The RRB NTPC Exam 2026 is organized by the Railway Recruitment Boards and has a fixed pattern for different recruitment levels. The RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026 is different for Graduate and Undergraduate vacancies.
The recruitment procedure includes CBT 1, CBT 2, Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT), Typing Skill Test, document verification, and medical test. The undergraduate vacancies have a slightly different pattern, but the process is almost the same.
The RRB NTPC 2026 exam pattern specifies the exam format, including total marks, number of sections, marking system, and time duration. The exam is an online test, with CBT 1 consisting of 100 marks and CBT 2 consisting of 120 marks. The time duration for both tests is 90 minutes, but for PwBD candidates using a scribe, the time duration is 120 minutes.
Read on to know the complete details of the RRB NTPC exam pattern 2026 and prepare effectively for each stage.
RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026
The RRB NTPC 2026 notification has been released. This announced 11,558 vacancies for Non-Technical Popular Categories posts in Indian Railways. Candidates who wish to appear for the exam must carefully review the detailed exam pattern to plan their preparation effectively.
Candidates need to qualify in all previous stages of the selection process to move forward to the document verification stage. The RRB NTPC exam pattern 2026 differs for CBT 1 and CBT 2. This depends on whether the post is undergraduate or graduate level. Candidates must understand the exam structure and syllabus to prepare strategically for each stage.
Also Check:
RRB NTPC Eligibility Criteria
RRB NTPC Syllabus 2026
RRB NTPC Salary 2026
RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026 Highlights
RRB NTPC 2026 Exam is an online exam conducted for graduate and undergraduate recruitment in Indian Railways. The exam is conducted in multiple phases, such as CBT 1, CBT 2, Typing Skill Test/Computer-Based Aptitude Test (as applicable), followed by document verification and medical test. The subjects on which the exam is conducted are General Awareness, Mathematics, General Intelligence, and Reasoning.
The following are the key highlights of the exam pattern:
| Parameters | Details |
| Name of Exam | RRB NTPC |
| Stages of Exam | First Stage CBT, Second Stage CBT, Typing Skill Test/Computer-Based Aptitude Test (as applicable), Document Verification & Medical Examination |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Subjects | General Awareness, Mathematics, General Intelligence, and Reasoning |
| Total Marks | First Stage CBT: 100 Second Stage CBT: 120 |
| Language of Question Paper | Hindi, English, Urdu, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 mark for each wrong answer |
RRB NTPC CBT 1 Exam Pattern 2026
The first stage CBT (Computer-Based Test) of RRB NTPC 2026 includes questions from General Awareness, Mathematics, and General Intelligence & Reasoning. It is a qualifying exam designed to shortlist candidates for the next stage. There are 100 multiple-choice questions of 100 marks. The exam duration is 90 minutes and 120 minutes for PwBD candidates with a scribe.
The questions are from Class 10, 12, and graduation level. Check the table below for the RRB NTPC Exam Pattern for CBT 1:
| Sections | Number of Questions | Marks |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
RRB NTPC CBT 2 Exam Pattern 2026
The second stage CBT is more advanced and includes three sections: General Awareness, Mathematics, and General Intelligence & Reasoning. This stage is crucial as it determines final shortlisting for further recruitment rounds. There are 120 multiple-choice questions. The duration will be 90 minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates with a scribe). Check the section-wise distribution of RRB NTPC CBT 2 Exam Pattern 2026:
| Sections | Number of Questions |
| General Awareness | 50 |
| Mathematics | 35 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 |
| Total | 120 |
The second stage CBT is scored in total, and marks obtained here are considered for further selection in CBAT, Typing Test, and Document Verification.
RRB NTPC Exam Pattern for CBAT 2026
The Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) is held for candidates applying for Traffic Assistant and Station Master posts. The test is available in English and Hindi, and candidates must secure a minimum T-score of 42 to qualify.
CBAT consists of five to six different test batteries, depending on the post. There is no negative marking in this test. Candidates must score at least 70% in CBT 2 and 30% in CBAT.
RRB NTPC Exam Pattern for Typing Test 2026
The Typing Skill Test is conducted for posts such as Senior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist, Senior Time Keeper, Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, and Junior Time Keeper. This test is qualifying in nature. The following are the key details for RRB NTPC typing test:
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Typing Speed Required: 30 WPM in English or 25 WPM in Hindi
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Minimum Words: 300 in English or 250 in Hindi
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Exam Duration: 10 minutes (after 1-minute typing practice and 30-second break)
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Language Options: Candidates choose English or Hindi; Hindi candidates must use Krutidev or Mangal font
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Restrictions: No editing tools or spell check are allowed
The test session is divided into three parts: 1-minute practice, 30-second break, and 10-minute evaluation typing test.
RRB NTPC Marking Scheme 2026
The marks for RRB NTPC 2026 are calculated based on the official marking scheme:
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Correct Answer: +1 mark
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Multiple Sessions: Marks are normalized to account for differences in difficulty across sessions
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Normalization: Ensures fairness when exams are conducted in multiple shifts with varying difficulty levels
Post-Wise RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026
The RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026 differs for each post. Candidates should carefully check the selection stages relevant to the post they have applied for. Below is the revised post-wise exam pattern for Graduate and Undergraduate level posts.
RRB NTPC Exam Pattern for Graduate Level Posts
The Graduate Level posts require candidates to clear multiple stages, and the pattern varies depending on the post. Candidates must qualify in each stage to move forward. Check the post-wise exam pattern in the table below:
| Name of Post | CBT 1 | CBT 2 | Skill Test / CBAT / Typing Test |
| Goods Train Manager | Common for all | Common for all | – |
| Senior Clerk cum Typist | – | – | Typing Skill Test |
| Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist | – | – | Typing Skill Test |
| Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor | – | – | – |
| Station Master | – | – | Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) |
RRB NTPC Exam Pattern for Undergraduate Level Posts
The selection process also includes multiple stages for Undergraduate Level posts (12th pass candidates). The exam pattern is structured according to the post applied for. Check the post-wise exam pattern in the table below:
| Name of Post | CBT 1 | CBT 2 | Skill Test/CBAT/Typing Test |
| Commercial cum Ticket Clerk | Common for all | Common for all | – |
| Accounts Clerk cum Typist | – | – | Typing Skill Test |
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | – | – | Typing Skill Test |
| Trains Clerk | – | – | – |
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