Pattern
RRB JE — RRB JE exam pattern 2026: CBT 1, CBT 2, technical abilities and negative marking
JE has two computer-based tests, document verification and a medical examination. CBT 1 is common to all posts and screens; CBT 2 is set for each exam group with 100 of its 150 marks on technical abilities, and its normalised marks are the merit list. Both tests are one clock with a third of a mark deducted per wrong answer.
RRB JE CBT 1 — first stage, common to all posts. Objective; 1 mark per question; 90 minutes (120 with a scribe); one third of a mark deducted per wrong answer; section split indicative.| Section | Questions | Marks |
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| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
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| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 25 |
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| General Awareness | 15 | 15 |
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| General Science | 30 | 30 |
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| Total | 100 | 100 |
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CBT 1 is of screening nature and its normalised score is used only to shortlist 15 times the community-wise vacancies of the RRB for CBT 2, considering post preferences. The standard is that of the diploma-level qualification; the syllabus covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and statistics, the reasoning families, physics, chemistry and life sciences to class 10, and current affairs and static awareness.
RRB JE CBT 2 — second stage, by exam group. Objective; 1 mark per question; 120 minutes (160 with a scribe); one third of a mark deducted per wrong answer.| Section | Questions | Marks |
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| General Awareness | 15 | 15 |
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| Physics and Chemistry (to class 10 CBSE) | 15 | 15 |
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| Basics of Computers and Applications | 10 | 10 |
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| Basics of Environment and Pollution Control | 10 | 10 |
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| Technical Abilities — the exam group’s syllabus in Annexure VIII | 100 | 100 |
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| Total | 150 | 150 |
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How CBT 2 is used
- Merit list — Normalised CBT 2 marks, with post and zone preferences, shortlist candidates equal to the vacancies for document verification; ties go to the older candidate, then alphabetical order.
- Exam groups — Mechanical and allied, electrical and allied, electronics and allied, civil and allied, computer science and IT, printing, and the CMA and DMS groups; the group is fixed by the qualification entered at application.
- Minimum marks — UR and EWS 40 per cent, OBC 30, SC 30, ST 25, relaxable by two marks for PwBD where candidates fall short.
- Normalisation — Where a test runs in more than one shift, marks are normalised across shifts by the RRBs’ published formula, and it is the normalised score — not the raw mark — that is compared with the cut-off and used for shortlisting.
What the pattern means for how you attempt the paper
- CBT 2: the technical section is the paper — One hundred of 150 marks; a third off per error means a clean 70 beats a rushed 90.
- The four small sections are recall — Fifty questions from short, fixed syllabi; they are the cheapest marks and should take no more than 40 minutes.
- CBT 1: clear it on science and mathematics — Sixty marks of definite answers; the shortlist is 15 times the vacancies, so a solid score is enough.
