RRB (Railway Recruitment Board) ALP Exam

The RRB ALP exam recruits Assistant Loco Pilots — the technical crew members who assist the Loco Pilot in running trains — across Indian Railways. It is one of the most popular railway exams among ITI and diploma holders, and its multi-stage structure trips up more candidates than the difficulty of the questions themselves. Here is the full picture.

Quick Answer

RRB ALP selection has four stages: CBT 1 → CBT 2 (with a qualifying trade part) → Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) → Document Verification and Medical. CBT 1 is a 60-minute, 75-question screening test. Final merit is based on CBT 2 Part A, with CBAT and Part B qualifying in nature. Applications go through rrbapply.gov.in when a CEN is active — see the railway exam calendar for current notifications.

What the Job Is

An ALP works in the locomotive cab: assisting the Loco Pilot with signals, checking the loco before departure, monitoring gauges and helping handle faults en route. It is a safety-category job with strict medical standards (A1 vision), night shifts and outdoor duty — and a clear promotion line to Loco Pilot.

Selection Process at a Glance

Stage	Nature	Counts in merit?
CBT 1	Screening	No — shortlisting only
CBT 2 Part A	Main paper	Yes — final merit
CBT 2 Part B	Trade test	Qualifying only
CBAT	Aptitude battery	Qualifying only
DV + Medical	Verification	Must pass (A1 medical)

Exam Pattern

CBT 1 (60 minutes, 75 questions)

Section	Questions (indicative)
Mathematics	20
General Intelligence & Reasoning	25
General Science	20
General Awareness & Current Affairs	10

CBT 2 (Part A: 90 minutes, 100 questions · Part B: 60 minutes, 75 questions)

Part A covers Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering, and General Awareness. Part B is a trade-syllabus test matched to your ITI trade or engineering discipline, and is qualifying only.

Both CBTs carry negative marking of 1/3 mark per wrong answer. The CBAT has no negative marking, but you must clear a minimum score in every test battery.

Syllabus in Brief

• Mathematics: number system, BODMAS, fractions, LCM/HCF, ratio & proportion, percentages, mensuration, time & work, time & distance, SI/CI, profit & loss, algebra, geometry & trigonometry, elementary statistics.
• Reasoning: analogies, series, coding-decoding, syllogism, Venn diagrams, blood relations, directions, data sufficiency, statement–conclusion.
• General Science: Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences up to class 10 level.
• Basic Science & Engineering (CBT 2): engineering drawing, units & measurements, mass–weight–density, work–power–energy, speed & velocity, heat & temperature, basic electricity, levers & simple machines, occupational safety.
• General Awareness: current affairs, sports, personalities, economics, polity, science & technology.

Eligibility in Brief

Matriculation plus ITI in a specified trade, or a diploma/degree in engineering, depending on the post — the exact trade-to-post mapping is in each CEN. Age limits and relaxations are also CEN-specific, so always verify against the current notification rather than an older cycle.

How to Prepare

• Clear the CBT 1 cut-off comfortably — speed in Mathematics and Reasoning matters more than depth here. Our guide on improving speed in RRB maths is a good starting point.
• Treat CBT 2 Part A as the real exam: it alone decides merit. Basic Science & Engineering is the section most candidates under-prepare.
• Do not ignore the CBAT — every year candidates with strong CBT 2 scores are eliminated in the aptitude battery. See what to expect in the ALP psycho test.
• Practise on the real pattern with Pareeksha's railway mock tests, including negative marking and the actual timer.

FAQs

How many stages does RRB ALP have? Four: CBT 1, CBT 2 (Part A + qualifying Part B), CBAT, and Document Verification with Medical.

Which stage decides selection? Only CBT 2 Part A counts in the final merit; CBT 1, Part B and CBAT are qualifying/screening.

Is there negative marking? Yes, 1/3 mark in both CBTs; none in the CBAT.

What is the medical standard? A1 — the strictest railway medical category, including distant vision 6/6 without glasses. Check the standard before applying.

How do I apply? Online via rrbapply.gov.in when an ALP CEN is active; you can apply to only one RRB zone.