| Conducted by | Railway Recruitment Boards |
| Stages | CBT 1, CBT 2, skill test where applicable, document verification and medical |
| CBT 1 | 100 questions, 100 marks, 90 minutes |
| Negative marking | One third per wrong answer |
| Levels | Graduate and undergraduate posts, notified separately |
| Official website | indianrailways.gov.in and the regional RRB sites |
RRB NTPC CBT 1 exam pattern
Computer based, objective. CBT 1 is a screening stage — its marks are not carried into the final merit, but you must clear it to sit CBT 2.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 | 90 minutes |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 | |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 30 | 30 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Negative marking: one third of a mark for each wrong answer. Candidates with disabilities get 120 minutes instead of 90. CBT 2 follows the same three subjects with 120 questions and a higher standard — confirm the current structure in the notification.
Mathematics syllabus
- Number system, decimals and fractions, LCM and HCF.
- Ratio and proportion, percentage, averages.
- Mensuration, time and work, time and distance.
- Simple and compound interest, profit and loss.
- Elementary algebra, geometry and trigonometry.
- Elementary statistics.
General Intelligence and Reasoning syllabus
- Analogies, completion of number and alphabetical series, coding and decoding.
- Mathematical operations, similarities and differences, relationships.
- Analytical reasoning, syllogism, jumbling, Venn diagrams.
- Puzzle, data sufficiency, statement and conclusion, statement and courses of action.
- Decision making, maps and interpretation of graphs.
General Awareness syllabus
- Current events of national and international importance.
- Games and sports; art and culture of India.
- Indian literature; monuments and places of India.
- General science and life science up to Class 10.
- History of India and the freedom struggle.
- Physical, social and economic geography of India and the world.
- Indian polity and governance — Constitution and political system.
- General scientific and technological developments including space and nuclear programmes.
- UN and other important world organisations; environmental issues.
- Basics of computers and computer applications; common abbreviations.
- Transport systems in India; Indian economy; famous personalities of India and the world.
- Flagship government programmes; flora and fauna of India.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RRB NTPC CBT 1 pattern?
100 questions for 100 marks in 90 minutes: 40 general awareness, 30 mathematics and 30 general intelligence and reasoning.
Is there negative marking in RRB NTPC?
Yes, one third of a mark is deducted for each wrong answer.
Do CBT 1 marks count in the final merit?
No. CBT 1 is a screening stage. The final merit is based on CBT 2 and the subsequent stages.
Is RRB NTPC good for a civil services aspirant?
The general awareness section overlaps heavily with what you already prepare. The gap is speed and the mathematics section, which is Class 10 standard but heavily time-pressured.
Preparing for this exam?
Prerana ICS teaches RRB NTPC in Telugu and English, with our own books, notes and test series — and LearnX, our free AI tutor, powered by Google Gemini.