RRB NTPC and Group D 2026: exam pattern, syllabus and a free preparation plan

RRB NTPC CBT 1 pattern

Common for graduate and undergraduate posts. One timer for the whole paper.

1. General Awareness: 40 questions
2. Mathematics: 30 questions
3. General Intelligence and Reasoning: 30 questions
4. Total 100 questions, 100 marks, 90 minutes
5. Negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted for each wrong answer

• Take the free RRB NTPC CBT 1 full mock test

RRB NTPC CBT 2 pattern

Only candidates shortlisted on normalised CBT 1 marks take CBT 2.

1. General Awareness: 50 questions
2. Mathematics: 35 questions
3. General Intelligence and Reasoning: 35 questions
4. Total 120 questions, 120 marks, 90 minutes
5. Typing skill test or aptitude test after CBT 2, depending on the post

RRB Group D pattern

1. General Science: 25 questions
2. Mathematics: 25 questions
3. General Intelligence and Reasoning: 30 questions
4. General Awareness and Current Affairs: 20 questions
5. Total 100 questions, 1 mark each, 90 minutes (120 minutes for eligible PwBD candidates with a scribe)
6. Negative marking: 1/3 mark for each wrong answer

• Take the free RRB Group D full mock test

What to study

Mathematics: number system, simplification (BODMAS), percentage, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, ratio, average, time and work, time-speed-distance, mensuration, ages.

Reasoning: number and letter series, analogy, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, ranking, syllogism, clocks and calendars, mathematical operations.

General Awareness: Indian history, geography, polity, economy, science and technology, sports and culture, important days, and current affairs of the last 6–12 months. Group D adds 10th-level physics, chemistry and biology.

• Practice sets by topic
• Maths shortcuts and Vedic maths tricks

A simple 60-day plan

1. Days 1–20: one maths topic and one reasoning topic a day; 30 minutes of static GK daily.
2. Days 21–40: topic-wise practice sets; revise every mistake the same day; start current affairs revision.
3. Days 41–55: one full mock test every second day in the real 90-minute format; analyse section by section.
4. Days 56–60: revise formulas, your mistake notebook and the last 6 months of current affairs; no new topics.

Handling negative marking

With −1/3 per wrong answer, a blind guess is worth nothing on average, but ruling out even one option makes a guess worthwhile.

• Negative marking: when should you guess?

Sources

• SATHEE (IIT Kanpur): RRB NTPC exam pattern
• SATHEE (IIT Kanpur): RRB Group D exam pattern
• AglaSem: RRB NTPC exam pattern and negative marking

Last updated 15 October 2026. Always check the official notification for your exam.