RRB ALP CBT-2

What Is RRB ALP CBT 2?

RRB ALP CBT 2 is the second computer based stage in the Assistant Loco Pilot recruitment run by the Railway Recruitment Boards of Indian Railways. It is meant for candidates who cleared CBT 1 and want a place on the ALP merit list. The paper has 175 questions across a general Part A and a trade specific Part B, and it decides who gets called for the aptitude test that follows.

Why This Stage Matters

CBT 1 is only a screening round, and its marks are not counted in the final merit. CBT 2 is where selection begins. Part A marks decide your merit position, and they also decide whether you are shortlisted for the Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT). Part B does not add to merit, but you must clear it, or your Part A score is not considered.

The CEN 01/2026 cycle changed the weightage. Final merit now gives 50% to CBT 2 Part A and 50% to CBAT, where earlier cycles used 70% and 30%. A strong CBT 2 score still matters, but it no longer settles the outcome alone.

Eligibility

CBT 2 has no separate application. You reach it by qualifying in CBT 1 after applying under the CEN. The CEN 01/2026 requirements were:

• Class 10 plus an ITI or Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in a notified trade, such as Fitter, Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Wireman or Instrument Mechanic

• Or Class 10 plus a three year diploma, or an engineering degree, in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Automobile Engineering

• Age of 18 to 30 years on 1 July 2026, with higher limits for OBC (33) and SC or ST (35) candidates, plus other relaxations as notified

• The A 1 medical standard, which is checked later in the process

Read the official notification for the exact trade list and relaxations. They are set by the RRBs and can change between cycles.

Exam Structure and Format

CBT 2 is one sitting with two timed parts, and each part runs against its own clock.

Every wrong answer costs one third of a mark in both parts. Part B needs at least 35% for all categories. Part A also has minimum qualifying percentages that vary by category, so check the notification for those. RRB has not published a fixed split of Part A questions across its three subjects, so any neat table showing equal shares should be treated with caution.

Syllabus and Domain Breakdown

Mathematics covers the standard arithmetic and school level topics: number system, percentages, ratio and proportion, time and work, time and distance, interest, profit and loss, mensuration, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and elementary statistics.

General Intelligence and Reasoning covers analogies, series, coding and decoding, syllogisms, Venn diagrams, directions, classification and analytical reasoning.

Basic Science and Engineering is the section that separates CBT 2 from CBT 1. It covers engineering drawing (projections, views and symbols), units and measurement, mass, weight and density, work, power and energy, heat and temperature, basic electricity, levers and simple machines, occupational safety and health, environment education and IT literacy.

Part B follows the syllabus for the trade you chose in your application. A Fitter and an Electrician in the same hall will face different papers.

How Merit Works After CBT 2

Candidates who qualify in Part B are ranked by Part A marks. A pool of roughly eight times the number of vacancies, worked out community wise, is shortlisted for CBAT. CBAT has no negative marking and requires a minimum score in every test battery. The final merit list is prepared RRB wise from CBAT qualifiers, using the 50:50 formula, and the selected candidates go on to document verification and medical examination Try a RRB JE CBT-2 practice exam for free.

Registration and Admit Cards

No separate registration is needed for CBT 2. Shortlisted candidates are notified on the website of the RRB they applied to, and the exam city and e-call letter are released before the exam. For CBT 1, the city slip came about ten days ahead, and the e-call letter came a few days before the exam. At the time of writing, the CBT 2 date has not been announced, so watch your regional RRB site and the official notices.

What the ALP Post Offers

Clearing CBT 2 and the later stages leads to a posting as Assistant Loco Pilot, a safety critical operating role in Indian railway locomotive and train operations. The post sits at Pay Level 2 in the railway pay structure. Because selection runs through a technical paper and a psychometric test, the process favours people who have the trade grounding and the temperament for locomotive work.

Preparing With Practice Tests

Because Part A and Part B are timed separately, it helps to practise them as two separate blocks. AllExamQuestions.com’s free practice tests let you attempt Part A style questions under the 90 minute limit and review your weak subjects, such as Basic Science and Engineering. For Part B, use material from your own trade, since a mixed question bank will not match your paper.