RRB PO Exam Pattern 2025, Prelims and Mains Structure

Preparing for the IBPS RRB PO 2025 exam is a significant step toward a career in rural banking. Unlike the Clerk level, the Probationary Officer (Officer Scale-I) recruitment is a three-stage process that tests not just your speed but also your deep analytical skills and personality. Understanding the latest exam pattern is the foundation of a successful study plan.

RRB PO Exam Pattern & Selection Process

The journey to becoming an Assistant Manager (Officer Scale-I) consists of three distinct phases. While the Prelims are qualifying, your final selection is based on a combined score from the Mains and the Interview.

• Prelims (Qualifying Stage)
• Mains (Scoring Stage - 80% weightage)
• Interview (Personality Stage - 20% weightage)

RRB PO Prelims Exam Pattern

The Preliminary exam is a 45-minute sprint. You must clear both the sectional cut-offs and the overall state-wise cut-off to qualify for the next round.

RRB PO Mains Exam Pattern

The Mains exam is the most important stage. Marks obtained here are carried forward to the final merit list. Note that while you have a composite time of 120 minutes, IBPS 2025 has introduced suggested sectional timings to help you manage the paper better.

Important Rules for RRB PO Examination

• The Penalty: For every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks are deducted. Accuracy is more important than the number of attempts; avoid wild guesses.
• The Language Choice: You can choose between English and Hindi for the language section in Mains. This is a great advantage if you are more comfortable with Hindi.
• Bilingual Format: All sections (except the language paper) are available in both English and the regional language of the state you apply from.
• Interview Weightage: The final merit list is prepared in an 80:20 ratio between the Mains exam and the Interview.

RRB PO Syllabus 2025

Focusing on high-priority topics can help you score more in less time. Here we have discussed a brief syllabus for more details; check the blog.