RRB Junior Engineer CBT 1 2019 Mathematics and General Intelligence & Reasoning

Exam Overview

The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) conducts a Computer Based Test (CBT) for the post of Junior Engineer (JE). The 2019 CBT 1 consists of two sections:

• Mathematics 30 questions, 90 minutes
• General Intelligence & Reasoning (GIR) 30 questions, 90 minutes

Each correct answer awards 1 mark; there is no negative marking. The qualifying marks differ for each discipline, but a safe target is 7075% overall.

Mathematics Syllabus & Tips

Syllabus Snapshot

• Number Systems (LCM, HCF, Divisibility, Baseconversion)
• Complex Numbers & Quadratic Equations
• Mathematical Reasoning (Set Theory, Venn diagrams)
• Algebra (Progressions, Binomial Theorem, Permutations & Combinations)
• Geometry (Coordinate geometry, Circles, Polygons)
• Trigonometry (Identities, Heights & distances)
• Calculus (Limits, Continuity, Differentiation, Integration)
• Statistics & Probability (Mean, Median, Mode, Probability concepts)

Key Preparation Tips

1. Strengthen fundamentals. Reread NCERT Class1012 chapters for clear concepts.
2. Formula sheet. Write a compact sheet of mustknow formulas and revise it daily.
3. Practice with time bound sets. Solve 2025 questions in 20 minutes, then review errors.
4. Focus on highfrequency topics. Past papers show that Number Systems, Algebra, and Geometry constitute ~45% of the questions.
5. Use shortcut methods. For example, use the difference of squares for quadratic roots, or quick LCM/HCF via prime factorisation.

Sample Question Types

General Intelligence & Reasoning Syllabus & Tips

Syllabus Snapshot

• Analogies & Classification
• Series (Number, Alphabet, Figural)
• Directions & Spatial Visualization
• Paper Folding & Cutting
• Blood Relation & Syllogism
• NonVerbal Reasoning (Odd one out, Cubes)
• Verbal Reasoning (CodingDecoding, Statements & Assumptions)

Key Preparation Tips

1. Visualise clearly. Draw diagrams for direction and paperfolding problems.
2. Learn patterns. Series often follow arithmetic, geometric, or alternating patterns.
3. Build a repository of common puzzles. Practice a set of 100 each of analogies, riddles, and coding questions.
4. Speed through elimination. In multiplechoice reasoning, discard impossible options first.
5. Daily puzzle habit. Spend at least 30 minutes solving a mix of verbal and nonverbal questions.

Sample Question Types

Overall Preparation Strategy

• Create a 8week plan. Allocate 4 days/week to Mathematics and 3 days to GIR, leaving one day for revision.
• Weekly mock tests. Simulate the CBT environment (90min per section) every Saturday.
• Analyse performance. After each mock, list topics missed, review concepts, and redo those questions.
• Short bursts before the exam. Onehour intensive sessions on the three most troublesome topics for each subject the day before.
• Maintain health. Adequate sleep, light exercise, and balanced meals improve concentration during long CBT sessions.

Recommended Study Material

• NCERT textbooks (Class1012) Ideal for clear explanations.
• RD Sharma & DC Pandey Indepth practice for mathematics.
• R.S. Aggarwal Quantitative Aptitude Good for shortcuts and reasoning.
• Previous year RRB JE CBT papers Available on the official RRB website.
• Online platforms Unacademy, Gradeup, and Testbook offer free mock tests and video solutions.

Mock Test & TimeManagement

During the actual CBT, the screen is divided into two separate sections. Switching between sections is not allowed, so treat each as an independent exam.

TimeManagement Tips

1. First 10 minutes scan the paper, earmark easy questions.
2. Next 55 minutes solve all questions you are confident about; keep a running count.
3. Last 25 minutes revisit flagged questions, use educated guessing for unanswered items.
4. Do not linger on a single problem for more than 23 minutes.
5. Use the onscreen Mark for Review feature to return later.

Scoring above 70% in both sections consistently in mock tests is a strong indicator of readiness for the actual RRB JE CBT.