Railway exams reward steady daily practice more than long theory. For RRB Group D, the official notice sets one computer-based test of 100 questions in 90 minutes on Science, Maths, Reasoning and General Awareness. Plan about 6 months, study 5 to 6 hours a day, and take a full mock every week from the third month.
This guide is for students preparing at our self-study library in Dwarka Sector 7 or our Paschim Vihar branch, and for anyone planning railway exams through self-study. The Group D facts below are from the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) notice CEN 09/2025. For NTPC, use the detailed notice for your post, because the pattern differs between graduate and undergraduate posts.
Which railway exams does this cover?
- RRB Group D (Level 1 posts): the latest notice is CEN 09/2025, with 22,195 provisional vacancies and an age limit of 18 to 33 years as on 1 January 2026. Applications were open from 31 January to 2 March 2026.
- RRB NTPC (Non-Technical Popular Categories): CEN 06/2025 covers graduate-level posts (the detailed notice is dated 20 October 2025 on RRB Secunderabad's site), and CEN 07/2025 covers undergraduate-level posts.
Always read the notice on an official RRB website. RRB Chandigarh's notice page itself asks candidates to ignore information passed around on social media.
RRB Group D: stages and exam pattern
CEN 09/2025 lists four stages: a Computer Based Test (CBT), a Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Document Verification and a Medical Examination.
| Stage | What it tests |
|---|---|
| CBT (90 minutes, 100 questions) | General Science 25 · Mathematics 25 · General Intelligence and Reasoning 30 · General Awareness and Current Affairs 20 |
| Physical Efficiency Test | Weight carry and a 1000 metre run (details below) |
| Document Verification | Certificates for age, education, category |
| Medical Examination | Medical standards for the post |
Each question carries 1 mark, and one-third of a mark is cut for each wrong answer. To be shortlisted, the notice sets minimum marks of 40% for UR and EWS candidates and 30% for OBC (non-creamy layer), SC and ST candidates.
The syllabus in the notice describes General Science at the 10th standard CBSE level (Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences), along with Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, and General Awareness on current affairs in science and technology, sports, culture, personalities, economics and politics.
RRB CEN No. 09/2025, Level 1 posts (official PDF on rrbcdg.gov.in). Checked on 29 October 2026.
RRB NTPC: how to approach it
NTPC has a first-stage CBT, and candidates who clear it are shortlisted for a second-stage CBT. The subjects and their weight are set out in the detailed notice for your level (CEN 06/2025 for graduate posts, CEN 07/2025 for undergraduate posts), so download that notice from your RRB's website before you make a timetable.
The good news is that the core subjects overlap heavily with Group D and other government exams: arithmetic, reasoning and general awareness. If you prepare these well, you can sit for more than one railway exam in the same year.
A 6-month timetable
| Months | Focus | Daily hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 2 | NCERT Science (classes 6–10), maths basics, reasoning types, a daily newspaper | 5–6 hours |
| 3 – 4 | Timed topic tests, one full mock a week, current affairs notes by month | 5–6 hours |
| 5 | Two mocks a week, revise weak topics, revise science notes | 6 hours |
| 6 | Mock every second day, quick revision only, no new topics in the last 10 days | 6 hours |
A sample day: newspaper and current affairs from 7 to 8:30 AM, science from 8:30 to 10:30 AM, reasoning before lunch, maths after lunch, and a test with review in the evening. Both branches are open from 5 AM to 11 PM. If you work or attend college, the off-peak plan (6 to 11 AM or 6 to 11 PM) may suit you; see the fees page.
Which books to start with
- General Science: the notice sets 10th standard CBSE level, so NCERT Science books for classes 6 to 10 are the natural base. Make short notes as you read.
- Mathematics: any standard arithmetic book for competitive exams, plus the previous years' questions from your RRB.
- Reasoning: a standard reasoning book for practice sets; it carries the most questions in Group D (30 of 100).
- General Awareness: one daily newspaper and a monthly current affairs summary.
Do not collect many books. One book per subject, finished twice, works better than five books started.
How to revise
- Weekly: keep Sunday for revision of that week's notes and one full mock.
- Error log: after each mock, write down every wrong answer and why. With one-third of a mark cut for each wrong answer, cutting careless errors matters as much as learning new topics.
- Science in short notes: 25 questions are science. Short notes by chapter make the last month much easier.
Preparing for the Group D physical test
The physical test is qualifying, so plan for it from the start. CEN 09/2025 sets these standards, each to be done in one chance:
| Test | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Lift and carry weight for 100 metres in 2 minutes, without putting it down | 35 kg | 20 kg |
| 1000 metre run | 4 minutes 15 seconds | 5 minutes 40 seconds |
Run 4 to 5 mornings a week and time your 1000 metres once a week. Practise the weight carry with a properly packed bag and build up the weight slowly. If you have a health problem, speak to a doctor before training hard. A run at 5:30 AM still leaves the whole day free for study.
Why study for railway exams in a library
Railway exams are practice-heavy: hundreds of timed questions a week and steady daily reading for General Awareness. That kind of routine is easier to keep in a quiet place where you study at the same seat and time every day. At Achievers' Library, both branches have silent, air-conditioned halls, daily newspapers, Wi-Fi for online mocks, a power socket at every seat and power backup, and they are open from 5 AM to 11 PM, 365 days a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start preparing for RRB Group D or NTPC?
Start about 6 months before the exam, and do not wait for the notice to begin. Begin with NCERT Science, maths basics and daily current affairs, then move to timed tests.
How many mock tests should I take for railway exams?
Take one full mock a week from the third month, two a week in the fifth month, and one every second day in the last month. Review each mock as long as you took it, and keep an error log, because one-third of a mark is cut for each wrong answer.
What is the exam pattern of RRB Group D?
Under CEN 09/2025, the computer-based test has 100 questions in 90 minutes: 25 on General Science, 25 on Mathematics, 30 on General Intelligence and Reasoning, and 20 on General Awareness and Current Affairs. One-third of a mark is cut for each wrong answer.
Can I prepare for railway exams without coaching?
Yes. The Group D science syllabus is at the 10th standard CBSE level, and the other subjects are arithmetic, reasoning and current affairs. With NCERT books, one practice book per subject, daily newspaper reading and regular mocks, you can prepare through self-study.
Which Achievers' Library branch is nearer for me?
Dwarka Sector 7 (near Ramphal Chowk) is close to Palam and Dwarka Sector 9 metro stations. Paschim Vihar (near DDA Sports Complex) is close to Paschim Vihar East and West on the Green Line. Both are open from 5 AM to 11 PM.
WhatsApp 95997 32525 or book a free visit. See all plans on the fees page.