IBPS RRB XV 2026 Exam Pattern: You must know the exam pattern to go to the next stage of the recruitment process. IBPS RRB XV 2026 recruitment will be conducted for Group A Officers (Scale I, II and III) and Group B Office Assistants (Multipurpose). Candidates preparing for the examination should understand the exam pattern, number of questions, marks, duration, and negative marking before starting their preparation.
It is also important to note that there is no single exam pattern for all IBPS RRB exams. The examination pattern is different for different posts. Office Assistant (Multipurpose) and Officer Scale-I candidates have to qualify through a two-tier examination consisting of Preliminary and Main examinations. On the other hand, Officer Scale-II and Scale-III candidates appear for a Single Online Examination.
Table of Contents
IBPS clearly mentions about scoring higher than the cut off marks for a candidate to be included in the merit list of Phase I and Phase II
IBPS RRB XV 2026 Exam Pattern: Preliminary
The Preliminary Examination will be conducted for Office Assistant (Multipurpose) and Officer Scale-I.
Office Assistant Prelims
The Office Assistant Preliminary Exam will have two sections — Reasoning and Numerical Ability. There will be 40 questions in each section, making a total of 80 questions for 80 marks. Candidates will get 45 minutes to complete the examination.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 25 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 80 | 80 | 45 minutes |
Candidates have to qualify in both tests by securing the prescribed minimum cut-off marks. Shortlisted candidates will then appear for the Online Main Examination.
Officer Scale-I Prelims
For Officer Scale-I, the Preliminary Exam will consist of Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 25 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 80 | 80 | 45 minutes |
Candidates must qualify in both tests to be shortlisted for the Main Examination.
IBPS RRB XV 2026 Exam Pattern: Main
The Main Examination will be conducted for both Office Assistant (Multipurpose) and Officer Scale-I.
Office Assistant Main Exam
The Office Assistant Main examination will consist of 200 questions carrying 200 marks. The total duration will be 120 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 20 | 15 minutes |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 | 15 minutes |
| English/Hindi Language | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 40 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Candidates can choose either English Language or Hindi Language as their language section.
Officer Scale-I Main Exam
The Officer Scale-I Main Exam will also contain 200 questions for 200 marks, with a total duration of 120 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 20 | 15 minutes |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 | 15 minutes |
| English/Hindi Language | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Candidates can opt for either English or Hindi Language.
IBPS RRB XV Scale-II Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 50 | 30 min |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 20 | 15 min |
| Financial Awareness | 40 | 40 | 15 min |
| English/Hindi Language | 40 | 40 | 30 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | 40 | 50 | 30 min |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 min |
For Officer Scale-II General Banking Officer, candidates will appear for a Single Online Examination. The paper will have 200 questions for 200 marks and a duration of 120 minutes.
For Officer Scale-II Specialist Cadre, the examination will contain 240 questions for 200 marks, with a total duration of 150 minutes. It includes Professional Knowledge, Reasoning, Financial Awareness, English/Hindi Language, Computer Knowledge, and Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation.
IBPS RRB XV Scale-III Exam Pattern
The Officer Scale-III Single Online Examination will consist of 200 questions carrying 200 marks. The total duration will be 120 minutes.
The sections are:
- Reasoning – 40 questions, 50 marks
- Computer Knowledge – 40 questions, 20 marks
- Financial Awareness – 40 questions, 40 marks
- English/Hindi Language – 40 questions, 40 marks
- Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation – 40 questions, 50 marks
The detailed structure is provided in the examination scheme.
IBPS RRB XV Negative Marking
There will be negative marking in the Preliminary, Main, and Single Online IBPS RRB XV 2026 Exam. For every wrong answer, one-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted. However, there will be no penalty for questions left unanswered. इसलिए candidates should avoid random guessing and attempt questions carefully.
IBPS RRB XV Cut-Off and Shortlisting
IBPS RRB Cutoff Score
For Office Assistants (Multipurpose), candidates must secure the minimum qualifying score in each test of the Online Main Examination. However, merely passing individual tests is not enough; candidates must also obtain a sufficiently high total score to be considered for provisional allotment, depending on vacancies available in each state. For Officers Scale I, candidates must qualify in each test of the Online Main Examination and secure a high enough overall score to be shortlisted for interview.
Candidates up to three times the declared vacancies in each category may be called for interview, subject to availability. For Officers Scale II and III, candidates must qualify in each test of the Online Single Examination and meet the required overall score for interview shortlisting, with candidates up to three times the vacancies being considered.
Scores are normalized using the equi-percentile method, with scores calculated up to two decimal places. For final merit, Office Assistants and Scale I use Main Examination marks, while Scale II and III use Single Examination marks.
Which Marks Count for Final Merit?
- For Office Assistant, only marks obtained in the Online Main Examination are considered for final merit listing.
- For Officer Scale-I, marks obtained in the Online Main Examination are considered for interview shortlisting and final merit listing.
- For Officer Scale-II and Scale-III, marks obtained in the Single Online Examination are considered for interview shortlisting and final merit listing. Scores are normalized using the equi-percentile method where multiple sessions are held.
IBPS RRB XV 2026 Preparation Strategy
Candidates should prepare according to the specific post they are applying for. Office Assistant and Scale-I aspirants should focus heavily on Reasoning, Numerical Ability/Quantitative Aptitude, and speed for the Preliminary stage. After qualifying Prelims, candidates should shift their focus towards General Awareness, Computer Knowledge, Language, and the other Main IBPS Exam sections.
Since there is negative marking, accuracy is equally important. Regular mock tests, sectional practice and previous-year questions can help candidates improve both speed and accuracy.
Final Words
The IBPS RRB XV 2026 Exam Pattern clearly shows that candidates need a combination of speed, accuracy, and subject knowledge. Office Assistant and Officer Scale-I candidates have to clear both Preliminary and Main examinations, while Scale-II and Scale-III candidates appear for a Single Online Examination followed by the applicable selection process.
Candidates should regularly check the official IBPS website for any changes in the examination structure, duration, or other instructions, as IBPS reserves the right to modify the examination pattern.