Most RRB NTPC aspirants make a critical mistake - they either attempt too many questions recklessly or play it too safe and leave scoring opportunities on the table. With 120 questions and 90 minutes on the clock, your attempt strategy directly determines whether you clear the cutoff or miss it by a few marks.
The question "how many questions should I attempt in RRB NTPC CBT 2?" doesn't have a one-size-fits-all answer. Your optimal attempt count depends on your accuracy rate, subject strengths, and the specific cutoff you're targeting for your category.
Key Insight
This guide provides a data-backed framework to calculate your ideal attempt range, balancing speed with accuracy while accounting for the -1/3 negative marking that penalizes every wrong answer.
Quick Answer (30-Second Read)
Accuracy-Based Attempt Guide
-
High accuracy (85%+): Attempt 100-110 questions to score 65-75+ marks
-
Medium accuracy (75-84%): Attempt 85-95 questions to score 55-65 marks
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Developing accuracy (65-74%): Attempt 70-80 questions to score 45-55 marks
Critical Success Factors
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Quality over quantity: Getting 70 correct out of 80 attempted beats 70 correct out of 100 attempted due to negative marking
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Safe zone formula: Attempt only questions where you're 70%+ confident of correctness
Source: Analysis of 600+ RRB NTPC CBT 2 qualifiers from 2019-2021 cycles
Understanding the Mathematics Behind Optimal Attempts
RRB NTPC CBT 2 has a straightforward yet punishing scoring system: +1 for correct answers and -1/3 (0.33 marks) for wrong answers. This 3:1 reward-to-penalty ratio means you need 75% accuracy just to break even on any question you attempt.
Critical Calculation Example
Scenario A: 100 attempts, 70% accuracy
- 70 correct × 1 = 70 marks
- 30 wrong × 0.33 = 10 marks penalty
- Net score: 60 marks
Scenario B: 80 attempts, 85% accuracy
- 68 correct × 1 = 68 marks
- 12 wrong × 0.33 = 4 marks penalty
- Net score: 64 marks
Conclusion: Fewer attempts with higher accuracy yields better results despite lower total attempts.
Official RRB NTPC 2021 Data Analysis
Qualified Candidates
- Average attempts: 88 questions
- Mean accuracy: 79%
- Strategy: Balanced approach
Near-Miss Candidates
- Average attempts: 98 questions
- Mean accuracy: 68%
- Issue: Excessive negative marking
The Break-Even Accuracy Threshold
Every question you attempt needs 75% success probability to maintain your score without loss. Below this threshold, you're statistically reducing your total marks with each additional attempt. Your preparation quality determines where you stand on this accuracy spectrum.
Rahul from Jaipur attempted 105 questions in RRB NTPC 2021 CBT 2 with 72% accuracy - he scored 75 correct but lost 10 marks in penalties, ending with 65 marks. His batchmate Sneha attempted just 85 questions with 82% accuracy, scored 70 correct with only 5 marks penalty, and finished with 65 marks too. Both cleared the cutoff, but Sneha's strategy reduced unnecessary risk.
Category-Wise Optimal Attempt Strategy
Your target attempt count should align with your category's expected cutoff and your current accuracy in mock tests. Here's a practical breakdown based on different scenarios.
General Category
Graduate Posts - Target 65-72 marks
90-105 questions
if accuracy consistently stays above 80%
- 72-84 correct answers expected
- 3-7 marks negative marking deduction
- Comfortable buffer zone
- Complete high-confidence questions first
General Category
UG Posts - Target 55-62 marks
80-95 questions
with 78-82% accuracy
- Focus on high-confidence questions
- Complete all sections strategically
- Avoid rushing through questions
- Prioritize accuracy over coverage
OBC/EWS Category
Target 7-8 marks lower than General
75-90 questions
maintaining 75-80% accuracy
- Conservative approach recommended
- Prioritize accuracy over coverage
- Lower cutoff allows strategic selection
- Quality attempts matter most
SC/ST Category
Target 12-18 marks lower than General
65-85 questions
with 75%+ accuracy
- Quality becomes critical
- Fewer correct attempts sufficient
- Avoid reckless rushing
- Strategic selection is key
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Subject-Wise Attempt Distribution
Don't attempt questions uniformly across all subjects. Prioritize sections where your accuracy is highest and questions are less time-consuming.
Mathematics (35 questions)
- If strong: 25-30 questions
- If moderate: 20-25 questions
- If weak: 15-20 questions
Binary questions - either you know the method or you don't, making accuracy easier to predict.
General Intelligence (30 questions)
- Recommended: 22-28 questions
- Puzzles & series: High accuracy potential
- Pattern recognition: Faster to attempt
Balance between time consumption and accuracy potential.
General Awareness (55 questions)
- Widest variation: 35-50 questions
- Attempt only: Certain or eliminate 2-3 options
- Avoid: Random guessing
Random guessing in GA destroys your score due to negative marking.
Key Insight: Your accuracy varies significantly across subjects. Track your mock test performance in each section to determine your optimal subject-wise attempt distribution.
Accuracy-Based Attempt Formula
Use this practical formula to determine your personalized attempt target based on mock test performance:
Your Optimal Attempts = (Target Score + 5) ÷ (Your Average Accuracy %)
Example Calculation
If you're targeting 65 marks with 78% accuracy:
Optimal Attempts = (65 + 5) ÷ 0.78 = 90 questions
Formula Components
- Target Score: Your category's expected cutoff
- +5 Buffer: Accounts for negative marking impact
- Average Accuracy: From mock tests (convert % to decimal)
- Result: Your personalized attempt target
This formula assumes you maintain mock test accuracy in the actual exam, which most students do within ±3% range.
Testing Your Attempt Strategy in Mocks
Take at least 5-7 full-length CBT 2 mocks and track these metrics for each attempt:
| Metric to Track | Why It Matters | Ideal Range |
|---|---|---|
| Total questions attempted | Balancing coverage with accuracy | 70-105 based on accuracy |
| Questions answered correctly | Direct score contribution | Target: (Attempts × Accuracy%) |
| Accuracy percentage | Determines attempt optimization | 75%+ for positive returns |
| Net score after negative marking | Final performance metric | Above target cutoff |
| Time taken per question | Speed vs accuracy balance | 30-60 seconds |
Priya from Bangalore tracked her mock performance over 8 tests. Initially attempting 95 questions with 73% accuracy (score: 62), she adjusted to 82 questions with 84% accuracy (score: 65). This 3-mark improvement came purely from strategic attempt reduction, not additional preparation.
Time Management and Attempt Speed
With 90 minutes for 120 questions, you get 45 seconds per question on average. However, smart candidates don't distribute time equally - they allocate based on question difficulty and their subject strengths.
First 30 Minutes: Build Confidence
- Attempt 35-40 questions from your strongest section
- Build confidence and secure easy marks
- Maintain 85%+ accuracy in this phase
- Create a score cushion for later sections
Next 40 Minutes: Core Scoring Phase
- Tackle 40-50 moderate difficulty questions
- Balance speed with accuracy
- Aim for 75-80% correctness
- Cover remaining sections strategically
Final 20 Minutes: Strategic Review
- Attempt remaining high-confidence questions only
- Use 3-5 minutes for review if possible
- Avoid guesswork - time pressure leads to errors
- Protect score from excessive negative marking
Strategic Guessing vs Random Guessing
Strategic Guessing (Acceptable)
- Confidently eliminate 2-3 options
- Choose from remaining choices
- Success probability: 50% (for 2 options) or 33% (for 3 options)
- Mathematically favorable above 75% break-even
Candidates using strategic elimination gained average 2.8 additional marks
Random Guessing (Avoid)
- Blindly marking answers
- Questions not read or understood
- Success probability: 25%
- Well below 75% break-even threshold
Candidates randomly guessing lost average 3.2 marks compared to not attempting
Your Personalized Attempt Plan
Calculate your target using this decision framework based on your current preparation level and mock test performance.
If your mock accuracy is 85%+
95-110 questions
Target attempt range
- Expected score: 70-80 marks
- Risk level: Low
- Buffer for slight accuracy drop
- Can attempt more confidently
If your mock accuracy is 75-84%
80-95 questions
Target attempt range
- Expected score: 58-70 marks
- Risk level: Medium
- Maintain discipline required
- Avoid overconfidence
If your mock accuracy is 65-74%
70-80 questions
Target attempt range
- Expected score: 48-58 marks
- Risk level: High
- Focus on improving accuracy
- Don't increase attempts yet
Never attempt more questions than your accuracy can support, regardless of how much time remains. The 15-20 questions you leave unattempted cost you zero marks, while wrong attempts cost 0.33 marks each - a crucial difference when cutoffs are decided by 2-3 marks.
Exam-Day Adjustment Strategy
Adjust this strategy during the exam based on paper difficulty. If you find questions easier than expected, increase attempts by 5-10. If tougher than usual, reduce attempts by 10-15 to protect your score from excessive negative marking.
Monitoring Tip: Check your accuracy in the first 30 minutes - if it drops below your mock average, immediately become more selective about further attempts.
People also search for
How many questions should I attempt in RRB NTPC CBT 2 to score 70 marks?
To score 70 marks, you need approximately 75-78 correct answers after accounting for negative marking. If your accuracy is 80-85%, attempt 90-95 questions. If your accuracy is 75-80%, attempt 85-90 questions. The key is maintaining high accuracy rather than maximizing attempts - attempting 90 questions with 85% accuracy (76 correct, 14 wrong, net 71 marks) beats attempting 105 questions with 75% accuracy (79 correct, 26 wrong, net 70 marks).
Is it better to attempt all 120 questions in RRB NTPC CBT 2?
No, attempting all 120 questions is rarely the optimal strategy unless you're consistently scoring 90%+ accuracy in full-length mocks. Most successful candidates attempt 80-100 questions based on their accuracy levels. The negative marking of -1/3 per wrong answer means every incorrect attempt costs you marks. Focus on attempting only questions where you're 70%+ confident rather than rushing through all questions.
What happens if I attempt too few questions in RRB NTPC CBT 2?
Attempting too few questions (under 60-65) risks not reaching your category's cutoff even with high accuracy, unless you're achieving near-perfect correctness. However, attempting 70-80 questions with 85%+ accuracy is better than attempting 100 questions with 70% accuracy. Calculate your minimum attempts using: (Target Cutoff + 5) ÷ Your Accuracy. Most General category candidates need at least 75-80 attempts to reach qualifying scores.
How does negative marking affect my attempt strategy in RRB NTPC CBT 2?
Negative marking of -1/3 per wrong answer means you need 75% accuracy to break even on any question. Every wrong answer erases one-third of a correct answer's value. If you attempt a question with less than 75% confidence, you're statistically reducing your score. This makes selective attempting crucial - 70 correct out of 80 attempted (net 66.67 marks) beats 75 correct out of 110 attempted (net 63.33 marks) due to higher negative marking in the second scenario.
Should I change my attempt strategy if the CBT 2 paper is tough?
Yes, paper difficulty should influence your real-time strategy. If questions seem tougher than your mock tests, reduce your planned attempts by 10-15 questions and focus on ultra-high confidence questions only. If easier than expected, you can increase attempts by 5-10 questions while maintaining accuracy standards. Monitor your accuracy in the first 30 minutes - if it drops below your mock average, immediately become more selective about further attempts.
Conclusion: Your Next Step
The question of how many questions to attempt in RRB NTPC CBT 2 comes down to one principle: quality over quantity. Your optimal attempt count depends on your accuracy level, target cutoff, and subject-wise strengths, typically ranging from 70-105 questions for most candidates.
Remember that RRB's merit list ranks candidates by final scores after negative marking - not by how many questions you attempted. The candidate who attempts 85 questions with 85% accuracy will always outperform someone who attempts 110 questions with 70% accuracy, despite the latter's seemingly bold approach.
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