Whoever candidates want to become a part of regional rural banks, for them, the RRB Clerk exam is an amazing opportunity. But the RRB Clerk Prelims exam is the first door through which, without entering, an aspirant cannot reach the Mains exam. And to enter it, he will have to move ahead of thousands of competitors like himself. But when candidates first gather information about this exam, the question of cut-off comes before them. And when they come to know that the Prelims cut-off goes high, then this confusion tries to find its place in their mind as to why the Prelims cut-off remains high and how many marks they should score. Or what kind of preparation should be done so that they can meet the cut-off.
In this blog, we will go to the root of why the Prelims cut-off is so high, and we will compare the cut-offs of the past three years so that we can understand what the Prelims cut-off might be this time.
Read on to know all about why RRB Clerk cut-offs go up and how you can set realistic target scores to clear the exam.
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RRB Clerk Prelims Cut-Off Comparison (2021–2023)
By going through the RRB Clerk Prelims cut off from 2021 to 2023, candidates can get an idea about the changes that come in the RRB Clerk cut off. They show how competition and scores change each year. They highlight trends in rising or falling cut-offs. They reveal the impact of vacancy numbers on cut-offs. Check out he table below to understand the difficulty level vs. cut-off relationship:
| State | 2021 Prelims Cut-Off | 2022 Prelims Cut-Off | 2023 Prelims Cut-Off |
| Uttar Pradesh | 73 | 76.5 | 78.5 |
| Maharashtra | 67 | 68.25 | 70.5 |
| Gujarat | 78.25 | 72.75 | 74.5 |
| Tamil Nadu | 70.5 | 61.25 | 65.75 |
| West Bengal | 77.75 | 74.75 | 76.25 |
| Bihar | 75.5 | 70 | 72.25 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 76.25 | 71 | 73.5 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 66.75 | 70.25 | 72.5 |
| Rajasthan | 78.75 | 75 | 77 |
| Telangana | 71.25 | 69 | 71.5 |
Note: The above data is based on available information and may vary slightly.
Reasons Why the Prelims Cut-Off Is High
The IBPS RRB Clerk exam sees over 10 lakh applicants yearly. This huge number makes this competition fierce and pushes cutoffs higher. For example, imagine 100 people fighting for 10 chairs. The exam is easy for many, so most score well, raising the cutoffs. It’s like a race where everyone runs fast. We’ve been seeing a reduction in vacancies over time. So, fewer seats for the same number of candidates increase cutoffs. It’s like cutting classroom seats from 50 to 30 with 100 students. Cutoffs also differ by state because of differing competition and seats, like needing 75 marks in State A but only 68 in State B for the same exam.
Let’s delve more into the main factors that affect the prelims cut off:
1. Limited No. Vacancies
The number of vacancies in the IBPS RRB Clerk posts is relatively low compared to the number of applicants. This gap results in increased competition. And, this pushes the cut-off marks higher.
2. High Number of Applicants
The IBPS RRB Clerk exam is indeed a popular choice. It attracts thousands of applicants across India. These applicants often exceed 10 lakh. The intense competition that ensues pushes the cutoffs up as more candidates struggle for a limited number of job posts.
3. Easy Difficulty level
The Prelims exam is generally considered easier than the mains exam. A good number of questions can be easily attempted. As a result, most candidates tend to achieve higher marks. And this drives the cut up. In short, because the exam is easier and many questions are doable, most candidates score higher marks. So, an easier paper means more candidates can score higher. This also increases the cut-off marks.
4. Decreasing Vacancies:
It has also been seen that over the past many years, the number of vacancies for the RRB Clerk exam has been decreasing. The low vacancies, coupled with increased competition, directly impact the cutoffs. So, fewer posts are available to compete for the same number of candidates.
5. Normalization in RRB Clerk Exam
Thousands of students take the RRB Clerk Prelims exam in different time slots, called shifts, on the same day. Sometimes, one shift may have slightly easier or harder questions than another. So, the exam body (IBPS) uses a method called normalization to provide an equal opportunity to all. It adjusts their marks based on the difficulty level of their shift. This method makes the competition fair play for all.
Example: If Shift A was tougher than Shift B, a student scoring 65 in Shift A may get a higher normalized score than someone who scored 68 in Shift B.
Why Mains Cut-Off Is Lower
Interestingly, the cut-off marks in the Mains exam are generally lower than in the Prelims. This can be linked to factors like:
- Complexity of the Exam: The RRB Clerk Mains exam is tougher as compared to the RRB Clerk Prelims exam. Then, not all candidates can perform well. This simply leads to a lower cut-off.
- Negative Marking: The RRb Clerk Mains exam has negative marking. This can affect candidates’ scores.
- Subject Specialization: The RRb Clerk Mains exam tests specific knowledge areas. The candidates may not know all the subjects. This affects the overall scores.
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Takeaway
The RRB Clerk Prelims cut-off is high because of fewer vacancies, tough competition, and an easy paper. Knowing this helps in smarter preparation.
To sum up, the prelims cut-off goes high as:
- Vacancies are limited.
- Many candidates apply.
- The exam is easy, so scores are high.
- Use Banking Max for effective prep.
- Smart practice and consistency are key to success.
FAQs
Because the Prelims exam is easier and lakhs of candidates compete for limited seats.
Yes, because the Mains exam is tougher and includes negative marking.
No, you must also perform well in the Mains to get selected.
Yes, with smart strategy, regular practice, and mock tests, it’s possible.
Take daily mock tests, analyze mistakes, and focus on high-scoring topics.
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