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 with a chance for a career as an Assistant Manager and work their way up.
With the end of the SEBI Grade A exam cycle for 2024, aspirants who did not appear for the exams last year can start preparing for the 2025 recruitment cycle. The 2025 exam cycle will begin once the SEBI Grade A Notification is released.
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 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.
Once the 2025 notification is released, it will include 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 will release the official notification of SEBI Grade A exam 2025 sometime later this year. 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 will provide the SEBI Grade A exam pattern and SEBI Grade A syllabus which is expected to remain unchanged in the coming year as well. The SEBI Grade A exam usually 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.
- 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.
Section | Topics |
---|---|
Quantitative Aptitude | Simplification and approximation, Number Series, Quadratic Equation, Number System / HCF & LCM, Ratio and Proportion, Average, Partnership, Ages, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time, Speed & Distance, Problems on Trains, Boat and Stream, Time & Work / Pipes and Cisterns, Simple and Compound Interest, Mixture & Allegations, Permutation and Combination, Probability, Data Interpretation (DI), Caselet DI and Data Sufficiency |
English | Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Passage Making, Error Spotting, Jumble Words, Sentence Framing, Fill in the blanks |
General Awareness | Monetary Policies, Banking and Financial Awareness, Economic Terms, Current Affairs, Static GK, Financial and Economic News, Government Schemes. Agreement & Deals, Banking Terms- rates & processes, National Institutions, BeePedia |
Reasoning | Puzzles, Seating Arrangement- Circular, Square & Linear, Data Sufficiency, Directions and Distance, Coding Decoding, Blood relations, Inequality, Syllogism, Machine input and output, Verbal Reasoning, Ordering and Ranking, Arrangement and Pattern, Scheduling, Distance and Direction, Ranking |
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.
Section | Topics |
---|---|
Commerce & Accountancy |
|
Management |
|
Finance |
|
Costing | Overview of Cost and Management Accounting - Introduction to Cost and Management Accounting, Objectives and Scope of Cost and Management Accounting, Methods of Costing - Single Output/ Unit Costing, Job Costing, Batch Costing, Contract Costing, Process/ Operation Costing, Costing of Service Sectors, Basics of Cost Control and Analysis -
|
Companies Act | The Companies Act, 2013 – Specific reference to Chapter III, Chapter IV, Chapter VIII, Chapter X, Chapter XI, Chapter XII and Chapter XXVII. |
Economics | Demand and Supply, Market Structures, National Income: Concepts and Measurement, Classical & Keynesian Approach Determination of output and employment, Consumption Function, Investment Function, Multiplier and Accelerator, Demand and Supply for Money , IS – LM, Inflation and Phillips Curve, Business Cycles, Balance of Payments, Foreign Exchange Markets, Inflation, Monetary and Fiscal Policy, Non-banking Financial Institutions. |
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.
Official Language Stream |
---|
भारत सरकार की राजभाषा नीति (Official Language Policy of the Govt. of India) से सम्बन्धी प्रश्न |
हिंदी से अंग्रेजी अनुवाद [शब्द / वाक्यांश / वाक्य / Terms / Phrases / Sentences] |
अंग्रेजी से हिंदी अनुवाद [शब्द / वाक्यांश / वाक्य / Terms / Phrases / Sentences] |
हिंदी से हिंदी - विधिक शब्दावली (Legal Terminology) |
अंग्रेजी से हिंदी - विधिक शब्दावली (Legal Terminology) |
हिंदी से अंग्रेजी – प्रशाशनिक / बैंकिंग / पूँजी बाजार सम्बन्धी शब्दावली (Administrative / Banking / Capital Market Terminology) |
अंग्रेजी से हिंदी - प्रशाशनिक / बैंकिंग / पूँजी बाजार सम्बन्धी शब्दावली (Administrative / Banking / Capital Market Terminology) |
अनुवाद - शब्दों, वाक्यों, वाक्यांशों, और पैराग्राफ का अंग्रेज़ी से हिंदी और हिंदी से अंग्रेज़ी मे अनुवाद |
SEBI Grade A Phase 2 Exam Pattern 2025
The SEBI Grade A Exam Pattern for Phase 2 is also conducted online and again has 2 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: Coding Test (Languages: C++/JAVA/Python) | 100 | 180 | 40 | 2/3rd |
Important points to note:
- New Hall Tickets will be issued for SEBI Grade A Phase 2.
- Paper 1 and Paper 2 will be conducted in various shifts, with timings mentioned in the Hall Ticket.
- 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 is expected to comprise 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 last 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 SEBI Grade A syllabus for Phase 2, you have to showcase your writing skills. This part will be held in English language only. You will be assessed on the basis of precise writing, essay writing and reading comprehension. This paper will be common for all the 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.
Section | Topics |
---|---|
English Writing Skills | Precis Writing/ Essay Writing/ Reading Comprehension |
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 the SEBI's official website for changes.
We know that 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 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 makes sure 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 an 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 languages.
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 the Current Affairs: Stay updated on the recent 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 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 do 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 for 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 on your grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and essay writing abilities. Practice grammatical principles, acquire new words and phrases, and complete comprehension passages on a regular basis.
- 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 calculating 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. This section's 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 to 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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