RRB ALP Exam Date 2026: CBT 1 Schedule and Candidate Instructions

The wait is over for lakhs of railway aspirants: the RRB ALP exam date 2026 for CBT 1 has been announced. The Railway Recruitment Boards will hold the first-stage computer-based test for Assistant Loco Pilot under CEN 01/2026 on 3, 4 and 5 November 2026. With about 11,127 vacancies on offer, this single screening test decides who moves ahead to CBT 2.

Many pages still show February 2026 dates for ALP, and that confuses candidates. Those dates belong to the earlier recruitment cycle. This article is about the current one. Below you will find the complete schedule, the timeline for the city intimation slip and e-call letter, the CBT 1 pattern, the instructions you must follow on exam day, and a short last-week plan.

RRB ALP Exam Date 2026 at a Glance

RRB ALP CBT 1 Schedule and Release Timeline

RRBs do not release everything together. The process moves in three steps, and each one has a separate document.

Because candidates are spread across three days, release dates differ by individual. A person with a 3 November exam will see the slip and e-call letter earlier than a person with a 5 November exam. Check your regional RRB website, not a friend’s screenshot.

City Intimation Slip vs E-Call Letter: Do Not Confuse Them

This is one of the most common doubts, so it deserves a clear answer.

• City intimation slip: tells you the city and the date of your exam, so you can plan travel and stay. It is not an entry pass.
• E-call letter: the actual admit card, with centre address, shift and reporting time. This is what you carry into the exam hall.

There is no fee for downloading either document. If a website or a person asks money for the slip or the admit card, ignore it, because RRBs do not charge for this and have advised candidates to rely only on official sources.

How to Check the Exam Date and City Slip

1. Open the official RRB application portal or the website of the RRB region you applied to.
2. Go to the CEN 01/2026 ALP section.
3. Click the link for Exam City and Date Intimation when it becomes active.
4. Log in with your registration number and password or date of birth, as asked.
5. Check your exam city and date, then download and save the slip.

When the e-call letter link opens a few days later, follow the same route, download the PDF and print it on A4 paper in a clear resolution.

RRB ALP CBT 1 Exam Pattern 2026

CBT 1 is only a screening test, so the marks do not count towards the final merit. It decides whether you are shortlisted for CBT 2.

Because shifts can differ in difficulty, RRBs normalise the marks. Shortlisting for CBT 2 is done RRB-wise using normalised scores. In simple words, your result depends on how you perform compared with other candidates of the same board, not just on a raw score.

Aadhaar Verification Is Important

RRBs have stressed Aadhaar-based verification for this recruitment. Candidates who have not completed it can do so by logging in through the official application portal. Keep your Aadhaar active and unlocked, and make sure your name and details match your application. If biometric verification is carried out at the centre, a mismatch can create delays, so fix any problem now instead of on exam day.

RRB ALP Exam Day Instructions for Candidates

Documents to carry

• Printed e-call letter (admit card)
• The same recent passport-size photograph that you uploaded in your application
• One valid original photo ID, such as Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN card, driving licence or passport
• For SC and ST candidates, the travel authority provided with the e-call letter, if applicable

The name on your ID should match the name on the e-call letter. Photocopies and phone images of ID are not a safe choice.

Reporting and entry

• Reach the centre before the reporting time printed on the e-call letter. Gates normally close well before the test begins.
• Expect biometric verification and frisking at the entrance, and cooperate with the staff.
• Electronic gadgets, study material and metallic items are not allowed inside the lab. Leave them at home.
• Follow every instruction printed on the e-call letter, since it overrides general advice from any website.

Inside the exam lab

• Sit only at the computer assigned to you and read the on-screen instructions fully.
• Do not touch the keyboard shortcuts or switch off the system. Call the invigilator if a technical problem appears.
• Do not talk, look at other screens or use unfair means. It can lead to cancellation of your candidature.
• Submit the test only after you are done, and wait for permission to leave.

Plan Your Travel and Stay

Railway exams have large numbers of candidates, and centres can be in a different city. After you receive the city slip, book your tickets quickly because trains fill fast around the exam dates. Look for a place to stay close to the centre if the journey is long, and reach the city a day early. If you are a candidate who qualifies for concessions or travel authority, keep the document ready for use at the booking counter.

• Check the centre address on the e-call letter once it is issued, then recheck the route on a map.
• Leave early on exam day. Traffic, crowds and ID checks take longer than most people expect.
• Carry a small transparent water bottle if allowed, and avoid heavy bags.

One-Week Preparation Plan for CBT 1

With the exam so close, the right strategy is to revise, not to start new chapters. Use this simple plan.

1. Days 1 and 2: Revise Mathematics formulas, percentages, ratio, time and work, speed and distance, and number system. Solve timed sets of 20 questions.
2. Days 3 and 4: Reasoning practice: series, coding-decoding, analogies, syllogisms, blood relations and direction sense. Accuracy matters more than speed here.
3. Day 5: General Science at class 10 level, covering physics, chemistry and biology basics. Revise units, laws and common examples.
4. Day 6: General Awareness and current affairs from recent months, railways, sports, awards and government schemes.
5. Day 7: One full 75-question mock in 60 minutes, followed by a calm review of mistakes. Then stop and rest.

Take at least three or four full mocks during the week, always on a computer and always timed. Review accuracy by topic, because a wrong answer costs you one-third of a mark and can quietly pull your score down.

Smart Strategy for the 60 Minutes

• You have under one minute per question, so do not get stuck on a hard one.
• Begin with the section in which you are strongest, to build confidence and bank marks early.
• Attempt a question only when you can eliminate at least two options, because there is negative marking.
• Keep the last five minutes for returning to the questions you marked.

Common Mistakes RRB ALP Candidates Should Avoid

• Treating the tentative dates as final for everyone. Your exam may fall on any of the three days and in any shift. Wait for your own slip.
• Ignoring Aadhaar verification. Leaving it for the last week can cost you valuable time if the portal is busy.
• Using a different photograph. The photo on your e-call letter and ID should match the one in your application, as far as possible.
• Guessing blindly. Random guesses on every doubtful question can trigger several negative marks. Guess only when you can remove two options.
• Skipping computer-based practice. Reading on paper and answering on screen feel very different. Practise the real format.
• Believing fake notices. Edited PDFs and false “leaked shift lists” spread quickly near exam dates. Check the official portal before acting on any message.

Quick Checklist Before You Leave for the Centre

1. E-call letter printed and checked for name, centre, shift and reporting time
2. Original photo ID and the matching application photograph
3. Route, travel time and a backup plan for delays
4. No electronic gadgets, notes or metallic items in your bag
5. A light meal, enough sleep and a calm mind

If you have an exam on the first day, 3 November, treat the last three days as pure revision. Light practice, steady sleep and a well-packed bag will help you more than any last-minute marathon.

What Happens After CBT 1?

Candidates shortlisted from CBT 1 move to CBT 2, which has Part A and Part B. After that come the Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT), document verification and the medical examination. Eligibility for the post is generally a matriculation with ITI or Act Apprenticeship, or a diploma or degree in engineering in streams such as Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics and Automobile. Final selection follows the prescribed process and merit, so keep your certificates ready from now.

Keep following official portals only, and avoid unofficial groups that promise leaked papers or guaranteed selection. Such claims are false, and they put your candidature at risk.

Important Links

Related reading: RRB NTPC UG 2026 eligibility, dates and how to apply; RRB Nursing Superintendent 2026 schedule and admit card guide; and Bihar STET admit card 2026: download and exam day rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The RRB ALP exam date 2026 is close, and the final preparation phase should be calm and organised. Keep an eye on the official portal for your city slip, finish your Aadhaar verification, plan the journey, arrange your documents and practise timed mocks. Remember that CBT 1 is a screening test, and a focused performance can open the door to the next stage. Bookmark this page, because we update it as soon as the city slip and e-call letter links go live.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not an official RRB publication. Dates and procedures are based on reports available up to 22 October 2026 and may change. Always rely on the official RRB notices, your city slip and your e-call letter.