SCRA Exam: Overview, Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Preparation Tips, Best Books, and Study Plan

Hello friends! Today, we will discuss a highly competitive and prestigious examination, the Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA) Exam. In this post, we will provide you with an in-depth overview of the exam, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, preparation tips, best books, and a study plan. Make sure to carefully read through each section and take notes for your better understanding.

The SCRA Exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to select eligible candidates for the Special Class Railway Apprentices in the Indian Railways’ Mechanical Engineering Department. The selected candidates undergo rigorous training at the Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (IRIMEE) before they are absorbed into the Indian Railways Services.

Eligibility Criteria for SCRA Exam

 For applying for the SCRA Exam, there are some important eligibility criteria that candidates must meet.

1. 1. Nationality: Candidate must be a citizen of India, Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee.

1. 1. Age Limit: The age limit for applying to the SCRA Exam is 17-21 years. However, there are age relaxations for various categories, which we have detailed in Table 1 below.

Category	Age Relaxation
OBC	3 years
SC/ST	5 years
PWD	10 years

Educational Qualification and Exam Pattern for SCRA Exam

 The candidate must have passed the 10+2 examination with Mathematics and at least one of the subjects – Physics or Chemistry – from a recognized board or institution.

Exam Pattern: 

Aspect	Details
Exam format	Written test
Duration	4 hours
Language	English
Subjects	Mathematics, Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry), and General Ability Test (English, General Knowledge, and Psychological Test)
Total marks	600
Negative marking	Yes, one-third of the marks allotted to each question
Eligibility	Candidates must be between 17 and 21 years of age, have completed their intermediate (10+2) or equivalent examination with Mathematics and at least one of the Physical Sciences as subjects, and be physically fit
Selection process	Written exam followed by an interview; final selection based on the combined performance in the written exam and interview

The SCRA exam consisted of three papers, as follows:

Paper	Subject	Marks
I	Mathematics	200
II	Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry)	200
III	General Ability Test (English, General Knowledge, and Psychological Test)	200

Candidates were required to answer all three papers, and each paper was of 2 hours duration. The table below shows the details of each paper:

Paper	Number of questions	Duration	Negative marking
I	120	2 hours	Yes
II	120	2 hours	Yes
III	200	2 hours	Yes

The General Ability Test (Paper III) was divided into three parts: Part A (English), Part B (General Knowledge), and Part C (Psychological Test). The table below shows the marks distribution for each part:

Part	Subject	Marks
A	English	100
B	General Knowledge	75
C	Psychological Test	25

 

Syllabus for SCRA Exam

1. General Ability Test:

   • English language skills: Vocabulary, Grammar, Comprehension, Sentence Completion, Synonyms, Antonyms, etc.
   • Reasoning and Analytical Ability: Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, Logical Deduction, Analytical Reasoning, Number Series, Coding-Decoding, etc.
   • General Knowledge: Current Affairs, History, Geography, Indian Polity, Indian Economy, Science and Technology, Environment, Sports, etc.

2. Physical Sciences:

   • Physics: Mechanics, Sound, Heat, Light, Electricity, Magnetism, Atomic Physics, Nuclear Physics, etc.
   • Chemistry: Chemical Equations and Reactions, Acids and Bases, Oxidation and Reduction, Atomic Structure, Periodic Properties, States of Matter, Chemical Bonding, etc.

3. Mathematics:

   • Algebra: Sets, Relations, Functions, Quadratic Equations, Progressions, Complex Numbers, Permutations and Combinations, Binomial Theorem, etc.
   • Trigonometry: Trigonometric Ratios, Identities, Heights and Distances, etc.
   • Analytical Geometry: Straight Lines, Circles, Conic Sections, Three-Dimensional Geometry, etc.
   • Differential Calculus: Functions, Limits, Continuity, Differentiability, Derivatives, etc.
   • Integral Calculus: Indefinite and Definite Integrals, Applications of Integrals, Differential Equations, etc.
   • Vectors: Scalars and Vectors, Vector Algebra, Dot and Cross Products, etc.
   • Statistics and Probability: Measures of Central Tendency, Dispersion, Probability, Random Variables, Sampling Theory, etc.

 

Preparation Tips

1. • Understand the exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly.

1. • Create a study plan and stick to it consistently.

1. • Practice mock tests and previous year question papers.

1. • Focus on time management and accuracy.

1. • Stay updated with current affairs and general knowledge.

Books for SCRA Exam: Some of the best books for SCRA Exam preparation are as follows

Subject	Books
Mathematics	– NCERT Mathematics textbooks (Class 11 and 12)
	– RD Sharma Objective Mathematics
	– Arihant’s Fast Track Objective Arithmetic
	– R.S. Aggarwal’s Quantitative Aptitude
General Ability Test	– General Knowledge by Arihant Publications
	– Lucent’s General Knowledge
	– Manorama Yearbook
	– Pratiyogita Darpan
Physical Sciences	– NCERT Physics textbooks (Class 11 and 12)
	– Concepts of Physics by H.C. Verma
	– Understanding Physics by D.C. Pandey
	– NCERT Chemistry textbooks (Class 11 and 12)
	– Physical Chemistry by O.P. Tandon
	– Inorganic Chemistry by J.D. Lee
	– Organic Chemistry by Morrison and Boyd
General Studies	– General Studies Paper 1 Manual by Arihant Publications
	– India Year Book by Publications Division, Government of India
	– Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
	– History of Modern India by Bipan Chandra
	– Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
	– Environmental Studies by R. Rajagopalan

Study Plan

1. • Begin by analyzing the syllabus and identifying your strong and weak areas.

1. • Allocate time for each subject according to your strengths and weaknesses.

1. • Dedicate sufficient time for revision and practice.

1. • Stay updated on current affairs and general knowledge through newspapers and magazines.

1. • Join online forums or discussion groups for motivation and support from fellow aspirants.