Exam pattern
RRB ALP CBAT Exam Pattern, Batteries and Marking Scheme
7 min read
The Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) is the third stage of RRB Assistant Loco Pilot recruitment, taken after CBT-1 and CBT-2. It is not a syllabus exam: there is nothing to memorise from a textbook. Instead it measures whether you can hold information in working memory, follow instructions precisely, judge distance and stay accurate under time pressure — the exact demands of driving a train.
The five aptitude batteries
RDSO's guidelines define five batteries. Every candidate attempts all five, in a fixed order, on the same screen-based console.
| Battery | What it measures | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | Recalling maps, words and signals after a study screen | 40 |
| Following Directions | Applying multi-step written instructions exactly | 40 |
| Depth Perception | Judging hidden volume, distance and 3D structure | 40 |
| Power of Observation (Concentration) | Spotting a target among near-identical items | 75 |
| Perceptual Speed | Fast, accurate comparison of symbols and strings | 40 |
That is 235 questions in total — one of the biggest surprises for candidates who practised 50-question mocks. The full session runs about an hour, so the average time per question is well under 20 seconds.
Marking scheme
- There is no negative marking in the CBAT — a wrong answer costs you nothing beyond the time you spent on it.
- Raw marks are never compared directly between batteries. Each battery is converted to a standardised T-score.
- There is no overall pass mark you can trade against. You must clear the minimum in every single battery.
The qualifying rule
A minimum T-score of 42 is required in each of the five batteries. Score 70 in four batteries and 40 in the fifth, and you are out. This is why practice has to be balanced: your weakest battery decides your result, not your average.
Instructions and language
Each battery begins with its own instruction screen and, for the memory battery, a study page you can read before the questions begin. The console is bilingual, so read the instructions in whichever language you process faster — the questions themselves are identical.
How to prepare for it
Because the CBAT is a speed-and-accuracy test, the only preparation that transfers is full-length timed practice on the same interface. Attempt complete 235-question mocks rather than isolated puzzle sets, then read your battery-wise T-scores to find the one battery holding your result back.