The IBPS SO Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026 explains how the recruitment examination is conducted, including the selection stages, paper structure, sectional timings, and question formats. Before starting your preparation, you should understand the complete exam pattern so you know what to expect at each stage of the recruitment process.
The selection process comprises an Online Preliminary Examination, an Online Main Examination, and a Common Interview. While the preliminary examination is conducted to shortlist candidates for the mains, the final selection is based on performance in the Main Examination and Interview as prescribed by IBPS.
The IBPS SO Law Officer selection process consists of three stages. You must qualify in each stage separately. The table below provides a quick overview of the IBPS SO Law Officer exam pattern:
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Conducting Body |
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
|
Post |
Specialist Officer (Law Officer) |
|
Selection Process |
Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, Interview |
|
Mode of Examination |
Online |
|
Question Types |
Objective (MCQs) & Descriptive (Mains) |
|
Medium of Exam |
English & Hindi (except English Language section) |
|
Preliminary Duration |
80 Minutes |
|
Main Examination Duration |
155 Minutes |
|
Interview Marks |
100 Marks |
The Preliminary Examination is the first stage of the recruitment process. It is conducted online and consists of four objective sections with separate sectional timings. You need to qualify the preliminary examination to become eligible for the Main exam.
|
Name of Tests |
No. of Questions |
Maximum Marks |
Medium of Exam |
Duration |
|
English Language |
25 |
25 |
English |
20 minutes |
|
Reasoning |
25 |
25 |
English & Hindi |
20 minutes |
|
General Awareness (with Special Reference to Banking Industry) |
25 |
25 |
English & Hindi |
20 minutes |
|
Professional Knowledge |
25 |
50 |
English & Hindi |
20 minutes |
|
Total |
100 |
125 |
80 minutes |
Candidates shortlisted in the preliminary examination appear for the Main Examination. This stage includes both objective and descriptive papers designed to evaluate professional knowledge and overall aptitude.
|
Name of Tests |
No. of Questions |
Maximum Marks |
Medium of Exam |
Duration |
|
English Language |
30 |
30 |
English |
25 minutes |
|
Reasoning |
40 |
40 |
English & Hindi |
35 minutes |
|
General Awareness (with Special Reference to Banking Industry) |
30 |
30 |
English & Hindi |
20 minutes |
|
Professional Knowledge (Objective) |
50 |
100 |
English & Hindi |
45 minutes |
|
Total (Objective) |
150 |
200 |
125 minutes |
|
|
Descriptive Paper (English) |
2 |
25 |
English |
30 minutes |
|
Grand Total |
225 |
155 minutes |
Candidates who qualify the Main Examination are called for the Common Interview conducted by participating banks through IBPS. The interview carries 100 marks. One must secure the minimum qualifying marks prescribed by IBPS to be considered for final selection.
The final merit list is prepared by giving 80% weightage to the Main Examination and 20% weightage to the Interview.
You should keep the following points in mind while preparing for the examination:
Both Preliminary and Main examinations are conducted in online mode.
The Preliminary Examination contains only objective-type questions.
The Main Examination includes both objective and descriptive papers.
Each section has a fixed sectional time limit.
The English Language section is available only in English, while other objective sections are available in English and Hindi.
You must qualify each stage to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.
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