The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has successfully conducted the RRB NTPC 2026 Exam (18 March, Shift 1). Candidates who appeared in this shift have shared their detailed exam experience and review.

This exam analysis is important for upcoming candidates as it provides insights into:

  • Difficulty level
  • Question trends
  • Important topics
  • Expected good attempts

Candidates appearing in upcoming shifts should carefully review this analysis to improve their preparation strategy.

RRB NTPC 2026 Shift 1 – Exam Overview

ParticularsDetails
OrganizationRailway Recruitment Board (RRB)
Exam NameRRB NTPC CBT Exam 2026
Exam Date18 March 2026
ShiftShift 1
ModeOnline (CBT)
Total Questions100
SectionsMaths, Reasoning, General Awareness

Overall Difficulty Level

  • Overall Level: Moderate
  • Maths: Moderate (Some calculative questions)
  • Reasoning: Easy to Moderate
  • General Awareness: Moderate

Most students reported that the paper was balanced, with a mix of easy and calculative questions.

Good Attempts (Expected)

  • Good Attempts: 85 – 95 Questions
  • Students who attempted around 90+ questions with accuracy can expect a good score.

Section-wise Exam Analysis

Mathematics Section Review

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Key Topics Asked:
  • Trigonometry (Identity-based questions)
  • Time & Work (2 questions)
  • Pipe & Cistern (3-pipe concept)
  • Mensuration (Cube & Cuboid – lengthy)
  • Simple Interest (SI) – 2 questions
  • Compound Interest (CI) – 1 calculative question
  • Statistics (Mean & Median – table-based)
  • Geometry (Parallel Lines & Angles)
  • Average
  • Age-based problems
  • Speed, Distance & Train
  • Circle (Perimeter = Area concept)
Key Highlights:
  • Around 24–25 questions were doable
  • 5–6 questions were lengthy/calculative
  • Focus on formula-based and speed calculation

Reasoning Section Review

Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

Topics Covered:
  • Seating Arrangement (2 questions)
  • Puzzle (Floor-based)
  • Blood Relation (2 questions)
  • Coding-Decoding (3 questions)
  • Number Series (2 questions)
  • Syllogism (2 questions)
  • Analogy (2 questions)
  • Data Sufficiency (1 question)
  • Distance & Direction
Key Highlights:
  • Around 25–26 questions were easy
  • 2–3 puzzles were time-consuming
  • Overall scoring section

General Awareness (GA/GS) Review

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Topics Asked:
Current Affairs (7–8 Questions)
  • Grammy Awards
  • Recent Indexes
  • Government Schemes & Meetings
  • Questions up to February 2026
History
  • Medieval & Modern History (2 questions)
Polity
  • Citizenship (2 questions)
Geography
  • India Border Countries
Science (2–3 Questions)
  • Biology (Xylem)
  • Chemistry (Acid-Base)
  • Basic Physics
Computer (3–4 Questions)
  • Operating System (Windows 11)
  • Shortcut Keys
Key Highlights:
  • Current Affairs weightage is high (7–10 questions)
  • Questions are latest and dynamic

Important Trends from Last 3 Days

Mathematics:

  • Trigonometry (1–2 questions daily)
  • Statistics (2 questions fixed)
  • Quadratic Equation (1 question)
  • Simplification (BODMAS rule)
  • Geometry (Parallel Lines – regular)

Reasoning:

  • Puzzle & Seating Arrangement dominant
  • Coding-Decoding frequent
  • Blood Relation & Syllogism common

General Awareness:

  • Current Affairs (8–10 questions)
  • Computer (3–4 questions fixed)
  • Science (3–4 questions)
  • Polity & History (2–3 questions each)

Preparation Strategy for Upcoming Shifts

Candidates appearing in upcoming shifts should focus on:

1. Mathematics

  • Revise formulas (Trigonometry, Mensuration)
  • Practice calculation speed
  • Focus on CI, SI, Time & Work

2. Reasoning

  • Practice puzzles daily
  • Strengthen Coding-Decoding & Syllogism
  • Avoid spending too much time on lengthy puzzles

3. General Awareness

  • Revise Current Affairs (Last 6–8 months)
  • Focus on:
    • Awards
    • Indexes
    • Government Schemes
  • Revise static GK (Polity, Geography)

How This Analysis Helps You

  • Understand real exam pattern
  • Identify important topics
  • Improve time management
  • Focus on high-weightage areas

Important Links

DescriptionLink
Official WebsiteClick Here
Latest Exam UpdatesCheck Here

RRB NTPC Exam Analysis 2026

FAQs – RRB NTPC Exam Analysis 2026

Q1. What was the difficulty level of RRB NTPC 18 March Shift 1 exam?

The exam was moderate overall, with Maths being slightly calculative.

Q2. How many good attempts are considered safe?

Around 85–95 attempts with accuracy is considered good.

Q3. Which section was easiest?

Reasoning was the easiest and most scoring section.

Q4. How many current affairs questions were asked?

Around 7–10 questions from current affairs were asked.

Q5. Is Maths lengthy in this exam?

Yes, 5–6 questions were calculative, requiring good speed.