RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT 2 2026 Free Guess Paper

RRB NTPC UG CBT 1 candidates now enter the final stretch before CBT 2. The gap between the two exams is short, close to one month. A clear RRB NTPC CBT 2 2026 selection strategy in this window decides who converts a CBT 1 clearance into a final selection.

TL;DR

• CBT 1 results are expected in a short window around August 20, 2026.
• CBT 2 has a tentative date of September 17, 2026, leaving candidates close to 30 days to prepare.
• CBT 2 has 120 questions in 90 minutes, compared to 100 questions in 90 minutes in CBT 1. The question load rises, but the time does not.
• A score of 80% to 90% of the CBT 2 total (about 96 to 108 out of 120) sits in a safe range across most zones.
• A score of 70% to 80% (about 84 to 96 out of 120) carries a moderate chance of selection, roughly 60%, and depends on the zone.
• A daily study plan of about 9 to 10 hours across GS, math, reasoning, and mock tests fits inside the remaining weeks.

RRB NTPC CBT 1 Result Timeline

The CBT 1 result is expected within a narrow window. Most estimates place it around August 20, 2026, with a possible spread from August 17 to August 23. Candidates should track the official RRB regional websites during this week rather than a single fixed date.

RRB NTPC UG CBT 2 Exam Date

The tentative date for CBT 2 is September 17, 2026. This date is provisional and can shift. Candidates must confirm the final date and shift through their RRB admit card once it releases. The short gap between the CBT 1 result and CBT 2 makes early preparation important. A candidate who waits for the official result before starting CBT 2 revision loses several usable days.

CBT 2 Exam Pattern: What Changes From CBT 1

CBT 2 uses the same 90-minute duration as CBT 1, but the question count rises to 120 from 100. The extra questions do not raise the difficulty level. They raise the number of questions a candidate must attempt in the same time. This shifts the priority toward speed and accuracy, not toward harder concepts.

General Awareness carries the largest single share of marks in CBT 2. A candidate who treats it as a secondary subject limits their own score ceiling.

What Counts as a Safe Score in CBT 2

A safe score in CBT 2 depends on the zone, the number of vacancies in that zone, and the number of candidates competing for them. A single fixed cutoff figure does not exist before the result. Based on the pattern of past RRB NTPC results, the following ranges give a rough guide, not a guarantee.

Zones with higher vacancy counts relative to the candidate pool, such as Prayagraj, tend to have a higher safe range. Zones with fewer vacancies relative to demand tend to sit lower. A candidate should treat their own zone’s past cutoff trend as the closer guide, not a single national number.

First 50 Days: Daily Study Plan

The remaining weeks split into two phases: the main preparation phase and a short buffer before the exam. In the main phase, spread study across four areas.

• General Awareness and current affairs: About 3 hours for the GS course syllabus, plus 45 minutes daily for current affairs.
• Computer knowledge: 30 minutes daily covers this topic within the remaining weeks.
• Mathematics: 2 hours daily for revision and practice, using questions from sources already covered. Switching to a new source late in preparation raises the risk of confusion.
• Reasoning: Limit new study to weak topics only. A candidate strong in reasoning can skip dedicated reasoning time and add it to another section.
• Full-length mock tests: 1.5 hours daily. A target of 50 to 60 full-length mocks before the exam gives enough practice volume.
• Mock test analysis: 30 minutes to 1 hour daily. This step matters as much as taking the mock itself. Save missed and incorrect questions, and review them weekly.

This adds up to close to 9 to 10 hours of daily study during the main preparation phase.

Mock Test Priority Order

Not all mock tests carry equal value this close to the exam. Follow this order.

1. All CBT 2 previous year papers, including 2022, 2024, and 2025 papers. Complete every one of these before moving to other sources.
2. Tough CBT 1 papers, around 10 of the harder sets, since these test similar question ranges at a slightly different difficulty level.
3. Regular live tests, including weekly tests from various test-series platforms, to build exam-day speed.

Previous year papers repeat question patterns more often than fresh mock questions. Skipping them raises the risk of facing an unfamiliar pattern on exam day.

Last 10 Days: The Buffer Phase

The final 10 days before the exam should not carry new syllabus content. Use this window to revise formulas and facts, go through saved and previously incorrect questions, and clear any backlog from the main study phase. The goal is to finish the full syllabus with 10 days still on the clock, leaving this window free for review and course correction.

Typing Practice for Later Stages

Some RRB NTPC posts require a typing test after CBT 2 and the skill test stage. A candidate with no prior typing speed should begin typing practice now, for about 30 minutes to 1 hour daily. A candidate already comfortable with typing can start this practice after CBT 2. Backspace does not work during the actual typing test, which raises the importance of accuracy over raw speed during practice.

Coaching Costs and Preparation Tools

Candidates commonly weigh paid mock test series and coaching batches against free previous year papers during this phase. A full mock test series from a private platform for RRB NTPC CBT 2 usually costs a few hundred rupees for a bundle of tests, while access to official previous year papers carries no cost beyond time. A balanced approach uses free previous year papers as the base and adds a paid mock series only for extra live-test volume once the free papers are complete.

What This Means for Candidates

The short gap between the CBT 1 result and the CBT 2 exam date leaves little room for a slow start. A candidate who begins full-length mocks and previous year papers now, rather than after the official result, gains extra practice days that a later start cannot recover. Consistency across the full 50-day plan matters more than any single day of intense study.

Common Questions

When will the RRB NTPC CBT 1 result come out? Current estimates place the result around August 20, 2026, within a window of a few days on either side.

When is the RRB NTPC UG CBT 2 exam? The tentative date is September 17, 2026, subject to confirmation on the official admit card.

How many questions are in RRB NTPC CBT 2? CBT 2 has 120 questions for 120 marks, to be completed in 90 minutes.

What is a safe score in RRB NTPC CBT 2? A score of 80% or higher of the total marks sits in a generally safe range, though the exact cutoff depends on zone and vacancy count.

How many mock tests should a candidate take before CBT 2? A target of 50 to 60 full-length mock tests before the exam gives adequate practice volume.