Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) will hold RRB ALP CBT 1 under CEN 01/2026 on 4 November 2026, and Shift 3 is the last sitting of the day. Reports mention 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM, while the e-call letter carries the confirmed timing. CBT 1 has 75 questions for 75 marks in 60 minutes with 1/3 negative marking, covering Mathematics, Mental Ability and General Science. It is part of RRB ALP recruitment for 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot posts. Shift 3 difficulty level, good attempts and questions asked are To Be Updated.
Shift 3 is judged on its own paper, without carrying over feedback from Shift 1 or Shift 2. Difficulty level, good attempts and subject-wise question counts will be filled from candidate reports and a review of the Shift 3 paper after it ends. Question papers and answer keys will be added after the exam; see RRB ALP 2026 CBT 1 question paper for updates.
| Section | Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Not officially specified | To Be Updated | To Be Updated |
| Mental Ability | Not officially specified | To Be Updated | To Be Updated |
| General Science | Not officially specified | To Be Updated | To Be Updated |
| Overall | 75 | To Be Updated | To Be Updated |
Note: Good attempts refer to the number of questions candidates may attempt with reasonable accuracy. The overall range will be a broad benchmark based on shift reports and will not be calculated by adding every endpoint of the subject-wise ranges. Actual performance depends on accuracy and the 4 November question paper.
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Sources do not agree on the Shift 3 slot. Most reports mention 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM, and one gives 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The shift and timing printed on the e-call letter are the only ones to follow. Steps to download the letter are on RRB ALP admit card.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam | RRB ALP CBT 1 (First Stage CBT), CEN 01/2026 |
| Conducting Body | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) |
| Post and Vacancies | Assistant Loco Pilot, 11,127 |
| Exam Date | 4 November 2026 (CBT 1 scheduled from 3 to 5 November 2026, three shifts a day) |
| Shift 3 Exam Timing | As printed on the e-call letter (reported as 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM; one source says 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM) |
| Reporting and Gate-Closing Time | As printed on the e-call letter |
| Mode | Computer-based test |
| Questions and Marks | 75 questions, 75 marks (1 mark each) |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 mark for each wrong answer |
| Subjects | Mathematics, Mental Ability, General Science (General Awareness removed) |
| Medium | English, Hindi and 13 regional languages (questions also shown in English) |
| Documents to Carry | E-call letter, original photo ID and one colour passport-size photograph not older than two months |
| Not Allowed Inside | Mobile phones, watches, calculators, pens, bags, water bottles and food items (a pen is provided) |
| E-call Letter | Official website of the chosen RRB, for example www.rrbcdg.gov.in |
The section-wise review will be added after the evening sitting on 3 November. RRB has not published a question split across the three subjects, so counts will be confirmed from the paper. The topics below come from the CEN 01/2026 syllabus and are not confirmed as asked in Shift 3. The full list is on RRB ALP syllabus.
Mathematics tests speed and accuracy in arithmetic, along with algebra, geometry and trigonometry. Syllabus topics to expect:
Difficulty Level: To Be Updated
Good Attempts: To Be Updated
Mental Ability is the reasoning section, with verbal, numerical and figure-based questions. Syllabus topics to expect:
Difficulty Level: To Be Updated
Good Attempts: To Be Updated
General Science covers Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences at Class 10 level. Syllabus areas to expect:
Difficulty Level: To Be Updated
Good Attempts: To Be Updated
CBT 1 gives 3,600 seconds for 75 questions, an average of 48 seconds per question. The points below follow from the marking scheme in CEN 01/2026. Practice sets on RRB ALP mock tests help in checking speed against this average.
| RRB ALP 2026 Exam Analysis | Analysis Link |
|---|---|
| RRB ALP 2026 CBT 1 Exam Analysis (Nov 03, 2026) (Shift 1) | Click Here |
| RRB ALP 2026 CBT 1 Exam Analysis (Nov 03, 2026) (Shift 2) | Click Here |
| RRB ALP 2026 CBT 1 Exam Analysis (Nov 04, 2026) (Shift 1) | Click Here |
| RRB ALP 2026 CBT 1 Exam Analysis (Nov 04, 2026) (Shift 2) | Click Here |
This is a historical benchmark, not a Shift 3 finding. It reflects the previous cycle (CEN 01/2025) CBT 1 held on 13, 16, 17 and 18 February 2026, with all shifts combined. That paper had General Awareness, which is not part of CBT 1 in 2026, so subject ratings are indicative only.
| Subject | Difficulty Level (Feb 2026 CBT 1, All Shifts) |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | Moderate |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | Easy to Moderate |
| General Science | Moderate |
| General Awareness and Current Affairs (not in 2026 CBT 1) | Easy to Moderate / Moderate |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate |
CBT 1 only screens candidates, and its marks are not counted in the final merit list. Marks of all shifts are normalised, so a Shift 3 score is compared on a common scale. RRBs shortlist candidates for CBT 2 at 15 times the notified vacancies of each RRB, based on CBT 1 merit.
| Category | Minimum Pass Percentage | Equivalent Marks (out of 75) |
|---|---|---|
| UR and EWS | 40% | 30 |
| OBC (NCL) | 30% | 22.5 |
| SC | 30% | 22.5 |
| ST | 25% | 18.75 |
These are qualifying percentages, not shortlisting cutoffs. The expected cutoff is not yet determined; see RRB ALP cutoff for updates. The stages after CBT 1 are given below.
| Stage | Details as per CEN 01/2026 |
|---|---|
| CBT 2 | 175 questions in 150 minutes. Part A has 100 questions in 90 minutes and counts for merit. Part B has 75 questions in 60 minutes and is qualifying, with a minimum of 35%. |
| CBAT | No negative marking. A T-score of at least 42 is needed in each battery, and about 8 times the vacancies are shortlisted. |
| Final Merit | 50% weightage each to CBT 2 Part A and CBAT, followed by document verification and medical examination. |
| Relevant Links | ||
|---|---|---|
| RRB ALP Exam Pattern | RRB ALP Syllabus | RRB ALP Cutoff |
| RRB ALP Eligibility | RRB ALP Study Material | RRB ALP Results |
Ques: What is the exam timing for RRB ALP CBT 1 Shift 3 on 4 November 2026?
Ans: Shift timing is printed on the e-call letter. Reports mention 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM, though one source gives 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, so candidates should follow the letter for reporting and gate-closing times.
Ques: What are the difficulty level and good attempts for RRB ALP 4 November Shift 3?
Ans: Both are To Be Updated. They will be added after candidate feedback and a review of the Shift 3 paper, and good attempts will be an estimate, not an official score.
Ques: How much time per question does RRB ALP CBT 1 allow?
Ans: CBT 1 has 75 questions in 60 minutes, so the average is 48 seconds per question (3,600 seconds divided by 75). Calculation-heavy questions may need more time than that.
Ques: How many marks are needed to qualify RRB ALP CBT 1 in the UR category?
Ans: UR and EWS candidates need a minimum of 40%, which is 30 marks out of 75. This only makes a candidate eligible to be considered; shortlisting for CBT 2 depends on normalised CBT 1 merit.
Ques: What comes after RRB ALP CBT 1?
Ans: Shortlisted candidates appear for CBT 2 (175 questions in 150 minutes), followed by CBAT. Final merit gives 50% weightage each to CBT 2 Part A and CBAT, and then document verification and medical examination follow.
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