RRB NTPC Exam Trends, Check Section Wise Difficulty Level

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Published on 24 October 2025 by
RRB NTPC Exam Trends

Key Takeaways

  • RRB NTPC Exam Trends show an increasing difficulty in General Awareness, driven by more current affairs and static GK questions.
  • Mathematics has shifted to application-based questions requiring problem-solving skills and faster calculations.
  • General Intelligence & Reasoning difficulty remains stable; regular practice is essential for success.
  • Candidates should focus on daily current affairs, structured practice for Mathematics, and balanced preparation across all sections.
  • Consistent revision, time management, and mock tests are key strategies for efficient preparation for the RRB NTPC exam.

RRB NTPC Exam Trends: The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) exam is a highly competitive examination conducted to recruit candidates for various non-technical posts in Indian Railways. Over the years, aspirants have observed shifting trends in the difficulty levels of different sections. Understanding these trends is crucial for effective preparation. In this article, we delve into the evolving difficulty levels of the RRB NTPC exam, focusing on the General Awareness, Mathematics, and General Intelligence & Reasoning sections.

Based on the RRB NTPC Syllabus, the subject-wise difficulty trends are given below. Candidates can have a look at the RRB NTPC Exam Trends before starting their preparation:

1. General Awareness (GA)

  • Trend: The General Awareness section has seen a gradual increase in difficulty, particularly in areas like current affairs and static general knowledge.
  • Reason: The inclusion of more current events and detailed questions has made this section more challenging.
  • Preparation Tip: Regularly update your knowledge with current affairs and revise static GK topics to stay ahead.

2. Mathematics

  • Trend: Mathematics questions have become more application-based, focusing on topics like data interpretation, percentages, and time and work.
  • Reason: The aim is to assess analytical and problem-solving skills more effectively.
  • Preparation Tip: Practice a variety of problems and focus on time management to improve speed and accuracy.

3. General Intelligence & Reasoning

  • Trend: This section has remained relatively stable in terms of difficulty, with a consistent pattern of questions on topics like puzzles, series, and analogies.
  • Reason: The focus is on evaluating logical reasoning abilities, which require consistent practice.
  • Preparation Tip: Regularly solve reasoning puzzles and practice previous years’ questions to enhance your skills.
Explore RRB NTPC Courses

To prepare efficiently for the exam, we have provided certain preparation tips. Check them out below:

1. General Awareness (GA)

The GA section is becoming increasingly dynamic due to more current affairs questions and in-depth static GK topics.

Tips:

  • Daily Reading: Spend at least 30–45 minutes daily on newspapers like The Hindu, Indian Express, or apps like GKToday.
  • Monthly Current Affairs: Maintain a monthly compilation of important events, awards, appointments, sports, and government schemes.
  • Revision Notes: Create short notes or flashcards to revise important facts quickly.
  • Static GK Foundation: Strengthen core topics such as Indian History, Polity, Geography, Economy, and General Science using NCERTs or Lucent GK.
  • Mock Tests: Solve previous years’ GA questions to identify recurring topics and exam patterns.

2. Mathematics

Mathematics is seeing a shift toward application-based questions, making practice and speed critical.

Tips:

  • Topic-wise Practice: Focus on high-frequency topics: Arithmetic (Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Ratio & Proportion), Algebra, Geometry, and Data Interpretation.
  • Shortcuts & Tricks: Learn formulae, shortcut methods, and approximation techniques to save time.
  • Time-bound Practice: Solve questions within a set time limit to improve speed and accuracy.
  • Daily Practice: Dedicate at least 1–2 hours daily to practice problems, alternating between easy and moderate-difficulty questions.
  • Previous Years’ Papers: Analyze past papers to identify frequently asked questions and trends in difficulty.

3. General Intelligence & Reasoning

This section has remained relatively stable, but logical reasoning is often decisive for marginal rankings.

Tips:

  • Puzzles & Seating Arrangements: Focus on frequently asked puzzle types, such as circular arrangements, linear arrangements, and blood relations.
  • Series & Coding-Decoding: Regular practice of number series, alphabet series, and coding-decoding is essential.
  • Syllogisms & Analogies: Practice solving syllogisms, analogies, and inequality questions systematically.
  • Time Management: Attempt easier questions first and then move to complex puzzles to avoid time pressure.
  • Daily Revision: Dedicate 30–45 minutes daily to reasoning practice, mixing puzzles, series, and logical questions.

4. Overall Strategy Tips

  • Mock Tests: Take full-length Free RRB NTPC Mock Tests weekly to simulate exam conditions and track your progress.
  • Analyze Weak Areas: Post-mock analysis is critical; focus on weaker sections or topics.
  • Revision Schedule: Allocate 1–2 days a week solely for revision to consolidate memory.
  • Balanced Preparation: Spend 50% of the time on GA, 30% on Mathematics, and 20% on Reasoning if GA is heavily scoring in your previous exams.
  • Stress Management: Include short breaks, meditation, or light exercise to maintain focus and reduce anxiety.
Solve RRB NTPC previous Year Papers

In conclusion, the RRB NTPC exam is evolving, with certain subjects becoming more challenging over the years. By understanding these trends and adapting your preparation strategies accordingly, you can enhance your chances of success in this competitive examination.

FAQs

Q.1 Which subject in RRB NTPC has become the most difficult over the years?

General Awareness has become relatively more challenging due to the inclusion of detailed current affairs and static GK questions. Mathematics has also seen a rise in application-based and time-intensive problems.

Q.2 How has the difficulty of Mathematics changed in RRB NTPC exams?

Mathematics questions are now more application-oriented, covering topics like algebra, percentages, time & work, and data interpretation. This requires both conceptual understanding and faster calculation skills.

Q.3 Is General Intelligence & Reasoning becoming more difficult?

No, the General Intelligence & Reasoning section has remained relatively stable over the years, focusing on puzzles, series, coding-decoding, and analogies, though consistent practice is essential.

Q.4 How can candidates adapt to the increasing difficulty of General Awareness?

Candidates should follow daily current affairs, revise static GK regularly, create notes/flashcards, and practice previous years’ questions to stay updated and improve accuracy.

Q.5 What is the best strategy to tackle all three sections effectively?

A balanced approach is key: dedicate daily time to current affairs, allocate structured hours for Mathematics and Reasoning, take regular mock tests, analyse weak areas, and revise consistently.