SEBI Selection Procedure
You need to have a full idea about the SEBI Grade A selection procedure. Let’s look at the SEBI Grade A selection process below:
- Phase I: The SEBI Grade A Phase 1 will have two papers which will be objective in nature.
- Phase II: Aspirants who clear Phase 1 will appear for Phase II which has two papers with objective and descriptive questions.
- Interview: The final stage of the selection process is the interview conducted to assess the personality of the candidate.
Note: As mentioned, Phase I is qualifying in nature and the weightage of the marks obtained in Phase II is 85%, while the Interview carries weightage of 15% in the final selection.
SEBI Grade A Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2025
The SEBI Grade A exam follows a consistent path for each recruitment cycle. If you are well versed with the SEBI Grade A Exam Pattern & Syllabus then you are one step closer to clearing the exam. The recruitment notification, as mentioned earlier, carries all the important details regarding the SEBI Grade A exam. You can take a look at all the important information provided in the notification so that you can begin your exam preparation.
The SEBI Grade A exam usually consists of three phases:
- Phase 1 - Online Exam: This phase is an objective-type online test where candidates will need to prepare for subjects like English language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness including the financial sector. The number of questions and the duration of the phase may change each year.
- Phase 2 - Online Exam: The second phase is also an online exam divided into two papers. Paper 1 is Descriptive and tests your understanding of subjects like Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Law and Economics. On the other hand, paper 2 is an English descriptive test for candidates to showcase their writing skills.
- Phase 3 - Interview: In the third phase, candidates will have a personal interview to evaluate their suitability for the role. It may include questions related to their educational background, work experience, general knowledge, and their understanding of the financial markets.
Candidates need to refer to the official notification for the SEBI Grade A exam to know everything that the recruitment involves. Before you start preparing for the SEBI Grade A exam 2025, you need to have all the details about the syllabus for each section. This will guide your study plan and help you focus on the topics you need to study. We suggest that you follow the syllabus provided in the notification.
Once you understand the syllabus, you can find appropriate study materials, a list of recommended books covering these topics, and try using a combination of textbooks, reference books, and other resources. We also highly recommend that you take ixamBee’s resources for your revision.
SEBI Grade A Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2025
The SEBI Grade A exam is one of the most important examinations in India. It provides an opportunity to serve in one of the largest financial organizations in India. Regarded as one of the top governing bodies of India, SEBI gives aspirants a chance for a career as an Assistant Manager and work their way up.
With the release of the SEBI Grade A exam notification for 2025, aspirants preparing for the exam this year can heave a sigh of relief. The notification carries all the important details you need to know if you are planning to appear for the exam this year.
To excel in the SEBI Grade A exam 2025, the key is to understand and thoroughly prepare for each subject. To start with, it is important to go through the SEBI Grade A exam pattern and SEBI Grade A syllabus in detail, which is provided below.
If you're planning to appear for the SEBI Grade A 2025 exam, it’s a great idea to start preparing now—even though the full official notification isn’t out yet. One of the best ways to begin is by going through a list of recommended books. But before that, it’s important to understand the SEBI Grade A exam pattern and syllabus.
Now that the full 2025 notification is released, it includes all the key details like the exam pattern and syllabus. However, you don’t need to wait to get started. You can begin your preparation using the current syllabus and exam structure.
Knowing the exam pattern and syllabus is the first step to building an effective study plan. With the right preparation strategy, you can boost your chances of success. As per the previous notifications, the SEBI Grade A selection process includes the following stages:
- Phase 1 - Online Exam (Objective):
- Phase 2 - Online Exam (Objective + Descriptive):
- Phase 3 - Interview:
Let’s now look at the SEBI Grade A exam pattern and SEBI Grade A syllabus in detail below.
SEBI Grade A Phase 1 Exam Pattern 2025
We already mentioned earlier that SEBI has just released the official notification of the SEBI Grade A exam 2025 on October 30, 2025. This means aspirants will have access to all the details of the exam, like the SEBI Grade A Eligibility Criteria and other details.
The notification provides the latest SEBI Grade A exam pattern and SEBI Grade A syllabus, which has some minor changes this year in some streams. The SEBI Grade A exam consists of two objective-type papers in Phase 1. This will be a qualifying exam with multiple-choice questions.
Paper 1 is common for all streams, while Paper 2 will be stream-specific. Please refer to the table below for the SEBI Grade A exam pattern:
| Stream / Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration(minutes) | Cut Off(%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | |||
| All Streams: Multiple choice questions on the subjects viz. General Awareness (including some questions related to Financial Sector of easy to moderate difficulty level), English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Test of Reasoning. | 100 | 60 | 30% |
| Paper 2 | |||
| General Stream: Multiple choice questions on subjects Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act and Economics. | 100 | 40 | 40% |
| Legal, Information Technology, Official Language Stream: Multiple choice questions on Specialized subject related to stream. | |||
| Research Stream:- Multiple choice questions on subjects Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Finance and Commerce. | |||
| Aggregate Cut off | 40% | ||
Please note:
- There will be a minimum cut-off percentage criterion in both Paper 1 and Paper 2 of Phase 1.
- There shall be negative marking (1/4th of the marks assigned to the question) in Phase 1.
- The cut-off for Paper 1 is a minimum of 30%, while for Paper 2, it is a minimum of 40%.
- There is no sectional cut-off in Phase 1.
- Candidates must score a separate cut-off in each paper to qualify for Phase 2.
Phase 1: Paper 1 Syllabus 2025
To clear every stage of the SEBI Grade A recruitment, it’s important to understand the syllabus well. Phase 1 has two papers—Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 is the same for all streams and includes a mix of subjects. You can start your preparation using the previous year’s syllabus and exam pattern while waiting for the official 2025 notification. This will give you a strong head start.
Paper 2: Phase 1 and Phase 2 (General) 2025
A good way to begin your preparation is by going through the detailed syllabus for Paper 2. Paper 2 for the General stream appears in both Phase 1 and Phase 2. It includes stream-specific subjects that test your knowledge. Below is the updated syllabus based on the recent exam structure.
Paper 2: Phase 1 and Phase 2 (Legal)
If you are applying for the Legal stream, Paper 2 will have questions from law-related subjects. Make sure to check the full syllabus for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 before starting your preparation. This will help you focus on the right topics.
Paper 2: Phase 1 and Phase 2 (Research)
For the Research stream, we provide dedicated pages that cover the detailed syllabus. This paper is designed to test how well you can use research skills to make smart decisions and give useful advice in the securities market.
Paper 2: Phase 1 and Phase 2 (Official Language)
In the Official Language stream, Paper 2 focuses on your language and writing skills. It checks how well you can read, understand, and explain texts in both English and Hindi. You will be tested on your ability to clearly and correctly express information in both languages.
SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Exam Pattern 2025
The SEBI Grade A Exam Pattern for Phase 2 is also conducted online and again has two parts—Paper 1, common for all streams, consisting of Descriptive English. The subject evaluates the candidate’s proficiency in writing and reading comprehension. Paper 2 of the SEBI Grade A exam pattern will be stream-specific and intends to assess the subject knowledge with stream-specific questions.
It is important to score more than the sectional and overall cut-off in this phase, as the marks will be considered along with the Interview score for the final selection list.
| Stream / Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration(minutes) | Cut Off(%) | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | ||||
| All streams: English (Descriptive Test) to test the drafting skills | 100 | 60 | 30 | 1/3rd |
| Paper 2 | ||||
| General Stream: Multiple choice questions on subjects Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act and Economics. | 100 | 40 | 40 | 2/3rd |
| Legal and Official Language stream: Multiple choice questions on Specialized subject related to stream. | ||||
| Research Stream: Multiple choice questions on subjects Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Finance and Commerce. | ||||
| Information Technology Stream: Multiple choice questions on mix of logic flow completion, debugging, syntax understanding, program dry run outputs, data analysis, etc. | 100 | 180 | 40 | 2/3rd |
Important points to note:
- New Hall Tickets will be issued for SEBI Grade A Phase 2.
- Candidates who have applied for multiple streams must note that Paper 1 and Paper 2 will be conducted in various shifts, with timings mentioned in the Hall Ticket.
- There shall be negative marking (1/4th of the marks assigned to the question) for Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) of Paper 2.
- Candidates need to secure separate cut-offs in each paper and an overall aggregate cut-off of 50% in Phase 2.
SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Syllabus
Phase 2 is the second stage of the SEBI Grade A exam. It comprises of two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 will be common for all streams, while Paper 2 is specific to each stream. Please note that the full SEBI Grade A syllabus for Paper 1 has been given below to help you prepare.
The latest released notification will give you all the information you need on the SEBI Grade A syllabus. You can refer to the syllabus and exam pattern while you prepare for the exam.
SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Syllabus: Paper 1
In Paper 1 of the SEBI Grade A syllabus for Phase 2, you have to showcase your writing skills. This part will be held in the English language only. You will be assessed based on precise writing, essay writing, and reading comprehension. This paper will be common for all streams. To help you with SEBI Grade A Phase 2 - Paper 1 preparation, we have provided the SEBI Grade A syllabus of Phase 2 - Paper 1. Refer to the table for complete details of the SEBI Grade A Phase 2 syllabus.
| English Writing Skills | |
|---|---|
| Precis Writing | Comprehension |
| Essay Writing | |
We invite you to also check out the free demo SEBI Grade A course to analyze the quality of our study material. To avail of this facility, you need to first log in to ixamBee and register yourself.
SEBI Grade A Interview
The interview is the final stage of the selection process, and candidates who have completed Phases 1 and 2 will advance to this stage. The interview can be conducted in English or Hindi, whichever is more convenient for the candidate.
The interview marks will be used to calculate the final result. To determine the final merit list, the Phase 2 marks will account for 85% of the total score, with the Interview marks accounting for the remaining 15%. However, SEBI may change the selection procedure and criteria; therefore, candidates should check SEBI's official website for changes.
We know that the SEBI Grade A Interview will be an important step in your journey and it needs a professional touch. That’s why ixamBee has the SEBI Grade A Interview Course (Legal), which is meant for those aiming to become SEBI Grade A Law officers.
SEBI Grade A Marking Scheme 2025
In Phase 1 of the SEBI Grade A exam pattern, both Paper 1 and Paper 2 consist of objective-type questions. Similarly, in Phase 2, Paper 1 is a Descriptive English Test, while Paper 2 is an objective type. The SEBI Grade A exam marking scheme involves awarding marks for correct answers and imposing penalties for wrong answers, as given in the table below.
The negative marking system prevents random guessing and ensures that candidates with proper knowledge of the subject score well.
SEBI Grade A Marking Scheme
| SEBI Grade A Marking Scheme | Considered Marks |
|---|---|
| For wrong answers |
|
| For not attempted | 0 (no marks) |
SEBI Grade A Exam Language
The SEBI Grade A exam conducts both the objective and descriptive tests in online mode as per the SEBI Grade A exam pattern and SEBI Grade A syllabus. All the questions in both Phase 1 and Phase 2 exams, except for the Test of English Language in Phase 1 and the Descriptive Test of English in Phase 2, are presented in a bilingual format, i.e., available in both English and Hindi.
SEBI Grade A Exam Preparation Tips and Strategies
- Understand the Exam Pattern and SEBI Grade A Syllabus: Learn about the SEBI Grade A exam pattern and what topics it covers. Use this information to make a study plan with enough time for each topic.
- Practice and practice more: Solving mock tests and SEBI Grade A previous year papers regularly will help you get used to the exam style, manage your time better, and find areas where you need to improve.
- Understand the Basics: Focus on understanding basic ideas about Finance, Economics, and the Securities Market. Knowing these well helps you answer questions better.
- Keep Up with Current Affairs: Stay updated on the latest financial news, important economic changes, and rules. Reading news every day helps you answer questions about current events. You can use ixamBee’s BeePedia for the latest updates and facts.
- Ready-to-Refer Notes: Make short and organized study notes with key points, formulas, and important ideas as you cover each topic. Look at these notes often for a quick review.
- Manage Your Time: Since the SEBI Grade A exam is timed, practice time management during mock tests and practice questions. Plan how much time to spend on each section to perform well.
Subject-Specific Study Techniques & Resources for SEBI Grade A Exam
Finance and Management: Learn the fundamentals of finance and management, including financial principles. You should be familiar with concepts such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. Make sure to study management concepts, organizational behavior, and management models and theories.
Securities Market: Understanding market operations and products is key to success in this topic. Understanding how stock markets work and the roles of different players would be beneficial. Learn about stock exchanges, securities legislation, mutual funds, and financial products.
English Language: To master the English Language section, improve your grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and essay writing abilities. Practice grammatical principles, acquire new words and phrases, and complete comprehension passages regularly.
Quantitative Aptitude: In this section, you must use your numerical skills to their full potential. Practice arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation. Focus on increasing calculation speed and accuracy.
General Awareness: Learn more about current events, economics, and financial news. Make a habit of reading newspapers, periodicals, and internet news sources. Recommended resources include newspapers like The Hindu, financial newspapers like Economic Times, and periodicals like Pratiyogita Darpan. Additionally, websites such as Investopedia and SEBI's official website can provide useful information.
You can consider the following tips to manage your time well:
- Break down the syllabus into smaller topics and subtopics to get a clear picture of what needs to be covered.
- Plan your study hours evenly throughout the week to ensure that subtopics get covered under each topic.
- Identify the topics that carry more weightage or those that you find more challenging and give them enough time and focus.
- Dedicate fixed time periods for each subject to ensure you don’t waste too much time on any topic.
- Active learning techniques like making notes or teaching others will help you remember the points more effectively.
- Don’t forget to take short breaks while studying, as it is important to refresh your mind to manage time effectively. This can stop you from getting too tired and help you stay focused for a longer period.
Remember, working hard, staying focused, and planning well are important for doing well in the SEBI Grade A exam.
SEBI Grade A Important Books
It is very important to resort to proper books and study materials whenever preparing for highly competitive exams like SEBI Grade A. Take time to research and choose the right books before you start studying for the exam.
To help you in your preparation, we've compiled a list of important books for the SEBI Grade A exam that can be beneficial for your SEBI Grade A exam preparation.
| Paper | Books | Author/Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Securities Markets | Capital Markets & Securities Laws | N.S.Zad |
| Economic and Social Issues | Indian Economy | Uma Kapila or Mishra Puri |
| Indian Economy | Ramesh Singh | |
| Sociology | CN Shankar Rao | |
| Finance & Management | Financial Management | Prasanna Chandra or IM Pandey |
| Indian Financial System | Bharti Pathak | |
| Principles & Practise of Management | LM Prasad / Sultan Chand & Sons | |
| Organisational Behaviour | SP Robins | |
| Principles of Management | Harold Kootz & Cyril J.O’Donnell / McGraw Hills | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Quicker Mathematics | BSC Publications |
| Quantitative Aptitude | RS Agarwal | |
| Class Notes | SS Bharti | |
| Reasoning Ability | A modern approach to verbal & Non-verbal reasoning | R.S. Agarwal |
| Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | S.Chand | |
| Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | Arihant Publication | |
| English Language | English Grammar | Wren & Martin |
| Word power made easy | Norman Lewis | |
| Descriptive General English | SP Bakshi | |
| General Awareness | Lucent GK Knowledge | Lucent Publication |
| BeePedia | ixamBee | |
| English Descriptive | Descriptive English | S.P. BAKSHI |
| 151 Essays | S.C Gupta | |
| Letter writing | S.C Gupta | |
| Indian Economic Since Independence | Uma Kapila | Academic Foundation |
| Business Law Including Company Law | SS Gulshan | New Age International Publishers |
SEBI Grade A Free Mock Test
ixamBee's SEBI Grade A Mock Tests can play an important role when you prepare for the SEBI Grade A exam by providing you with lots of practice. These tests can give you a realistic experience similar to the actual exam.
By taking these exams, you can evaluate your method of preparation and find areas where you can improve. So, don't miss this opportunity to refine your skills and increase your chances of success.
SEBI Grade A Online Course
You can prepare for your SEBI Grade A exam with ixamBee's SEBI Grade A Online Course. The course offers all-round guidance to cover the major topics in the syllabus. It is also designed to provide you with a deep understanding of the key concepts.
You can benefit from top-class guidance from our expert teachers, with interactive live sessions, study materials, and help with any doubts you may have. We can assure you, with ixamBee's SEBI Grade A online course, you'll be well-prepared to excel in the exam and build a promising career in the securities market.
SEBI Grade A Officer Phase I Paper 1 - Free Mock Tests
SEBI Grade A Officer Phase I Paper 1 - Previous Year Question Paper
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Sebi Exam Syllabus FAQs
The SEBI Grade A syllabus varies significantly based on the stream you choose. Phase 1 is common for all streams and covers General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning. Phase 2 delves into specialized subjects. For instance, the General stream covers Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Finance, Costing, Companies Act, and Economics. The legal paper focuses on Constitutional Law, Contract Law, etc. IT emphasizes IT concepts and applications in finance. Research concentrates on Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, and Finance.
Yes, SEBI Grade A is a government job. SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) is a statutory body established by the Indian Parliament, making it a government regulatory authority. As an employee of SEBI, you hold a government job.
SEBI Grade A officers indeed earn a higher gross monthly salary compared to their RBI Grade B counterparts. This difference can be attributed to various factors including allowances and perks offered by SEBI. However, it's essential to note that the overall compensation package, including allowances, deductions, and other benefits, should be considered for a comprehensive comparison.
The basic pay of a SEBI Grade A officer is Rs. 62500. On top of the basic pay, SEBI Grade A officers also get several allowances and perks in their salary like Special Pay, Special Functional Pay, Dearness Allowance, Local Allowance, City Compensatory Allowance, Family Allowance, and more.
Yes you are eligible to apply for SEBI Grade A Exam. B.Tech and MBA both separately are enough qualification for the SEBI Grade A exam.
Yes you are eligible. Your degree shall be approved by a University. Distance learning / correspondence are also education qualification equally valid for a job.
Yes, if you are in the final year of the eligible degree course you are eligible to appear in the exam. However, the offer to join SEBI to the selected candidates shall be subject to production of necessary documents evidencing successfully obtaining the requisite qualification.
Yes, you can apply for maximum of 2 streams only for which you are eligible. You have to submit separate on-line application for each stream and requisite fees is to be paid for each application.
Yes, except English all other papers can be attempted in Hindi. For the interview also you may choose Hindi language. All question papers (in both the Phases, except the test of English) will be set bilingually in Hindi and English.
There is no such limit on the number of attempts for SEBI Grade ‘A’ exam. You can appear for this exam till the time you are eligible according to the eligibility criteria provided by SEBI in the notification.
Yes, SEBI Grade ‘A’ Officer is liable to be posted anywhere in India depending on the job profile and department you are serving.
Yes, SEBI Grade ‘A’ exam is bilingual (i.e, Hindi & English). You can choose your preferred language either Hindi or English. Except for the English Language, all sections will be bilingual.
Yes. Candidates who have appeared for the final examinations and waiting for the results are eligible to appear for SEBI Grade A exam.
Yes. You can practice SEBI Grade A free mock tests at ixamBee and improve your performance in the exam.
No, this is not the case. The SEBI Grade A syllabus has been quite constant for years. No such change in the SEBI exam syllabus is expected this time either.
The answer to this question is entirely subjective. It depends on the level of SEBI Grade A exam preparation you are at present, whether you are studying full-time or part-time, if you have taken the exam before and such. In a very general sense, you should be putting in 8-12 hours of study per week.
No, no exam is difficult per se if you prepare for it with hard work and dedication. Begin by studying the SEBI Grade A officer syllabus in detail followed by the exam pattern. You can then begin your preparation accordingly.
Technically, all the parts of the SEBI Grade A syllabus are important. You cannot leave out any part as such. However, if you would like to check which topics are tested more than others, you can look at the SEBI Grade A previous year papers to understand which topics you could emphasize more.
Some subjects in the SEBI syllabus are the same as the NABARD Grade A syllabus for Phase 1 of both exams like English, Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. The difference lies mostly in the Phase 2 exams, especially for the Specialist streams.
Generally speaking, it would take an aspiring candidate an average of 6 months to cover the complete SEBI Assistant Manager syllabus adequately. However, this may vary from candidate to candidate.
It would be a good idea to go over the SEBI Grade A previous year papers and also the SEBI Grade A mock tests as important tools of your SEBI exam preparation. This will help you to check which topics are tested more often so you can focus on them more. Other than that, this is a highly competitive exam so we recommend that you devote proper time to your study.
The subjects tested in the SEBI Phase 1 exam are Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, General Awareness and English.
The SEBI Descriptive English test will carry 3 types of questions on: - Precis Writing
- Essay Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Precis Writing
- Essay Writing
- Reading Comprehension