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How to Crack IB Security Assistant/ Executive Exam in First Attempt

How to Crack IB Security Assistant/ Executive Exam in First Attempt

Posted On 2025-07-28

Founded in 1887, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) is the country's oldest internal security and counterintelligence agency. It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The IB is primarily responsible for gathering domestic intelligence, executing counterintelligence operations, and addressing counter-terrorism within India.

The IB is inviting online applications for the post of Security Assistant/ Executive (SA/Exe) in various Subsidiary Intelligence Bureaus across India. Through a short notification, IB has announced a total of 4987 vacancies for the post. The MHA has designated it as a Group 'C' non-gazetted position. The post involves field-related work, including intelligence duties, which require vigilance and alertness. This is a great opportunity for 10th-pass candidates to join the IB and serve the country in the domain of internal security.

Let's learn more about the details, exam pattern, syllabus, and other relevant information. At the end, there are a few preparation tips to help you achieve your goal.

Description of the SA/Exe post

Total no. of Posts: 4987 ( UR-2472, OBC-1015, ST-574, SC-426, EWS-501)

Pay scale: Level-3. Eligible candidates will be entitled to special security allowances.

Application Portal: Interested candidates can apply through the official website of the MHA, i.e., www.mha.gov.in, or the NCS portal (www.ncs.gov.in).

Application start date: 26th July, 2025

Last date to apply: 17 August, 2025

Candidates are advised to regularly check official websites for more updates.

Essential Qualifications

Matriculation (10th class pass) or equivalent from a recognised board of education.
The candidate must have a domicile certificate of the state to which they have applied.
Knowledge of the local language or dialect of the state for which the application is submitted.

Service Liability: It involves All India Service Liability.

Age limit: 18-27 years, as of 17 August 2025.

Note 1: The post of SA/Exe, being an operational post, is not reserved for any category of PwBD. Hence, they don't have to apply.

Note 2: Candidates can select only one SIB and will be considered solely for the vacancies designated for that particular SIB.

Job Notification: Intelligence Bureau IB Security Assistant/ Executive Recruitment 2025-26

Selection Procedure and Exam Pattern

The IB will undertake the SA/Exe selection process in three stages. Each stage or tier will assess several skill sets for the post. Here is the information about all three 3 tiers of the IB exam and the selection procedure.

Tier-1

It consists of an objective-type, computer-based test (CBT).

Subject	No. of questions	Marks
General Awareness	20	20
Quantitative Aptitude	20	20
Numerical/ Analytical/ Logical and reasoning ability	20	20
English Language	20	20
General Studies	20	20
Total	100	100

Total time: 1 Hour

Negative marking: 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.

Tier-2: Written exam (Descriptive type test)

Candidates who qualify for Tier 1 will be selected for Tier 2. It consists of a written descriptive exam designed to test a candidate's translation skills in both the local language and English. In this exam, candidates have to translate a 500-word passage from the local language/ dialect to English and vice-versa.

Time allotted: 1 hour.

Total Marks: 50 marks

Note: This tier is qualifying in nature. Participants must secure at least 20 out of 50 to qualify for the next round.

Tier-3: Interview/ Personality test

This standard tests the overall personality of the candidate, communication skills, and suitability for the role. Candidates will be called for the interviews based on the tier 1 results. It is 0 marks.

NOTE: The final selection will be based on the performance in the Tier 1 and Tier 3 exams.

Examination Fee

Category	Fees to be paid
Male candidates of the General, EWS, and OBC categories	Rs. 650
All categories( except above)	Rs. 550

Tips to ace SA/Exe Preparation

Here are certain points that you can keep in mind to enhance your preparation and clear the exams.

For Tier-1

1. Focus on Exam pattern and syllabus: Learn about the exam pattern and syllabus through the official notification and website. Stick to the syllabus and gather quality study material. Break down the syllabus into small, manageable sections to achieve real-life goals. Understanding the structure will further help you to allocate time efficiently to all the subjects and avoid surprises on the exam day.

2. Create a study plan: Clearing the IB exam on your first attempt requires a dedicated and disciplined approach. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, then allocate the time accordingly. Include weekly revision days and time for mock tests in your study schedule to get better at attempting the paper. Practice regularly to ensure syllabus completion. A disciplined routine will build consistency and confidence.

3. Practice PYQs: Previous year papers are a great source for highlighting repeated topics and concentrating on subjects for the exam. They provide insight about the upcoming exam. PYQs will further reveal the difficulty level of questions and prepare you for the exam mentality ahead.

4. Read newspapers and blogs: To build general awareness and prepare for current affairs, read the newspaper daily for 1 hour. Focus on security issues, national and international events, government schemes, etc., to build opinions and knowledge. Revise static GK topics like history, geography, constitution, etc, to score well in the exam.

5. Enhance quantitative aptitude: Practice 40-50 questions daily to build up speed and accuracy. As the exam consists of 100 questions with just 60 minutes at hand, speed will play an important role while attempting the exam. Learn shortcut tricks and practice them repeatedly to gain momentum and accuracy.

6. Build logical thinking: Daily practice puzzles to enhance logical thinking. Prioritise high-scoring topics after analysing PYQs. Time yourself 30-40 seconds to solve each question. Use various online and offline resources to practice live tests.

7. Improve English language: Learn 10-12 words daily to enhance your vocabulary and understanding of the complex essays. Brush up on grammar rules like tenses, articles, and prepositions to tackle all types of questions. A better understanding of language will help you to score in Tier 2 as well. Especially practice reading comprehension, error detection, and sentence correction to score well on the exam.

8. Practice Mock tests: Attempt full-length mock tests after completion of the syllabus to analyse your performance and improve time management skills. Stimulate exam conditions during your practice to build stamina and confidence. It will further help to reduce anxiety and stress during the exam.

TIER-2

Practice passage translation in both languages. Start with writing short paragraphs and simple texts of around 200 words, and then gradually move to paragraphs of 500 words.
Keep the grammatical rules in mind to avoid errors.
Improve handwriting by practising daily, to make your answers clear and readable.
Time yourself to complete the translation in 1 hour.
Write short essays on current affairs to improve writing skills as well as knowledge.
Practice your regional or selected language for the exam. Get familiar with the writing style and script to fully understand the language. Search for various dilacts for advanced preparation.

Tier 3 -Interview Preparation

Prepare a strong and precise introduction of your achievements, background, and motivation to join IB.
Be prepared for rapid-fire questions. Answer the questions in the same sequence in which they're asked by the interviewers.
Practice mock interviews to build confidence, improve communication skills, and enhance body language.
Learn formal dressing sense and etiquette. Maintain a healthy posture while sitting.
Avoid stammering and making unnecessary noises during the interview. Be fluent in both the local language and English, as it might be tested again during the interview.
Answer best to your knowledge with confidence. If required, tell about your references, like a survey or published report. Be open to counter questioning.
Be mentally alert and try to answer logically. Candidates must be aware of the ongoing national security concerns and the IB's role in tackling them.

In the end, believe in your ability to crack the exam. Maintain a healthy routine along with your preparation to manage physical as well as mental health. Preparing for a competitive exam can be highly stressful and may take many hours of study and preparation. Maintain a healthy diet and exercise schedule to overcome stress and anxiety. Believe in your ability to crack the exam. As the saying goes, a healthy mind stays in a healthy body.

Conclusion

IB conducts a highly competitive exam for the post of security assistant/executive. IB is one of the highly sophisticated organisations that demands utmost dedication and perseverance. This exam is one of the ways to judge a person's ability to join the organisation. To crack the exam, build a clear strategy, make consistent efforts and smartly utilise your resources. The exam will be conducted in 3 tiers to test different skills. However, tier 1 and 3 will become the deciding factor for the merit list.

Look through previous year papers to identify high-weightage sections and understand the exam patterns. Identify your weaknesses and strive to improve them. Keep yourself updated with the current affairs and national matters. Practice regularly to improve arithmetic and logical reasoning. Try to converse in both the local and English languages to gain confidence and fluency. With consistent efforts, you will be able to ace the examination.

All the best for your journey to the Intelligence Bureau!