The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) conducts this exam to fill Level-1 posts like Track Maintainer, Helper, and Assistant Pointsman. The selection process includes a Computer-Based Test (CBT), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Document Verification, and Medical Exam .
In 2025, the CBT remains single-stage (unlike earlier plans for two stages), with 100 questions across four sections. The competition is fierce over 1.15 crore applicants for ~1.03 lakh vacancies in past cycles . Let’s break down the format, marking scheme, and prep strategies to help you ace it!
Key Highlights📌
| Key Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) |
| Exam Mode | Online (CBT) |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 90 mins (120 mins for PwBD) |
| Negative Marking | ⅓ mark per wrong answer |
| Sections | General Science, Maths, Reasoning, General Awareness |
| PET Requirement | Mandatory (except for PwBD) |
| Official Website | rrbcdg.gov.in |
RRB Group D CBT Exam Pattern 2025 📊
The Computer-Based Test (CBT) is the first hurdle. Here’s the section-wise breakdown:
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Time Allocation (mins) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Science | 25 | 25 | ~22 |
| Mathematics | 25 | 25 | ~22 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 | ~27 |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs | 20 | 20 | ~19 |
Note:
- Time per question: ~54 seconds—speed and accuracy matter!
- Qualifying marks: 40% for UR/EWS, 30% for OBC/SC/ST .
Detailed Section-Wise Syllabus & Weightage 🎯
1. Mathematics (25 Questions)
Topics like Percentage, Time & Work, and Algebra dominate:
| Topic | Expected Weightage |
|---|---|
| Number System | 1-2 Qs |
| Ratio & Proportion | 2-3 Qs |
| Profit & Loss | 1-2 Qs |
| Time, Speed, Distance | 2-3 Qs |
| Geometry | 1 Q |
Pro Tip: Focus on BODMAS rules and shortcuts to save time .
2. General Science (25 Questions)
Covers Physics, Chemistry, and Biology at a 10th-grade level:
| Subject | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Physics | Motion, Electricity |
| Chemistry | Acids/Bases, Periodic Table |
| Biology | Human Anatomy, Plant Cells |
Example: A 2022 question asked about Ohm’s Law—a basic but frequent topic .
3. Reasoning (30 Questions)
High-weightage areas:
| Topic | Expected Qs |
|---|---|
| Analogies | 2-3 |
| Coding-Decoding | 2-3 |
| Syllogism | 1 |
| Venn Diagrams | 1-2 |
Expert Insight: “Practice 5-10 series puzzles daily to build speed.” .
4. General Awareness (20 Questions)
Current Affairs (8-9 Qs) dominate, followed by static GK:
| Area | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Recent Appointments | 1-2 Qs |
| Sports | 2-3 Qs |
| Railway News | 2-3 Qs |
LSI Keywords: RRB Group D current affairs, railway policies 2025.
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) 🏋️
After clearing CBT, candidates face the PET:
| Gender | Task 1 (Weight Carry) | Task 2 (Running) |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 35 kg for 100m in 2 mins | 1000m in 4m 15s |
| Female | 20 kg for 100m in 2 mins | 1000m in 5m 40s |
Note: PwBD candidates skip PET but must pass medical tests .
Marking Scheme & Tie-Breaker Rules 🔢
- Correct answer: +1 mark
- Wrong answer: -⅓ mark
- Unattempted: 0
Tie-breaker: Older candidates rank higher; if age matches, alphabetical name order decides .
Changes in 2025 Exam Pattern 🔄
- No CBT-2: Earlier plans for a second CBT were scrapped due to protests .
- Normalization: Scores adjusted via percentile-based interpolation .
- CCAA Weightage: Apprentices get ⅓ weightage for NCVT marks in final merit .
Real-Life Impact: In 2022, this change helped ~12,000 apprentices secure jobs faster .
Preparation Tips from Toppers 🏅
- Sectional Timing: Allocate 25 mins to Maths/Reasoning, 15 mins to GK .
- Mock Tests: Solve 3-5 papers/week to improve speed .
- Current Affairs: Follow Railway Ministry updates monthly .
Expert Quote: “Master 10th-level science concepts—they’re 25% of your score!“ .
Meera Patel is an education consultant specializing in exam results and admit cards. With a Master’s in Education and 6+ years of experience, Meera loves helping students achieve their goals. She enjoys reading and practicing meditation.
