RRB ALP Exam Pattern 2026: Revised CBT 1, CBT 2 and CBAT Marking Scheme
RRB ALP exam pattern 2026 is set by the Railway Recruitment Boards under CEN 01/2026 for 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot posts. The exam runs across CBT 1, CBT 2, and CBAT, and this cycle changes both the CBT 1 subject count and the final merit weightage, not just the usual marks and duration. This page covers the stage-wise marking scheme, sectional timing, trade-wise Part B pattern, and what is different from last cycle, alongside the RRB ALP syllabus this pattern is built around.
RRB ALP Exam Pattern 2026 Highlights
RRB ALP exam pattern 2026 runs across three computer-based stages before document verification and a medical exam. The table below gives the overall shape of the exam, the stage-wise marking detail follows further down this page.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB), CEN 01/2026 |
| Vacancies | 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot posts |
| Selection Stages | CBT 1, CBT 2 (Part A and Part B), CBAT, Document Verification, Medical Examination |
| Exam Mode | Online, computer-based |
| Question Type | Objective, multiple choice |
| Total Marks, CBT 1 | 75 |
| Total Marks, CBT 2 | 175 (Part A 100, Part B 75) |
| Marking Scheme | 1 mark per correct answer in CBT 1 and CBT 2 |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd mark deducted per wrong answer in CBT 1 and CBT 2; none in CBAT |
| Medium of Exam | 15 languages including English and Hindi for CBT; English and Hindi only for CBAT |
| Final Merit Formula (2026) | CBT 2 Part A 50% + CBAT 50% |
RRB ALP 2026 Marking Scheme
RRB ALP marking scheme is the same across CBT 1 and CBT 2, one mark for every correct answer and a fixed penalty for every wrong one. CBAT works differently since it is a qualifying psychometric test, not a knowledge-based paper, so it carries no negative marking at all.
| Stage | Marks per Correct Answer | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|
| CBT 1 | 1 | 1/3rd mark per wrong answer |
| CBT 2 Part A | 1 | 1/3rd mark per wrong answer |
| CBT 2 Part B | 1 | 1/3rd mark per wrong answer |
| CBAT | Not applicable, qualifying only | None |
Unattempted questions carry no penalty at any stage. A candidate should treat the 1/3rd deduction as a real cost, since 3 to 4 careless wrong answers can undo the benefit of attempting a few extra questions.
RRB ALP CBT 1 Pattern 2026
RRB ALP CBT 1 is a screening stage, 75 questions for 75 marks in 60 minutes. For 2026 this stage covers only three subjects, Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, and General Science. CBT 1 marks are not carried into the final merit, this stage is only used to shortlist candidates for CBT 2 at roughly 15 times the vacancies per RRB zone.
| Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 75 | 75 | 60 minutes |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | |||
| General Science |
RRB has not published an official question-wise split across the revised three subjects yet. Based on the previous cycle's proportions, Reasoning is likely to carry the most questions of the three, but this is a trend estimate, not an official figure, until the shortlisting notice confirms it. Minimum qualifying marks stand at 40% for UR and EWS, 30% for OBC-NCL and SC, and 25% for ST, with the same slabs applied to Ex-servicemen by their original category.
RRB ALP CBT 2 Pattern 2026: Part A and Part B
RRB ALP CBT 2 is longer and more technical than CBT 1, and it decides the actual merit rank. It runs in two parts on the same day, Part A for merit and Part B as a qualifying trade paper, with the same 1 mark per question and 1/3rd negative marking as CBT 1.
| Part | Subjects | No. of Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A | Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, Basic Science and Engineering | 100 | 90 minutes |
| Part B | Relevant Trade (qualifying only) | 75 | 60 minutes |
| Total | 175 | 150 minutes | |
Only Part A marks count toward shortlisting for CBAT, and only if the candidate also clears Part B's 35% qualifying mark, which applies to every category equally. Part A qualifying marks follow the same 40/30/30/25 percent slabs as CBT 1.
Trade-Wise RRB ALP CBT 2 Part B Pattern
RRB ALP Part B pattern is not the same paper for every candidate, it depends on the trade the candidate selects at the time of application, and that trade has to match their ITI, diploma, or engineering background. The table below maps each engineering background to its eligible trade options.
| Engineering Background | Eligible Trade/Subject |
|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering and related combinations | Electrician, Instrument Mechanic, Wireman, Armature and Coil Winder, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic |
| Electronics Engineering and related combinations | Electronics Mechanic, Mechanic (Radio and TV) |
| Mechanical Engineering and related combinations | Fitter, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Tractor Mechanic, Mechanic (Diesel), Turner, Machinist, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic, Heat Engine, Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic |
| Automobile Engineering and related combinations | Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Tractor Mechanic, Mechanic (Diesel), Heat Engine, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic |
RRB ALP CBAT Pattern 2026
RRB ALP CBAT, or the Psycho Test, runs only for this post among RRB's technical recruitments. It checks mental alertness and decision-making rather than subject knowledge, and roughly 8 times the vacancies per category get shortlisted for it, based on CBT 2 Part A performance.
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of Test Batteries | 5 (Memory, Following Directions, Depth Perception, Observation/Concentration, Perceptual Speed) |
| Minimum Qualifying Marks | 42 marks in each battery |
| Negative Marking | None |
| Medium | English and Hindi |
| Weightage in Final Merit (2026) | 50% |
A candidate has to clear all five batteries individually, scoring well on average across them is not enough if any single battery falls below 42.
What Changed in RRB ALP Exam Pattern for 2026
RRB ALP exam pattern for 2026 carries two real changes from CEN 01/2025, both of which affect preparation, not just the marks sheet.
General Awareness and Current Affairs, worth roughly 10 of the 75 marks in CBT 1 previously, has been dropped from CBT 1 entirely. The stage still totals 75 questions and 75 marks, spread only across Mathematics, Reasoning, and General Science.
The final merit formula has also changed. CBT 2 Part A carried 70% weightage and CBAT carried 30% in the previous cycle. For 2026, both are weighted 50% each, which means CBAT can no longer be treated as a formality after a strong CBT 2 score.
Vacancies have also moved from 9,970 in the previous cycle to 11,127 for CEN 01/2026. CBT 2 Part B, the trade paper, is unchanged.
Section-Wise Weightage in RRB ALP 2026
RRB does not release an official topic-by-topic weightage sheet for RRB ALP, so the table below reflects past-cycle patterns, not a confirmed RRB figure. It is still useful for deciding where to spend revision time across CBT 1 and CBT 2 Part A.
| Subject | Share of CBT 1 / Part A Questions |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | Roughly a quarter to a third of the paper in past cycles |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | The single largest section in past cycles |
| General Science | A smaller, steady share, mostly Class 10 level physics and life science |
| Basic Science and Engineering (Part A only) | A large share of Part A's 100 questions |
RRB ALP Selection Process After CBT and CBAT
Clearing CBT 1, CBT 2, and CBAT does not end the process. RRB calls shortlisted candidates for document verification and a detailed medical examination after CBAT, and a candidate can still be dropped at this stage for a document mismatch or a failed medical standard, regardless of how they scored in the written stages. There is no interview at any point in RRB ALP recruitment.
Recommended Books for RRB ALP Exam Pattern 2026
A candidate does not need a large shelf of books to cover RRB ALP's pattern well. The table below lists commonly used titles by subject; General Awareness titles are listed for their General Science overlap only, since General Awareness itself is off the CBT 1 pattern this year.
| Subject | Book Title | Author/Publication |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Fast Track Objective Arithmetic | Rajesh Verma, Arihant |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | Analytical Reasoning | M.K. Pandey |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | Test of Reasoning | Edgar Thorpe |
| General Science | Lucent's General Knowledge | Lucent Publications |
| Technical Ability / Trade | Trade-specific ITI textbook (per candidate's own trade) | DGT-prescribed |
RRB ALP Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
Ques: Has the CBAT weightage changed in RRB ALP exam pattern 2026?
Ans: Yes. CBAT now carries 50% weightage in the final merit, up from 30% in the previous cycle, while CBT 2 Part A has dropped from 70% to 50%.
Ques: Is General Awareness still tested in RRB ALP CBT 1?
Ans: No. General Awareness and Current Affairs has been removed from CBT 1 for 2026. CBT 1 now covers only Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, and General Science.
Ques: Does RRB ALP CBT 2 Part B carry the same pattern for every candidate?
Ans: No. Part B is trade-specific, so the questions a candidate gets depend on the trade they selected based on their ITI, diploma, or engineering background.
Ques: What happens if a candidate clears CBT 2 Part A but not Part B's qualifying mark?
Ans: The candidate is not shortlisted for CBAT. Part B is qualifying only, so its marks do not add to the merit, but 35% is still required to clear it, regardless of Part A performance.
Ques: Can a strong CBT 2 score make up for a weak CBAT performance in the 2026 merit list?
Ans: Not to the extent it could earlier. With CBAT now weighted equally at 50%, a weak CBAT score has a much bigger effect on the final rank than it did under the previous 70:30 split.
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