Introduction

The RBI Grade B Phase 1 2025 exam, conducted on October 18th and 19th, has once again proven why it is considered the toughest banking exam in the country. As aspirants walked out of the exam centers, the sentiment was unanimous: the paper was designed to test not just knowledge, but resilience.

While the General Awareness section demanded in-depth knowledge of recent circulars, the Quantitative Aptitude section was a test of nerves. In this detailed analysis, we break down the difficulty level, section-wise good attempts, and what this means for the expected cutoff.

Overall Difficulty Level

The overall difficulty level of the exam was Moderate to Difficult. Unlike typical banking exams where speed is the only factor, RBI Grade B required immense accuracy and question selection skills.

Section-Wise Analysis

General Awareness (80 Marks)

The General Awareness section, usually a scoring ground, was tricky this year. The questions were not direct one-liners but statement-based, testing deep conceptual clarity.

• Focus Areas: RBI Circulars (last 6 months), Government Schemes, and Banking Regulations.
• Current Affairs: Dominated by news from July to October 2025.
• Static GK: Very few questions.

Strategic Insight: With 80 marks at stake, this section is the biggest differentiator. While aspirants struggled to recall minute details from newspapers, those who used the Scoreclever App found it easier to handle the depth because of the app’s spaced repetition feature that ensures facts stay in memory.

Quantitative Aptitude (30 Marks)

This section was the “nightmare” for most candidates. The questions were lengthy, calculation-intensive, and designed to consume time.

• Data Interpretation: 2 sets (very calculative).
• Arithmetic: High-level word problems.
• Wrong Number Series: Tricky patterns.

Most candidates could barely attempt 10 questions. This reinforces a critical lesson: in exams like RBI Grade B, you don’t need to solve everything; you just need to clear the sectional cutoff.

Reasoning Ability (60 Marks)

The Reasoning section was lengthy. Puzzles and Seating Arrangements dominated the paper, and they were not straightforward.

• Puzzles: Box-based, Floor-based (with variables).
• Logical Reasoning: Critical reasoning questions were abundant and confusing.
• Input-Output: Moderate level.

English Language (30 Marks)

Compared to the other three sections, English was the savior. It was the only section that could be termed “Moderate”.

• Reading Comprehension: 2 sets (Economy based).
• Error Detection: Standard grammar rules.
• Parajumbles: Tricky but manageable.

Good Attempts

Based on the feedback from thousands of candidates, here are the safe attempts to clear the cutoff. Remember, accuracy is paramount.

The Selection Reality

Many aspirants are panicked about their low attempts in Quant and Reasoning. However, you must understand how selection works.

1. Everyone Struggled: If Quant was tough for you, it was tough for the topper too. The sectional cutoff for Quant might drop to as low as 4 or 5 marks.
2. The Real Game: Since Quant and Reasoning scores will be low across the board, the final merit list for Phase 2 selection will be decided by General Awareness and English.

This validates the core philosophy: while everyone fights for 1-2 extra marks in Quant, the smart aspirants clear the exam by maximizing their score in GA and English.

Pro Tip: Don’t let a bad Quant section ruin your mindset. If you have decent accuracy in GA and English, you are still in the race.

Conclusion

The RBI Grade B Phase 1 2025 was a test of mental strength. If you have attempted around 85 questions with 90% accuracy, start preparing for Phase 2 immediately.

For Phase 2, Current Affairs will again play a massive role in ESI and Finance. Don’t rely on passive reading. Use the Scoreclever App to memorize the vast syllabus of government schemes and reports effectively.

Stay calm, trust your preparation, and hope for the best.