How it's calculated
Unattempted questions score zero. Fractions are kept exact and the total is rounded once, to two decimals.
Estimate only. Official results, marks and eligibility are decided by the Railway Recruitment Boards. Verify on the official website.
Worked example: RRB NTPC 1st Stage CBT
General Awareness: 32 right, 4 wrong; Mathematics: 24 right, 3 wrong; General Intelligence and Reasoning: 24 right, 3 wrong. Total: 76.67 out of 100. The UR qualifying mark is 40 (40%), so this score clears it.
RRB NTPC 2026 exam pattern and marking
RRB NTPC 1st Stage CBT
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Wrong answer | Max marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 1 | −1/3 | 40 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 1 | −1/3 | 30 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 30 | 1 | −1/3 | 30 |
100 questions of 1 mark each in 90 minutes (120 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates); the section split is 'only indicative' and may vary. 1/3 mark is deducted per wrong answer. Minimum marks for eligibility: UR 40%, EWS 40%, OBC-NCL 30%, SC 30%, ST 25% (may be relaxed by 2 marks for PwBD if PwBD candidates are short). Normalised marks are used for shortlisting. Same pattern in CEN 06/2026 (Graduate) and CEN 07/2026 (Under Graduate), and unchanged from CEN 06/2025 and 07/2025.
RRB NTPC 2nd Stage CBT
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Wrong answer | Max marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 50 | 1 | −1/3 | 50 |
| Mathematics | 35 | 1 | −1/3 | 35 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 35 | 1 | −1/3 | 35 |
120 questions of 1 mark each in 90 minutes (120 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates); the section split is 'only indicative' and may vary. 1/3 mark is deducted per wrong answer. Minimum marks for eligibility: UR 40%, EWS 40%, OBC-NCL 30%, SC 30%, ST 25% (may be relaxed by 2 marks for PwBD if PwBD candidates are short). Normalised marks are used for shortlisting. Same pattern in CEN 06/2026 (Graduate) and CEN 07/2026 (Under Graduate), and unchanged from CEN 06/2025 and 07/2025.
Using your score
- Count right and wrong answers from the official answer key for a reliable score.
- Marks are normalised when a CBT is held in more than one shift, so your official marks can differ.
- There is no typing or aptitude test this time. Both 2026 notices dispense with the typing skill test, and CEN 06/2026 has no Station Master or Traffic Assistant posts, which needed the aptitude test.
Frequently asked questions
What is the negative marking in RRB NTPC 2026?
RRB NTPC 1st Stage CBT: +1 for a right answer, −1/3 for a wrong one. RRB NTPC 2nd Stage CBT: +1 for a right answer, −1/3 for a wrong one.
What are the total marks in RRB NTPC 1st Stage CBT?
100 marks: General Awareness (40 questions), Mathematics (30 questions), General Intelligence and Reasoning (30 questions).
Is an unattempted question marked negatively?
No. Only wrong answers carry a penalty. A question left blank scores zero.
How do I count my right and wrong answers?
Compare your responses with the official answer key published by the exam body. Count only the questions you marked: those matching the key are right, the rest are wrong.
What are the minimum qualifying marks?
UR 40%, EWS 40%, OBC-NCL 30%, SC 30%, ST 25%. These are the minimum; cut-offs for the next stage are set after the exam.
Is the CBT pattern the same for Graduate and Under Graduate posts?
Yes. CEN 06/2026 and CEN 07/2026 give the same pattern, unchanged from the 2025 notices: the 1st Stage CBT has 100 questions and the 2nd Stage CBT has 120, each of 1 mark, in 90 minutes, with 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer. The papers are set to the standard of each notice’s qualification.
Do 1st Stage CBT marks count in the final merit?
No. The 1st Stage CBT is a screening test. Its normalised marks are used only to shortlist candidates, 15 times the vacancies, for the 2nd Stage CBT. Merit comes from the 2nd Stage CBT, and candidates equal to the number of vacancies are called for document verification.
Sources
- RRB Centralised Employment Notification (CEN) No. 06/2026, Non-Technical Popular Categories (Graduate), and CEN No. 07/2026 (Under Graduate), para 13.2.1, Railway Recruitment Boards, Ministry of Railways
- RRB Centralised Employment Notification (CEN) No. 07/2026, Non-Technical Popular Categories (Under Graduate), 14 October 2026, Railway Recruitment Boards, Ministry of Railways