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How to Prepare for RRB NTPC Graduate Exam 2024 Pattern, Tips and Tricks

How to Prepare for RRB NTPC Graduate Exam 2024 Pattern, Tips and Tricks

Posted On 2024-10-10

The Railway Recruitment Board conducts the RRB NTPC Graduate exam every year to recruit capable candidates across the various departments in the Indian railways for auxiliary posts. The examination can be challenging and competitive given that lakhs and lakhs of graduates sit for the exam. However, good preparation always makes it easy and helps candidates succeed in the exam.

This article is a comprehensive guide on how to prepare for the RRB NTPC graduate exam. We will go through the essential tips and tricks to go about the examination preparation and walk you through the exam patterns, syllabus, and all the fundamental information you must know as an aspiring candidate.

How to prepare for the RRB NTPC Graduate Exam?

The first step to preparing for the RRB NTPC Graduate Exam is knowing what is the exam all about and all the relevant information that comes with it, like exam notification, exam date, etc.

RRB NTPC Graduate Exam is specifically conducted to recruit capable Indian citizens to the Non-Technical Popular categories posts, to supplement the duties and responsibilities across the various departments in the Indian Railways. Typically, the RRB NTPC graduate-level exam is conducted for the following posts:

Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor
Goods Train Manager
Senior Clerk cum Typist
Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist
Station Master

The number of vacancies varies from year to year and region to region. Each year, RRB lays out the post parameters for different categories and vacancies across different regions in the examination notification

Know the Basics: RRB CEN 05/2024: RRB Non-Technical Graduate

RRB NTPC Graduate Level Eligibility

Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India or a Subject of Bhutan/Nepal. Tibetan refugees who came to India prior to January 1, 1962 are also eligible for the exam.

Educational Qualification: Must have a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university with typing proficiency for some of the posts.

Age Limit- between 18 to 36 years. ( Relaxation of 3 years included due to COVID pandemic as of 2024)

Lower Age Limit for all categories- Should be born before 01-01-2007

Upper Age Limit across categories (Not earlier than)

UR/EWS:02-01-1989
OBC- Non-Creamy Layer- 02-01-1986
SC/ST- 02-01-1984

Medium of Examination

The RRB conducts the NTPC Graduate level in English as well as other regional languages. Candidates desiring to take the exam in a language other than English must select the language choice during the application submission.

The various other regional languages include:

Assamese
Bengali
Gujarati
Hindi
Kannada
Konkani
Malayalam
Manipuri
Marathi
Odhia
Punjabi
Tamil
Telegu
Urdu

RRB NTPC Graduate Level Exam Pattern

The RRB NTPC Graduate level recruitment exam consists of three stages:

1st Stage: Computer-Based exam

The first stage Computer-Based Exam is common for all the posts notified. The exam duration for the first stage is 90 minutes in total and 120 minutes for PwBD candidates who use Scribe during the exam. In the exam, candidates will have a total of 100 questions divided into parts across the core subjects of General Awareness, Mathematics, and General Intelligence and Reasoning. Each question carries 1 mark with a negative marking of 1/3 deduction for every incorrect answer. The questions asked in the first stage exam generally conform with graduation level standards as listed against the various posts.

1st Stage Exam Scheme

Subject	No. of Questions & Marks	Exam Duration
General Awareness	40	90 Minutes 120 minutes for PwBD candidates
Mathematics	30
General Intelligence and Reasoning	30
Total	100

Exam Syllabus for Stage 1 and Stage 2

Subjects	Topics
General Awareness	Current events of both national and international importance
	Games and Sports
	India's Art and Culture
	India's Monuments and Places
	History of India and Freedom Struggle
	Geography of India and the World: Physical, Social and Economic
	General Science and Life Science ( 10std level)
	Indian Polity and Governance: Constitution and Political Systems
	General Scientific and Technological Developments, including the Space and Nuclear program of India
	UN and other important World Organizations
	Environmental Issues: India and the World at Large
	Basics of Computer and Computer Applications
	Common Abbreviations
	Transport Systems in India
	Indian Economy
	India and the World's Famous Personalities
	Flagship Government Programs
	India's Flora and Fauna
	Important Government and Public Sector Organizations of India
General Intelligence and Reasoning	Analogies
	Completion of Number and Alphabet series
	Coding and Decoding
	Mathematical Operations
	Similarities and Differences
	Relationships
	Analytical reasoning
	Syllogism
	Jumbling
	Venn Diagrams
	Puzzle
	Data Sufficiency
	Statement- Conclusion
	Statement- Courses of Action
	Maps
	Graphs Interpretation, etc
Mathematics	Number System
	Decimals
	Fractions
	LCM and HCF
	Ration and Proportions
	Percentage
	Mensuration
	Time and Work
	Time and Distance
	Simple and Compound Interest
	Profit and Loss
	Elementary Algebra
	Geometry
	Trigonometry
	Elementary Statistics, etc

2nd Stage Exam

The syllabus and duration of the second stage exam are similar to that of the first stage. However, in the second stage, the number of questions will be 120. Only candidates who qualify for the first stage are allowed to sit for the second stage.

Questions and Marks Distribution for Stage 2 RRB NTPC Graduate Level Exam

Subjects	No.of Questions & Mark	Exam Duration
General Awareness	50	120 Minutes
Mathematics	35
General Intelligence and Reasoning	35
Total	120

Typing Skill Test (TST)

This is a qualifying test and the marks obtained in this test are counted/cumulated in the merit score. The qualifying condition of this test is that candidates must be able to type 30 words in a minute (30 WPM) in English or 25 words (25 WPM) in Hindi without any use of editing tools or spell check facility on a computer

This test is specifically for the posts of:

Senior cum Typist
Junior Assistant cum Typist

Document Verification

Candidates who make it to the merit list, based on their performance in the examination, against the number of Vacancies will be called for document verification

How to Prepare for the Exam

Strategizing a solid preparation plan is crucial for getting through the RRN NTPC graduate-level exam. Unlike the other lower-level exams, the questions asked in this examination are of graduation level, which means, a more expansive syllabus and hard work on your part. The first step is to understand the exam scheme and patterns and equally divide the subjects in terms of studying hours, and time so that you will be able to give equal attention to all the subjects

Another crucial factor is considering your preparation plan. While self-study can be a great approach, getting help through coaching is one ideal way to prepare for your examination. Enrolling in a coaching institute gives you a more clear-cut idea of how to tackle the exams. From making an informed selection of core topics to learning shortcuts to solving time-taking problems, and familiarising yourself with the exam structure, coaching can be of great help to you. This does not however negate the fact that self-study can also be equally effective if you have an idea about how RRB NTPC graduate-level exams are usually conducted.

Here are a few must-do steps for your exam preparation

Practice Daily:

Following a routine and having a disciplined schedule is the most important element for your success in the RRB NTPC Graduate level exam. You must stick to studying and practising daily. This includes solving problems and questions from each section regularly.

Supplement your reading:

You may rely on certain books and materials for your study. However, to keep track of current events and news, it's essential for you to develop a habit of reading other materials like newspapers, magazines, etc. This habit will not only make it easier for you to cover general awareness topics.

Develop effective time management:

It's a challenging task to cover 100 questions in only one and a half hours, particularly those that require calculations. This can only be addressed by practising completing questions within the stipulated time frame and developing the habit of using shortcuts and formulas. Learn to distribute specific time for each section. This will help in completing all the questions during the exam. You do not want to engage too much time in one section or question that you are not sure of and miss out on attempting other areas that you are comfortable with.

Take Mock tests and practice previous years' questions:

This is one of the effective ways to not only acquaint yourself with the real exam but also develop speed, accuracy and time management. You will learn what the real exam is like and also help you assess your preparation progress. Mock tests are a simulation of the real exam. Taking numerous mock tests will boost your confidence and improve your preparation effectively. Attempting previous years' questions not only gives you an idea about what questions you can expect during the exam, but there are high chance of encountering similar fundamental and thematical questions.

Revision is Key:

Whatever you have studied, you must always back it up by revising as many times as possible. You may have covered every part of the syllabus during your preparation, but, it's natural, that you will forget amid exam pressure. To ensure that you do not forget them during the exam, make a habit of revising what you learn.

These are the few proven exam strategies that will help you succeed in the RRB NTPC graduate-level exam. Make sure you create a comprehensive study plan and stick to it religiously.