If you're preparing for the railways, the RRB NTPC cut-off is probably the number you think about most. How many marks will get you past CBT 1? What does CBT 2 take? And how do you set a target when cut-offs change by zone, category and post? This guide answers each of those questions.
Below you'll find category-wise RRB NTPC CBT 1 and CBT 2 cut-offs from the most recent cycle, what moved them, a realistic safe score for the new 2026 notifications, and a step-by-step way to check your own scorecard.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 Graduate notification (CEN 06/2026) has 3,548 vacancies, and online applications close on 6 November 2026 at 11:59 PM.
- The 2026 Undergraduate notification (CEN 07/2026) has 1,688 vacancies, and applications close on 13 November 2026.
- Cut-offs come out for each RRB, each post and each category, and they are based on normalised marks.
- In the last UG cycle (CEN 07/2025), the reported UR cut-offs for CBT 1 were mostly in the low 80s out of 100. The CBT 2 cut-offs for the typing-test shortlist were similar or higher.
- CBT 1 only shortlists you for CBT 2. Your CBT 2 score decides the merit.
- Vacancies are down sharply this cycle, so plan for cut-offs that stay high or rise.
RRB NTPC Cut-off: Where the Current Cycle Stands
As of 1 November 2026, the RRB NTPC calendar is busy. Here's where each recruitment stands.
The new 2026 notifications
- Graduate (CEN 06/2026): 3,548 vacancies. Online applications opened on 8 October 2026 and close on 6 November 2026 (11:59 PM). Reports put the last date for paying the fee at 8 November and the edit window at 9 to 18 November 2026.
- Undergraduate (CEN 07/2026): 1,688 vacancies. Applications opened on 15 October 2026 and close on 13 November 2026 (11:59 PM).
- CBT 1 date: reports citing an RRB notice put Graduate CBT 1 tentatively in the fourth week of December 2026. The exact dates and city slips will come on the official RRB websites, so treat this as provisional.
No cut-off exists yet for these 2026 notifications. That's why the tables below use the last completed cycle as your benchmark.
The 2025 cycle is almost finished
- Graduate (CEN 06/2025, 5,810 posts): CBT 1 ran from 16 to 27 March 2026, and its result came out on 11 June 2026. CBT 2 was held on 10 July 2026. The CBT 2 result, cut-offs and scorecards were released on 27 August 2026.
- Undergraduate (CEN 07/2025, 3,058 posts): the CBT 1 result and cut-off were released on 24 August 2026. CBT 2 started on 17 September 2026. Reports say the CBT 2 result, with category-wise cut-offs and the shortlist for the typing skill test (CBTST), came out on 30 October 2026. Some reports give 27 November 2026 as the CBTST date, so confirm it on your RRB's website.
What you can do right now
- If you're a graduate who hasn't applied yet: you have only a few days left. Read our RRB NTPC Notification and Important Dates for Graduates and apply before 6 November.
- If you took UG CBT 2 (CEN 07/2025): download your scorecard, compare your normalised score with your RRB's cut-off, and start typing practice if you're on the CBTST list.
- If you're preparing for the 2026 cycle: use the cut-off tables below to set a target score. Then start timed mocks now, because CBT 1 could be less than two months away.
How RRB NTPC Cut-offs Work: Zone-wise, Category-wise, Normalised
RRB NTPC has no single all-India cut-off. Each Railway Recruitment Board publishes its own PDF, so the number that matters to you depends on three things.
- Your RRB (zone): you apply to one RRB only, and you compete only with other candidates in that RRB.
- The post code: inside each RRB, cut-offs are given for each post category (shown as 1, 2, 3 and so on, sometimes with the railway zone code, such as "2NWR").
- Your category: separate cut-offs are listed for UR, OBC (NCL), EWS, SC and ST, and often for ex-servicemen and PwBD candidates too.
Why normalised marks matter
CBT 1 runs over many shifts, and some papers are harder than others. RRB adjusts raw scores across shifts using a normalisation formula. The cut-offs in the PDFs are these normalised marks, out of 100. Your raw score from the answer key can therefore differ from the score that's compared with the cut-off, sometimes by a few marks either way.
Minimum qualifying marks vs. the actual cut-off
Two numbers are easy to confuse.
| Category | Minimum qualifying percentage | In marks (CBT 2, out of 120) |
|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 40% | 48 |
| OBC (NCL) | 30% | 36 |
| SC | 30% | 36 |
| ST | 25% | 30 |
The minimum qualifying percentage is only the floor that makes you eligible. Most reports of the notification say PwBD candidates may get a relaxation of 2 marks if there aren't enough PwBD candidates for the reserved seats. A few pages give different percentages for some categories, so check the official notification for your CEN.
The shortlisting cut-off is the score of the last candidate shortlisted in your RRB, post and category. That's the real target, and in recent cycles it has been far above 40%.
Graduate vs. undergraduate cut-offs
Graduate posts (Level 5 and 6) and undergraduate posts (12th-pass level) are separate recruitments. Each has its own CEN, vacancies, exams and cut-off PDFs. Never compare a UG cut-off with a graduate one. Look at the table for your own level.
RRB NTPC CBT 1 Cut-off: Previous Cycles
Here are the RRB NTPC CBT 1 cut-offs from the latest completed undergraduate cycle (CEN 07/2025), for post category 1 in selected RRBs. The figures are normalised marks out of 100, as reported from the RRB cut-off PDFs released in August 2026.
| RRB | UR | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajmer | 86.21 | 85.37 | 85.27 | 84.22 | – |
| Bhopal | 83.84 | 80.86 | 80.16 | 76.59 | 69.32 |
| Chennai | 83.26 | 81.24 | 79.93 | 77.42 | 73.44 |
| Kolkata | 82.87 | 80.11 | 78.88 | 76.40 | 68.29 |
| Muzaffarpur | 82.82 | 81.17 | 79.53 | 72.56 | 71.04 |
| Mumbai | 82.40 | 79.99 | 79.26 | 75.88 | 70.19 |
| Patna | 81.48 | 80.60 | 80.87 | 75.26 | 72.89 |
| Bengaluru | 77.00 | – | 73.26 | 72.71 | 71.03 |
| Ahmedabad | 75.75 | 71.55 | 71.00 | 67.66 | 60.52 |
"–" means no cut-off was printed for that column. For graduate-level CBT 1 cut-offs (CEN 06/2025) and for any RRB or post not listed here, check the official notification and your RRB's cut-off PDF.
What the table tells you
- Most RRBs cluster tightly. UR cut-offs were mostly between 81 and 84, so a few questions can change the result.
- Some RRBs run high. Ajmer's post category 1 went above 86 for UR.
- A few RRBs run lower. Ahmedabad and Bengaluru were several marks below the rest.
- Category gaps vary. In Ajmer, SC was within about 2 marks of UR. In Kolkata, ST was more than 14 marks lower.
CBT 1 is a screening stage
CBT 1 doesn't select anyone. It only decides who sits CBT 2. The reported figures for CEN 07/2025 show RRBs shortlisting about 15 candidates for every vacancy:
- Muzaffarpur: 39 vacancies, 586 shortlisted
- Chennai: 80 vacancies, 1,202 shortlisted
- Ahmedabad: 153 vacancies, 2,303 shortlisted
So the CBT 1 cut-off is simply the score of the last person who made that list. In the schemes of recent cycles, CBT 1 marks are not counted towards the final merit.
RRB NTPC CBT 2 Cut-off: Previous Cycles
The RRB NTPC CBT 2 cut-off works differently. Below are reported CBT 2 cut-offs from the undergraduate cycle (CEN 07/2025) for the CBTST shortlist. The figures are normalised marks out of 100, released at the end of October 2026.
| RRB and post code | UR | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajmer 1NWR | 94.49 | 93.33 | 89.28 | 90.72 | – |
| Ajmer 2NWR | 84.64 | 82.61 | 81.16 | 76.52 | 71.30 |
| Ajmer 3NWR | 83.48 | 82.32 | 80.87 | 77.10 | 71.30 |
| Kolkata 2ER | 85.79 | 84.63 | 84.34 | 81.44 | 72.46 |
| Kolkata 3SER | 84.34 | 84.05 | 83.76 | 80.86 | 72.75 |
| Bengaluru 2SWR | 80.58 | 77.97 | 80.00 | 72.46 | 71.30 |
Graduate CBT 2 cut-offs (CEN 06/2025) were released with the result on 27 August 2026. For those figures, check the official notification and your RRB's PDF.
How CBT 2 differs from CBT 1
| Point | CBT 1 | CBT 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Screening for CBT 2 | Merit for selection |
| Counts in final merit? | No | Yes |
| Size | 100 marks | 120 marks, 90 minutes |
| Cut-off basis | RRB, post category and community | Post-wise merit inside the RRB |
| Competition | Large field of applicants | Only shortlisted candidates (about 15 per vacancy) |
The big shift is post-wise merit. In CBT 2, you're ranked for specific posts based on the preferences you gave. That's why one RRB can show a 94 for one post code and an 83 for another. CBT 2 also weights the sections differently from CBT 1. See our syllabus guide, linked below, for the exact split.
Posts with a skill test after CBT 2
- Typist posts (for example Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist and Senior Clerk cum Typist, and the clerk-typist posts at UG level) go on to a Computer Based Typing Skill Test (CBTST). It is qualifying in nature.
- Aptitude test (CBAT): in the 2025 graduate cycle, some RRBs also shortlisted candidates for CBAT, which is used for safety-related posts. Reports put its qualifying standard at a T-score of 42 in each test battery. The 2026 graduate notification lists four posts (CCTS, Goods Train Manager, JAA cum Typist and Senior Clerk cum Typist), so check the official notification to see which skill tests apply this time.
What Moved the Cut-offs
Cut-offs aren't random. Four forces push them up or down.
1. Vacancies per zone and category
Fewer seats mean a higher cut-off, and this is the factor to watch most closely this cycle.
- Graduate vacancies fell from 5,810 (CEN 06/2025) to 3,548 (CEN 06/2026).
- UG vacancies fell from 3,058 (CEN 07/2025) to 1,688 (CEN 07/2026).
Some reports say the 2025 cycle's CBT 1 cut-offs for similar posts already ran roughly 5 to 10 marks above the 2024 cycle's, when graduate seats fell from 8,113 to 5,810. Smaller category pools, especially ST and EWS in small RRBs, can swing even more.
2. Candidates appearing and paper difficulty
Popular RRBs with many applicants push cut-offs up, while RRBs with fewer candidates per seat tend to sit lower. Paper difficulty matters too. An easy set of shifts lifts everyone's scores, and the cut-off rises with them.
3. Normalisation and negative marking
Normalisation smooths out differences between shifts, so your final score may move a little from your raw score. Wrong answers carry negative marks, so guessing can cost you. Check the official notification for the exact deduction. Accuracy often matters more than the number of questions you attempt, because the gap between qualifying and missing out is often less than one mark.
4. Post preferences (CBT 2)
In CBT 2, a post that many toppers choose ends up with a very high cut-off. Choose your post preferences thoughtfully when you apply.
To see how the marks split across subjects, read our RRB NTPC Syllabus and Exam Pattern: CBT 1 and CBT 2 Guide.
Safe Score for This Cycle: CBT 1 and CBT 2
Here's an honest estimate. These ranges are our own reading of the trend in the tables above, not an official figure. RRB will publish the real cut-offs only after each stage.
Estimated safe score: CBT 1 (normalised, out of 100)
| Category | Last UG cycle range (table above) | Suggested safe target |
|---|---|---|
| UR | 75.75 – 86.21 | 85 – 88 |
| OBC (NCL) | 71.55 – 85.37 | 83 – 86 |
| EWS | 71.00 – 85.27 | 82 – 86 |
| SC | 67.66 – 84.22 | 78 – 82 |
| ST | 60.52 – 73.44 | 73 – 77 |
Estimated safe score: CBT 2 (normalised, out of 100)
| Category | Suggested safe target |
|---|---|
| UR | 86 – 90 |
| OBC / EWS | 84 – 88 |
| SC | 79 – 83 |
| ST | 73 – 77 |
Why aim above last year? Vacancies have almost halved at both levels, and the most popular post codes already touched the 90s in CBT 2. Building a cushion of a few marks is the safest plan.
Why your zone changes the target
In the CBT 1 table, the UR cut-off in Ajmer was more than 10 marks above Ahmedabad's. You also can't change your RRB once you've applied. So check your RRB's own past cut-off, along with the post codes you want, and adjust your target up or down from there. Before you choose, make sure you meet every condition in our RRB NTPC Eligibility: Age, Qualification, CBT 1 & CBT 2 guide.
How to Check the RRB NTPC Cut-off and Scorecard
Official cut-offs and scorecards come only from the RRB websites. Here's the usual route.
Steps to find the cut-off PDF
- Open the official website of the RRB you applied to. You can also reach every RRB through rrbcdg.gov.in or rrb.indianrailways.gov.in.
- On the home page or notice board, look for your CEN. For example, the UG result appeared as "CEN 07/2025 – NTPC (Under Graduate): Result of 2nd Stage CBT and shortlisting for CBTST".
- Open the result PDF and search for your roll number.
- Open the separate cut-off PDF, or the cut-off page inside the result PDF.
Steps to view your scorecard
- Click the scorecard link on your RRB's site. It usually goes live a few hours after the result.
- Log in with your registration number and date of birth.
- Note your normalised score and compare it with the cut-off for your post and category.
What the cut-off notice shows
- The RRB that issued it
- The post code (sometimes with the railway zone code)
- Cut-offs by community: UR, OBC, EWS, SC, ST, and often ex-servicemen and PwBD
- Notes on normalisation and on the provisional nature of the shortlist
Preparing to Clear the Cut-off
Now for the part you control. Clearing the RRB NTPC cut-off comes down to scoring steadily across all three subjects.
Section-wise targets for CBT 1
CBT 1 has 40 marks of general awareness, 30 of mathematics and 30 of reasoning, and there are no sectional cut-offs. To reach an 85+ total:
| Section | Marks | Target for 85+ |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 32 – 34 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 26 – 27 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 26 – 27 |
Maths and reasoning are your scoring sections, because accuracy there can be close to perfect with practice. In GA, aim for wide coverage of static GK, science and current affairs rather than depth in a few topics.
For CBT 2
CBT 2 has 120 marks and a heavier general awareness share, so keep up your current affairs reading after CBT 1. Don't wait for the CBT 1 result to start revising.
Practise with timed mocks
Mocks show you where your marks slip. Here's what we recommend:
| Resource | What it's for |
|---|---|
| RRB NTPC CBT 2 Mock Test Series 2026 | Full-length CBT 2 practice on the current pattern, to build speed and accuracy for the merit stage |
| Online test series | Timed tests for other stages and subjects, including CBT 1 practice |
| Books for competitive exams | Study material for GA, maths and reasoning revision |
A simple weekly rhythm:
- Take two full mocks under exam conditions.
- Review every wrong or skipped question within 24 hours.
- Keep an error notebook and revise it before each new mock.
- Track your score against the safe-score range for your RRB.
Conclusion
The RRB NTPC cut-off depends on your RRB, your post and your category. Last cycle's figures show how tight the competition is: in most RRBs, UR cut-offs for CBT 1 landed in the low 80s, and CBT 2 went higher for popular posts. With far fewer vacancies in the 2026 notifications, give yourself a cushion and aim for the safe-score ranges above.
If you're a graduate, apply before 6 November. Then make timed mocks part of your weekly routine. You've got this, and one steady week at a time will get you there.
FAQs
What was the RRB NTPC CBT 1 cut-off for the general category in the previous cycle?
In the last undergraduate cycle (CEN 07/2025), the reported UR cut-offs for CBT 1 post category 1 were mostly between about 81 and 84 normalised marks out of 100. Examples are Patna at 81.48, Muzaffarpur at 82.82 and Chennai at 83.26. A few RRBs fell outside that band: Ajmer was higher at 86.21, and Ahmedabad was lower at 75.75. For graduate-level figures, check the official cut-off PDF of your RRB.
Is the RRB NTPC cut-off different for each RRB zone?
Yes. Each RRB publishes its own cut-offs for each post code and category, and you compete only with candidates who applied to the same RRB. In the last UG cycle, the UR cut-off for the same post category differed by more than 10 marks between some RRBs.
How is the CBT 2 cut-off different from the CBT 1 cut-off?
CBT 1 is only a screening stage. It shortlists about 15 candidates per vacancy, and its marks don't count in the final merit. CBT 2 is the merit stage. Its cut-offs are set post by post, based on candidates' preferences, so popular posts can have much higher cut-offs. In one RRB last cycle, one post code passed 94.
What is a safe score in RRB NTPC CBT 1 for this cycle?
Our estimate, based on the last cycle and the sharp fall in vacancies, is about 85 to 88 normalised marks for UR, 83 to 86 for OBC, 82 to 86 for EWS, 78 to 82 for SC and 73 to 77 for ST. This is a guide, not an official figure. Adjust it to your own RRB's past cut-offs.
Are RRB NTPC cut-offs based on normalised marks?
Yes. The exams run in several shifts, so RRB normalises raw scores to balance out differences in paper difficulty. The cut-offs in the PDFs, and the score on your scorecard, are normalised marks. Your raw answer-key score may differ slightly.
Where can I download the official RRB NTPC cut-off and scorecard?
Go to the official website of the RRB you applied to, which you can reach through rrbcdg.gov.in or rrb.indianrailways.gov.in. Open the result notice for your CEN, then download the result and cut-off PDFs. To see your scorecard, log in with your registration number and date of birth.
What are the minimum qualifying marks in RRB NTPC?
Most reports of the notification give 40% for UR and EWS, 30% for OBC (NCL) and SC, and 25% for ST. In CBT 2, which is out of 120, that works out to 48, 36 and 30 marks. These are only eligibility floors. The actual shortlisting cut-offs have been far higher.