RRB NTPC Exam Analysis 2026 (18 March): Difficulty Level, Good Attempts & Section-wise Review
The RRB NTPC exam on 18 March 2026 was rated as moderate. Candidates successfully reached an average of 72-80 good attempts. While Reasoning was candidate-friendly, Mathematics proved moderate, and General Awareness contained tricky questions. Discover the full section-wise analysis and expected cut-off trends here.
The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) successfully wrapped up the third day of the RRB NTPC Graduate Level CBT 1 examination on March 18, 2026. Our expert RRB NTPC Exam Analysis for 18 March is now live, providing a detailed breakdown for all aspirants. This report covers the overall difficulty level, segment-wise performance, optimal good attempts, and the most recurring questions from today's shifts.
RRB NTPC Exam Analysis 2026 (18 March)
Feedback from candidates indicates that the first shift maintained a moderate difficulty level. Our analysis confirms the paper mirrored the trends observed in earlier March sessions, featuring a well-distributed range of topics. While the General Intelligence and Reasoning section offered strong scoring potential, Mathematics and General Awareness required strategic time management. Continue reading for our deep dive into subject-wise difficulty and expected good attempts.
RRB NTPC Exam Analysis 2026 (18 March): Difficulty Level and Good Attempts
The Railway Recruitment Board administered the NTPC CBT 1 exam in multiple shifts on March 18, 2026. Early data suggests a moderate paper, with experts identifying 72-80 attempts as the range for a competitive score.
| Section | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Moderate | 22-24 |
| Reasoning | Easy to Moderate | 24–28 |
| General Awareness | Moderate | 26–28 |
| Overall | Moderate | 72-80 |
Section-wise RRB NTPC Exam Analysis 2026 (18 March)
Below is the comprehensive section-wise analysis of the RRB NTPC 18 March 2026 paper, detailing key topics across Mathematics, Reasoning, and General Awareness.
RRB NTPC Exam Analysis 2026: Mathematics Topics
The Mathematics section was moderate, featuring several calculation-heavy problems that tested candidates' speed and precision.
| Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Percentage, Ratio and Proportion | 3-4 |
| Geometry | 1 |
| Simplification | 2-3 |
| Time & Work | 2 |
| Number System | 2 |
| Mensuration | 2 |
| Time, Speed & Distance | 2 |
| Algebra/Simplification | 1-2 |
| Simple & Compound Interest | 1-2 |
| Average | 3-4 |
| Profit & Loss | 2 |
| LCM & HCF | 4-5 |
RRB NTPC Exam Analysis 2026: General Intelligence & Reasoning
The Reasoning section proved to be easy-to-moderate, serving as the most high-yielding segment for most test-takers.
| Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 4-6 |
| Number Series | 2-3 |
| Syllogism | 1-2 |
| Missing Term | 1 |
| Coding-Decoding | 3 |
| Direction Sense | 1 |
| Analogy & Classification | 3-4 |
| Paper Folding Image | 1 |
| Odd One Out | 1-2 |
| Counting Figures | 2-3 |
| Miscellaneous | 2-3 |
| Blood Relations | 2 |
RRB NTPC Exam Analysis 2026: General Awareness
The General Awareness section presented a moderate challenge, balancing a mix of static GK facts and recent current affairs.
| Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Current Affairs | 10 |
| History | 5-6 |
| Geography | 2-3 |
| Chemical Reaction-related question | 1 |
| Economy | 2-3 |
| Indian Polity & Constitution | 2-3 |
| Science | 7-8 |
| Static GK | 2-3 |
FAQs
Overall, the difficulty level was deemed moderate, with the Reasoning portion providing the most accessibility for students.
The General Awareness section was marginally more difficult than other sections due to its unpredictable question distribution.
Targeting 72-80 attempts with high accuracy is considered the ideal benchmark for today's exam.