Railway Psycho Test 2026: Pattern, Batteries and Free Mock Tests
The railway psycho test — officially the Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) — is the stage that decides most Assistant Loco Pilot results. It has no syllabus to memorise. It measures how well you hold information in memory, follow instructions precisely, judge depth and stay accurate while the clock runs.
Which railway posts need a psycho test?
- Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) — the CBAT is the third stage, taken after CBT-1 and CBT-2 and before document verification.
- Motorman and traffic/safety category posts — aptitude testing has been used in several recruitment cycles for running and safety roles.
- Station Master — earlier RRB cycles included an aptitude stage; always confirm against the notification for your CEN.
The five RDSO batteries in the railway psycho test
RDSO's guidelines define five batteries with seventeen distinct question types between them. Every candidate attempts all five in a fixed order on one screen-based console.
| Battery | Types | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | 5 question types | Study a railway track map, a word list or a signal set, then answer from recall once the study screen closes. |
| Following Directions | 3 question types | Apply multi-step written instructions exactly — one missed condition changes the answer. |
| Depth Perception | 2 question types | Judge hidden volume and 3D structure, such as counting bricks concealed inside a stacked pile. |
| Power of Observation | 4 question types | Find a target among near-identical symbols, figures and strings. The largest battery at 75 questions. |
| Perceptual Speed | 3 question types | Compare symbols, letters and clock dials at speed without losing accuracy. |
Timing, marking and qualifying rules
- 235 questions in roughly 61 minutes — under 20 seconds per question on average.
- Each battery is timed separately; you cannot borrow time from an easier battery.
- No negative marking, so never leave a question blank.
- Raw marks are converted to standardised T-scores. You need at least 42 in every battery, which means your weakest battery decides your result.
How to prepare for the railway psycho test
Isolated puzzle sets do not transfer to this exam. What transfers is full-length timed practice on the same interface, followed by reading your battery-wise T-scores to find the one battery holding your result back. The Exam Room ships 50 full-length mocks, bilingual instruction screens and battery-wise analytics for exactly that loop.
Railway psycho test FAQs
What is the psycho test in railway recruitment?
The railway psycho test is the aptitude stage of RRB recruitment, officially called the Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT). It is designed by RDSO and measures memory, ability to follow directions, depth perception, concentration and perceptual speed rather than any academic syllabus.
Which railway posts require a psycho test?
Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) candidates take the CBAT after clearing CBT-1 and CBT-2. Motorman and certain traffic and safety-category posts, including Station Master in earlier recruitment cycles, have also used aptitude testing.
How many questions are in the railway psycho test?
A full-length CBAT session runs about 61 minutes and contains 235 questions across five batteries, with the Power of Observation battery alone carrying 75 questions.
What are the qualifying marks for the railway psycho test?
A minimum T-score of 42 is required in every one of the five batteries. Falling below 42 in even one battery disqualifies the attempt, no matter how high your other scores are.
Is there negative marking in the railway psycho test?
No. There is no negative marking, so an unanswered question is always worse than your best guess.
How can I practise the railway psycho test for free?
Two full-length psycho test mocks on The Exam Room are free. They run on the same console as the real exam, with sectional timers, the five-colour question palette and battery-wise T-score results.