RRB ALP syllabus 2026 covers Mathematics, Reasoning, General Science and Basic Science & Engineering. CBT-1 is 75 questions in 60 minutes, CBT-2 has Part A and Part B, all with 1/3 negative marking.
The RRB ALP syllabus 2026 covers Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning and General Science in CBT-1, and adds Basic Science and Engineering plus a trade paper in CBT-2. Under CEN 01/2026, CBT-1 is now a 3 section paper of 75 questions for 75 marks in 60 minutes, CBT-2 has a merit deciding Part A of 100 questions in 90 minutes and a qualifying Part B of 75 questions in 60 minutes, and every stage applies 1/3 negative marking. For Assistant Loco Pilot posts there is also a Computer Based Aptitude Test after CBT-2.
RRB ALP stands for Assistant Loco Pilot, a Level 2 running post recruited by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) under the Railway Recruitment Control Board, Ministry of Railways. This guide gives you the exact CBT-1 and CBT-2 pattern, what CEN 01/2026 changed, the full topic level syllabus, the CBAT and the complete selection process, plus our first-party analysis of what actually decides the normalized cutoff, grounded in the question bank we built for the RRB ALP full mock test series on Quiz4Exam.
RRB ALP CBT-1 2026 is a single objective paper of 75 questions for 75 marks in 60 minutes, with 3 sections: Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, and General Science. You earn 1 mark per correct answer and lose 1/3 mark per wrong answer. CBT-1 is only a screening stage: its normalized score shortlists you for CBT-2 and is not counted in the final merit. The paper is Class 10 level.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 25 | 25 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 25 |
| General Science | 25 | 25 |
| Total | 75 | 75 |
The 25 questions per section shown above is the observed split from past ALP papers and is not officially fixed in the notification, so treat it as a working estimate. The total of 75 questions, 75 marks and 60 minutes, and the 1/3 negative marking, are the confirmed figures. The overall qualifying marks in CBT-1 are 40 percent for UR and EWS, 30 percent for OBC-NCL, 30 percent for SC and 25 percent for ST.
CEN 01/2026 made two key changes. First, General Awareness and Current Affairs was dropped from CBT-1, so the first stage is now 3 sections (Mathematics, Reasoning, General Science) instead of the older 4 section paper. Second, the CBAT weightage was raised, so final selection for Assistant Loco Pilot now weighs CBT-2 Part A and the CBAT at 50 percent each.
These changes matter for strategy. With no General Awareness in CBT-1, your CBT-1 score now rests entirely on Maths, Reasoning and General Science, which sharpens the value of speed and accuracy in the first two. And because the CBAT counts for 50 percent of the ALP merit, clearing CBT-2 is no longer enough on its own: the aptitude test becomes a genuine selection filter, not a formality. CEN 01/2026 was notified on 14 May 2026 with 11,127 vacancies, and the CBT-1 date is expected in H2 2026 or early 2027. Treat the date as tentative and confirm the live RRB CEN.
RRB ALP CBT-2 has two parts taken in one sitting. Part A is 100 questions for 100 marks in 90 minutes and is merit deciding, covering Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, and Basic Science and Engineering. Part B is 75 questions for 75 marks in 60 minutes, is trade based and only qualifying at 35 percent for all categories, so Part B marks are not added to the merit list. Both parts apply 1/3 negative marking.
| Feature | Part A | Part B |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 100 | 75 |
| Marks | 100 | 75 |
| Duration | 90 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Negative marking | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| Role | Merit deciding | Qualifying only |
| Qualifying mark | Category cutoff | 35 percent |
Inside Part A the observed split is roughly Mathematics 25, Reasoning 25 and Basic Science and Engineering 40, but this internal split is not officially fixed, so treat it as an estimate. Part B tests the relevant trade from the notified list, and you only need to clear the 35 percent qualifying bar; scoring high in Part B gives no merit advantage.
The RRB ALP syllabus is Class 10 standard across CBT-1 and CBT-2, with CBT-2 adding Basic Science and Engineering. Mathematics, Reasoning and General Science repeat across both stages at higher difficulty in CBT-2, while Basic Science and Engineering and the trade paper are unique to CBT-2.
Mathematics: number system, BODMAS, decimals, fractions, LCM and HCF, ratio and proportion, percentage, average, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, time and work, time and distance, mensuration, algebra, geometry, elementary trigonometry, number series, pipes and cisterns, and elementary statistics.
General Intelligence and Reasoning: analogies, classification, number and alphabetical series, coding-decoding, syllogism, Venn diagrams, blood relations, data sufficiency, statement and conclusion, direction sense, ranking, calendars, clocks, mathematical operations, puzzles and non-verbal reasoning.
General Science: Class 10 Physics, Chemistry and Biology, covering topics such as motion and force, work and energy, light, electricity, matter, acids bases and salts, metals and non-metals, the human body, life processes, and basic environment.
Basic Science and Engineering (CBT-2 Part A only): Engineering Drawing (projections, views, drawing instruments, symbolic representation), Units and Measurements, Mass Weight and Density, Work Power and Energy, Speed and Velocity, Heat and Temperature, Basic Electricity, Levers and Simple Machines, Occupational Safety and Health, Environment Education, and IT Literacy. Part B covers the relevant engineering trade as per your qualification.
The CBAT (Computer Based Aptitude Test) is an ALP-only stage taken after CBT-2. It is a psychometric battery, not a standard MCQ test, and measures memory, directions, depth perception, concentration and perceptual speed. You must score at least 42 marks in each battery to qualify, there is no negative marking, and under CEN 01/2026 the CBAT carries 50 percent weight in the final ALP merit alongside CBT-2 Part A.
The full RRB ALP selection process runs in order: CBT-1 (screening, normalized, not in merit), then CBT-2 (Part A merit plus Part B trade qualifying at 35 percent), then CBAT (ALP only, 50 percent weight), then Document Verification, and finally a Medical Examination at the A-1 vision standard required for running staff. The CBT-1 qualifying percentages are 40 for UR and EWS, 30 for OBC-NCL, 30 for SC and 25 for ST. Every stage after CBT-1 is a real filter, so plan for the full pipeline, not just the first paper.
Treat CBT-1 as a Class 10 speed test and build Mathematics and Reasoning first, because across the real memory based ALP papers we analysed while building the Quiz4Exam bank, these two sections decide the normalized cutoff. With General Awareness gone from CBT-1, there is nowhere to hide weak arithmetic, so accuracy under time is the whole game.
Prepare all four content areas from the start, since CBT-2 reuses Maths, Reasoning and General Science at higher difficulty and adds Basic Science and Engineering. Drill General Science from Class 10 NCERT, start Basic Science and Engineering early because Engineering Drawing and Basic Electricity carry the largest Part A weight, and do not neglect the CBAT: since it counts for 50 percent of ALP merit, practise the memory, concentration and perceptual speed batteries well before CBT-2. Always take mocks with 1/3 negative marking applied so your attempt strategy is realistic. For a full study plan, read our RRB ALP preparation strategy guide, see the pay and role in our RRB ALP salary and job profile guide, and compare with the RRB Group D syllabus and exam pattern if you are eligible for both.
Yes. RRB ALP applies 1/3 negative marking in CBT-1 and in both parts of CBT-2: you earn 1 mark for each correct answer and lose 1/3 mark for each wrong answer, while a blank question costs nothing. The CBAT is the only stage with no negative marking. Scores are normalized across shifts to keep difficulty fair.
RRB ALP selection runs in five stages: CBT-1 (screening, normalized, not in merit), CBT-2 with a merit deciding Part A and a qualifying Part B, the Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) for Assistant Loco Pilot only, Document Verification, and a Medical Examination at the A-1 vision standard for running staff.
No. Under CEN 01/2026, General Awareness and Current Affairs was dropped from CBT-1, so the first stage now has 3 sections: Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, and General Science. The 75 question, 75 mark, 60 minute CBT-1 rests entirely on these three subjects at Class 10 level.
CBAT is the Computer Based Aptitude Test, an Assistant Loco Pilot only stage taken after CBT-2. It is a psychometric battery testing memory, directions, depth perception, concentration and perceptual speed, needs at least 42 marks in each battery, has no negative marking, and under CEN 01/2026 carries 50 percent weight in the final ALP merit.
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RRB ALP CBT-2 Part A (100 questions, 100 marks, 90 minutes, merit deciding) covers Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, and Basic Science and Engineering such as Engineering Drawing, Units and Measurements, Work Power and Energy, Basic Electricity and IT Literacy. Part B (75 questions, 60 minutes) is trade based and qualifying at 35 percent only.
