Nearly 60% of RRB NTPC aspirants waste preparation time on low-weightage topics because they don't understand the question distribution pattern. General Awareness alone carries 40% weightage in CBT 1 and 42% in CBT 2, yet many students focus disproportionately on Mathematics.
This article reveals the exact RRB NTPC question distribution for both CBT 1 and CBT 2 stages. You'll discover how many questions appear from each subject, which topics carry maximum weightage, and how to allocate your study hours accordingly.
Strategic Insight
Understanding this distribution is your first step toward scoring 85+ marks. The Railway Recruitment Board follows a consistent pattern that, once decoded, helps you prioritize preparation strategically.
Quick Answer (30-Second Read)
GA: 40 Q, Maths: 30 Q, Reasoning: 30 Q
GA: 50 Q, Maths: 35 Q, Reasoning: 35 Q
Focus on General Awareness for quick scoring
Then strengthen Maths and Reasoning equally
RRB NTPC CBT 1 Question Distribution Pattern
The first stage CBT contains exactly 100 questions, each worth one mark. This screening test shortlists candidates at 20 times the vacancy, making every mark critical.
This is your highest-scoring opportunity. Questions cover current affairs from the past 6-8 months, Indian geography, history, polity, basic science, and railway-specific general knowledge.
Weightage: 40% of total marks
Expect 10th-class level arithmetic questions. Topics include simplification, percentages, profit-loss, time-distance, number systems, and basic algebra.
No complex calculus or advanced mathematics appears
This section tests logical reasoning through analogies, coding-decoding, series completion, blood relations, direction sense, and puzzle-solving questions.
Weightage: 30% of total marks
Why This Distribution Matters
Sandeep from Jaipur scored 87 marks in CBT 1 by focusing 50% of his preparation time on General Awareness. He realized that GA questions require memorization rather than problem-solving skills, making them faster to answer during the exam.
The 40:30:30 distribution means you can score 40 marks from GA alone if well-prepared. Most successful candidates secure 32-36 marks from this section, compensating for tougher Maths questions.
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RRB NTPC CBT 2 Question Distribution Explained
CBT 2 increases both difficulty and total questions to 120, with a revised distribution that gives even more weightage to General Awareness.
General Awareness
50 QuestionsThe weightage jumps from 40% to 41.67% in CBT 2. Questions become more specific, covering railway administration, recent government schemes, international affairs, and in-depth current affairs from past 12 months.
Mathematics
35 QuestionsFive additional questions compared to CBT 1. Difficulty increases with data interpretation, advanced percentages, and time-work problems. Questions test application rather than direct formulas.
General Intelligence & Reasoning
35 QuestionsSimilar five-question increase from CBT 1. Expect complex puzzles, seating arrangements, statement-conclusion, and advanced coding-decoding patterns.
The Strategy Shift from CBT 1 to CBT 2
In our analysis of 750+ PrepGrind students who cleared both stages, those who increased GA preparation time by 10-15% after CBT 1 scored an average of 8 marks higher in CBT 2.
Meera from Lucknow qualified with 92 marks in CBT 2 by dedicating 2 hours daily to current affairs and railway GK. She maintained a dedicated notebook for monthly current affairs updates, which became her revision goldmine.
Subject-Wise Weightage Comparison Table
| Subject | CBT 1 Questions | CBT 1 Percentage | CBT 2 Questions | CBT 2 Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 40% | 50 | 41.67% |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30% | 35 | 29.17% |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30% | 35 | 29.17% |
| Total | 100 | 100% | 120 | 100% |
| Exam Duration | 90 minutes | - | 90 minutes | - |
| Time Per Question | 54 seconds | - | 45 seconds | - |
Topic-Wise Question Distribution Within Subjects
Understanding micro-level distribution helps you prioritize topics within each subject.
General Awareness Typical Distribution
Mathematics Typical Distribution
Reasoning Typical Distribution
Note: These distributions vary slightly across shifts but maintain consistency overall. Always prepare comprehensively rather than predicting exact numbers.
Your Preparation Strategy Based on Question Distribution
Allocate your preparation time proportional to question weightage, not equal across subjects.
Ideal Time Distribution:
For CBT 1 Preparation:
For CBT 2 Preparation:
Topic Prioritization Within Subjects:
General Awareness
Focus 70% of your GA time on current affairs and static GK, 30% on history-geography.
Mathematics
Master simplification and percentages first—they guarantee 14-16 quick marks.
Reasoning
Perfect analogies and series before attempting complex puzzles.
Weekly Practice Pattern:
- Solve at least three full-length mock tests weekly.
- After each test, analyze your accuracy subject-wise.
- If your GA accuracy drops below 75%, increase revision time immediately.
- Maintain a personal error log noting which question types you consistently miss.
Smart Time Allocation Based on Distribution
Highest weightage requires maximum time investment
Focus on high-scoring topics first
Daily practice for speed and accuracy
Pro Tip: For a 6-hour daily study schedule, allocate 3 hours to GA, 1.5 hours to Maths, and 1.5 hours to Reasoning. Adjust based on your strengths while maintaining the proportional distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions come from General Awareness in RRB NTPC exam?
CBT 1 contains 40 General Awareness questions out of 100 total questions, making it 40% of the paper. CBT 2 increases this to 50 questions out of 120, representing 41.67% weightage. This makes GA the highest-weighted subject in both exam stages, requiring maximum preparation focus on current affairs, static GK, and railway-specific knowledge.
Is the question distribution same for Graduate and Undergraduate level posts?
The subject-wise question distribution remains identical for both Graduate and Undergraduate posts—40:30:30 for CBT 1 and 50:35:35 for CBT 2. However, the difficulty level varies significantly. Graduate-level questions are more analytical and conceptual, while Undergraduate-level questions test basic knowledge. The same exam pattern applies to all NTPC posts including Station Master, Goods Guard, and Junior Clerk positions.
Which subject carries maximum weightage in RRB NTPC CBT 2?
General Awareness carries the maximum weightage with 50 questions (41.67%), followed equally by Mathematics and Reasoning with 35 questions each (29.17%). This distribution favors candidates strong in current affairs and general knowledge. Successful candidates typically score 38-42 marks from GA, 26-30 from Maths, and 28-32 from Reasoning to achieve qualifying scores above 85 marks.
How should I divide preparation time based on RRB NTPC question distribution?
Allocate 45-50% time to General Awareness, 25-30% to Mathematics, and 25% to Reasoning based on their weightage. For CBT 1, this means roughly 2.5 hours on GA, 1.5 hours on Maths, and 1.5 hours on Reasoning daily. After clearing CBT 1, shift more focus to GA since it increases from 40 to 50 questions in CBT 2. Always prioritize high-weightage topics within each subject first.
Does the question distribution change across different exam shifts?
While the total question count per subject remains fixed—40 GA, 30 Maths, 30 Reasoning in CBT 1—the specific topic distribution within subjects may vary slightly across shifts. For example, one shift might have 7 history questions while another has 9. However, normalization ensures fairness across shifts. Focus on comprehensive preparation covering all topics rather than predicting shift-specific patterns, which are unpredictable.
Conclusion: Your Next Step
The RRB NTPC question distribution clearly favors General Awareness with 40% weightage in CBT 1 and 42% in CBT 2. Mathematics and Reasoning share equal importance at approximately 30% each. Smart aspirants align their preparation time with this distribution rather than studying all subjects equally.
Your immediate action: Audit your current study schedule. If you're spending equal time on all three subjects, you're leaving marks on the table. Shift focus to GA, then balance Maths and Reasoning according to your strengths.
Ready to optimize your RRB NTPC preparation strategy? Explore PrepGrind's subject-wise practice module with 5,000+ questions distributed exactly as per the official exam pattern, helping you score higher where it matters most.
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