RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026
CBT 1 and CBT 2 structure, subject-wise marks, negative marking, qualifying percentages, and which posts need a follow-up skill test.
At a Glance
- CBT 1: 100 Q, 90 min — screening only
- CBT 2: 120 Q, 90 min — decides merit
- 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer
- Post-specific skill test, qualifying only
Quick answer: RRB NTPC runs two computer-based tests. CBT 1 (100 questions, 90 minutes) only screens candidates into CBT 2 (120 questions, 90 minutes), which alone decides the final merit. Both deduct one-third of a mark per wrong answer, and a post-specific skill test follows for some posts.
CBT 1 — First Stage
CBT 1 has 100 questions worth 100 marks, to be attempted in 90 minutes, common to both the Undergraduate and Graduate streams. It is a screening stage only — the score is used purely for shortlisting and does not carry into the final merit.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
Candidates with benchmark disabilities are allowed 120 minutes instead of 90.
CBT 2 — Second Stage (Decides Merit)
CBT 2 has 120 questions worth 120 marks in 90 minutes. Unlike CBT 1, this stage is conducted at separate difficulty levels for the Undergraduate and Graduate streams, and its score alone determines the final merit.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Mathematics | 35 | 35 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 |
Marking Scheme & Qualifying Percentages
Negative Marking
One-third (1/3) of a mark is deducted for every wrong answer, in both CBT 1 and CBT 2. No penalty for a question left unattempted.
Qualifying Percentages
Official minimums: 40% for UR/EWS, 30% for OBC/SC, 25% for ST — applied before normalization across shifts.
These percentages are the official minimum floors, not the actual cut-off. Because RRB normalizes scores across multiple shifts and the exam has lakhs of applicants per zone, the real cut-off to get shortlisted typically runs well above these minimums and varies by zone, post and shift — treat the percentages above as a qualifying bar, not a target score.
Skill Test — Typing or Aptitude
Depending on the post applied for, shortlisted candidates take either a Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) or a Typing Skill Test, both qualifying in nature. Neither runs for every post or every cycle — only when those specific posts are part of the notified vacancies.
| Test | Applies To & Requirement |
|---|---|
| Computer Based Aptitude Test | Station Master, Traffic Assistant. Minimum 42 marks required, with no relaxation for any category. Weighs 30% in final merit alongside CBT 2 at 70% for these posts. |
| Typing Skill Test | Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist, Senior Clerk cum Typist. 30 words per minute in English or 25 in Hindi. No spell check or editing tools allowed. |
Note: a recent cycle's Graduate notification (CEN 06/2026) did not include Station Master or Traffic Assistant posts, so no CBAT applied to it — this stage still exists in the RRB NTPC structure and returns whenever those posts are notified again.
Frequently Asked Questions
100 questions worth 100 marks in 90 minutes — General Awareness (40), Mathematics (30), General Intelligence and Reasoning (30).
CBT 1 is a screening stage only — the marks don't carry into the final merit, they're used purely for shortlisting into CBT 2.
120 questions worth 120 marks in 90 minutes — General Awareness (50), Mathematics (35), General Intelligence and Reasoning (35).
CBT 2 is the stage that actually decides your final merit and post allocation.
Yes — one-third of a mark is deducted for each wrong answer in both CBT 1 and CBT 2.
There's no penalty for a question left unattempted, so guess only when you can eliminate at least two of the four options.
40% for UR/EWS, 30% for OBC/SC, and 25% for ST — the official minimums, applied before normalization.
These are floors, not the actual cut-offs. Real cut-offs run well above these minimums and vary by zone, post and shift due to score normalization.
No — CBT 1 only shortlists candidates for CBT 2, and its marks are discarded after that.
For Station Master and Traffic Assistant specifically, final merit weights CBT 2 at 70% and the Computer Based Aptitude Test at 30%.
No — it depends on which posts are notified in a given cycle.
Station Master/Traffic Assistant need a Computer Based Aptitude Test; Clerk/Typist posts need a Typing Skill Test. If those posts aren't part of a cycle's notified vacancies, no skill test runs for it.
Know the Pattern.
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