IB ACIO Exam Pattern 2026: Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3

The IB ACIO exam pattern has three stages: an online objective test (Tier I), a descriptive paper (Tier II) and an interview (Tier III). The Ministry of Home Affairs conducts the recruitment for ACIO Grade II/Executive posts in the Intelligence Bureau. Knowing how many marks each stage carries, and where marks are lost, helps you plan your time before you plan your syllabus.

As on 21 October 2026, no new notification had appeared on the MHA vacancies page, so this page follows the latest completed cycle, ACIO-II/Exe 2025. The structure is stable across recent cycles, but treat the details as indicative until the next notification. Below you will find the stage-wise tables, the marking rules, what the numbers mean for your strategy and a time plan for exam day.

Table of Contents

IB ACIO Exam Pattern at a Glance

Tier I Pattern

Tier I is a qualifying stage. In the 2025 cycle the minimum qualifying marks were 35 for UR and EWS, 34 for OBC and 33 for SC/ST. Candidates are shortlisted for Tier II up to about 10 times the number of vacancies, subject to the cut-off. The notification gives one overall time limit of 60 minutes, so plan how you will split it across the five sections.

Tier II Pattern

The long-answer questions have been on current affairs, economy and socio-political issues. Candidates must score at least 33 per cent, which is 17 out of 50, to qualify for Tier III. Shortlisting for the interview was up to about 5 times the vacancies. The marks split above is the one reported for the 2025 cycle. Check the next notification for any change in the split, the language of answers and the answer-length instructions.

Tier III: Interview

The interview carries 100 marks and assesses personality, awareness and suitability for a role in the Bureau. It is the most heavily weighted single stage in marks, so a good interview can lift a modest written score. After the interview, the final list depends on the combined result, then character and antecedent verification and a medical examination.

Marking Scheme and Negative Marking

• Tier I correct answer: 1 mark each.

• Tier I wrong answer: One-fourth of a mark is deducted, so each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks.

• Unattempted questions: No deduction is mentioned for blanks.

• Tier II: The negative marking rule applies to the objective Tier I. In the descriptive paper, marks depend on content, clarity and language.

What the Pattern Means for You

• Equal weight per section: Each section carries 20 marks, so a weak section cannot be ignored. Aim for a balanced score rather than one standout subject.

• Cost of a guess: A wrong answer costs 0.25 marks, so a random guess is a poor bet. Eliminate at least two options before guessing.

• Under one minute a question: With 100 questions in 60 minutes, you have about 36 seconds per question. Start with current affairs and English, which are quick.

• Tier II needs separate practice: Clicking the right option is not enough here. Handwriting speed and answer structure decide your score.

• Tier I is only the entry gate: Aim well above the minimum qualifying marks so that you are in the shortlist, not just a qualifier.

Older pages may still show a four-section Tier I or a different Tier II format, so follow the official notification.

Final Merit

The final merit list is based on performance across the three tiers, whose marks add up to 250 (100 plus 50 plus 100). The notification states the exact way the scores are combined, so check its selection clause when it is released. Candidates who fail the Tier I or Tier II qualifying marks are not considered for the next stage.

Time Management and Exam-Day Strategy

1. First 20 minutes: Finish current affairs, English and general studies.

2. Next 30 minutes: Solve reasoning and numerical aptitude, skipping long puzzles at first.

3. Last 10 minutes: Return to skipped questions and review flagged answers.

4. For Tier II: Spend about 20 minutes on the essay, 10 on comprehension and 25 on the two long answers, leaving a short buffer