RSSB Lab Technician Exam Pattern 2026: Marks, Time and Marking

The RSSB Lab Technician exam pattern is a single objective paper of 150 questions and 450 marks, set by the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB, formerly RSMSSB). In the latest cycle, Advertisement No. 01/2025, the same paper served both Contractual Medical Lab Technician (NHM) and Contractual Lab Technician (RajMES) posts.

The pattern rewards accuracy more than speed. Negative marking, a fifth not-attempted option and a minimum qualifying score all shape how you should attempt the paper, and this page explains each rule and what it means for your time and target.

Table of Contents

Exam Pattern at a Glance

There is no interview or skill test in the 2025 scheme. Selection rests on the written exam score, category and post preference.

Key Changes to Know

• Contractual recruitment: The latest cycle filled contractual posts for NHM and RajMES under the Rajasthan Contractual Hiring to Civil Posts Rules, 2022, rather than regular cadre posts.

• One paper for two posts: Medical Lab Technician and Lab Technician candidates wrote the same paper and gave a post preference in the form.

• Five parts, fixed marks: The paper is split into five parts with fixed marks: four parts of 45 marks and one professional part of 270 marks.

• Option E and the 10 percent rule: A fifth not-attempted option and a disqualification rule for leaving too many questions blank are printed on the booklet.

Older pages may still describe the 2020 regular recruitment or the separate Lab Assistant papers, so follow the official advertisement.

Paper Pattern

Each of the 150 questions carries equal marks, so every question is worth 3 marks wherever it appears. Part E alone equals 90 questions' worth of marks, which is why the professional subjects dominate preparation.

Marking Scheme and Negative Marking

• Correct answer: 3 marks.

• Wrong answer: Minus 1 mark, one third of the marks for the question. Marking more than one option counts as a wrong answer.

• Option E: Every question has four answer options and a fifth option, E, for question not attempted. Darken E if you choose to skip.

• No option darkened: If none of the five options is darkened, one third of the marks is deducted, the same as a wrong answer.

• Disqualification: A candidate who leaves more than 10 percent of questions without darkening any of the five options is disqualified.

• Extra time: The question booklet allowed 10 extra minutes to check that one option was filled for each question.

These rules come from the instructions printed on the official 2025 question booklet. Read the instructions on your own booklet, because they can change between cycles.

What the Pattern Means for You

• Skip with option E: A skipped question marked E costs nothing; a blank row costs 1 mark. Always darken something.

• Guess only with elimination: With four options, a blind guess has an expected value of zero after the 1-mark penalty. If you can rule out two options, the odds turn in your favour.

• Put effort where the marks are: Part E is worth 270 marks. Ten more correct answers there add 30 marks, often enough to move many ranks.

• Do not neglect the 45-mark parts: General knowledge, languages, computers and health programmes add up to 180 marks together, and they are quicker to revise.

Qualifying Marks and Merit

The 2025 scheme required at least 40 percent marks, that is 180 out of 450, to be eligible for appointment. SC and ST candidates received a 5 percent relaxation, which lowers the bar to 35 percent, or 157.5 marks.

How Post Preference Works

Because one exam fed two departments, your rank and your preference both matter. A candidate who ranks high enough for the first preference is allotted that post; otherwise the candidate is considered for the second preference if the rank fits. Fill the preference carefully, because the board does not accept changes after the form is submitted.

Worked Example: How a Score Is Calculated

Suppose a candidate attempts the 150 questions like this:

A score of 260 out of 450 is above every final category cut-off of the 2025 cycle. Now suppose the same candidate had left those 30 questions with no option darkened instead of marking E: the score would fall by 30 marks to 230, and 30 blank questions is 20 percent of the paper, which crosses the 10 percent limit and leads to disqualification. The lesson is simple: never leave a row empty.

Part-wise Time Plan

This is a suggested split, not an official rule. Adjust it after your first few full-length mocks.

Exam Mode, Language and Normalisation

• Mode: The notification allowed computer based, tablet based or offline OMR exams. The 2025 Lab Technician paper was an OMR question booklet.

• Language: The question booklet was bilingual, in Hindi and English. If a question has a printing or factual difference between the two, the English version is treated as final.

• Normalisation: If the board holds an exam in more than one shift, it may normalise scores.

• Admit card: Admit cards are issued online only, through the SSO portal and the recruitment portal, using your application number.

Time Management and Exam-day Strategy

You get 150 minutes for 150 questions, so a minute per question is the working budget. The 2-pass approach below fits that budget.

1. First pass, about 80 minutes: Answer every question you know in Part E and the 45-mark parts. Mark E straight away for questions you are sure to skip.

2. Second pass, about 50 minutes: Return to doubtful questions and attempt only those where you can rule out at least two options.

3. Final check, 10 to 20 minutes: Confirm that every row has exactly one darkened circle, A to E.

Exam-day Rules from the Booklet

• Check the booklet first: Match the question booklet and OMR serial numbers and report any printing defect at once. Claims are not entertained after the first five minutes.

• Blue ball point pen only: Fill your roll number and details on the OMR sheet with a blue ball point pen.

• No devices: Mobile phones, Bluetooth devices and other electronic gadgets are strictly prohibited in the exam hall.

• Unfair means: Cheating is punishable under the Rajasthan Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act, 2022, and the board can debar candidates from its future exams.

Older pages may still show the Lab Assistant papers or the 2020 recruitment, so follow the official advertisement of your cycle on the RSSB advertisements page.