Railway Recruitment: 6 Tips To Become An Assistant Loco Pilot

With over two crore applications for the railway recruitment, competition is fierce. Explore the tips to crack the test.

By Sashikanth Sai

Updated: Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 0:24 [IST]

The Ministry of Railways has surprised everyone in the country with over one lakh vacancies. This mega recruitment drive has attracted every job seeker to drop an application at the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) website. Recently, the Indian Railways has said that it has received over two crore applications for the one lakh vacancies.

The notification for this recruitment drive was issued in the month of February. A total of 26,502 Assistant Loco Pilot and Technician posts and 62,907 Group D posts besides 9,500 openings in the Railway Protection Force (RPF) were issued. As the competition is getting fierce with over two crore applications, aspirants should do their best in the preparation to stand out from the crowd. Let's explore the exam pattern and tips for the Assistant Loco Pilot and Technicians post.

First Stage CBT (Common for ALP/Technician)

This is the first stage of the examination and the score achieved here will be used to shortlist the candidates for the second stage.
It consists of mathematics, general intelligence and reasoning, general science and general awareness on current affairs.
The total duration of the exam is 60 minutes.
The number of questions is 75.

Second Stage CBT (Part A)

It consists of mathematics, general intelligence and reasoning, basic science and engineering and general awareness of current affairs.
The total duration of the exam is 90 minutes.
The number of questions is 100.

Second Stage CBT (Part B)

This is just a qualifying paper and the questions will be asked from the trade syllabus prescribed by Director General of Employment & Training (DGET).
The total duration of the exam is 60 minutes.
The number of questions is 75.

Computer Based Aptitude Test

This is conducted only for the candidates who have opted for ALP.
There will be no negative marking in this computed-based test.
This test carries 30% weightage.
The 70% weightage will be given for second stage of CBT Part A and Part B.

6 Tips To Crack The Exam

One has to understand the selection process to clear the exam strategically.
Increase your speed and accuracy, especially in the mathematics subject.
Read the monthly magazines besides the newspaper for the general awareness subject.
Get acquainted with computer-based tests.
Never ignore the NCERT class 12 books. They are good enough to handle the topics related to physics, chemistry and biology.
Work on computer-based aptitude tests, because they are conducted to test your thought process.