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CBT 1 · CBT 2 (Part A & B) · CBAT · Document Verification — all stages covered with syllabus, tips and free practice.
This guide covers everything you need to clear the RRB ALP (Assistant Loco Pilot) exam conducted by Railway Recruitment Board (RRB). You will find the complete RRB ALP syllabus, stage-wise exam pattern, preparation tips, and direct links to free mock tests and live practice exams. Bookmark this page — it is updated whenever the official notification changes.
| Stage | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBT 1 | Mathematics, GI & Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering, General Awareness | 75 | 75 | 60 min | 1/3 |
| CBT 2 – Part A | Mathematics, Basic Science & Engineering, GI & Reasoning, General Awareness | 100 | 100 | 90 min | 1/3 |
| CBT 2 – Part B | Trade Syllabus (ITI/Engineering) | 75 | 75 | 60 min | No |
| CBAT | Psychometric & Aptitude Test | — | Qualifying | As scheduled | — |
CBT 1 acts as the screening round. Focus on Maths and Basic Science & Engineering — together they account for ~50% of marks. Build speed in arithmetic and practise short-cut methods for HCF, LCM, percentages and mensuration before CBT 1.
Part A syllabus largely overlaps with CBT 1 but has higher difficulty. Part B is trade-specific — download the official ITI syllabus for your trade and cover it topic by topic. Candidates often ignore Part B and lose the final merit rank.
Don't batch mock tests only at the end. After completing Maths and Reasoning, take a sectional mock, analyse wrong answers, and revise within 48 hours. Weekly full-length mocks are ideal from 4 weeks before your exam date.
With 1/3 negative marking, random guessing destroys scores. Train yourself to skip questions you are less than 60% confident about. Solving 60 questions with 90% accuracy beats 75 questions with 70% accuracy in net marks.
The Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) is qualifying in nature but eliminates many candidates. Practise spatial, mechanical, and signal-type questions. Check that you meet the colour vision requirements early — this is a disqualifying criterion.
CBT 1 covers four sections: Mathematics (Number System, Algebra, Trigonometry, Mensuration etc.), General Intelligence & Reasoning (Analogies, Coding-Decoding, Series etc.), Basic Science & Engineering (Units, Physics, IT Basics, Drawing), and General Awareness (Current Affairs, Railways, Science).
Yes — 1/3 mark is deducted for every wrong answer in CBT 1 and CBT 2 Part A. CBT 2 Part B does not carry negative marking.
Four stages: CBT 1 (screening), CBT 2 with Part A (common) and Part B (trade-specific), CBAT (qualifying aptitude test for ALP candidates), and Document Verification.
Download the official trade syllabus from the RRB notification for your specific ITI trade. Prepare from NCVT/NIMI study material and solve previous-year trade questions. Practice alongside Part A topics, not after.
CBAT stands for Computer-Based Aptitude Test. It tests spatial ability, mechanical aptitude, colour vision, and psychometric skills. It is qualifying in nature — candidates must score the minimum cut-off to remain eligible. There is no negative marking in CBAT.
4–6 focused hours per day over 3–4 months is sufficient for most aspirants. Split study sessions: Maths/Science in the morning, Reasoning in the afternoon, and Revision/Mock analysis in the evening. Consistency over the weeks matters more than long single-day sessions.