RRB JE CBT-1 2026: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Cut Off & Free Mock Tests
RRB Junior Engineer — CBT-1 (Screening Stage)
RRB JE CBT-1 is the first-stage screening test for the Railway Recruitment Board's Junior Engineer recruitment. It is a common paper for every engineering discipline — Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics and more — so lakhs of aspirants clear this same gate before reaching the technical CBT-2.
The paper is 100 questions in 90 minutes, drawn entirely from general subjects: Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness and General Science. There is no engineering-technical content in CBT-1 — which means disciplined practice of these four general subjects is the single fastest way to qualify.
RRB JE CBT-1 2026 — Overview
| Conducting body | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) |
| Stage | CBT-1 — screening test (common to all disciplines) |
| Questions | 100 questions · 100 marks · 90 minutes |
| Subjects | Maths · Reasoning · General Awareness · General Science |
| Negative marking | 1/3 mark per wrong answer |
| Qualifying marks | UR 40% · OBC/SC 30% · ST 25% |
RRB JE CBT-1 Exam Pattern
CBT-1 (Screening Stage)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 25 |
| General Awareness | 15 | 15 |
| General Science | 30 | 30 |
Duration: 90 minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates)
Negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer
ℹ️ CBT-1 is only a qualifying screen — its marks do NOT count in the final merit. Normalised CBT-1 scores decide who is shortlisted (about 15× the vacancies) for CBT-2, where the technical paper decides selection.
RRB JE CBT-1 Syllabus — Key Subjects
See the detailed chapter-wise syllabus (built from real previous-year papers) on the RRB JE CBT-1 test series page →
Eligibility
- ✓3-year Diploma or a Degree (B.E./B.Tech) in the relevant engineering discipline (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, etc.).
- ✓Age generally 18–36 years for the current cycle (check the notification), with standard category relaxations (OBC +3, SC/ST +5).
- ✓Medical fitness as per railway standards for the applied post.
Salary & Career
Selected Junior Engineers start at Pay Level-6 (₹35,400 basic). With DA, HRA and railway allowances, in-hand pay is typically ₹48,000–₹55,000 per month, plus railway passes and quarters eligibility. CBT-1 itself is only the qualifying stage toward this post.
RRB JE CBT-1 Cut Off Trends
CBT-1 is normalised across shifts and zones, so the qualifying bar shifts each cycle. Recent UR screening cutoffs have generally landed near 60–75 out of 100 (zone-wise). These are indicative — always verify from your RRB's official result notice.
| 2024–25 | CBT-1 UR screening cutoff — roughly 60–75 / 100 (varies by zone & shift) |
| 2019 cycle | CBT-1 UR — roughly 55–70 / 100 (zone-wise variation) |
Vacancy Trends
| 2024 (CEN 03/2024) | ~7,900+ JE posts across zones (all disciplines) — all sat CBT-1 |
| 2019 (CEN 03/2018) | ~13,000+ JE posts (all disciplines) |
How to Prepare for RRB JE CBT-1
- 1Maths and General Science are 60 of the 100 marks — master these two first; they are the most scoring and least uncertain sections.
- 2General Awareness rewards daily habit, not last-minute cramming. A daily 10-question current-affairs quiz keeps this section warm without dedicated study slots.
- 3With 1/3 negative marking, aim for 85%+ accuracy in mocks before you push your attempt count — a well-calibrated 80 attempts beats a reckless 95.
- 4CBT-1 is a speed game: 100 questions in 90 minutes is under a minute each. Practise full 90-minute mocks to build that pace under real timing.
Start Practising RRB JE CBT-1 — Free
Exam-pattern mocks, previous-year papers, detailed solutions and chapter-wise analytics — built only for civil engineers, by a civil engineer who cleared these exams.
RRB JE CBT-1 — Frequently Asked Questions
Do CBT-1 marks count in the final RRB JE merit?▾
No. CBT-1 is only a screening test to shortlist candidates for CBT-2. The final merit list is prepared from CBT-2 marks alone — but you must clear CBT-1 first to get there.
What is the RRB JE CBT-1 exam pattern?▾
100 questions in 90 minutes: Mathematics 30, General Intelligence & Reasoning 25, General Awareness 15 and General Science 30. Each correct answer is +1 and each wrong answer is −1/3.
Is RRB JE CBT-1 the same for all engineering branches?▾
Yes. CBT-1 is a common screening paper of general subjects for every engineering discipline. The discipline-specific technical questions come only in CBT-2.
What are the qualifying marks for CBT-1?▾
The minimum qualifying percentages are UR 40%, OBC/SC 30% and ST 25%. Clearing the qualifying mark is necessary but not sufficient — your normalised score must be high enough to fall within the shortlist for CBT-2.
Where can I attempt free RRB JE CBT-1 mock tests?▾
CIVILGYAN TEST SERIES offers RRB JE CBT-1 pattern mock tests covering Maths, Reasoning, General Awareness and General Science with detailed solutions and all-India rank comparison — start with the free tests.
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Disclaimer: Exam patterns, cutoffs, vacancies and eligibility rules change between recruitment cycles. The figures above are compiled for guidance from past cycles — always verify details from the official notification of the conducting body before applying.