IBPS RRB Clerk | 2025
IBPS RRB Clerk Prelims 2025: topic weightage and difficulty analysis
80 questions across 2 sections. Overall difficulty: easy.
IBPS conducts the RRB Office Assistant Preliminary examination across several shifts, with a different paper in each and normalisation across them. The structure below (40 Reasoning and 40 Numerical Ability for 80 marks in a composite 45 minutes, with no English section and no separate clock per section) is from the official notification and is the same in every shift. The topic-level counts are our own compilation from candidate reports across shifts, not official data, so read them as the typical shape of the paper rather than a record of one sitting. No question text is reproduced anywhere on this page.
Where the questions came from
Sorted by weightage, so the topics worth the most preparation time are at the top of each section.
Reasoning
Reasoning Ability
A realistic target for a strong candidate: 31 to 36 attempts. This is our own guidance, not an official figure.
| Topic | Questions | Share of the section |
|---|---|---|
| Puzzles and seating arrangement Half the section, but the sets are noticeably simpler than the officer paper: two or three variables at most, commonly a linear arrangement, a day based puzzle and a small box puzzle. | 50%20 Moderate | |
| Inequality | 13%5 Easy | |
| Syllogism | 10%4 Easy | |
| Coding and decoding | 10%4 Easy | |
| Alphanumeric series and miscellaneous | 10%4 Easy | |
| Blood relations and direction sense | 8%3 Easy |
Numerical Ability
Quantitative Aptitude
A realistic target for a strong candidate: 29 to 34 attempts. This is our own guidance, not an official figure.
| Topic | Questions | Share of the section |
|---|---|---|
| Simplification and approximation The largest block by far. In this clerical paper close to forty per cent of the section is decided on calculation speed alone. | 38%15 Easy | |
| Data interpretation Two simple sets, usually a table and a bar or pie chart. | 25%10 Easy | |
| Arithmetic word problems Percentage, average, ages, profit and loss, ratio and interest, spread thin across topics. | 25%10 Moderate | |
| Number series Missing number series. | 13%5 Easy |
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What this means for your preparation
This is the most attemptable Preliminary paper among the banking exams, and good attempts run high. The winner is the candidate who converts the easy blocks fully and cleanly, not the one who solves the hardest set.
There is no sectional timing, so the 45 minutes can be spent wherever it earns most. Decide a rough split between Reasoning and Numerical Ability before you start.
Numerical Ability is led by simplification, not data interpretation, so build raw arithmetic speed. No calculator is provided.
There is no English section here, so Reasoning and Numerical Ability carry the whole paper; both must be secure.
The penalty is a quarter mark. With the paper this easy, accuracy is the differentiator, so avoid careless errors rather than chasing every question.
Prelims screens only. The Main examination decides the merit list on its own, since the Office Assistant cadre has no interview.
See the real paper, officially
- IBPS official website
The question paper, recorded responses and provisional answer key are published here during the objection window after the exam.
- IBPS online application and candidate portal
Scorecards and response sheets are accessed with your registration number and password or date of birth.
Common questions
- Can I download the IBPS RRB Clerk Preliminary Examination 2025 question paper?
- Not from this site. In India an exam question paper is a copyright work owned by the conducting body, and reproducing it commercially is infringement. What you can do is view your own paper and responses through the official portal during the objection window after the exam, and the links to do that are on this page.
- Are these topic counts exact?
- No, and we would rather say so. The exam runs across multiple shifts with a different paper in each, and the conducting body does not publish a topic-wise breakdown. The section structure, marks and timing are official. The topic counts are our compilation from candidate reports and describe the typical shape of the paper.
- How should I use a weightage analysis?
- To decide what to study next and what to skip. If one block is a third of a section, practising it has several times the payoff of a topic that carries two questions. It also tells you which questions to leave in the exam itself, which matters more than most candidates think.