One of the most common reasons an online exam application fails is a simple one: the photo or signature is the wrong size. Every commission — SSC, UPSC, IBPS, SBI, RRB and the state PSCs — specifies an exact pixel dimension and a file-size range in kilobytes, and the upload form rejects anything outside it. The good news is that fixing this takes about two minutes once you know the steps.

What size does an exam photo and signature need to be?

While each notification has its own numbers, the typical requirements look like this:

  • Photograph: a recent colour photo, JPG/JPEG, roughly 200×230 pixels (about 3.5×4.5 cm), and a file size of about 20–50 KB.
  • Signature: signed in black ink on white paper, JPG/JPEG, roughly 140×60 pixels, and about 10–20 KB.

Always confirm the exact figures in the official notification for your exam, because they change from one cycle to the next.

Step 1 — Set the correct pixel dimensions

Start with the dimensions, not the file size. Open the Image Resizer, upload your photo, and type the width and height your form specifies — for example 200×230. Keep the aspect-ratio lock on if you don't want to stretch the image, or turn it off to force an exact size. For a clean white-background passport-style photo, use the Passport Photo Maker instead, which has the standard sizes built in.

Step 2 — Compress to the exact KB limit

Once the pixels are right, bring the file weight into range. Open the Image Compressor (or a ready-made page like compress to 50 KB), upload the resized photo, set the target, and download. The tool keeps the best possible quality while landing at or under your limit. If a form needs a minimum size too, our increase image size tool tops it up.

Step 3 — Prepare the signature

Sign in black ink on plain white paper, photograph or scan it, then crop tightly around the strokes. Use Signature Resize to set the dimensions and KB the form needs. A tightly cropped, black-on-white signature compresses to 10–20 KB easily without smudging.

A few tips that prevent rejections

  • Use a recent photo on a plain, light background with your face clearly visible.
  • Avoid caps, sunglasses and heavy filters.
  • Resize before you compress — it keeps the face sharper.
  • Keep the original high-resolution file in case you need a different size later.

Because every tool runs in your browser, your photo and signature are never uploaded — which matters when you're handling ID documents.