Top 10 Myths About Railway Examination

Feb 28, 2023, 16:45 IST

The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) is a constitutional body that is responsible for conducting examinations to recruit personnel in various non-technical categories of posts in Indian railways. The RRB makes schedules and conducts different types of examinations every year. A large number of candidates apply, prepare and appear for the railway exams.

Since the numbers of applicants are much higher as compared to the vacancies, the examinations become too competitive. As a result, the preparation strategies also need to be highly effective and result-oriented. Only a certain percentage of the applicants qualify for the concerned posts through the railway NTPC exam.

It gives rise to several preconceived notions or myths about the success probabilities in the exam. These myths often made some candidates apprehensive about their success and eventually led to obstruction in the preparation process.

The purpose of this article is to highlight the top 10 myths about railway examination you must know. It would also help you remove perceptions surrounding the railway exam and make you confident to prepare successfully without getting affected by the myths.

10 Myths about railway examination

The top 10 myth about railway exam you must know in India are given as follows:

Myth 1: The railway exam is difficult to crack

This is one of the popular myths about the railway exam that most of the aspirants who prepare for the examination carry in their minds. The concern is genuine but candidates fail to understand that with proper preparation strategy, more practice, and dedication they can crack the exam successfully.

There are various resources available for students that help candidates prepare effectively for the exam and crack some of the best railway exams even on the first attempt. Experts suggest that if candidates follow the below steps religiously, they can manage to clear the exam without much difficulty.

  • Get a clear idea about the syllabus and identify important topics
  • Arrange good study materials from offline/online resources
  • Make an organized study plan with a schedule for study, revision, and practice
  • Solve several past question papers and revise topics
  • Evaluate progress through mock tests and identify weak areas
  • Practice more to Improve upon weak points
  • Remain focused and dedicated with a relaxed mind and positive approach

Myth 2: Study For Long Hours

A common myth about railway exam preparation is that one needs to study for long hours a day to successfully clear the exam. Many aspirants plan to study 10-14 hours a day and often at a stretch of 5-6 hours.

However, it is not the actual case. In fact, with a smart study plan and focus, you can get the desired result by studying only up to 6-8 hours daily. Again, studying continuously for long hours would affect concentration and create stress. You need to schedule your time to accommodate time for breaks and other recreational activities.

Therefore, it is important to make a schedule and arrange a balanced distribution of time to make the studies more organized and time-bound.

Many aspirants who stay focused and dedicated have successfully cleared the RRB exam with less than 10 hours of daily preparation because the fact is quality matters, not quantity.

Myth 3: Read a Lot To Cover The Syllabus

This is one of the predominantly popular myths regarding railway examination, especially the Railway NTPC exam. People normally believe that to score good marks one should consult a large number of books to know every detail of the subjects.

It is not true. If candidates follow the past several years’ question papers, they get to know the pattern and trends. Accordingly, they can identify important topics that have more chances to be asked in the exam.

The best way is to follow the syllabus methodically as questions will adhere to the syllabus only. Again, taking notes during the study also helps a lot to get a clear concept of the subjects. Further, a candidate should revise topics regularly and clear doubts with necessary guidance and consultation.

Myth 4: Questions Are Not Repeated

There is a belief among some sections of people that questions are not repeated from previous years in the railway exam. You will find this belief not true if you check the last few years' question papers.

Like every other exam, there are repetitions of certain questions in each category in the exam. For example, questions on idioms and phrases have been repeated in the past. Therefore, refer to the last 5-6 years’ exam papers to know which questions have more chances to repeat and prepare accordingly.

Myth 5: Only Toppers Can Clear The Exam

Candidates appearing for the railway exam sometimes have a notion that school or college toppers only can crack the exam. Studious and brilliant candidates have a better chance to be successful, but that doesn’t mean others are not competent enough to score well and crack the exam.

If you follow a systematic study plan and take input from various resources to organize your studies with regular practice, then there is no reason why you can't pass the exam.

Eventually, the goal is to stay focused and dedicated and follow the strategies. Many average students in school or college managed to clear the exam with proper preparation strategies and guidance.

Myth 6: Mock Tests Are Not Important

Some candidates feel that thorough study is sufficient without carrying out any mock tests. It’s just the reverse. Without mock tests, you will never be able to assess your performance and judge where you are lacking in terms of knowledge and skills. Again, mock tests help in topic-wise revision.

A candidate can identify whether their concepts are clear and determine where to put their focus on. Moreover, mock tests are made similar in structure to past railway NTPC exam papers and as a result, they can help build confidence and time-management skills.

Myth 7: General Awareness Section Is Unpredictable

Candidates often think the general awareness portion is unpredictable and there is no need to put much effort into it. They often have no clear idea of how to prepare for this subject. In this section, questions are mostly based on current affairs and recent events that happened at the national and international levels.

If you go through the newspaper daily and read magazines and journals on current affairs, you get a lot of information that helps you improve your general awareness.

Moreover, online channels are a great source of information that continuously updates your knowledge. Further practice with earlier years’ papers of RRB exams also guides you about the question patterns and weight on this subject.

Myth 8: English Is Not So Important

Many candidates feel the English section is not so important and tend to put less effort into studying and practicing for the section. There is a general feeling that it is easy to score in English but that’s not true.

Many candidates get poor grades in railway exams because they do not perform well in English grammar and comprehension. Students practicing with previous question papers can understand that it is easy to score in the English section and disregarding it will eventually affect the overall score.

Myth 9: Speed Is Not Important

Often candidates fail to understand that neither study nor practice can bring you good scores unless you can complete the exam paper within the stipulated time. Therefore, speed is very important when attempting so many questions. The more questions you attempt, the better your chances of scoring.

Therefore, you need to work on your speed through more practice and mock tests on best railway exams. Moreover, you should learn tips and tricks to quickly solve quantitative questions. Make it a habit to practice with the mock test by setting a time limit and working on your speed accordingly.

Myth 10: Online Coaching is Not Very Effective

Many students have not experienced the benefit of online coaching platforms and learning management apps. Online coaching platforms like PhysicsWallah are versatile and meet the specific needs of different candidates.

For instance, if you need flexibility in time and location for study, online classes and video tutorials are ideal for you. Moreover, these platforms are affordable, and provide study materials, and notes from teachers.

Ending note

Although the RRB railway exam is very popular, there are myths associated with it. It sometimes affects the preparation process and also acts as a barrier for many candidates to be successful in the exam.

Instead of believing what others say, you should refer to trustworthy sources that can provide you with accurate information regarding the exam, its structure, and preparation strategies.

If you are looking for more effective strategies and study material to prepare for your upcoming railway exam, visit PhysicsWallah website. You will find comprehensive study material for all the subjects that will surely helps you to improve your ranks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Why are there myths associated with the railway exam?

Ans. Railway exam is highly competitive and many candidates fail to qualify for the first time. Again, some toppers in school or colleges find it difficult to crack. These factors have created some myths about the structure and study requirements about railway exams.

Q2. Why isn't studying for long hours doesn’t found effective in preparation for the railway exam?

Ans. Long hours of study create monotony and stress and make it difficult to concentrate. On the other hand, regular breaks help freshen up the mind and focus easily on studies.

Q3. Why do school or college toppers sometimes fail in the railway exams?

Ans. Railway exams require a completely different study plan and preparation methods with a lot of practice and mock tests. Toppers who do not follow the required process and study methods often fail to crack the exam.

4. What are the myths regarding online learning platforms?

Ans. The myth about online coaching is that they are not very effective like live classes but in actual scenario, candidates can get adequate help from video lessons and tutorials as they can follow it as per the convenience of time, pace, and location.

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