IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023 - 150 Questions in 120 Minutes
If you have aspirations of securing a specialized role in the banking and finance sector, then here's an opportunity you don't want to miss. Yes, you read it correctly. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has unveiled the official notification for the IBPS SO Exam 2023. The IBPS SO Exam, designed and conducted by IBPS, is your gateway to specialized positions in various banking departments. In this blog, you will discover all the essential information you need regarding the IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023. Additionally, don't hesitate to pose any queries you may have; we're here to provide you with comprehensive answers. Furthermore, we will delve into the specifics of the IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023 once again for your complete understanding.
IBPS SO 2023 Exam Pattern
The IBPS SO Examination stands out with its three-tiered selection process, which comprises the Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and a Personal Interview. Before we dive straight into the IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023, let's offer you a step-by-step outline of all the phases of the IBPS SO examination.

[source: KD Live]
Let's delve into the details of each stage to gain a better understanding of the IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023:
Preliminary Examination
For post of Law Officer & Rajbhasha Adhikari

[source: www.ibps.in]
For other Specialist Officers (Agriculture Field Officer, Marketing Officer (Scale I), HR/Personnel Officer, IT Officer Scale I)

[source: www.ibps.in]
These were the details of the IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023 for Preliminary Examination, now let's discuss about the IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023 for Mains Examination.
Mains Examination
For the Posts of Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer

[source: www.ibps.in]
For the Post of Rajbhasha Adhikari

[source: www.ibps.in]
Personal Interview Round
Once you qualify for the preliminary and mains exams, you are eligible for the interview. Furthermore, doing well in this interview is crucial because your final selection in the IBPS SO Recruitment Process depends on how you perform in this last round.
After the comprehensive learning of IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023, let's move on to the next segment of our blog.
Overview of the IBPS SO Notification 2023
Now, as we unravel the IBPS SO Notification for 2023, let's take a moment to embark on a visual journey. It's crucial to understand that success in any government job exam depends on thoroughly comprehending each stage of your preparation. To assist you on this path, we've created a visualisation that outlines the entire journey, from the start of your preparation to reaching a significant milestone. The IBPS SO 2023 notification was released on July 31, 2023. Further, let's discuss the syllabus for the IBPS SO Examination 2023.
Moreover, for your better reference, read our blog, IBPS SO Notification 2023.
IBPS SO Syllabus 2023
The IBPS SO Notification 2023 was officially unveiled on July 31, 2023, concurrently disclosing the examination dates for the Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview. To progress to the final interview stage, you must successfully navigate both the Preliminary Exam and the Main Exam. To be well-prepared for selection, it's crucial to study all the topics listed in the IBPS SO Syllabus 2023.
Moreover, the IBPS SO 2023 Preliminary Exam comprises three sections: Reasoning, English Language, and Quantitative Aptitude/General Awareness with Special Reference to the Banking Industry (pertinent to the positions of Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari). Let's delve into a detailed examination of the IBPS SO 2023 syllabus. Let's understand the selection of subjects for the preliminary round as per the posts:
Preliminary Examination
For the post of Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari, there are three subjects that you need to prepare for:
- English Language
- Reasoning
- General Awareness with special reference to the banking industry.
Moreover, for the posts of IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer, the three subjects that you need to prepare for are:
- English Language
- Reasoning
- Quantitative Aptitude
Furthermore, for the posts of IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, and Law Officer, only one paper is conducted in the mains. However, for the post of Rajbhasha Adhikari, two papers are conducted, i.e., Objective and Descriptive.
Now that you are aware of the subjects that are important for prelims, let us move on to the syllabus for the main examination
Mains Examination
The main examination requires you to prepare for professional knowledge regarding the post that you are preparing for. Thus, there is no bifurcated list of subjects that you need to prepare for. However, we have done a detailed analysis of the syllabus in our blog, IBPS SO Syllabus 2023, which is accessible via an embedded link provided to you.
IBPS SO Marking Scheme 2023
Furthermore, now that we are aware of the IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023, let's delve into the IBPS SO 2023 Marking Scheme, which is an essential aspect of understanding the examination process. The IBPS SO exam unfolds across three levels: the Preliminary Exam, the Main Exam, and the Personal Interview. Let's provide you with a concise overview of each level.
Preliminary Examination
This stage is conducted online, with questions presented in the form of objective-type multiple-choice questions. You'll have a total of 2 hours for this exam, with each section allocated 40 minutes.
In total, there will be 150 questions, carrying a cumulative weight of 125 marks. It's crucial to answer questions accurately because there is a negative marking system in place. For every incorrect answer, 1/4th of the assigned marks will be deducted.
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The mode for this exam is online, and the questions will be objective-type multiple-choice questions.
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The time duration for this test will be 2 hours (40 minutes for each section).
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Moreover, it will consist of 150 questions containing 125 marks in total.
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Also, the candidates should attempt the questions correctly, as there will be negative markings. For every incorrect answer, 1/4th of the assigned marks will be deducted.
Main Examination (Law Officer, I.T. Officer, AFO, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer)
Similar to the Prelims, this online exam consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions. You will face 60 questions in this section, with a total score of 60 marks. The time allotted for this stage is 45 minutes, and the same negative marking rule applies, deducting 1/4th of the marks for incorrect answers.
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This exam is conducted online and consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions.
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Furthermore, this exam comprises 60 questions, for a total score of 60 marks.
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You will have 45 minutes to complete this section.
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For every incorrect answer, 1/4th of the assigned marks will be deducted.
Main Examination (Rajbhasha Adhikari)
The IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023 for the Rajbhasha Adhikari post varies slightly from the others, as it includes both objective and descriptive questions.
In the objective section, you'll find 45 questions, while the descriptive section consists of 2 questions. Each section grants you 30 minutes for completion, and as with the other exams, negative marking applies, deducting 1/4th of the marks for incorrect answers.
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However, the exam pattern for the Rajbhasha post is a little different from other posts as it includes both objective and descriptive questions.
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The exam consists of 45 questions in the objective section and 2 questions in the descriptive section.
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Moreover, you will be allotted 30 minutes for each section.
Understanding these details of the marking scheme is vital for a well-rounded grasp of the IBPS SO 2023 examination process.
Personal Interview
After the IBPS SO Mains exam, qualified candidates like you are invited for a personal interview, which plays a crucial role in the final selection process of IBPS SO, contributing 20% to the merit list. It is important for candidates to be excellent in the IBPS SO interview.
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The total marks for the interview will be 100.
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Also, the qualifying score will be 40% and 35% for SC, ST, and OBC candidates,respectively.
According to the IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023, after the interview, the final merit list will consider the scores achieved in both the main exam and the interview. Subsequently, candidates will be assigned to one of the participating banks, taking into account their scores and the availability of positions within the bank for their respective roles.
Now that we have covered all the essential details about the IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023, let's take a look at the IBPS SO Marks Normalization.
IBPS SO 2023 Marks Normalization
Moreover, we are here to help you learn about the normalisation process. A normalisation tool is used to compare the difficulty level of query sets. All candidates' corrected scores from different sessions are normalized. The final scores are then rounded to two decimal digits after normalization. The officials will prepare the result as per the normalisation policy of the IBPS SO Exam. This method of normalisation brings more transparency to preparing the result.
IBPS conducts the IBPS SO exam in various shifts to standardise the difficulty level across all the papers, a practice that helps in ensuring fairness. These normalised scores are then used in the calculation of the final merit.
IBPS SO 2023 Important Dates
With the release of the IBPS SO Notification 2023 on July 31, 2023, the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has laid out all the essential dates for the upcoming IBPS SO recruitment exam. It's important to highlight that the IBPS SO 2023 Online Registration phase has been extended and will now remain open until August 28, 2023. Let's take a comprehensive look at the dates in the context of the IBPS SO Recruitment 2023.
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IBPS SO 2023 Important Dates
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Events
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IBPS SO 2023 Dates
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IBPS SO Notification 2023
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31st July 2023
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Online Registration Starts From
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1st August 2023
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Last Date to Apply Online for IBPS SO
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28th August 2023
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IBPS SO Prelims Admit Card 2023
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December 2023
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Commencement of IBPS SO Preliminary Exam
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30th & 31st December 2023
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IBPS SO Mains Exam Date 2023
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28th January 2024
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Moreover, for more detailed information, refer to our blog, IBPS SO Exam Date 2023.
We hope that we have provided you with comprehensive learning on the IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023. Certainly, let's now conclude our blog on the IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2023. We hope you find this information valuable and insightful. Now, it's your turn. Share your thoughts or any additional questions you may have in the comments section below. Are there specific strategies or tips you'd like to know more about? Feel free to ask, and we'll be here to provide you with the guidance you need.