Take RBI Grade B mock test free on sarkariexam.center with no login and no payment. Practice 200 questions in 120 minutes for Phase 1 with sectional timing, or attempt Phase 2 papers covering Economic and Social Issues (ESI), Finance and Management (FM), and Descriptive English. Get instant scores, section-wise analysis, and All India Rank right after submission.
RBI Grade B Selection Process: 3 Stages You Must Clear
The Reserve Bank of India selects Grade B Officers through Phase 1, Phase 2, and an Interview. Phase 1 is qualifying only, and its score does not count in your final merit list. Phase 2 carries 300 marks and Phase 1 carries 200, but only Phase 2 marks and Interview marks (75 marks) determine your final rank. Your total final score is calculated out of 375 marks.
| Stage | Marks | Counted in Final Merit | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 (Prelims) | 200 | No (qualifying only) | Objective MCQ, Computer-Based |
| Phase 2 (Mains) | 300 | Yes | Objective + Descriptive, Computer-Based |
| Interview | 75 | Yes | In-person panel interview |
| Final Merit Total | 375 | Phase 2 + Interview combined |
This structure means failing Phase 1 ends your candidacy, but clearing it comfortably allows you to focus fully on Phase 2. Target 130 or above in every Phase 1 mock test to stay 10 to 15 marks above the General category cutoff. Candidates scoring 140 and above consistently can shift the majority of their study time to Phase 2 preparation early.
RBI Grade B Phase 1 Mock Test: Exact Exam Pattern
Phase 1 is a Computer-Based Test with 200 objective questions for 200 marks in 120 minutes with sectional timing. Each correct answer gives 1 mark, and each wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks (one-fourth of the question mark). No marks are deducted for questions left unanswered.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Sectional Time | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 26 minutes | Banking, RBI, Economy, Current Affairs |
| Reasoning Ability | 60 | 60 | 40 minutes | Puzzles, Syllogisms, Data Sufficiency, Input-Output |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes | Reading Comprehension, Error Spotting, Vocabulary |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 29 minutes | Data Interpretation, Number Series, Arithmetic |
| Total Phase 1 | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
General Awareness at 80 marks is the single highest-weighted section in Phase 1. Most candidates who miss the cutoff do so because of weak General Awareness preparation. This section tests RBI publications, monetary policy, banking sector reforms, government schemes, and current affairs from the last 6 to 12 months.
Phase 1 General Awareness: What RBI Actually Tests
RBI Grade B General Awareness goes far deeper than standard bank exam current affairs. Study RBI’s own publications directly from rbi.org.in, including the Annual Report, Financial Stability Report, Trends and Progress in Banking Report, Monetary Policy Statement, and the Utkarsh 2.0 strategy document. Questions come directly from these sources every cycle.
High-priority General Awareness topics for Phase 1 mock test practice include:
- RBI monetary policy: repo rate, reverse repo rate, CRR, SLR, inflation targeting framework
- Banking sector developments: NPA resolution under IBC 2016, capital adequacy norms, prompt corrective action framework
- Government schemes: PM Jan Dhan Yojana, PM SVANidhi, MUDRA, Stand Up India, financial inclusion data
- International organisations: IMF, World Bank, WTO, BRICS, BIS, and recent reports from each
- National income and economic indicators: GDP growth, CPI, WPI, IIP, trade deficit, fiscal deficit
- Banking regulation: NABARD, SIDBI, EXIM Bank, Small Finance Banks, Payment Banks
Phase 1 Reasoning Ability: Section-Wise Topic Breakdown
Reasoning carries 60 marks and the highest time pressure in Phase 1 because complex puzzle sets each take 3 to 5 minutes. Practise at least 50 puzzle and seating arrangement sets weekly to reach the 2-minute-per-set speed that Phase 1 demands.
- Puzzles (linear, floor, month-year, box-based): 20 to 25 questions per paper
- Seating Arrangements (circular, row): 10 to 12 questions
- Syllogisms: 5 to 7 questions
- Coding-Decoding, Inequalities, Blood Relations: 8 to 10 questions
- Input-Output, Data Sufficiency: 5 to 7 questions
- Direction Sense, Alphanumeric Series: 3 to 5 questions
Phase 1 Quantitative Aptitude and English: Fast-Mark Sections
English and Quantitative Aptitude each carry 30 marks and give you the best marks-per-minute ratio in Phase 1. Attempt English first within its sectional time since Reading Comprehension and Grammar questions answer faster than Reasoning puzzles.
Quantitative Aptitude topics in RBI Grade B Phase 1 mock tests include Simplification, Data Interpretation (tables, bar graphs, pie charts, line graphs, caselet DI), Number Series, Quadratic Equations, and Arithmetic problems like Percentage, Profit and Loss, Simple and Compound Interest, Time and Work, and Speed Distance Time.
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Mock Test: ESI, FM, and Descriptive English
Phase 2 carries 300 marks and is the only stage that feeds into your final merit list. Phase 2 runs across 3 papers on the same day with both objective and descriptive components, totalling 330 minutes of exam time. Generic banking mock tests from platforms built for IBPS or SBI do not prepare you adequately for Phase 2 depth.
| Phase 2 Paper | Total Marks | Format | Duration | Key Subject Areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I: Economic and Social Issues (ESI) | 100 | Objective + Descriptive | 90 minutes | Indian Economy, Social Development, Monetary Policy, Globalisation |
| Paper II: Finance and Management (FM) | 100 | Objective + Descriptive | 90 minutes | Financial Markets, RBI Functions, Management Principles, Corporate Governance |
| Paper III: English Descriptive | 100 | Descriptive only | 90 minutes | Essay Writing, Precis Writing, Reading Comprehension |
| Total Phase 2 | 300 | 270 minutes |
In Papers I and III, the descriptive section presents 6 questions in 2 groups: 2 questions carrying 15 marks each and 4 questions carrying 10 marks each. Attempt only the required number of questions as specified, since attempting extras does not gain marks but wastes time.
ESI Mock Test Practice: Indian Economy and Social Issues
Economic and Social Issues is the hardest Phase 2 paper for most candidates because it demands both conceptual depth and analytical writing. Practice ESI mock tests covering GDP structure, sectoral growth, poverty measurement, employment generation, monetary and fiscal policy, and social welfare programmes.
High-priority ESI topics that appear repeatedly across RBI Grade B papers include:
- National income: GDP measurement methods, GVA, per capita income trends, structural transformation
- Poverty and employment: Tendulkar and Rangarajan committee poverty lines, NFHS data, HDI rankings
- Financial inclusion: Jan Dhan accounts, SHG-Bank linkage programme, microfinance sector data
- Monetary policy: Inflation targeting framework, Monetary Policy Committee, repo rate transmission
- Fiscal policy: Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, revenue deficit, capital expenditure
- Globalisation: WTO trade issues, BRICS, RCEP, current account dynamics, IMF projections
- Social issues: Education indicators (Gross Enrolment Ratio), nutrition (POSHAN Abhiyaan), sanitation (Swachh Bharat)
Finance and Management Mock Test Practice
Finance and Management covers two broad domains that carry equal weight in Paper II. The Finance portion tests RBI functions, monetary transmission, financial markets, banking regulation, and risk management. The Management portion covers organisational behaviour, leadership, communication, corporate governance, and business ethics.
Finance topics for RBI Grade B FM mock test practice include:
- Financial markets: money market instruments like T-Bills and CPs, capital market, forex market, bond market
- RBI functions: banker to government, lender of last resort, currency management, payment systems oversight
- Banking regulation: Basel III norms, capital adequacy ratio, liquidity coverage ratio, SARFAESI Act
- Financial institutions: NABARD, SIDBI, NHB, EXIM Bank, their mandates and recent activities
- Risk management: credit risk, market risk, operational risk, asset-liability management
Descriptive English Mock Test Practice for Phase 2 Paper III
English Paper III tests your ability to structure and express ideas on economic, banking, and social topics under time pressure. Practice writing 250 to 300 word essays in 35 to 40 minutes on topics like financial inclusion, green finance, digital payments, and India’s growth story.
Three component types appear in Paper III:
- Essay writing: 2 topics given, attempt 1, write 250 to 300 words on economic or social issues
- Precis writing: condense a given 450 to 600 word passage to one-third its length in your own words
- Reading Comprehension: answer 5 to 7 questions from an unseen economic or policy-related passage
RBI Grade B Mock Test for DEPR and DSIM Streams
DEPR (Department of Economic and Policy Research) and DSIM (Department of Statistics and Information Management) follow a different Phase 2 pattern from the General stream. Phase 1 is common for all 3 streams, so all candidates use the same Phase 1 mock tests.
DEPR Phase 2 Mock Test Focus Areas
- Paper I: Objective Economics covering microeconomics, macroeconomics, monetary economics, and public finance
- Paper II: Descriptive Economics testing in-depth analytical writing on economic policy topics
- Paper III: Descriptive English similar to the General stream Paper III format
- Candidates need a strong postgraduate Economics background for DEPR stream preparation
DSIM Phase 2 Mock Test Focus Areas
- Paper I: Objective Statistics covering probability, sampling theory, statistical inference, regression, and time series
- Paper II: Descriptive Statistics testing mathematical statistics problems and interpretation
- DSIM is meant for candidates with a postgraduate Statistics or Mathematics background
- Start DSIM Phase 2 practice immediately after Phase 1 since the specialisation demands more preparation time
Negative Marking Strategy for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Mock Tests
Phase 1 deducts 0.25 marks per wrong answer for 1-mark questions. Phase 2 objective sections deduct 0.25 marks for 1-mark questions and 0.50 marks for 2-mark questions. No negative marking applies to descriptive sections in Phase 2.
Attempt Rules Based on Confidence Level
- 90% or more confident: attempt without hesitation
- 70 to 89% confident: attempt after eliminating at least 2 wrong options
- 50 to 69% confident: skip in Phase 1 unless in General Awareness where elimination often works
- Below 50% confident: skip and do not guess randomly
- General Awareness questions: attempt more freely since most options are factual and eliminable
In Phase 1, scoring 140 out of 200 requires getting 148 correct and leaving 10 blank, or getting 155 correct with 30 wrong (155 minus 7.5 = 147.5). Use Phase 1 mock tests to find your personal correct-attempt ratio that consistently produces 130 or above scores.
RBI Grade B Mock Test Practice Schedule: Phase 1 and Phase 2
RBI Grade B demands a longer preparation window than standard bank exams. Most successful candidates spend 4 to 6 months preparing, with Phase 1 mock tests starting 8 to 10 weeks before the exam date and Phase 2 tests starting as soon as Phase 1 average crosses 115 marks.
| Preparation Stage | Duration | Mock Test Activity | Target Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation: Concept Building | First 8 to 10 weeks | 1 diagnostic Phase 1 test per week, topic-wise sectional tests daily | Baseline score of 90 to 110 |
| Intermediate: Speed Building | Next 6 to 8 weeks | 2 full Phase 1 tests per week plus Phase 2 ESI and FM sectional tests | Phase 1 score of 115 to 130 |
| Advanced: Mock Intensive | Final 4 to 6 weeks | 3 Phase 1 tests per week, 2 Phase 2 full paper simulations per week | Phase 1 score of 135 or above |
| Final Week: Consolidation | Last 7 days | 1 Phase 1 test every alternate day, review Phase 2 written answers | Consistent 135 to 145 range |
Do not wait for Phase 1 results before starting Phase 2 preparation. RBI releases Phase 1 results and announces Phase 2 dates with very short gaps, sometimes 2 to 3 weeks, leaving no time for Phase 2 preparation if you start after Phase 1. Prepare both in parallel from the 3-month mark.
Post-Test Analysis: How to Extract Maximum Value from Each Mock Test
Taking a test without analysis wastes 2 hours and produces zero score improvement. Spend at least 45 minutes reviewing every Phase 1 mock test and 60 to 90 minutes reviewing every Phase 2 paper.
Phase 1 Post-Test Analysis Steps
- Note your section-wise score: identify which section pulled your total down
- Categorise every wrong answer as a knowledge gap, a calculation error, or a misread question
- Count your General Awareness wrong answers by topic cluster, such as RBI policy, current affairs, or banking regulation
- Record the 5 Reasoning question types where you spent more than 3 minutes each
- List the 3 GA subtopics with most wrong answers and revise those before the next test
- Reattempt the same test after 10 days to measure whether revision worked
Phase 2 Descriptive Paper Review Steps
- Read your essay against a 5-point structure: introduction, 3 body arguments, conclusion
- Count your word count: essays under 220 words lose marks for coverage
- Check your precis: it should not exceed one-third of the original passage length
- Compare your model answers with expert-written samples for FM and ESI descriptive sections
- Record recurring grammar errors like subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and article usage
RBI Grade B Phase 1 Cutoff Marks and Mock Test Score Targets
RBI releases Phase 1 cutoffs on rbi.org.in after results, broken down by category and section. General category Phase 1 cutoffs typically range from 115 to 125 marks out of 200 for the General stream, varying by vacancy count and exam difficulty. Reserved category cutoffs run 10 to 20 marks lower depending on category.
Recommended Phase 1 Mock Test Score Targets
- Safe clearance zone for General category: 130 or above consistently across 10 or more tests
- Comfortable clearance zone for OBC category: 120 or above consistently
- Safe clearance zone for SC and ST categories: 110 or above consistently
- Score below 115 in more than 3 consecutive mock tests: stop adding new tests and go back to concept revision
- Score above 145 consistently: shift 60% of study time to Phase 2 preparation immediately
Phase 1 qualifying marks alone do not predict your final selection. Candidates clearing Phase 1 with 140 marks but scoring poorly in Phase 2 finish lower than candidates who cleared Phase 1 with 125 marks but dominated Phase 2. Treat Phase 1 as the floor, not the goal.
RBI Grade B Officer: Job Profile and Starting Salary
Grade B Officers at the Reserve Bank of India work across departments like monetary policy, currency management, financial market operations, banking regulation, payment systems, foreign exchange, and economic research. Starting gross salary for RBI Grade B Officers is approximately Rs 77,000 to Rs 80,000 per month including all allowances.
Basic pay starts at Rs 35,150 per month in the pre-revised pay scale, with annual increments. Additional allowances include Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance (based on posting city), Grade Allowance, and Special Allowance. RBI officers also receive medical benefits for self and family, accommodation support in RBI quarters at select cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, and a defined pension scheme. Career progression moves from Grade B to Grade C to Grade D through departmental promotions.
Frequently Asked Questions About RBI Grade B Mock Test
No. Phase 1 is purely qualifying, and its marks play zero role in final merit calculation. Only Phase 2 marks (300) and Interview marks (75) determine your final rank out of 375. Clear Phase 1 as efficiently as possible, then invest all remaining preparation time in Phase 2 and interview readiness.
Attempt 25 to 35 full-length Phase 1 mock tests over 8 to 10 weeks, alongside 40 to 50 sectional tests. Quality of analysis matters more than the test count. Thoroughly reviewing each test and revising weak areas between attempts produces faster score growth than taking tests without analysis.
Start Phase 2 ESI and FM mock tests as soon as your Phase 1 average crosses 115 marks consistently, regardless of whether Phase 1 results are declared. Phase 2 preparation requires 3 to 4 months minimum because ESI, FM, and Descriptive English demand conceptual depth that generic banking test series do not cover.
Economic and Social Issues (ESI) is the hardest Phase 2 paper because it combines objective MCQs and descriptive analytical writing on Indian economic policy topics. Most candidates find ESI harder than Finance and Management because ESI requires current data from RBI publications and government reports, not just static economic theory. Practice ESI mock tests daily in the final 6 to 8 weeks before Phase 2.
A score of 130 or above out of 200 in Phase 1 mock tests is considered a safe qualifying target for General category candidates. Candidates consistently scoring 140 and above are well positioned to focus the majority of their remaining time on Phase 2 preparation. Phase 1 cutoffs typically fall between 115 and 125 for General category, making 130 plus a comfortable buffer.
