IOB Specialist Officer Exam Pattern 2025 – Post-wise Paper Structure & Section Marks
The IOB Specialist Officer Exam Pattern 2025 forms the foundation of preparation for candidates aspiring to join Indian Overseas Bank as Specialist Officers in Information Technology, Credit, Treasury, Risk and other professional streams. Understanding the exam structure helps candidates plan sectional preparation, time management, and mock test strategy more effectively. Since the Specialist Officer recruitment is focused on domain expertise, the Professional Knowledge (PK) section plays a significantly higher role in shortlisting candidates for the interview stage.
This detailed guide explains the complete exam pattern for all major IOB SO posts including the number of questions, marking scheme, negative marking, sectional distribution, recommended preparation priorities, and expected difficulty level. The information has been compiled by analyzing previous Specialist Officer examinations in the Indian banking sector and the structure mentioned in the latest IOB SO recruitment notification.
IOB SO Selection Stages
The selection process for IOB Specialist Officer posts consists of the following stages:
- Online Written Examination
- Personal Interview
- Document Verification
- Medical Fitness Examination
The written examination is the first major screening stage, and the majority of candidates are filtered based on sectional and overall performance in the CBT exam.
Key Highlights of IOB SO Exam Pattern 2025
- Computer Based Test (CBT mode)
- Objective Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Negative marking for incorrect answers
- Professional Knowledge carries the highest weightage
- Common subjects + Post-specific domain section
The following sections explain the detailed exam structure for each Specialist Officer category.
Common Sections in IOB SO Exam
The following sections are expected to be common for most Specialist roles:
- Reasoning Ability
- English Language
- Quantitative Aptitude / Data Analysis
- Professional Knowledge (Role-specific)
However, the proportion of questions from each section varies depending on the role and grade.
Post-wise IOB Specialist Officer Exam Pattern 2025
The exam pattern differs for various posts due to differences in domain requirements. Below is the detailed breakdown for each major post category.
1. IOB Manager (Information Technology) Exam Pattern 2025
This exam evaluates technical and analytical capabilities required for technology-driven banking operations, cybersecurity, digital banking, enterprise solutions, and automation.
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Difficulty Level (Expected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Logical Ability | 40 | 40 | Moderate |
| English Language | 35 | 35 | Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | 35 | 35 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Professional Knowledge (IT) | 50 | 90 | Difficult |
| Total | 160 | 200 |
Professional Knowledge IT Topics (Expanded Coverage)
- Operating Systems, Linux, Windows Server Management
- Networking Protocols, Routing, Switching, VPN, Firewall
- Programming Basics: Java, Python, SQL, Shell
- Database: Oracle, PostgreSQL, MSSQL, DB Security
- Cloud: AWS, Azure, DevOps fundamentals
- Security: Encryption, VAPT, SIEM, IAM, Network Security
- Core Banking Systems, API Integrations, Payment Systems
This section is the most critical and must be prioritized in preparation.
2. IOB Senior Manager (IT) Exam Pattern 2025
Senior Manager (IT) focuses more on solution architecture, cybersecurity leadership, digital transformation and infrastructure governance.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 30 | 30 | Moderate |
| English | 30 | 30 | Moderate |
| Quant & Data | 30 | 30 | Moderate |
| Professional Knowledge (Advanced IT) | 60 | 110 | Difficult |
| Total | 150 | 200 |
Professional Knowledge Topics (Advanced Level)
- Cloud Security, Kubernetes, Containerization
- Enterprise Solution Architecture, Microservices
- Blockchain, AI/ML applications in banking
- RBI Cyber Security Framework, Compliance
- DR/BCP planning, Zero Trust architecture
3. IOB Manager (Credit) Exam Pattern 2025
This exam is suitable for candidates with finance, CA, MBA Finance, and credit appraisal backgrounds.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 35 | 35 |
| English | 30 | 30 |
| Quantitative/Data | 35 | 35 |
| Professional Knowledge (Credit & Finance) | 50 | 100 |
| Total | 150 | 200 |
Professional Knowledge Topics (Credit)
- Financial Statement Analysis, Ratio Analysis
- Working Capital Assessment, Term Loans
- NPA, SMA, IRAC Norms, Provisioning
- RBI Prudential Norms, Basel III
- Credit Rating Models, Collateral, CIBIL
- Project Appraisal, CMA, Cash Flow Projections
4. IOB Manager (Risk Management) Exam Pattern 2025
Risk roles require strong understanding of credit, operational, market and enterprise risk frameworks.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| English | 25 | 25 |
| Quantitative/Analytics | 30 | 30 |
| Professional Knowledge (Risk) | 60 | 115 |
| Total | 145 | 200 |
Professional Knowledge Topics (Risk)
- RBI Risk Management Guidelines
- Enterprise Risk, Market Risk, Credit Risk
- ICAAP, Stress Testing, Scenario Analysis
- Liquidity Risk, ALM, LCR, NSFR
- Basel Norms, PD/LGD/EAD Models
- Operational Risk, RCSA, KRI Framework
5. IOB Manager (Treasury) Exam Pattern 2025
Treasury roles require expertise in forex markets, capital markets, investments and derivative products.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 |
| English | 25 | 25 |
| Quantitative/Data | 30 | 30 |
| Professional Knowledge (Treasury & Markets) | 60 | 120 |
| Total | 140 | 200 |
Professional Knowledge Topics (Treasury)
- Forex Markets, FEDAI, LERMS
- Derivative Products: Futures, Forwards, Options, Swaps
- Government Securities, Yield Curve
- Money Market, Call Money, CP, CD
- Investment Book: HTM, HFT, AFS
- RBI Risk & Treasury Management Guidelines
Negative Marking in IOB SO Exam
Negative marking applies for incorrect responses. The expected penalty is:
- 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer
To maximize score, candidates should avoid speculative guessing.
Section-wise Difficulty & Strategy
Reasoning Ability
Expected difficulty: Moderate
Important topics:
- Puzzles, Seating Arrangement
- Blood Relation, Coding-Decoding
- Inequality, Syllogism, Input-Output
English Language
Expected difficulty: Moderate
- Reading Comprehension (Economy/Banking theme)
- Error spotting, Sentence improvement
- Cloze test, Para jumble, Vocabulary
Quantitative Aptitude / Data Interpretation
Expected difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
- DI (Table, Graph, Caselet)
- Time, Work, Speed, Percentages
- Financial mathematics
Professional Knowledge
Expected difficulty: Difficult and career-determining.
Minimum 3–4 hours daily study is recommended for PK preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there negative marking in IOB Specialist Officer exam?
Yes, there is negative marking for wrong answers. The expected penalty is 0.25 marks deduction per incorrect response.
Which section has the highest weightage in IOB SO exam?
The Professional Knowledge section carries the highest weight in most IOB SO posts because it evaluates domain expertise required for specialist banking roles.
Is the IOB SO exam same for all posts?
No. While some sections are common, the Professional Knowledge portion is different for each specialist role such as IT, Credit, Risk and Treasury.
Conclusion
The IOB Specialist Officer Exam Pattern 2025 places strong emphasis on Professional Knowledge, making it essential for candidates to build deep conceptual clarity in their respective domains. By understanding the subject-wise marks distribution, question difficulty level, and exam structure outlined in this guide, candidates can create a focused preparation strategy and improve their selection chances. Aspirants are advised to follow a disciplined study schedule, solve mock tests regularly, revise core domain concepts, and stay updated with banking and financial sector developments.