Regional Rural Banks Office Assistant (Multipurpose) - Preliminary Examination
The Common Recruitment Process for Office Assistant (Multipurpose), the clerical cadre of Regional Rural Banks. There is no interview: selection rests on the Mains marks alone.
80 questions · 45 minutes · 80 marks · 0.25 negative marking
IBPS RRB Office Assistant Prelims Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 0.25 |
| Numerical Ability | 40 | 40 | 0.25 |
Eligibility
A bachelor's degree in any discipline, with proficiency in the local language prescribed by the participating bank. Working knowledge of computers is desirable rather than essential, which differs from the IBPS Clerk requirement. No prior experience is needed, and there is no preferred-discipline list.
Between 18 and 28 years, reckoned as on the date stated in the notification.
Selection Process
- Preliminary Examination — 80 questions in 45 minutes. Reasoning is allowed 25 minutes and Numerical Ability 20.
- Main Examination — 200 questions for 200 marks in 120 minutes, including a Computer Knowledge section and a choice between English and Hindi.
- Provisional Allotment — Based on Mains marks alone.
IBPS RRB Office Assistant Prelims Syllabus
General Intelligence and Reasoning
- Puzzles: floor, box, scheduling, comparison and category-based
- Seating arrangement: linear, double-row, circular and square
- Syllogism
- Inequality
- Coding and decoding
- Blood relations
- Direction and distance
- Order and ranking
- Alphanumeric series
- Alphabet test
- Data sufficiency
- Statement and conclusion
Numerical Ability
- Simplification and approximation
- Number series
- Quadratic equations
- Data interpretation: tabular, bar, line, pie and caselet
- Percentage
- Ratio and proportion
- Average
- Problems on ages
- Profit and loss
- Simple and compound interest
- Time and work
- Pipes and cisterns
- Time, speed and distance
- Boats and streams
- Mixture and alligation
- Partnership
- Mensuration
- Permutation, combination and probability
- Number system
Qualifying Marks
A minimum must be cleared in both preliminary tests and in each Mains test. Shortlisting is state-wise against vacancies.
Exam Calendar
Based on recent cycles rather than any announcement: notification around June, preliminary examination around August or September, Mains around October or November, and allotment between January and March.
IBPS RRB Office Assistant Prelims FAQs
Is there an interview?
No. The Office Assistant selection has no interview stage.
Is the preliminary examination sectionally timed?
Yes: 25 minutes for Reasoning and 20 for Numerical Ability.
Does the preliminary score count toward the final merit?
No. Only the Mains marks are used.
Is there negative marking?
Yes, a quarter of the marks assigned to that question.
Is English tested in the preliminary examination?
No, only Reasoning and Numerical Ability. A language paper appears in the Mains.
Do I choose English or Hindi in the Mains?
Yes, you opt for one of the two 40-question language papers.
Is a computer certificate mandatory?
No. Working knowledge of computers is desirable rather than essential, unlike the IBPS Clerk examination where it is required.
Is local language proficiency required?
Yes, as prescribed by the participating Regional Rural Bank.
Is there a descriptive paper?
No.
How does this differ from IBPS Clerk?
The employer differs, being Regional Rural Banks rather than public sector banks. The preliminary examination has two sections rather than three, and the Mains adds a Computer Knowledge section and a language choice.