What is the timing structure of the RRB Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) exam?

One 1 hr overall timer for the whole paper. No sectional locks — the section split is indicative only. CBT-1 (Screening): CEN lists syllabus topics only (Mathematics, Mental Ability, General Science, General Awareness); per-section question counts NOT published in CEN — not inferred. You can move freely between sections and questions at any time. The test submits automatically when time runs out. The timer cannot be paused once started. One 1 hr 30 min overall timer for the whole paper. No sectional locks — the section split is indicative only. Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering: CEN lists syllabus topics only; per-section question counts NOT published in CEN — not inferred. You can move freely between sections and questions at any time. The test submits automatically when time runs out. The timer cannot be paused once started.

Is there negative marking in RRB Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP)?

Yes — CBT-1 (Screening): −0.333 per wrong answer; Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering: −0.333 per wrong answer; Relevant Trade (per DGT trade syllabus of candidate's qualification): −0.333 per wrong answer.

RRB Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP)

Cycle 2026

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

DRAFT — unverified

Unverified — pending official notification check.

Pattern from official CEN 01/2025 detailed PDF (RRB Chennai); no pattern change reported for CEN 01/2026, but 01/2026 detailed CEN text not directly read. Final-merit weightage 70/30 per CEN 01/2025; 50/50 reported for 01/2026 by secondary sources — UNVERIFIED.

Vacancies

11,127

CEN 01/2026

Exam pattern

1.CBT-1

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

Main Session

Sections & timing

Section	Timing	Questions	Marks / Q	Negative	Nature
CBT-1 (Screening)	Indicative split — not timed separately	75	1	−0.333	Indicative split

Start mock test

Timing & navigation rules

One 1 hr overall timer for the whole paper. No sectional locks — the section split is indicative only.
CBT-1 (Screening): CEN lists syllabus topics only (Mathematics, Mental Ability, General Science, General Awareness); per-section question counts NOT published in CEN — not inferred.
You can move freely between sections and questions at any time.
The test submits automatically when time runs out.
The timer cannot be paused once started.

2.CBT-2

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

Part-A

Sections & timing

Section	Timing	Questions	Marks / Q	Negative	Nature
Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering	Indicative split — not timed separately	100	1	−0.333	Indicative split

Start mock test — Part-A

Part-B

Sections & timing

Section	Timing	Questions	Marks / Q	Negative	Nature
Relevant Trade (per DGT trade syllabus of candidate's qualification)	Indicative split — not timed separately	75	1	−0.333	Indicative split

Start mock test — Part-B

Timing & navigation rules

One 1 hr 30 min overall timer for the whole paper. No sectional locks — the section split is indicative only.
Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering: CEN lists syllabus topics only; per-section question counts NOT published in CEN — not inferred.
You can move freely between sections and questions at any time.
The test submits automatically when time runs out.
The timer cannot be paused once started.

3.CBAT

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

Computer Based Aptitude Test (RDSO). No negative marking. Minimum T-score 42 in EACH test battery (mandatory). English and Hindi only. Final merit per CEN 01/2025: 70% CBT-2 Part-A + 30% CBAT (50/50 reported for 01/2026 — UNVERIFIED).

4.Document Verification

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

Document Verification on CBT-2 Part-A merit + CBAT qualification.

5.Medical

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

ALP medical standard A-1 (stringent vision standards). Medically unsuitable candidates get no alternative appointment.

Notes from the official source

CBT-1 · CBT-1 — Screening · Main Session — navigation

CEN does not specify section navigation/locking rules.

CBT-1 · CBT-1 — Screening · Main Session — qualifying criteria

Screening only — CBT-1 marks NOT counted in final panel (CEN 12.1(b)). Qualifying: UR 40, EWS 40, OBC 30, SC 30, ST 25. Shortlisting for CBT-2: 15x vacancies RRB-wise on normalized marks.

CBT-2 — note

Parts A and B are separately timed sessions within one sitting (total 175 questions, 2h30m). CBAT shortlisting: 8x vacancies per community on Part-A marks.

CBT-2 · CBT-2 — Part A (Merit) + Part B (Qualifying) · Part-A — session note

Only Part-A marks count for shortlisting to CBAT and final merit.

CBT-2 · CBT-2 — Part A (Merit) + Part B (Qualifying) · Part-B — qualifying criteria

Qualifying 35% for all categories.

CBT-2 · CBT-2 — Part A (Merit) + Part B (Qualifying) · Part-B — session note

Qualifying only — 35% for all categories; marks not added to merit.

CBAT — note

Document Verification — note

Document Verification on CBT-2 Part-A merit + CBAT qualification.

Medical — note

ALP medical standard A-1 (stringent vision standards). Medically unsuitable candidates get no alternative appointment.

Sources

Exam pattern

1.CBT-1

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

Main Session

Sections & timing

Section	Timing	Questions	Marks / Q	Negative	Nature
CBT-1 (Screening)	Indicative split — not timed separately	75	1	−0.333	Indicative split

Start mock test

Timing & navigation rules

One 1 hr overall timer for the whole paper. No sectional locks — the section split is indicative only.
CBT-1 (Screening): CEN lists syllabus topics only (Mathematics, Mental Ability, General Science, General Awareness); per-section question counts NOT published in CEN — not inferred.
You can move freely between sections and questions at any time.
The test submits automatically when time runs out.
The timer cannot be paused once started.

2.CBT-2

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

Part-A

Sections & timing

Section	Timing	Questions	Marks / Q	Negative	Nature
Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering	Indicative split — not timed separately	100	1	−0.333	Indicative split

Start mock test — Part-A

Part-B

Sections & timing

Section	Timing	Questions	Marks / Q	Negative	Nature
Relevant Trade (per DGT trade syllabus of candidate's qualification)	Indicative split — not timed separately	75	1	−0.333	Indicative split

Start mock test — Part-B

Timing & navigation rules

One 1 hr 30 min overall timer for the whole paper. No sectional locks — the section split is indicative only.
Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering: CEN lists syllabus topics only; per-section question counts NOT published in CEN — not inferred.
You can move freely between sections and questions at any time.
The test submits automatically when time runs out.
The timer cannot be paused once started.

3.CBAT

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

4.Document Verification

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

Document Verification on CBT-2 Part-A merit + CBAT qualification.

5.Medical

OFFICIAL PARTIAL

ALP medical standard A-1 (stringent vision standards). Medically unsuitable candidates get no alternative appointment.

Notes from the official source

CBT-1 · CBT-1 — Screening · Main Session — navigation

CEN does not specify section navigation/locking rules.

CBT-1 · CBT-1 — Screening · Main Session — qualifying criteria

Screening only — CBT-1 marks NOT counted in final panel (CEN 12.1(b)). Qualifying: UR 40, EWS 40, OBC 30, SC 30, ST 25. Shortlisting for CBT-2: 15x vacancies RRB-wise on normalized marks.

CBT-2 — note

Parts A and B are separately timed sessions within one sitting (total 175 questions, 2h30m). CBAT shortlisting: 8x vacancies per community on Part-A marks.

CBT-2 · CBT-2 — Part A (Merit) + Part B (Qualifying) · Part-A — session note

Only Part-A marks count for shortlisting to CBAT and final merit.

CBT-2 · CBT-2 — Part A (Merit) + Part B (Qualifying) · Part-B — qualifying criteria

Qualifying 35% for all categories.

CBT-2 · CBT-2 — Part A (Merit) + Part B (Qualifying) · Part-B — session note

Qualifying only — 35% for all categories; marks not added to merit.

CBAT — note

Document Verification — note

Document Verification on CBT-2 Part-A merit + CBAT qualification.

Medical — note

ALP medical standard A-1 (stringent vision standards). Medically unsuitable candidates get no alternative appointment.