Railway Recruitment Board conducts RRB NTPC exam to recruit eligible candidates for the various undergraduate and postgraduate posts like Junior Clerk Cum Typist, Commercial Apprentice, Junior Time Keeper, Senior Time Keeper, Assistant Station Master, Traffic Assistant, etc in several department units of Indian Railways. RRB NTPC is a very competitive and difficult exam, and more than lakh of candidates appear to secure government jobs offering lucrative RRB NTPC Salary along with various perks and benefits. Since the competition is high, therefore the candidates should keep in mind major points while attempting the Railway NTPC exam. Hence, we have come up with this article to guide the candidates aspiring for the upcoming NTPC exam.
1. Examination Structure
Candidates need to be familiar with the exam pattern to plan a preparation strategy for cracking the exam in one attempt. RRB NTPC is basically conducted in four stages i.e CBT 1, CBT 2, Typing Test, and Document Verification. Check the highlights below:
- Computer-Based Test First Stage: It is composed of three sections for which 90 minutes is allocated to attempt all the questions. The sections consist of a total of 100 MCQs, divided into Mathematics (30 MCQs), General Intelligence & Reasoning (30 MCQs), and General Awareness (40 MCQs). There is a negative marking of ⅓ marks for every wrong response.
- Computer-Based Test Second Stage: It is composed of three sections with a total of 120 MCQs for which 90 minutes is allocated to attempt all the questions. The sections are divided into Mathematics (35 MCQs), General Awareness (50 MCQs), and General Intelligence & Reasoning (35 MCQs). There is a negative marking of ⅓ marks for every wrong answer.
- Typing Test: Candidates need to have a typing speed of 30 WPM in English and 25 WPM in the assigned computer to qualify in this round
- Document Verification: All the qualified candidates should report with the valid documents in the specified address for the final selection.
2. Coverage of Syllabus
Every NTPC Aspirants should go through the RRB NTPC Syllabus and stick to it during the entire preparation to get selected for the post. The major highlights related to the CBT 1 & CBT 2 is discussed below:
- General Awareness: National & International Events, Science & Technology, Culture, Awards & Recognition, Economics, Important Dates, Technology, Sports, and so on.
- General Intelligence & Reasoning: Seating Arrangements, Blood Relations, Puzzles, Coding-Decoding, Syllogism, Analogy, Analytical Reasoning, and so on.
- Mathematics: Simplification & Approximation, Number System, Number Series, Quadratic Equations, Ratio & Proportion, Percentages, Age Calculation, Profit & Loss, Data Interpretation, and so on.
3. Preparation Strategy
Preparing for RRB NTPC is no cakewalk owing to the high competition for the limited number of vacancies. There is a certain strategy to be implemented to excel in each section:
- General Awareness: Read Newspaper & Magazine in Print or Online, Watch News, and refer to the latest Yearbooks to stay updated with the current affairs and the latest events occurring around the world.
- General Intelligence & Reasoning: Practice as many questions as possible from the best books to develop your own method to solve the tricky questions in less time.
- Mathematics: Develop a strong grip on the basic concepts and learn the tricks, shortcuts, and formulas for quick calculation.
4. Usage of the Online Resources
Amid the surge of the COVID-19 cases, the aspirants are opting for online preparation for the exam. Usage of social media platforms for preparation is increasing day by day as the students can prepare from anywhere at any time resulting in saving a lot of their time and efforts. Online Classes, E-books, E-learning platforms, Youtube classes play an important role during the RRB NTPC Preparation.
5. Practice More and More
Along with speed and accuracy, the candidates are also required to work on their time management skills to achieve the best results. Therefore, create a strict study plan and practice as many regular mock tests as possible to increase the speed of attempting the questions and get a real feel of the actual test.