How to Prepare for RRB ALP (Assistant Loco Pilot) 2026

Before anything else — get your eyes and ears tested at a private clinic. If your distance vision is worse than 6/9, you have any colour vision issues, or your glasses power is above ±2D, A-1 medical will eliminate you no matter how well you score. Many ALP aspirants waste 1-2 years on prep only to fail at this gate; do the 15-minute check first.

CBT 1 is qualifying only — DON'T over-prepare. Target 60+ out of 75 with 75-80% accuracy on Math + Reasoning + General Science (NCERT Class 8-10 level). General Awareness is the weakest section for most candidates; budget steady current-affairs reading rather than cramming.

CBT 2 Part A is the merit-deciding section — it counts 50% in final selection. Spend the bulk of your time here. Mathematics + Reasoning are the highest-scoring sections (do 50-60 PYQs from each Kiran / Disha previous-year compilation). Basic Science & Engineering needs separate dedicated study from Disha or Kiran's BSE book — it's not covered by general NCERT.

CBT 2 Part B (Trade) is qualifying at 35%, but DON'T leave it until the end. Study your specific ITI trade book — Electrician Theory by SK Garg / Theraja, Fitter Theory NIMI books, ITI workshop calculation textbooks. PYQs for your specific trade exist on most coaching websites — solve all available previous years.

CBAT is the silent killer — 50% weightage but no separate prep material is widely available. Practice picture-matching, depth perception (3D image identification), memory tests and rapid decision-making questions from an RRB ALP CBAT mock package. 42-mark minimum in EACH sub-test means a single weak battery disqualifies you — practice all sub-tests, not just your strongest.

Indian Railways General Awareness deserves a separate notebook — questions on Railway zones (18), divisions, Vande Bharat routes, longest/highest railway bridges, fastest trains, important railway personalities (first Railway Minister, current CRB) appear EVERY year. Read the Indian Railways Wikipedia page once and the official Indian Railways yearbook summary.

Practise on Kamiyab: single-topic practice sets for daily drills and a Mistake Map that shows which topics keep going wrong; free full-length mocks for this exam are coming soon.