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Introduction
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has officially announced the dates for the IBPS Clerk Mains 2025 examination. With the prelims results already declared, the final race for the 15,701 clerical vacancies has begun.
This article covers the confirmed exam dates, the detailed exam pattern, and a strategic approach to maximize your score in this decisive stage. Unlike the prelims, the marks you score here will directly determine your final selection.
Important Dates
The timeline for the IBPS Clerk 2025 recruitment process is moving fast. Keep these dates in mind to stay on track.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Mains Exam Date | Nov 29 & Dec 2, 2025 |
| Mains Admit Card Released | Nov 24, 2025 |
| Prelims Result Declared | Nov 20, 2025 |
| Official Notification | July 31, 2025 |
Exam Pattern
The IBPS Clerk Mains exam tests your endurance and depth of knowledge. It consists of four sections with a total duration of 160 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/ Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 mins |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 mins |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 mins |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 mins |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 160 mins |
Note: There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. Accuracy is just as important as speed.
The Strategic Edge
Most aspirants spend the majority of their preparation time on Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. While these subjects are important, they often yield similar scores for serious candidates.
The real difference in the merit list is created by General Awareness and English Language. These two sections allow you to score high marks in less time, provided you have prepared them strategically.
Pro Tip: While everyone fights for a few extra marks in Quant, smart aspirants secure their selection by dominating the General Awareness section.
Syllabus Breakdown
General/Financial Awareness
This section is the game-changer. Focus on:
- Current Affairs: Last 4-6 months (National, International, Sports, Awards).
- Banking Awareness: RBI circulars, banking terms, monetary policy.
- Static GK: Headquarters, dams, national parks (related to current news).
For concise and exam-relevant content, many toppers rely on the Scoreclever App, which provides 5x more concise current affairs updates and ensures retention through spaced repetition.
General English
- Reading Comprehension (Economy/Banking based)
- Cloze Test
- Error Detection
- Para Jumbles
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
- Puzzles and Seating Arrangement (High weightage)
- Syllogism and Inequalities
- Input-Output
- Computer Basics (Hardware, Software, Internet, DBMS)
Quantitative Aptitude
- Data Interpretation (Bar, Line, Pie, Caselet)
- Arithmetic (Profit & Loss, SI/CI, Time & Work)
- Number Series and Quadratic Equations
Preparation Strategy
- Analyze Mocks: Don’t just take tests; analyze them. Identify your weak areas and work on them.
- Revise GA Daily: Do not leave General Awareness for the last week. Consistent revision is key.
- Focus on Accuracy: In the mains exam, guessing can be fatal. Only mark answers you are sure about.
Conclusion
The IBPS Clerk Mains 2025 is your opportunity to secure a government job in a public sector bank. With 15,701 vacancies, the chances are excellent for those who prepare with a balanced strategy.
Focus on your strengths, maximize your score in General Awareness, and approach the exam with confidence.
Key Takeaways
- Exam is on Nov 29 & Dec 2, 2025.
- Selection is based 100% on Mains marks.
- General Awareness is the high-scoring differentiator.
- Negative marking of 0.25 applies.
