IIBF SFB exam-day guide
IIBF SFB · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed or downloaded exam admit card / hall ticket
Download it from the IIBF candidate login as soon as it is released and keep both a printout and a PDF on your phone. Verify your name, roll number, exam centre address, and reporting time. If any detail is wrong, contact IIBF before exam day rather than at the centre. Carry the exact number of copies the admit card instructs - confirm with the provider.
Original photo ID matching your application
Typically a PAN, Aadhaar, passport, or driving licence in original. Photocopies and expired documents are usually rejected. The specific list of accepted IDs is set by IIBF - confirm with the provider, and carry a second valid original ID as backup if you have one.
Passport-size photograph
Some centres ask for one or two recent photographs for the attendance sheet. Carry two spare copies in the same specification used for your application. Whether photographs are required at your centre - confirm with the provider.
Transparent water bottle and simple stationery
Carry a clear water bottle and a blue or black ballpoint pen. Do not carry pencil cases, pouches, or any opaque container. Whether pens are needed depends on whether your exam is computer-based or paper-based - confirm with the provider and check the admit card instructions.
Know the route and reporting time
Do a dry run or map the route the day before. Plan to reach the centre well before the reporting time printed on the admit card - late entry is commonly refused even if the exam has not started. The exact cut-off for entry is centre-specific; confirm with the provider.
Leave prohibited items at home
Do not bring phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth earbuds, calculators, or study notes into the exam hall. Most centres provide no secure storage, so arriving without these items is safer than relying on a locker. If you must carry a phone for travel, ask at the centre whether a deposit facility exists - confirm with the provider.
Read the candidate instructions on the admit card
The admit card and IIBF candidate login usually carry instructions on reporting time, permitted items, and the biometric or photo capture process. Read them fully at least 48 hours before the exam so you can act on anything unexpected.
Plan for biometric capture and frisking
Expect identity verification, possibly including fingerprint or photograph capture, and a security check at entry. Keep your fingers clean and free of heavy mehndi or cuts on the day, since fingerprint mismatch can delay admission. The exact verification method at your centre - confirm with the provider.
Check exam mode and duration
Confirm from your admit card whether the paper is computer-based or paper-based, the number of questions, and the duration. Practise the on-screen navigation or the OMR bubbling method accordingly in the last week.
Carry the confirmation of your exam language or medium
If IIBF allows a choice of Hindi or English (or another medium), confirm which medium you selected. The medium is usually fixed at application and cannot be changed in the hall - confirm with the provider if you are unsure.
Plan the day
Stop starting new topics. Revise your own summary sheets for the high-weight sections - for a small finance bank paper these usually include priority sector lending norms, CRR/SLR, financial inclusion and payment systems, and basic accounting and legal concepts. Take one full-length timed mock in exam conditions and review every wrong answer. Confirm your centre location and travel plan, and check that your ID and admit card details match your application exactly.
Do a light revision of formulas, definitions, and lists you tend to forget. Pack your bag: admit card, original ID, photographs, pen, transparent water bottle. Charge your phone and set two alarms. Sleep at your normal time rather than cramming late. Avoid discussing difficult topics with other candidates, which tends to increase anxiety without adding marks.
Eat a normal meal, carry water, and leave early enough to absorb traffic or transport delays. Reach the centre ahead of the reporting time printed on the admit card. Keep your phone and other valuables out of the hall as instructed. Complete verification calmly and locate your seat or terminal well before the start.
Read the instructions on the first screen or page carefully, including marking and negative-marking rules. Do a first pass answering questions you know confidently, then return to the rest. Watch the clock and reserve the last few minutes for checking that no question is left unmarked unintentionally. If the system freezes, raise your hand and inform the invigilator immediately rather than restarting anything yourself.
Rules to check
Carry only the original ID specified by IIBF; photocopies, expired documents, or a different ID from the one in your application are generally not accepted. The exact accepted ID list - confirm with the provider.
Electronic devices including mobile phones, smartwatches, and Bluetooth devices are normally banned inside the exam hall. Do not rely on the centre storing them for you.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on seating, biometric capture, and rough work. Rough sheets, if provided, are usually collected at the end and must not be removed from the hall.
Do not attempt to communicate with other candidates or look at others' screens or papers during the exam; this is treated as unfair means and can lead to cancellation of your candidature.
Negative marking, if applicable, is specified in the exam instructions. Check the on-screen or paper instructions before answering so you do not lose marks through unnecessary guessing. Whether negative marking applies to your paper - confirm with the provider.
Breaks are generally not permitted during the exam, and the timer usually does not stop. Use the washroom before entering the hall. The exact break policy at your centre - confirm with the provider.
If you face a technical problem, log it with the invigilator at the time; complaints raised after leaving the centre are hard to substantiate.
Do not share, photograph, or reproduce exam content afterwards. Question papers and rough work remain the property of the examining body.