RRB JE EE Exam Pattern 2026: CBT 1 and CBT 2

The RRB JE EE exam pattern has two computer-based tests: CBT 1 for screening and CBT 2 for technical merit. Knowing how marks are split between them tells you where to spend your study hours. This page covers the pattern for the Electrical post under CEN 04/2026, including marking, qualifying marks and what the numbers mean for your strategy.

Older pages may still show a different pattern from earlier cycles, so follow the official notification on rrbapply.gov.in when in doubt.

Table of Contents

Exam pattern at a glance

Candidates eligible for a scribe get extra time: 120 minutes in CBT 1 and 160 minutes in CBT 2, as reported from the notification.

CBT 1 pattern

CBT 1 marks are normalised across shifts and used only to shortlist candidates for CBT 2. Usually about 15 times the community-wise vacancies are shortlisted for each RRB and post preference. CBT 1 marks do not count in the final merit.

CBT 2 pattern

A virtual calculator is available on screen during CBT 2. The Technical Abilities section depends on your exam group, so Electrical candidates get Electrical questions. The language of the paper follows the notification, which lists English, Hindi and regional languages.

Marking scheme and negative marking

• Correct answer: One mark per question.

• Wrong answer: One-third of a mark is deducted, in both CBT 1 and CBT 2.

• Unattempted question: No marks and no deduction.

For example, if you answer 80 questions in CBT 1 with 65 right and 15 wrong, your raw score is 65 minus 5, which is 60. Normalisation can change the final value slightly.

Qualifying marks

PwBD candidates may get a relaxation of up to 2 marks where eligible candidates are scarce. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee selection; it only keeps you in the merit list.

What the pattern means for you

• Technical is two-thirds of CBT 2: 100 of 150 marks. A weak Electrical section is hard to recover with general sections.

• CBT 1 is a gate: Reasoning and Mathematics need steady daily practice even though the marks are not carried forward.

• Wrong guesses cost real marks: Each wrong answer removes one-third of a mark, so guess only when you can eliminate two options.

• General sections are quick marks: Computers and Environment together are 20 marks that most technical students under-prepare.

Later stages

After CBT 2, candidates in merit go through document verification and a medical examination. There is no interview or skill test for the Electrical JE post as reported. The medical standard depends on the post, so check the standard for your category in the notification.

How merit is decided

Final selection is based on CBT 2 marks and merit, along with your RRB and post preferences, in order of community-wise vacancies. Document verification is ordinarily limited to the number of notified vacancies. The exact tie-break and normalisation method are in the notification.

Time management and exam-day strategy

This split is a suggestion, not an official rule. CBT 2 is one combined 120-minute paper, so you can move between sections, but practising a fixed plan in mocks makes the exam day calm. Solve the technical questions you know first, mark the rest for review, and return to them at the end.