Is RRB NTPC Hard to Crack?
Is RRB NTPC Hard:- The RRB NTPC exam is one of the most popular exams in India and is chosen by many students who wish to work in the railway sector. It is also one of the largest exams conducted by the Railway Recruitment Board, attracting thousands of candidates from across the country every year. The exam is conducted in different levels for graduate and undergraduate posts, and the selection process includes CBT-1, CBT-2, Typing/Skill Test, Document Verification and Medical Test.
The RRB NTPC 2025 exam was held from 5th to 24th June 2025. The RRB NTPC 2026 exam is expected to take place in phases, where the Graduate Level exam may start in December 2025 and the Undergraduate Level exam may begin in January 2026. However, the exact exam dates and schedule will be released officially soon.
In the first stage, CBT-1, there will be 100 questions from General Awareness, Mathematics and General Intelligence & Reasoning, and candidates will get 90 minutes to finish the paper. Many students often ask questions such as is RRB NTPC hard and RRB NTPC exam is tough. Go through the article to check whether RRB NTPC is tough or easy.
Check Out: PW RRB Books
Can I Clear RRB NTPC in First Attempt?
Yes, you can clear the RRB NTPC exam in your first attempt with the right plan and regular practice. Many students think “is RRB NTPC tough?”, but the exam mainly tests your accuracy, speed, and understanding of basic concepts. If you stay consistent, follow the syllabus properly, and practise daily, clearing it in one attempt is possible.
RRB NTPC Exam Pattern
Go through the RRB NTPC 2026 Exam Pattern from the table here:-
|
Stage |
No. of Questions |
Total Marks |
Duration |
Sections |
|
CBT-1 |
100 |
100 |
90 minutes |
NTPC General Awareness – 40 NTPC Mathematics – 30 NTPC General Intelligence & Reasoning – 30 |
|
CBT-2 |
120 |
120 |
90 minutes |
NTPC General Awareness – 50 NTPC Mathematics – 35 NTPC General Intelligence & Reasoning – 35 |
RRB NTPC Important Topic
Many students think is RRB NTPC hard or whether the RRB NTPC exam is tough. The truth is, the exam is manageable if you study the right topics and practise regularly. The syllabus is not very difficult, but the competition is high. So, knowing the most important topics helps you stay focused and score well in both CBT-1 and CBT-2. Here is a table of key topics from each section to guide your preparation.
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Section |
Important Topics |
|
General Awareness |
Current Affairs, History, Geography, Polity, Static GK, Economy, Awards & Important Days, Indian Railways & Transportation, General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics) |
|
Mathematics |
Simplification, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Time & Work, Time & Distance, Simple & Compound Interest, Algebra basics, Number System, Data Interpretation, Average, Mensuration |
|
General Intelligence & Reasoning |
Analogies, Classification, Coding-Decoding, Series (Number & Alphabet), Puzzle & Seating Arrangement (easy level), Syllogism, Blood Relation, Direction Test, Venn Diagram, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Mathematical Operations |
Read More: How to Crack RRB NTPC 2025 in First Attempt?
How to Prepare for RRB NTPC in 6 Months?
Preparing for the RRB NTPC exam in 6 months is possible if you follow a proper study plan and stay consistent. Start your RRB NTPC preparation by understanding the syllabus and exam pattern clearly. Divide your 6-month plan month-wise and then weekly. Make sure you study all three sections daily, General Awareness, Mathematics and Reasoning. Keep limited books and focus on revision and practice. Check how to prepare for RRB NTPC in 6 months:-
|
Month |
Strategy |
|
Month 1 & 2 |
Complete basics of Maths, Reasoning, and start General Awareness notes |
|
Month 3 & 4 |
Solve topic-wise questions, strengthen weak areas, revise daily |
|
Month 5 |
Attempt full-length mock tests, solve previous-year papers |
|
Month 6 |
Full revision, focus on speed & accuracy, daily current affairs |
RRB NTPC Books
These PW NTPC books focus on explaining the exam pattern in a simple way. One of the biggest advantages is the Trend Analysis for both 2024 and 2018, which helps you understand which topics are repeated most and how the question style has changed over the years. Click the link and get the RRB NTPC Books here:-
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Books for RRB NTPC |
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RRB NTPC Non Technical Popular Categories (CBT-2) 20 Practice Sets |
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All in One RRB NTPC Graduate & Undergraduate CBT-1 2026 Exams in English |
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All in One RRB NTPC Graduate & Undergraduate CBT-1 2026 Exams in Hindi |
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How Can I Crack Railway NTPC in First Attempt?
Check how to clear RRB NTPC in first attempt:-
1. Know the Exam Structure
The first step is to understand the exam pattern and syllabus properly. Once you know the structure, you will not feel stressed thinking RRB NTPC is tough or easy because everything becomes clear and organised.
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Understand that NTPC has two main stages, CBT-1 and CBT-2, and both include Mathematics, General Awareness and Reasoning, so you must prepare all three subjects equally without ignoring any topic.
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Go through the official syllabus and previous-year questions so you know what types of questions are asked frequently and you can focus on the most important topics.
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Study previous-year trends to understand how the exam behaves, because when you see repeated question patterns, your fear about whether is RRB NTPC tough starts going away.
2. Make a Simple Study Plan
A realistic timetable will help you study daily without pressure. Consistency is more important than studying for long hours once in a while.
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Divide your daily preparation time into three parts so you cover Maths, Reasoning and General Awareness every day and build balanced preparation without leaving any subject behind.
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Set weekly study goals instead of only daily goals so you can track your progress naturally and adjust your plan if you fall behind without feeling stressed.
3. Build Strong Basics First
Usually, candidates start with many topics at once and then struggle to understand what to study first. Because of this confusion, they often jump to tough questions too early and feel stuck. That is why it is very important to focus on your basics first instead of rushing into difficult questions. When your foundation is strong, you do not feel lost, and even challenging questions become easier to handle.
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Begin with simple NCERT-level concepts in maths and science so you understand the core ideas clearly before moving ahead. A strong base gives you confidence in every section of the paper.
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First learn the proper method of solving questions instead of directly trying shortcuts. Once you understand the detailed approach, shortcuts naturally make more sense and help you solve faster.
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Start with easy-level practice and slowly move to moderate questions.
4. Practise Previous Papers and Mock Tests
The best way to prepare for NTPC is by solving previous-year papers and mock tests. This helps you manage time, understand real exam patterns, and feel comfortable with question styles.
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Start solving one previous-year paper per week and later increase the number as the exam date comes closer, because this will make your NTPC exam preparation more practical and effective.
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Take mock tests in exam-like conditions so you can learn time management and improve your speed as well as accuracy while staying calm during real exam time.
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Check your mistakes after every mock test, write the correct method and revise it again so you do not repeat errors and slowly keep improving your marks.
5. Strengthen General Awareness
General Awareness has high weightage in NTPC and can help you score well quickly. Many students ignore it in the beginning and then feel the exam is tough. Daily revision makes GK easy.
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Spend at least 45–60 minutes daily on General Awareness including current affairs, Indian Railways information, polity, geography, history and science basics so you remember information easily.
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Make short notes for important topics like awards, banking terms, railways updates, committees, festivals and static GK so you can revise them again and again in a short time.
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Practise previous-year GK questions because many questions repeat and regular revision helps you score well even if others feel is RRB NTPC tough due to the GK section.
Read More: RRB NTPC Previous Year Papers and Solution PDF for CBT 1 and 2
RRB NTPC Exam FAQs
1. Is the RRB NTPC exam hard or easy?
The RRB NTPC exam is considered from moderate to difficult.
2. How many hours to study for RRB NTPC?
You should study at least 4–6 hours daily. If you are a beginner, you may need 6–7 hours. Consistency matters more than long study hours.
3. What is a good score in RRB NTPC?
A good score is usually 70+ in CBT-1 and 80+ in CBT-2. However, cut-offs change based on region and category.
4. Is RRB NTPC easier than bank exams?
Yes, RRB NTPC is considered easier than bank exams. Bank exams have tougher reasoning and quantitative questions. However, NTPC has high competition, so preparation is still important.
5. Can I crack RRB NTPC in the first attempt?
Yes, you can crack it in the first attempt with proper planning and regular practice. Focus on basics, mock tests, and revision.





