In this guide
A bank clerk talks to customers all day: farmers, pensioners, small traders, students, many of whom prefer the local language and some of whom speak no other. That is why IBPS Clerk requires proficiency in the official language of the state or union territory you apply for, and why this requirement is taken seriously at the end of the process.
For most candidates this is a formality, because they apply for their home state and studied its language at school. For some, it is the one stage that can undo a successful mains. This guide helps you work out which group you are in.
Where the test sits in the process
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Application | You choose one state; its official language(s) apply to you |
| Prelims and mains | No language test; the exam itself is taken as usual |
| Provisional allotment | You are allotted to a bank in your state on mains merit |
| Before joining | The allotted bank checks your language proof or conducts the test |
| Joining | Only after you are exempt or have qualified |
Who needs to take the test
- Candidates who can produce a Class 10 or Class 12 mark sheet or certificate showing that they studied the state's official language are usually exempt.
- Others must pass the Language Proficiency Test (LPT), conducted after provisional allotment and before joining.
Studying the language as a subject is what counts, as shown on the mark sheet. Speaking it at home, or having lived in the state for years, does not by itself exempt you, though it will certainly help you pass.
What the test may involve
Banks conduct the test in their own way. It may include:
- Reading a passage or a form aloud in the language;
- Writing a few sentences or a short paragraph;
- Speaking: a short conversation or answers to simple questions;
- Understanding: following instructions or a customer's request.
The level is that of everyday working use, not literature. Think of what a customer would say to you at the counter, and what you would need to say back.
What happens if you do not qualify
The test is qualifying: it adds no marks. But a candidate who does not qualify may not be appointed, even after clearing the mains with a good score.
That is why the choice of state and an honest assessment of your language skills matter so much. The state choice guide covers this decision in detail.
A quick self-assessment
Answer these honestly for the language of the state you are considering.
| Can you… | Yes / No |
|---|---|
| Read a local newspaper headline and first paragraph without help? | |
| Read a printed bank form in the language and explain it? | |
| Write five simple sentences without spelling mistakes in the script? | |
| Hold a two-minute conversation about a simple problem? | |
| Understand a customer who speaks quickly, in a local accent? |
Five yes answers: you are ready; keep reading the newspaper. Three or four: follow the plan below for four weeks. Two or fewer: think carefully about whether this state is the right choice this year.
A four-week plan if you need to prepare
| Week | Reading | Writing | Speaking and listening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Script and common words; 10 minutes of headlines daily | Copy five sentences a day neatly | Learn greetings and numbers; count money aloud in the language |
| 2 | One short news article daily, aloud | Write five sentences a day on banking tasks | Ten-minute daily conversation with a fluent speaker |
| 3 | Bank forms and notices: account opening, deposit slip | A short paragraph: how to open an account | Role-play counter conversations |
| 4 | Mixed reading at normal speed | Timed writing: 10 minutes, one paragraph | Mock test with a fluent speaker playing examiner |
The plan fits alongside mains preparation. It needs only 30 to 40 minutes a day, and you can start it well before the result.
Banking vocabulary to learn first
Learn each of these words in the state's language, and practise using them in a sentence.
| Group | Words |
|---|---|
| Accounts | account, savings, current, balance, passbook, nominee |
| Transactions | deposit, withdrawal, cheque, draft, transfer, receipt |
| Documents | form, signature, photograph, address proof, identity proof |
| Loans | loan, interest, instalment, guarantee, due date |
| Counter phrases | please wait, next, fill this form, sign here, come tomorrow |
Practice: counter conversations
Prepare answers in the local language to the questions customers ask most often. Say them aloud, then write them down.
- "How do I open an account?" Explain the form, the photograph and the identity and address proofs needed.
- "Why was money deducted from my account?" Explain how to check the passbook entry and what charges might apply.
- "When will my cheque be cleared?" Explain that clearing takes time and that the customer can check the passbook or app.
- "I have lost my debit card." Explain how to block it immediately and apply for a new one.
- "My pension has not come this month." Explain how to check the credit and whom to ask.
If you can handle these five comfortably, you can handle most of the test.
If you are not comfortable yet
Be honest with yourself. If the language is new to you, it may be wiser to apply for a state whose language you already know this year, and build the new language over time for a later attempt.
What to do next
- Check your Class 10 and 12 mark sheets for the state's language as a subject.
- Do the self-assessment above for the state you plan to choose.
- If you need the test, start the four-week plan alongside your mains preparation.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection website .
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