IBPS SO Exam
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the Specialist Officer (SO) exam to recruit candidates for specialist roles in the public banking sector in India. The exam aims to identify and select highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals in various domains like IT, Agriculture, Marketing, HR/Personnel, Law, and Rajbhasha (Official Language).
The IBPS SO exam is conducted on an annual basis, and it provides a great opportunity for candidates who want to build a career in the banking industry and specialize in a specific field. Public sector banks, including State Bank of India (SBI) and its associate banks, participate in the IBPS SO recruitment process.
The exam is highly competitive, with a large number of candidates vying for a limited number of vacancies. Therefore, thorough preparation and a comprehensive understanding of the exam pattern, syllabus, and eligibility criteria are crucial for success.
To be eligible for the IBPS SO exam, candidates must meet certain criteria, including age limits, educational qualifications, and work experience, as specified by IBPS. The eligibility criteria may vary based on the specific post applied for. Candidates are required to hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline and have a specified amount of work experience in the respective field, if applicable.
The IBPS SO exam follows a multi-stage selection process that includes a Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview. The Preliminary Exam serves as a screening test and assesses the candidate’s basic knowledge and aptitude. The marks obtained in the Preliminary Exam are not considered for the final selection but are used for shortlisting candidates for the Mains Exam.
Overview
The IBPS SO exam recruits Specialist Officers for different posts like IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer. These roles demand specialist skills and knowledge in specific domains, and the examination is tailored accordingly.
The exam is conducted in three stages: Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview. The Preliminary and Mains exams are conducted online, followed by a face-to-face interview.
Eligibility
Educational Qualification
The eligibility for the IBPS SO exam varies based on the post:
- IT Officer (Scale-I): Engineering/ Technology Degree in Computer Science/ Computer Applications/ Information Technology/ Electronics/ Electronics & Telecommunications/ Electronics & Communication/ Electronics & Instrumentation or Post Graduate Degree in relevant discipline.
- Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I): 4 year Degree (graduation) in Agriculture/ Horticulture/Animal Husbandry/ Veterinary Science/ Dairy Science/ Fishery Science/ Pisciculture/ Agri. Marketing & Cooperation/ Co-operation & Banking/ Agro-Forestry/Forestry/ Agricultural Biotechnology/ Food Science/ Agriculture Business Management/ Food Technology/ Dairy Technology/ Agricultural Engineering/ Sericulture.
- Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I): Post Graduate Degree in Hindi with English as a subject at the degree level OR Postgraduate degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as subjects at the degree level.
- Law Officer (Scale I): A Bachelor Degree in Law (LLB) and enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council.
- HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I): Graduate and Two Years Full-time Post Graduate degree or Two Years Full-time Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management / Industrial Relations/ HR / HRD/ Social Work / Labour Law.
- Marketing Officer (Scale I): Graduate and Two Years Full-time MMS (Marketing)/ Two Years Full-time MBA (Marketing)/ Two Years Full-time PGDBA / PGDBM/ PGPM/ PGDM with specialization in Marketing.
In addition to the educational qualifications, the candidate must be a citizen of India.
Age Limit
The candidate must be at least 20 years old and not more than 30 years old at the time of registration. Age relaxation is provided for certain categories as per the government norms.
Exam Pattern
- Preliminary Exam (For all posts):
- The preliminary exam is conducted in an online mode.
- The duration of the exam is 2 hours.
- The exam consists of three sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Quantitative Aptitude.
- The total number of questions is usually 150, with 50 questions in each section.
- Each question carries 1 mark.
- There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
- The preliminary exam is qualifying in nature, and the marks obtained in this exam are not considered for final selection.
- Mains Exam (For all posts):
- The mains exam is conducted in an online mode.
- The duration of the exam is generally 2 hours for each section.
- The exam consists of four sections: Professional Knowledge, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Language.
- The total number of questions and marks vary depending on the post applied for.
- Each question carries 1 mark.
- There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
- The marks obtained in the mains exam are considered for final selection.
- Professional Knowledge Exam:
- This section is specifically for testing the candidate’s knowledge in their respective field of specialization.
- The number of questions and marks in this section vary based on the post applied for.
- The questions are designed to assess the candidate’s expertise in their chosen discipline.
- Interview:
- Candidates who qualify the mains exam are called for an interview.
- The interview is conducted to evaluate the candidate’s personality, communication skills, and suitability for the post.
- The interview carries a weightage of 100 marks.
- The final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in the mains exam and interview.
Syllabus
The syllabus varies for different stages of the examination and includes Reasoning Ability, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude for the Preliminary Examination, and Professional Knowledge for the Mains Exam.
| Subject | Syllabus |
|---|---|
| English Language | Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar, Verbal Ability, Idioms and Phrases, Sentence Completion |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number System, Simplification, Ratio and Proportion, Average, Percentage, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, Time, Speed, and Distance, Data Interpretation, Sequence and Series, Permutation, Combination, and Probability |
| Reasoning Ability | Seating Arrangement, Puzzle, Inequality, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Order and Ranking, Alphanumeric Series, Input-Output, Data Sufficiency, Logical Reasoning |
| Professional Knowledge | This section varies based on the specialization or post you are applying for. The topics covered will be related to your field of expertise. Examples: Computer Networks, Database Management Systems, Programming Concepts, Operating Systems (for IT Officer) |
| General Awareness | This section covers topics such as Current Affairs, Banking Awareness, Financial Awareness, General Knowledge, and current events at the national and international level. |
| Computer Knowledge | This section covers topics related to Computer Fundamentals, Computer Networks, Database Management Systems, Software Engineering, Operating Systems, Programming Concepts, and other areas relevant to computer knowledge. |
Preparation Tips
- Understand the exam pattern and syllabus in detail.
- Prepare a study plan and stick to it.
- Practice as many mock tests as possible.
- Revise regularly and keep track of your progress.
- Focus on improving your speed and accuracy.
Best Books
| Subject | Books |
|---|---|
| English Language | – “Objective English” by S.P. Bakshi |
| – “Word Power Made Easy” by Norman Lewis | |
| – “High School English Grammar and Composition” by Wren & Martin | |
| – “Descriptive General English” by S.P. Bakshi and Richa Sharma | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | – “Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations” by R.S. Aggarwal |
| – “Fast Track Objective Arithmetic” by Rajesh Verma | |
| – “Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations” by Abhijit Guha | |
| – “Magical Book on Quicker Mathematics” by M. Tyra | |
| Reasoning Ability | – “A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning” by R.S. Aggarwal |
| – “Analytical Reasoning” by M.K. Pandey | |
| – “A New Approach to Reasoning Verbal and Non-Verbal” by B.S. Sijwali and Indu Sijwali | |
| – “Logical and Analytical Reasoning” by A.K. Gupta | |
| Professional Knowledge | – “IBPS Specialist Officer IT Officer Scale-I Study Guide” by Disha Experts |
| – “IBPS Specialist Officer Agricultural Field Officer Scale-I Study Guide” by Disha Experts | |
| – “IBPS Specialist Officer Marketing Officer Scale-I Study Guide” by Disha Experts | |
| – “IBPS Specialist Officer HR/Personnel Officer Scale-I Study Guide” by Disha Experts | |
| General Awareness | – “Banking Awareness” by Arihant Publications |
| – “General Knowledge” by Lucent’s Publications | |
| – “Manorama Yearbook” | |
| – Newspapers and Current Affairs magazines | |
| Computer Knowledge | – “Objective Computer Awareness” by Arihant Publications |
| – “Computer Knowledge” by Shikha Agarwal | |
| – “Computer Awareness” by Mini Goyal and Shweta Rani | |
| – Online resources and practice quizzes |
Study Plan
- Divide the syllabus into daily, weekly, and monthly plans.
- Allot time for each topic based on its weightage and your understanding of the topic.
- Practice previous year’s question papers and analyze your performance.
- Dedicate time for revision and mock tests.
Remember, a disciplined approach, consistent preparation, and self-belief are the key to cracking the IBPS SO exam. Best of luck with your preparations!