IFSCA Grade A Exam Pattern 2024
Phase I (Online examination consisting of two papers of 100 marks each) => Phase II (online examination consisting of two papers of 100 marks each) => Phase III (Interview)
Phase I Online Exam
An online screening examination consisting of two papers (Multiple Choice questions of 100 marks each) will be held in March/April 2023 (tentatively). The exam will consist of:
Paper | Streams/ Subjects | Maximum Marks | Duration | Cut off |
Paper 1 | Multiple choice questions General awareness (financial sector) -25 questions X 1 mark each English language – 25 questions X 1 mark each Quantitative Aptitude – 25 questions X 1 mark each Test of Reasoning- 25 questions X 1 mark each | 100 | 60 minutes | 30% |
Paper 2 | Multiple choice questions on General knowledge, Current events of national and international importance, Economic and social development (sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, and demographics), Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance and costing, Indian Economy, Global Economy, Five-year plans, Central Government's initiatives/ Schemes in the financial sector.(50 questions X 2 marks each) Legal Stream Multiple choice questions on Specialized subject related to stream (Please refer Annexure 2) | 100 | 60 minutes | 40% |
| Aggregate Cut off | | | 40% |
Note:
- There shall be negative marking (1/4th of marks assigned to the question) for the Paper 1 and Paper 2 in Phase I.
- There shall be a cut-off of minimum 30% for Paper 1 (no sectional cut-off shall be there) and a cut-off of minimum 40% for Paper 2 in Phase I.
- Candidates would need to secure separate cut-off in each paper as mentioned at (ii) above as well as aggregate cut-off marks of 40% in Phase I exam to be shortlisted for Phase II. Marks obtained in Phase I shall be used only for shortlisting the candidates for Phase II examination process and will not be counted for final selection of the candidates.
- Subject to the criteria mentioned at 3 above, all the candidates who clear Phase I shall be shortlisted for Phase II. List of candidates shortlisted for Phase II will be made available on IFSCA website.
- All question papers except the test of English will be set bilingually in Hindi and English.
Phase II On-Line Examination:
An on-line examination consisting of two papers of 100 marks each will be held in April/ May 2023 (tentatively). The papers shall be as follows:
Paper | | Maximum Marks | Duration | Cut off | Weightage |
Paper 1 | English (Descriptive Test)(a) Precis Writing – 35 marks(b) Essay writing – 30 marks(c) Comprehension- 35 marks | 100 | 60minutes | 30% | 1/3rd |
Paper 2 | Multiple choice questions on subjects like IFSCA Act, Union Budget, Economic Survey, Banking, Capital Market, Insurance, Pension Funds, Bullion, GIFT City, GIFT IFSC, IFSCA, Global Financial Centres etc.(50 questions X 2 marks each) Legal Stream Multiple choice questions on Specialized subject related to stream (Please refer Annexure 2) | 100 | 60minutes | 40% | 2/3rd |
| Aggregate Cut off | | | 40% | |
Note:
- Candidates shortlisted for Phase II will be issued new Hall Tickets.
- There shall be negative marking (1/4th of marks assigned to the question) for Paper 2 in Phase II
- There shall be a cut-off of minimum 30% for Paper 1 and a cut-off of minimum 40% for Paper 2 in Phase II.
- Candidates would need to secure separate cut-off in each paper as mentioned above as well as aggregate cut-off marks of 40% in Phase II exam (weightage of 1/3rd for Paper 1 and 2/3rd for Paper 2) to be shortlisted for Phase III.
- Subject to the criteria mentioned above, candidates equaling 3 times the number of vacancies shall be shortlisted, in order of merit, for Phase III i.e. the Interview. List of candidates shortlisted for Interview will be made available on IFSCA website.
- All question papers except the test of English will be set bilingually in Hindi and English.
Phase III- Interview
Only the shortlisted candidates will be called for interview. Application fee shall not be refunded to the candidates not shortlisted for Phase II and Interview. Weightage of marks obtained in Phase II will be 85%, while marks obtained in interview shall be given a weightage of 15%.