |
35 |
| 3 |
Reasoning Ability |
35 |
35 |
| |
Total |
100 |
100 |
|
IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern for Mains Exam
In the latest update by IBPS, IBPS Clerk Mains Exam will now constitute of 190 questions that needs to be completed in a time frame of 160 minutes.
Previously, Computer Aptitude and Reasoning Ability Section used to be conducted separately. But, in the recent update by IBPS, both these sections are amalgamated together and will constitute of 50 questions that needs to be solved in a time duration of 45 minutes. Both Preliminary Exam and Mains Exam will be conducted bilingually, i.e. both in English and in Hindi. Let’s have a look at the Exam Pattern for IBPS Clerk CWE.
| S.No. |
Name of Tests(Objective |
No. of Questions |
Maximum Marks |
Duration |
| 1 |
Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude |
50 |
60 |
45 minutes |
| 2 |
English Language |
40 |
40 |
35 minutes |
| 3 |
Quantitative Aptitude |
50 |
50 |
45 minutes |
| 4 |
General/ Financial Awareness |
50 |
50 |
35 minutes |
| Total |
190 |
200 |
160 minutes |
The above tests except the Test of English Language will be available bilingually, i.e. English and Hindi.
Syllabus for IBPS Bank Clerk written exam
| Part 1 – Reasoning |
| Analogy |
Classification |
Series |
Problem Solving |
Cube & Dice |
| Alpha-Numeric |
Alpha-Numeric |
Alpha-Numeric |
Word Building |
Surface Counting |
| Figural |
Figural |
Figural |
Numerical Operations |
Punched Hole Folding |
| Number |
Number |
Number |
Space Orientations |
Pattern Completion |
| Alphabet |
Alphabet |
Alphabet |
Sitting Arrangements |
Embedded Figures |
| Objects |
Objects |
Objects |
Coding & Decoding |
Clerical Aptitude (Address Matching) |
| Part 2 – English Language |
| Grammar |
Sentence Error |
| Noun |
Sentence Improvement |
| Adverb |
One Word Substitution |
| Adjective |
Comprehension Passage |
| Tenses |
Cloze Test |
| Conditionals |
Spellings & Misspellings |
| Etc. |
|
| Part 3 – Numerical Ability |
| Number system & simplification |
Number series |
Simple Interest |
Time & work |
Mensuration (2 dimensional figures) |
| Problems based on numbers |
Missing number |
Compound Interest |
Time & work |
Height & Distance |
| Surds & Indices |
Wrong Number |
EMI |
Time & distance |
Permutations & Combinations |
| Decimal & Fractions |
Average |
Ratios |
Pipe & cistern |
Probability |
| Square, square root, cube & cube root |
Percentage |
Chain Rule |
Speed & distance |
Data Interpretation |
| System of linear equations |
Percentage |
Ratios & proportions |
Boat & stream |
Tabular Data |
| Last Digit |
Profit & loss |
Partnership |
Train problems |
Line Graphs, Pie Chart, Bar Chart (Histogram), Mixed Charts, Case Studies |
| Part 4 – General Awareness (with special reference to Banking Industry) |
| Current Events of last 3-4 months |
| Scientific aspect of daily life observations as may be expected of any educated person |
Day to Day General Knowledge
- Summits
- Books & Authors
- Sports events
- Countries, Heads & their currencies
- Important Events
- Important Days
|
Banking Aptitude
- History of banking
- Banking terms (like Repo rate & reverse repo rate)
- Important current events in banking industry
- Important RBI guidelines and rulings
- Working of rural banks
|
| Financial Market & Capital Market |
| Generally around 60% questions are from banking industry, while around 30% questions fall in current events category. Other sections do not count much as per last few years question paper pattern. |
| Part 5 – Computer Knowledge |
| MS office (word, excel and power point) |
| Basic hardware & software, their functionalities & usage |
| Shortcut Keys |
| Computer History |
| Abbreviations |
| Basic network, internet & email controls |
| Basics of windows operating system |
| Future of computers |
Selection Procedure of IBPS Clerk
On the basis of performance in Preliminary Exam, candidates will be shortlisted for Main Exam. After that on the performance in Main Exam, candidates will be called for Interview round. Candidates have to score qualifying score in each section of the Preliminary & Main exams. After successful completion of all written & interview process, IBPS provisionally allotted candidates to one of the Participating Organisations/Banks with certain validity period. The participating banks/organization will recruit the finally selected candidates as per their requirement.