Why Most RRB Aspirants Get Stuck Between 60–70 Marks (And How to Break This Barrier)
For many Railway exam aspirants—whether preparing for RRB NTPC, Group D, ALP, or Technician—there is a frustrating phase that feels impossible to cross. No matter how many mock tests you take or how many questions you practise daily, your score keeps revolving around 60–70 marks.
This is not a coincidence. It is a pattern, and more importantly, it is fixable.
In this article, we break down why most RRB aspirants hit this score plateau, what they are doing wrong despite hard work, and how a structured shift in preparation can help push scores into the 80+ range, which actually clears cut-offs.
1. The 60–70 Marks Zone: A False Comfort Area
At first glance, scoring 60–70 marks feels reassuring.
You are not failing badly. You are also not clearing comfortably.
This range usually indicates:
- You know the basics of all subjects
- You can solve easy and moderate questions
- You perform decently in untimed practice
However, Railway CBT exams are not designed to reward “basic coverage.” They reward:
- Speed under pressure
- Selection skills
- Error control
- Smart question prioritisation
Aspirants stuck in this range often prepare hard, but not correctly.
2. Over-Focus on Practice, Under-Focus on Analysis
One of the biggest reasons behind stagnant scores is practice without analysis.
Most aspirants:
- Solve 100–150 questions daily
- Attempt full-length mocks regularly
- Move on to the next test without deep review
What is missing?
- Why did you get a question wrong?
- Was it a concept issue, calculation error, or guess?
- Could the question have been skipped?
- Did it consume too much time?
Without analysing mistakes, you end up repeating the same errors across multiple mocks. As a result, your score stays stuck in the same band.
Effective RRB preparation requires:
- Fewer mocks
- Deeper analysis
- Error notebooks
- Revision of weak patterns, not random topics
| Aspect | Ordinary Preparation | Effective Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Practice Style | Solving many questions daily | Solving fewer questions with analysis |
| Mistakes | Ignored or repeated | Analysed and revised |
| Mocks | Score-focused | Improvement-focused |
| General Science | Average preparation | High-accuracy scoring subject |
| Revision | Irregular | Planned weekly cycles |
| Outcome | Score stuck at 60–70 | Steady rise toward cut-off |
3. Ignoring Time Distribution Across Sections
Railway CBT exams are not sectional, but they are section-sensitive.
Many aspirants unknowingly:
- Spending too much time on Maths
- Get stuck in long DI or calculation-heavy questions
- Rush through General Science or General Awareness
This imbalance leads to:
- Unattempted easy questions
- Panic in the last 15 minutes
- Poor overall score despite good accuracy
Aspirants stuck at 60–70 marks usually lack a pre-decided time plan, such as:
- General Awareness first (quick scoring)
- General Science next
- Reasoning with selective attempts
- Maths only after securing safe marks
Without a clear attempt order, even prepared candidates lose marks.
4. Treating All Questions as Equal
One major mindset problem is assuming:
“If I know the concept, I must solve the question.”
In reality, not all questions deserve your time.
RRB papers always include:
- Time-consuming traps
- Lengthy calculations
- Twisted reasoning sets
Aspirants stuck in the mid-score range try to:
- Solve everything
- Prove their preparation
- Avoid skipping questions
Top scorers, on the other hand:
- Skip aggressively
- Attempt only high-return questions
- Focus on speed + accuracy
Breaking the 70-mark barrier requires selection skill, not extra knowledge.
5. Weak General Science Strategy
General Science is often the silent score killer.
Common mistakes include:
- Leaving GS for the end of preparation
- Relying only on static notes
- Ignoring NCERT-based conceptual clarity
In most Railway exams, General Science alone can decide the cut-off. Aspirants stuck at 60–70 usually score average in GS, while toppers score disproportionately high here.
Improving GS accuracy by even 5–6 questions can significantly push your overall score upward.
6. Mock Tests Treated as Scorecards, Not Tools
Many aspirants check only:
- Total score
- Rank
- Percentile
Then move on.
This is a dangerous habit.
Mocks are meant to show:
- Where you lose time
- Which topics repeatedly go wrong
- Which questions you should skip next time
Without structured mock analysis, mocks become confidence destroyers, not improvement tools.
At institutes like The Prayas India, mock analysis is often guided to help aspirants identify patterns of mistakes, not just marks. This shift alone helps many students move out of the stagnant zone.
7. Lack of Revision Cycles
Another critical reason for stagnation is poor revision discipline.
Most aspirants:
- Keep learning new topics
- Rarely revise old mistakes
- Assume solved topics are “done”
Railway exams test:
- Retention
- Recall under pressure
- Familiarity with question patterns
Without weekly revision cycles, accuracy drops, especially in:
- Formula-based Maths
- Static GS
- Frequently repeated Reasoning patterns
Revision is not optional—it is the real multiplier.
8. Psychological Block and Exam Pressure
Finally, many aspirants are mentally stuck.
Thoughts like:
- “I always score around 65”
- “Maybe this is my limit”
- “Cut-offs are too high”
create a self-fulfilling ceiling.
Once you accept a range subconsciously, your performance aligns with it.
Breaking this requires:
- Clear target attempts
- Realistic improvement plans
- Structured mentorship or guidance
This is why aspirants with similar knowledge levels often perform very differently in the actual exam.
How to Break the 60–70 Marks Barrier
To move beyond this plateau, focus on:
- Quality practice over quantity
- Deep mock analysis
- Aggressive question selection
- Strong General Science preparation
- Fixed attempt strategy
- Weekly revision cycles
Most importantly, stop preparing randomly. Railway exams reward strategy more than struggle.
A focused, mentored approach—like the one followed at institutes such as The Prayas India—helps aspirants convert effort into results by correcting preparation direction early.
Conclusion
If your RRB scores are stuck between 60–70 marks, the issue is not lack of effort or intelligence. It is a strategic gap.
The moment you shift from:
- Practising more → Practising smarter
- Attempting more → Selecting better
- Reading more → Revising better
Your scores will start moving.
Railway exams are competitive, but they are predictable. Those who understand the pattern, not just the syllabus, are the ones who break through.
FAQs
Q1. Is 60–70 a safe score for RRB exams?
It depends on the exam and shift, but usually this range is borderline and not safe for most posts.
Q2. How many mocks should I take for RRB preparation?
Quality matters more than quantity. Fewer mocks with proper analysis are more effective.
Q3. Which subject helps most in improving RRB scores quickly?
General Science and General Awareness often give the fastest score improvement.
Q4. Why does my score not improve despite good practice?
Because improvement comes from analysing mistakes, not just solving more questions.
Q5. Can mentorship really help break the score plateau?
Yes. Structured guidance helps identify blind spots that self-study often misses.