How to prepare for Railway exams
Railway Recruitment Board exams (NTPC, Group D / Level 1, ALP, JE, Technician) start with a computer-based test of Maths, Reasoning, General Science and General Awareness. Physical tests, a second CBT or a skill test follow depending on the post.
Exam pattern (first CBT)
These are the shapes of recent papers. Check your notification: the number of questions per subject changes between posts.
| Exam | Questions / time | Subjects | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| NTPC CBT 1 | 100 in 90 minutes | Maths 30, Reasoning 30, General Awareness 40 | 1/3 mark |
| Group D (Level 1) | 100 in 90 minutes | Maths 25, Reasoning 30, General Science 25, Current affairs 20 | 1/3 mark |
| ALP CBT 1 | 75 in 60 minutes | Maths, Reasoning, General Science, General Awareness | 1/3 mark |
What each subject asks
- Mathematics: number system, BODMAS, decimals and fractions, LCM and HCF, ratio, percentage, mensuration, time and work, time and distance, interest, profit and loss, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics.
- Reasoning: analogies, series, coding-decoding, mathematical operations, relationships, syllogism, Venn diagrams, puzzles, data sufficiency, decision making.
- General Science: physics, chemistry and life sciences at class 10 (NCERT) level. This section decides Group D ranks.
- General Awareness: current events, sports, Indian culture, personalities, economy, polity, railway facts and schemes.
How to score well
- Read NCERT Science class 9 and 10 twice: most General Science questions come straight from them.
- Railway papers are given in many shifts and questions repeat ideas across shifts. Solve shift-wise papers of the last cycle.
- For Group D and ALP, start running practice early: the physical test is pass/fail and many lose the job there.
- Keep your caste, education and medical documents ready; document verification follows soon after the result.
A simple 12-week plan
- Weeks 1–2: read the official syllabus and solve one previous year paper without preparation, to see where you stand.
- Weeks 3–8: one subject block a day (for example Maths and Reasoning on alternate days), plus 30 minutes of current affairs and 30 minutes of revision of the previous day.
- Weeks 9–10: one full mock test every second day. After each mock, spend as long reviewing the mistakes as you spent taking the test.
- Weeks 11–12: a full mock every day in the same time slot as the real exam, and revise only your own short notes.
Common mistakes
- Guessing blindly where there is negative marking. Attempt a question only when you can rule out at least two options.
- Collecting many books instead of finishing one. One standard book per subject plus previous papers is enough.
- Skipping the official notification. Age, qualification and the exact pattern are printed there, and they change between years.
- Leaving the photo, signature and documents for the last day. Keep them ready in the sizes the form asks for.
Next steps
- Confirm the exact pattern in the official notification of your exam: it can change from one year to the next.
- Practise with previous year papers and keep your photo, signature and documents ready in the sizes forms ask for.
- Other guides: SSC exams, Bank exams, Police exams, Teaching exams, State PSC exams, Defence exams, UPSC exams, Government job exams.