The Right Question Selection Strategy for RRB NTPC CBT 1
Most RRB NTPC candidates lose 8-12 marks not because they don't know the answers, but because they attempt questions in the wrong order. They spend 4 minutes on a tough puzzle, panic when time runs short, and then skip easy questions they could have solved in 30 seconds.
This guide gives you a proven question selection strategy specifically for RRB NTPC CBT 1. You'll learn the exact sequence for attempting 100 questions across Maths, Reasoning, and General Awareness in 90 minutes.
Quick Answer (30-Second Read)
- Three-pass system works best: Easy questions first (40-45 mins), medium difficulty second (30 mins), tough questions last (15 mins)
- Section-wise priority: Start with your strongest section, attempt GA last as it needs least thinking time
- Skip pattern: Flag questions taking over 90 seconds; return only if 10+ minutes remain
- Accuracy target: 75-80 correct answers out of 85-90 attempts beats 65-70 correct from 100 attempts
- Negative marking impact: Each wrong answer costs 0.33 marks, requiring you to get 4 additional questions right to compensate
Source: PrepGrind analysis of 1,100+ RRB NTPC CBT 1 qualified candidates (2021-2024)
The Three-Pass Question Selection Method
Scan each section and attempt only questions you can solve in under 60 seconds. These are your confidence builders and guaranteed marks.
In Maths:
- Simple arithmetic, percentage basics
- Profit-loss with direct formulas
- Simple interest, time-distance with single variable
In Reasoning:
- Direct blood relations
- Simple coding-decoding
- Odd one out, series with obvious patterns
In General Awareness:
- Questions you know instantly—no thinking required
- Current affairs from last 3 months you've revised
- Basic polity facts, geography fundamentals
Priya from Lucknow scored 94.8 marks using this approach. She completed 68 easy questions in 42 minutes during Pass 1, securing 64 correct answers. This foundation removed exam pressure completely.
Return to the beginning. Attempt questions requiring 60-90 seconds—those needing calculation or diagram drawing but with clear solving paths.
In Maths:
- Two-step percentage problems
- Compound interest with 2 years
- Time-work with two people, simple data interpretation
In Reasoning:
- Seating arrangements with 5-6 people
- Blood relations with 3-4 relationships
- Direction-based questions with two turns
In General Awareness:
- Questions where you can eliminate 2-3 options confidently
- Use educated guessing here
- Flag questions if 50-50 between two options
Attempt tough questions only if you have clear strategies. Don't try questions where you have zero approach—guessing with negative marking is dangerous.
In Maths:
- Complex time-work with three people
- Data interpretation requiring multiple calculations
- Probability questions
In Reasoning:
- Complex puzzles with 8+ people
- Coded blood relations
- Statement-conclusion questions
General Awareness Rule:
Skip GA questions you have no clue about. Random guessing here costs more than it gains.
According to official RRB NTPC 2023 result analysis, candidates scoring 90+ marks attempted an average of 87 questions with 78% accuracy, while those scoring 70-75 attempted 96 questions with only 65% accuracy.
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Section-Wise Question Selection Priority
Priority 1: Your Strongest Section First
If you're strong in Maths, start there. If Reasoning is your strength, begin with Reasoning. Attempting your best section first builds confidence and secures maximum marks early.
Exception: Never start with General Awareness. GA questions need the least mental energy—save them for when you're tired in the last 20-25 minutes.
Priority 2: Time-Intensive vs Time-Saving Sections
Maths and Reasoning need thinking time. GA needs recall time. If you spend 35 minutes on GA first, you'll rush through Maths and make silly errors.
Strongest section (Maths OR Reasoning)
35-40 minutes
Second section (Reasoning OR Maths)
30-35 minutes
General Awareness
20-25 minutes
Priority 3: Questions with Diagrams vs Text-Only
Within each section, attempt diagram-based questions first during Pass 1. Seating arrangements, direction questions, Venn diagrams—these have clear visual solutions.
Text-heavy questions (statement-assumptions, statement-conclusions, complex word problems) need more processing time. Save these for Pass 2 or Pass 3.
The Skip-Flag-Return Decision Framework
Immediate Skip Signals:
Skip without marking if:
- Question requires 3+ steps and you're unsure of the first step
- Puzzle has 10+ people or conditions
- Maths question needs advanced formulas you don't remember
- GA question on a topic you never studied
Flag for Review:
Mark questions if:
- You're confused between two answer options
- Calculation is long but approach is clear
- You need to verify something you think you know
When to Return to Flagged Questions:
Only return if you have 10+ minutes remaining after Pass 3. Prioritize flagged questions where you've eliminated 2-3 options over questions you skipped completely.
Rahul from Patna wasted 8 minutes in his first attempt returning to questions he had no clue about. In his second attempt, he followed the "10-minute rule" and improved his score from 72 to 89 marks.
Negative Marking Mathematics for Smart Selection
Scoring System:
Each correct answer: +1 mark. Each wrong answer: -0.33 marks. Unattempted: 0 marks.
This means three wrong answers cancel out one correct answer.
When to Guess:
Guess when you can narrow down to 2 options with confidence. At 50% probability, you'll gain marks over 10-15 such guesses.
When NOT to Guess:
Never guess randomly across all 4 options. At 25% probability, you'll lose marks over multiple attempts. Random guessing on 20 questions statistically gives 5 correct and 15 wrong: Net = 5 - (15 × 0.33) = 0 marks. You gain nothing.
The 75-Correct Strategy:
Aim for 75-80 correct answers from 85-90 attempts, not 65-70 correct from 100 attempts. According to RRB NTPC CBT 1 2023 cutoff data, 75 net marks (after negative marking) placed candidates safely above cutoff in all categories across most states.
Your 90-Minute Execution Plan
Quickly skim all three sections. Identify which has more easy questions today. Exam difficulty varies—some days Maths is easier, other days Reasoning.
Don't spend more than 2 minutes on this. You're just getting a feel for the paper.
Start strongest section. Attempt only 60-second questions. Target 35-45 easy questions across all three sections.
Rule: If a question takes more than 90 seconds in Pass 1, skip immediately without guilt.
Medium difficulty questions. You should complete 25-35 more questions in this pass. Total attempted so far: 60-80 questions.
Tough questions and flagged reviews. Aim for 5-10 more correct answers. Don't force attempts.
Check you've marked answers correctly on screen. Verify silly error-prone questions (calculation mistakes, sign errors). Don't change answers unless you spot an obvious error.
Your Action Plan for Question Selection Mastery
This Week: Practice the Three-Pass System
- Take one full-length RRB NTPC CBT 1 mock test using only the three-pass method
- Don't worry about time initially—focus on executing Pass 1, Pass 2, Pass 3 correctly
- Track your results: How many did you attempt in each pass? What was your accuracy in each pass?
Next Two Weeks: Build Section Priority
- Take 4-5 more mocks. Experiment with section order
- Try Maths-first one day, Reasoning-first another day
- Identify your optimal starting section based on consistent scores
- Record your best time allocation pattern
Final Two Weeks: Simulate Real Exam Pressure
- Practice with exact 90-minute timer. No pauses
- Follow your finalized section order and pass system rigidly
- Your goal: 80+ net marks (after negative marking) in at least 3 out of 5 mock tests
According to PrepGrind's tracking data, students who practiced the three-pass question selection strategy for 6+ full-length mocks scored an average of 12.4 marks higher in CBT 1 compared to their initial diagnostic test scores.
People also search for
Should I attempt all 100 questions in RRB NTPC CBT 1?
No. Attempting all 100 questions usually reduces your net score due to negative marking. Target 85-90 quality attempts with 75-80 correct answers. This strategy gives you 75-77 net marks after negative marking, which historically exceeds cutoffs for most categories. Forced attempts on unknown questions cost you marks.
Which section should I attempt last in RRB NTPC CBT 1?
Always attempt General Awareness last, regardless of your strength. GA questions need the least thinking time and can be solved quickly even when you're mentally tired after 70 minutes. Save your fresh mental energy for Maths and Reasoning, which require calculation and logical thinking.
How do I decide between two options when I'm confused?
Use elimination logic first: cross out options that are definitely wrong. If still confused between two, check the question type. For calculation-based questions, verify your math once. For fact-based questions, go with your first instinct. Flag the question and return only if you have 10+ minutes after completing all other questions.
Is it better to attempt Maths or Reasoning first in RRB NTPC CBT 1?
Attempt whichever section you're stronger at first. If both are equal, choose Maths first because it has more variety in difficulty—you'll find both very easy and very hard questions. Reasoning has more medium-difficulty questions. Starting with Maths lets you capture easy calculation questions when your mind is fresh.
How many questions should I flag for review in RRB NTPC CBT 1?
Flag a maximum of 15-20 questions. More than this means you're not making clear decisions during passes. Out of flagged questions, realistically attempt only 5-8 during final review. Focus on questions where you've narrowed down to two options, not questions you have no clue about.
Conclusion: Your Next Step
The RRB NTPC CBT 1 question selection strategy is simple: three passes (easy-medium-tough), section priority (strongest first, GA last), and smart skipping (10-minute rule for reviews). This system maximizes your marks by capturing all easy questions before tackling harder ones.
Your immediate action: take one full-length mock test this week using the three-pass method. Track your attempt count and accuracy for each pass. Compare this score with your previous random-order attempts. Most students see a 6-10 mark improvement immediately.
Ready to implement a complete RRB NTPC CBT 1 preparation plan? Explore PrepGrind's RRB NTPC Complete Course with 25 full-length mock tests, section-wise strategies, and detailed performance analytics designed by railway exam qualifiers.
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