RRB NTPC Exam 2026 Analysis: Check CBT 1 & 2 Graduate, UG Section-Wise & Overall Paper Analysis

Generally, the RRB NTPC exam is considered to be of Moderate difficulty level. As per experts, the RRB NTPC CBT 1 is considered as Easy to Moderate in difficulty level where as CBT is considered as Moderate to Tough as some of the questions asked may be tricky.

The distribution of questions in the Reasoning section of RRB NTPC CBT 1 exam are given below.

The distribution of questions in RRB NTPC Maths section of CBT 1 exam is given below.

The RRB NTPC CBT 1 exam is held for 90 minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates accompanied by a scribe). The questions are based on General Awareness, Mathematics and General Intelligence and Reasoning. The exam is held for 100 marks.

The duration of the test is 90 minutes (120 minutes is given to PwBD candidates). The CBT 2 exam is conducted for the qualified candidates of CBT 1 exam. RRB NTPC exam pattern for the second stage CBT is such that it is divided into three sections-General Questions Awareness, Mathematics, and General Intelligence and Reasoning. The test carries a total of 120 questions. 

The RRB NTPC recruitment process for the Graduate posts consists of CBT 1, CBT 2, Typing Skill Test/Computer Based Aptitude Test as applicable and Document Verification/Medical Examination. It depends upon the performance of the candidate in the stage 1 and 2 and then they would be required to go for the Skill Test/Aptitude Test/Document Verification. Different tests will be there and it depends upon the posts. 

RRB NTPC syllabus is the same for graduate and undergraduate posts. However, the difficulty level vary for two posts. The syllabus for graduate posts is more comprehensive and vast. RRB NTPC syllabus for undergraduate posts is bit easier.

Candidates can download the RRB NTPC Graduate posts exam syllabus PDF by visiting the RRBs regional websites or Central Indian Railways website and there checking the CEN No. The board releases the RRB NTPC syllabus along with the exam pattern. The syllabus of CBT 1 and 2 consists of the subjects including Maths, General Awareness and General Intelligence and Reasoning. 

There are three core subjects in the RRB NTPC exam and all the subjects requires in-depth study for the examination. The subjects are General Awareness, Maths and General Intelligence and Reasoning. The RRB NTPC CBT 1 and CBT 2 syllabus is similar only the difficulty level and the question level differs.

RRB NTPC cut off is announced along with the result. The link to download the cut off is made available on the official website. The cut off is released region-wise for different posts in PDF form. The cut off is calculated based on the percentile based normalisation of marks.

RRB NTPC cut off is the minimum qualifying that candidates need to secure inorder to qualify the exam and become eligible for the next round of selection process. The examination authority releases both sectional and overall cut off marks. The cut off marks are released category-wise and state-wise. Candidates securing equal to or more than the cut off marks are selected for the next round of selection.

RRB NTPC cut off is calculated based on the normalised scores. This process is followed to adjust the difficulty level of questions since the exam is conducted in multiple sessions. The scores are normalised using the equi-percentile method. For eg: If the negative marking is 1/3 and candidates have answered 80 questions, out of which 12 were wrong, then the raw score will be 80-12-12 * (1/3) = 64. Therefore, 64 is the raw score.

Also Read: RRB NTPC Normalisation of Marks

The important topics for RRB NTPC Mathematics section are Number System Fractions, Percentage, Time and Work, Simple and Compound Interest, etc. This section carries 30 questions in CBT 1 and 35 in CBT 2. Check below the important topics for Maths:

Number System: Number system questions comprise of topics such as LCM and HCF of numbers, divisibility, fractions, decimals, integers etc. 

Profit & Loss: This is one of the popular topic asked in the Mathematics section of RRB NTPC exam. Candidates can expect 3-4 questions on the various topics of profit and loss, discount, successive discount, cost price, selling price and marked price, etc.

Simple Interest & Compound Interest: It is also one of the most popular topics from which candidates can expect a good number of questions in RRB NTPC exam. 

Mensuration: Mensuration consists of various topics such as finding area and length of polygon, square, rectangle, cuboids, cone, sphere etc.

Data Interpretation: Data Interpretation or DI is an important topic in the RRB NTPC exam and it can be said that there will be around 3-4 questions from DI. The expected questions that should be covered by candidates include bar graph, pie chart etc.

Candidates can prepare for the exam in the following manner:

Read the entire RRB NTPC syllabus 
Make a list of topics prescribed in the syllabus 
Divide time between sections

RRB NTPC syllabus for CBT 1 and 2 is more or less same. However, there is a variation in the difficulty level of the exam. Candidates should check the syllabus thoroughly inorder to crack the exam. 

The important topics in RRB NTPC syllabus are those from where maximum number of questions are asked in the exam. Focusing on these topics can help candidates to score good marks in the exam. While preparing according to RRB NTPC syllabus, candidates must be thorough with the following given below:

• Mathematics: Data Interpretation, Profit, Loss & Discount, Speed, Time & Distance, Simple and Compound Interest, Geometry, Time and Work, Percentage, etc.
• Reasoning: Alphabet series, Number series, Coding-Decoding, Venn Diagram, Syllogism, etc.
• General Awareness: Current affairs, Static GK, Polity and Constitution, History, Geography, Art and Culture, etc.

The topics included under General Intelligence and Reasoning are of basic level. The topics assess the candidates ability to think logically.

RRB NTPC syllabus is given below.

The topic-wise difficulty level of RRB NTPC Reasoning syllabus is given below.

The difficulty level of the Maths topics is given below.

The topic-wise difficulty level of RRB NTPC General Awareness syllabus is given below.

RRB NTPC syllabus comprises topics of high school level. The syllabus for CBT 1 and 2 are same. There is variation in the difficulty level. Candidates can prepare well for the exam. They must attempt mock tests.

For General Knowledge section of RRB NTPC you need to cover Current Events of National and International Importance, Indian Literature, History, Polity, Geography, Economics, etc. The weightage given to this section in CBT 1 is 40 and in CBT 2 is 50. For RRB NTPC General Science and General Awareness, you can refer to the Lucent General Science and Lucent GK books. For General Science, you can also clear your concepts from high school Science books. RRB NTPC syllabus for General Knowledge is given below:

• 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 10th CBSE) General Science and Life Science (up to 10th CBSE)
• History of India and Freedom Struggle
• Physical, Social and Economic Geography of India and World
• Indian Polity and Governance- constitution and political system
• General Scientific and Technological Developments including Space and Nuclear Program of India
• UN and Other important World Organizations
• Environmental Issues Concerning India and World at Large
• Basics of Computers and Computer Applications
• Common Abbreviations
• Transport Systems in India
• Indian Economy
• Famous Personalities of India and World
• Flagship Government Programs
• Flora and Fauna of India
• Important Government and Public Sector Organizations of India etc

A total of 30 questions are asked from this section in CBT 1 exam. Candidates must prepare the following chapters for RRB NTPC Maths section.

The distribution of questions in the General Awareness section of RRB NTPC CBT 1 exam are given below: