The IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2025 has been officially outlined by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection to help aspirants understand how to approach this competitive exam. If you’re planning to apply for posts like Agriculture Officer, Law Officer, Marketing Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, IT Officer, or Rajbhasha Adhikari, knowing the pattern is your first step. In this article, we’ll break down every detail of the exam pattern—right from prelims to interview.
Table of Contents
Overview
The IBPS Specialist Officer (SO) exam is conducted in three main stages:
- Preliminary Exam
- Mains Exam
- Interview
Only those who qualify in prelims move to mains, and from there, selected candidates are called for an interview.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Posts Covered | SO – IT, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha, Agriculture |
| Exam Stages | Prelims, Mains, Interview |
| Prelims Duration | 120 minutes |
| Mains Duration | 45 to 60 minutes |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Official Website | www.ibps.in |
Prelims
There are two types of prelims patterns—one for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari, and another for other posts.
Law Officer
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
| General Awareness (Banking) | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 120 minutes |
Other Posts Prelims
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 120 minutes |
Candidates must qualify in each section with minimum cut-off marks decided by IBPS.
Mains
The mains exam focuses entirely on Professional Knowledge. Here’s the post-wise pattern.
Law Officer
| Test | Questions | Marks | Medium | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Professional Knowledge | 60 | 60 | English & Hindi | 45 minutes |
Rajbhasha Adhikari
| Test | Questions | Marks | Medium | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective | 45 | 60 | English & Hindi | 30 minutes |
| Descriptive | 2 | – | English & Hindi | 30 minutes |
IT, HR, Marketing, Agriculture Officer
| Test | Questions | Marks | Medium | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Knowledge | 60 | 60 | English & Hindi | 45 minutes |
Interview
The interview carries 20% weight in final selection. You must pass both prelims and mains to be eligible. The final merit list is created using the ratio 80:20 (mains:interview).
Key Points
- Different patterns for different posts in both prelims and mains.
- Prelims score is not considered for final selection.
- Mains has only one section: Professional Knowledge.
- Negative marking of 0.25 per incorrect answer.
- Prelims sections are fixed depending on the post applied for.
Preparing for IBPS SO becomes easier once you’re familiar with the exam structure. The exam demands focus on professional knowledge along with general aptitude. So, start your prep smartly using this blueprint, and you’ll have a better shot at cracking each stage confidently.
FAQs
Is there negative marking in IBPS SO?
Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer.
How many stages are there in IBPS SO?
There are three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
How long is the IBPS SO prelims exam?
The prelims exam duration is 120 minutes.
What is the mains pattern for IT Officer?
It includes 60 questions on Professional Knowledge for 45 minutes.
Is prelims score included in final selection?
No, only mains and interview scores are considered.
