RBI Grade B Exam Pattern 2025: Phase 1 & 2 Structure, Marking Scheme

Asparents preparing for the RBI Grade B officer post in 2025, need to understand the exam pattern is your first step to success. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducts this exam in three phases: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Asparents should know about marking scheme, syllabus, and question distribution. in this article we will see into details of everything:

Key Highlights 📌

Key PointDetails
Organization NameReserve Bank of India (RBI)
Exam NameRBI Grade B Officer Exam
Exam ModeOnline (CBT)
Total Phases3 (Prelims, Mains, Interview)
Phase 1 Duration2 hours
Phase 2 Duration3 hours (General) + 1.5 hours (Descriptive)
Negative MarkingYes (1/4th deduction)
Selection ProcessPrelims → Mains → Interview
Official Websitewww.rbi.org.in

Phase 1 Exam Pattern

The first hurdle is the Prelims exam, which is purely qualifying in nature. Only those who clear the cutoff move to Phase 2.

Phase 1 Structure

SectionNo. of QuestionsMarksDuration
General Awareness80802 hours
Quantitative Aptitude3030
English Language3030
Reasoning Ability6060
Total200200

Important Notes on Phase 1

  • The exam is conducted online.
  • There’s a 1/4th negative marking for wrong answers.
  • You must clear both sectional and overall cutoffs.
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Phase 2 Exam Pattern

Phase 2 is the real deal—it’s more detailed and tests your in-depth knowledge.

Paper-wise Breakdown

PaperSubjectMarksDuration
Paper 1 (Objective)Economic & Social Issues1001.5 hours
Paper 2 (Objective)English (Writing Skills)1001.5 hours
Paper 3 (Descriptive)Finance & Management1001.5 hours

Key Differences from Phase 1

  • Descriptive paper (Paper 3) tests essay and precis writing.
  • No negative marking in Phase 2.
  • Economic & Social Issues is a major scoring section.

Marking Scheme & Cutoff Trends

Previous Year Cutoffs (Approx.)

PhaseGeneralOBCSC/ST
Phase 165-7060-6555-60
Phase 2180-190170-180160-170

How Marks Are Calculated?

  • Final Merit = Phase 2 (75%) + Interview (25%)
  • Phase 1 marks do not count in the final score.

Syllabus

Phase 1 Syllabus

SectionTopics Covered
General AwarenessBanking, RBI policies, Current Affairs
Quantitative AptitudeData Interpretation, Arithmetic
English LanguageGrammar, Comprehension, Vocabulary
Reasoning AbilityPuzzles, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding

Phase 2 Syllabus

PaperKey Topics
Economic & Social IssuesInflation, GDP, RBI Monetary Policy
English (Writing)Essay, Precis, Report Writing
Finance & ManagementRisk Management, Banking Regulations

Expert Tips to Crack RBI Grade B 2025

I’ve talked to several successful candidates and coaching experts, and here’s what they recommend:

1. Focus on Current Affairs

  • RBI Bulletin and Economic Survey are goldmines.
  • Follow financial news daily (The Hindu, Economic Times).

2. Master Descriptive Writing

  • Practice essays on banking trends.
  • Work on precis writing—it’s a game-changer.

3. Time Management in Phase 1

  • Don’t spend more than 30 seconds per question.
  • Skip tough questions and return later.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

MistakeWhy It’s Bad?
Ignoring RBI Reports30% of GA comes from RBI updates
Neglecting EnglishMany fail due to poor writing skills
Overconfidence in QuantTricky DI questions can trap you

Final Thoughts

The RBI Grade B exam is tough but not unbeatable. If you understand the exam pattern, marking scheme, and syllabus, half the battle is won. Start with Phase 1 preparation, but don’t ignore Phase 2’s descriptive part.

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