IB ACIO Syllabus and Exam Pattern for Grade II Executive

The three tiers of the ACIO selection

1. Tier 1: an objective test with five equal parts. Crossing the minimum score fixed for your category is essential, and roughly ten times as many candidates as vacancies are then called for Tier 2 on the basis of normalised scores.
2. Tier 2: a written paper where you compose answers. Scoring 17 or more out of 50 keeps you in the race.
3. Tier 3: an interview, for about five times the number of vacancies, picked on combined Tier 1 and Tier 2 marks.

The final merit list adds all three, out of 250. That makes Tier 2 and the interview worth more together than the objective paper, a point many aspirants miss when they spend all their time on MCQs. After selection there are also security checks and a medical exam.

IB ACIO exam pattern for Tier 1

The paper lasts 60 minutes, so you have under a minute per item, and each wrong answer removes 0.25 marks. Qualifying floors in the latest notice were 35 marks (UR and EWS), 34 (OBC) and 33 (SC and ST). Past selection cut offs were far higher than these floors; see our IB ACIO cut off page for the numbers.

IB ACIO Tier 2 exam pattern

In the previous cycle, this tier had an essay of 30 marks and a combined English comprehension and precis section of 20 marks. The new layout drops precis and adds analytical long answers, so pure language practice is no longer enough. You now need opinions backed by facts on economic and social questions.

IB ACIO syllabus for Tier 1, part by part

Current affairs

• National and international news of roughly the last year
• Defence, security and internal affairs, summits and agreements
• Sports events, awards, appointments and new government schemes

General studies

• Indian history with stress on the national movement
• Physical and human geography, ecology and climate change
• Constitution, polity and governance
• Economy, budget basics, everyday science and technology

Numerical aptitude

• Number system, simplification, HCF and LCM
• Percentage change, ratios, mean values, gains and losses, interest
• Speed, time and work, mensuration
• Data interpretation with tables and charts

Reasoning and logical aptitude

• Series, analogies, coding, blood relations, directions
• Syllogisms, statements and conclusions, seating puzzles
• Non verbal patterns and mirror images

English

• Reading passages, cloze tests, error detection
• Vocabulary: synonym and antonym pairs, idioms and substitution of a single word
• Sentence improvement and rearrangement

What the IB ACIO mains syllabus asks of you

Many aspirants call Tier 2 the ACIO mains. There is no fixed topic list for it, but the latest notice points to current affairs, economics and socio political issues for the long answers. Prepare these themes:

• Internal security: terrorism, cyber crime, border management, insurgency in the north east and left wing extremism
• India's foreign relations, especially with neighbours and major powers
• Economy: growth, inflation, employment, farm sector and digital payments
• Social issues: education, health, gender, urbanisation, migration
• Technology and society: data privacy, misinformation, space and defence technology

For the essay, practise a 300 to 400 word structure with an introduction, three or four arguments with examples and a balanced conclusion. For comprehension, read editorials and answer questions in your own words rather than copying lines.

A two stage study plan

Tier 2 usually comes a few weeks after Tier 1, which is too short to start writing practice from zero. Run both together.

1. Daily: one hour of current affairs with short notes; this feeds Tier 1, the long answers and the interview at once.
2. Four days a week: a timed set of maths and reasoning questions, focusing on data interpretation and puzzles where speed matters.
3. Twice a week: write one essay in 25 minutes and one 10 mark answer in 10 minutes, and get them read by someone who will be honest.
4. Weekly: one full Tier 1 mock of 60 minutes, followed by a careful review of wrong answers given the quarter mark penalty.

School NCERT texts of classes 6 to 12 handle most of the general studies part. For maths and reasoning, the topic list is close to that of the SSC CGL syllabus, and practice sets built for that exam serve you here too. More central recruitment tests are grouped in our SSC and central exams hub.

Who may apply

• Qualification: you must hold a graduate degree (any subject) from a recognised university, with computer knowledge marked as desirable.
• Age: 18 to 27 years on the closing date of applications.
• Relaxation: as per central government rules for SC, ST, OBC, ex servicemen and departmental candidates.
• Nationality: Indian citizen.

Since this is a security post, the character and antecedents check is strict. Old papers that show the question style are discussed on our IB ACIO previous year papers page.