IBPS Clerk 2025 Exam: New Pattern vs Old Pattern

IBPS Clerk 2025 Exam: The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the IBPS Clerk exam annually to recruit clerks for participating public sector banks across India. This year, the IBPS Clerk changed the mains exam pattern. This will make a huge difference in your preparation journey. To boost their preparation, first understand the revised exam pattern so that you can know the section-wise number of questions and their marks. This article compares the IBPS Clerk 2025 new exam pattern vs the old pattern in depth and highlights what aspirants need to do to stay ahead.

Overview of IBPS Clerk Exam

• Exam Name: IBPS Clerk 2025 (CRP Clerks-XV)
• Post: Clerk (Customer Service Associate)
• Recruitment Body: IBPS
• Exam Stages: Prelims and Mains (No Interview)
• Participating Banks: 11 major public sector banks, including PNB, SBI, BOB, UBI, and others

IBPS Clerk Exam Process: Old vs New

If you want to become a clerk in a public sector bank, then the IBPS Clerk exam is a great option for you. It is a two-stage recruitment process without any interview, which makes it an extremely popular opportunity. In 2025, some changes have been made to the minuses section of this exam. Let’s start with a brief overview before starting the comparison.

Key Difference: The introduction of the mandatory Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) in 2025 makes it essential for candidates to be proficient in the local language of the state they apply.

Preliminary Exam: Pattern Comparison

There are no changes made to the preliminary exam, and it will retain the same structure as in 2024. However, the competition is getting tougher every year. So, although there is no change in the pattern, the need for accuracy and speed in your preparation has increased even more. For more convenience, we are providing a detailed pattern in the table below.

Old Pattern (IBPS Clerk 2024 Prelims)

New Pattern (IBPS Clerk 2025 Prelims)

No change in question types or distribution for 2025 as per the notification.

Conclusion: No major structural changes in Prelims, but preparation strategy must factor in accuracy and speed, especially for Quant & Reasoning.

Mains Exam: Pattern Comparison

There is a major change in the Mains exam in 2025, where the number of questions and total time have been reduced. This change requires better time management and prioritisation of topics.

Old Pattern (IBPS Clerk 2024 Mains)

New Pattern (IBPS Clerk 2025 Mains)

IBPS Clerk Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) Introduced

The 2025 exam cycle brings a significant change by renaming the post and introducing LLPT (local language proficiency test). These changes are aimed at ensuring better communication with regional customers. If you are planning to apply, it is important to know what is different from last year’s process.

• The candidates applying for vacancies of a particular State/UT should be proficient in (reading, writing, speaking and understanding) the specified/opted local language of that State/UT.

• Candidate has to opt for ONE language at the time of online application for the local language test from the list provided for each State/ UT as per Annexure III.
• Candidates who produce 10th standard or above mark sheet/ certificate evidencing having studied the specified/ opted local language will not be required to undergo the language test.
• The test will be conducted after qualifying the Online Main examination/ Provisional Allotment but before joining the Bank.
• The test for knowledge of the specified/ opted local language will be conducted as a part of the selection process by an independent body or by the Bank and will be marks-based and qualifying in nature.
• Candidates who fail to qualify for this test will not be offered an appointment and will be disqualified from the process.

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