Preparing for Railway exams while doing a full-time job might sound impossible at first.
Long office hours…
Daily travel…
Family responsibilities…
And then studying after all that?
It feels exhausting.
But here’s the good news — hundreds of working professionals crack RRB exams every year.
Yes, even with 8–10 hour jobs.
The secret is not studying 10–12 hours daily.
It’s about smart planning, limited resources, and consistent mock test practice.
The exams conducted by the Railway Recruitment Board like RRB NTPC Exam, RRB Group D Exam, ALP, and others focus more on accuracy and speed, not long study hours.
So even if you get 3–4 hours daily, you can still clear the exam with the right strategy.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
✔ How to prepare with limited time
✔ Smart daily schedule
✔ Subject-wise preparation tips
✔ Weekend study strategy
✔ Mock test plan
✔ Mistakes to avoid
✔ How eliveclass.com helps working aspirants
Let’s break it down step-by-step.
Why Working Professionals Can Still Crack RRB Exams
Many people think only full-time students clear government exams.
That’s not true.
In fact, working professionals often have advantages:
Advantages you already have:
✅ Better discipline
✅ Time management skills
✅ Maturity & focus
✅ Less distraction
✅ Strong motivation for job security
The key is efficient study, not long study.
Even 3 focused hours > 8 distracted hours.
Step 1: Understand the RRB Exam Pattern First
Before opening any book, understand the exam structure.
Most RRB exams include:
Stage 1 – CBT 1
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Maths
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Reasoning
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General Awareness
Stage 2 – CBT 2
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Same subjects (higher level)
Stage 3 – Skill Test/PET (if applicable)
Stage 4 – Document Verification
All stages mainly test:
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Speed
-
Accuracy
-
Basic concepts
Not deep theory.
That’s why preparation is manageable even with a job.
Step 2: Set a Realistic Study Target (Not Unrealistic Goals)
Big mistake working professionals make:
❌ “I will study 8 hours daily”
After 2 days → burnout → quit.
Instead:
Set realistic targets:
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Weekdays → 2–3 hours
-
Weekends → 5–6 hours
-
Total weekly → 20–25 hours
This is more than enough for RRB preparation.
Consistency matters more than duration.
Step 3: Make a Practical Daily Time Table
Here’s a simple schedule you can follow.
Option 1: Morning Study (Highly Effective)
Morning mind is fresh.
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6:00–7:30 AM → Maths/Reasoning
-
Night 9:30–10:30 PM → GA/Revision
Total = 2.5–3 hours
Option 2: Evening Study
If mornings are tough:
-
7:30–9:30 PM → Core subjects
-
20 min → Revision
Option 3: Office Break Utilization
Use:
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Travel time
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Lunch break
-
Waiting time
For:
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Current affairs
-
GK revision
-
Formula notes
Even 30–40 extra minutes daily adds up.
Step 4: Follow the 80/20 Rule (Smart Study)
As a working professional, you don’t have time for everything.
Focus only on high-weightage topics.
Maths – Focus Areas
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Percentage
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Ratio
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Profit & Loss
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Time & Work
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Speed Time Distance
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Average
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SI/CI
These cover 60–70% questions.
Practice daily.
Reasoning – Focus Areas
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Coding-decoding
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Series
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Puzzles
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Seating arrangement
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Syllogism
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Blood relations
These are scoring and quick.
General Awareness – Most Scoring
GA takes:
👉 Less time to study
👉 Less time to attempt
👉 Gives maximum marks
Daily:
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Current affairs
-
Static GK
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Science basics
Even 45 minutes daily is enough.
Step 5: Weekend Strategy (Game Changer)
Weekends decide selection for working aspirants.
Saturday:
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1 full-length mock test
-
2 hours analysis
Sunday:
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Topic revision
-
Section tests
-
Weak area improvement
Weekend = heavy study
Weekdays = light study
This balance works best.
Step 6: Mock Tests Are Your Online Coach
Since you don’t have coaching time, mock tests become your teacher.
Without mock tests:
-
Poor time management
-
Low confidence
-
Exam fear
With mock tests:
-
Real exam experience
-
Speed improvement
-
Weak areas identified
Ideal Mock Plan
3–4 months before exam:
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2 mocks per week
Last 2 months:
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3 mocks per week
Total:
25–35 full mocks enough
After Every Mock:
✔ Check wrong answers
✔ Identify weak topics
✔ Revise immediately
Analysis is more important than giving tests.
Step 7: Use Limited Study Material
Another mistake:
Buying too many books.
As a working professional, this wastes time.
Follow this:
✔ One maths book
✔ One reasoning book
✔ One GK source
✔ Mock tests
That’s enough.
Keep resources limited and focused.
Step 8: Monthly Study Plan for Working Professionals
Month 1–2
Basics + concepts
Month 3–4
Practice + previous year questions
Month 5–6
Mocks + revision
Simple and effective.
Step 9: Health & Energy Management
After job + study, burnout is common.
Take care of:
✔ Proper sleep
✔ Light exercise
✔ Healthy food
✔ Short breaks
Healthy body = better focus.
Step 10: Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these:
❌ Skipping study due to tiredness
❌ Studying only on weekends
❌ Not giving mocks
❌ Over-studying randomly
❌ Comparing with full-time students
❌ Ignoring revision
Even 2 hours daily is enough if consistent.
How eliveclass.com Helps Working Professionals
At eliveclass.com, we understand that working aspirants need flexible preparation.
That’s why we provide:
✅ Online mock tests anytime
✅ Section-wise tests
✅ Previous year questions
✅ Performance analysis
✅ Practice from mobile/laptop
✅ No fixed schedule
So you can study:
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Before office
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After office
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Weekends
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Anytime
It’s like coaching in your pocket.
Final Words
Let’s be honest.
Preparing with a job is not easy.
But it’s absolutely possible.
Remember:
You don’t need:
❌ 10 hours study
❌ Coaching classes
You need:
✔ Smart plan
✔ Daily consistency
✔ Mock tests
✔ Focus
Even 3 hours daily for 6 months = 500+ hours of preparation.
That’s more than enough to clear RRB exams.
Stay disciplined. Trust the process.
And prepare smartly with eliveclass.com.
Your railway job dream is closer than you think 🚆
