RRB Technician Grade 1 Signal Exam Pattern 2026

The RRB Technician Grade 1 Signal exam pattern is simple: one computer-based test (CBT) of 100 multiple-choice questions to be solved in 90 minutes, followed by document verification and a medical examination. There is no second written stage and no interview, so the CBT score is the main basis of selection.

This page explains the CEN 02/2026 pattern: section-wise marks, negative marking, qualifying marks, how normalisation affects your score, and how to divide your 90 minutes. The pattern is the same as the one used for Grade 1 Signal in the previous Technician cycle.

Table of Contents

• Exam pattern at a glance

• CBT pattern: section-wise marks

• Marking scheme and negative marking

• Qualifying marks and normalisation

• What the pattern means for you

• Later stages

• Time management and exam-day strategy

• Check the official source

Exam pattern at a glance

CBT pattern: section-wise marks

The paper is a single sitting with no separate time limit for each section, so you can move between sections. Reports on the notification say the paper is offered in English, Hindi and several regional languages. Check the language list for your RRB in the notification.

Marking scheme and negative marking

• Correct answer: 1 mark.

• Wrong answer: One-third of a mark (about 0.33) is deducted.

• Unanswered question: No marks and no penalty.

For example, if you attempt 80 questions and get 64 right and 16 wrong, your raw score is 64 minus 16 divided by 3, which is about 58.67. Four wrong answers cancel out roughly one and a third correct answers, so random guessing is not free.

Qualifying marks and normalisation

Candidates must score at least a minimum percentage in the CBT to be considered. Secondary sources report the minimum as 40 percent for UR and EWS, 30 percent for OBC-NCL and SC, and 25 percent for ST, with some relaxation for PwBD candidates. Please confirm these figures against the official notification before relying on them.

RRB tests are held in multiple shifts, so scores are normally normalised across shifts to keep the comparison fair. The score used for merit is therefore the normalised mark, which can differ slightly from your raw score. Normalisation is applied by the board, and the result notice states the method.

What the pattern means for you

• Marks per question: Every question is worth one mark, so the 35 technical questions are worth the same as 35 easy general awareness questions. Take the quick ones first.

• Cost of a wrong guess: A wrong answer costs about 0.33 marks. If you can remove two of four options, guessing has a positive expected value. If you cannot remove any, leave it.

• Where effort goes: Basic Science and Engineering is over a third of the paper. Candidates from a non-engineering background should give it the most revision time.

• Scoring sections: Computers and General Awareness together are 30 marks of mostly factual questions that can be answered in under a minute each.

Later stages

After the CBT, candidates are called for document verification in merit order, and then for a medical examination. The medical standard for the post is B1. There is no interview or skill test in this cycle.

Time management and exam-day strategy

Ninety minutes for 100 questions is about 54 seconds per question on average. A workable split is shown below. Practise it in mock tests before the exam.

On exam day, reach the centre early, carry your admit card and a valid photo ID as listed on it, and do not spend more than two minutes on any single question. Mark difficult ones for review and return to them at the end.

Check the official source

Older Technician pages may still show earlier patterns, so follow the current notification. Notices, the answer key and the result are published on the official RRB website and the RRB application portal.