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
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) |
| Exam Name | RRB NTPC CBT Exam 2026 |
| Exam Date | 18 March 2026 |
| Shift | Shift 1 |
| Mode | Online (CBT) |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Sections | Maths, 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
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Latest Exam Updates | Check Here |

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.

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