The official notification for the RPF Recruitment 2024 provides the details regarding the written exam. Among the list of sections, the first one is the ‘Arithmetic’ section. This section holds very high importance in the exam as the candidates can score high marks in this section and maximize their chances of getting selected for the next stage of the recruitment process. If prepared properly, this section presents a high chance of candidates scoring full marks.
Importance of the Arithmetic section in the RPF Exam 2024
The exam pattern and syllabus as mentioned in the official notification as released by the Ministry of Railways provide for the weightage of the Arithmetic section in the question paper. A total of 35 questions are asked out of 120 in the question paper on the various topics of Arithmetic. This accounts for almost 30 percent of the paper which makes this section extremely important for the candidates to prepare. The various details of this section are provided below for the reference of the candidates.
- Total Questions – 35, Total Marks – 35, Negative Marking – 1/3rd
These are the basic attributes of the Arithmetic section in the RPF exam. The candidates should keep these points in mind while covering the various topics mentioned in the syllabus. It will help them adapt to the exam pattern quickly and perform well in the actual exam. Now let us look at some of the points that can help them score maximum marks in the Arithmetic section of the RPF Exam.
How to Score 35/35 Marks in the Arithmetic Section of the RPF Exam?
Most of the candidates who start their preparation for the RPF Exam set out with the mindset of scoring as much as possible in the Arithmetic section. However, scoring full marks in this section is feasible and the candidates should approach it as such. All they need is a practical strategy that covers all the aspects of the section in a way that makes them exam-ready. In the following few points, let us take you all on a journey that can help you reach the destination of scoring 100% marks in the Arithmetic section of the RPF Exam 2024.
1. Get Familiar With the Syllabus: It is common knowledge that to prepare for an exam, the candidates need to know what to prepare. The answer to this question is the ‘Syllabus for the Arithmetic Section’. This can be found in the official notification for the RPF SI and Constable posts under the ‘Syllabus for CBT’ heading.
- “Questions on Number System, Whole Numbers, Decimal & Fractions and the relationship between numbers, fundamental arithmetical operations, Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Averages, Interest, Profit & Loss, Discount, Use of Tables & Graphs, Mensuration, Time & Distance, etc”.
This syllabus is indicative in nature and the candidates should know the types of questions that can be asked in the actual exam. The table below can shed more light on these details and the candidates can use it as a guide for preparing the arithmetic section in a holistic manner.
| Topics | Questions Based On |
| Number System | Natural Numbers, Integer, Rational & Irrational Numbers. |
| Whole Numbers | Place value, Ordering & Comparison, etc. |
| Decimals and Fractions | Fraction to Decimal conversion and vice versa, operations. |
| Fundamental Arithmetic Operations | Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division |
| Simplification | BODMAS Rule, Approximations, Fractional Arithmetic |
| Ratio and Proportion | Ratio, Proportion, Direct & Indirect Proportion |
| Average | Simple Average, Weighted Average |
| Interest | Simple Interest, Compound Interest |
| Profit and Loss | Profit & Loss, Discount, Cost Price, Selling Price, Marked Price |
| Mensuration | Area & Volume of 2D Figures (Square, Rectangle, Circle, Triangle), Area & Volume of 3D Figures (Cube, Cuboid, Cylinder, Sphere) |
| Time, Speed, and Distance | Time, Speed, Distance, Relative Speed |
| Trains | Problems with Train Speed and Time |
| Boats & Streams | Problems on Boat and Stream |
| Use of Tables and Graphs | Interpreting and Analyzing Data Presented in Tables and Graphs |
2. Narrow Down the Resources: After you are familiar with what all to prepare, you should now determine from where to prepare each of these topics. It is advised that the candidates should keep the number of resources limited and go through them multiple times before the exam. However, before finalizing the resources, the candidates should take their time in assessing all the material available online as well as offline. The table below will provide some examples of the sources that can help in preparing for the RPF Exam 2024.
| Dimension | Resource |
| Basic Concepts | R.S Aggarwal and NCERTs (6th to 10th) |
| New Types of Questions asked in the recent exams | Internet and YouTube |
| Previous Year Questions | Kiran Publication |
3. Previous Year Questions are the Key: Going through the Previous Year Papers provides the candidates with the latest trends and patterns in the RPF Exam. It also provides the candidates with one of the most authentic sources for the practice of questions. It is also observed that the questions asked in the RPF Exam have many questions repeated from the previous years. So, practicing PYQs gives the candidates a chance to score more in the upcoming exam.
4. Making Hand-Written Notes: Among the candidates preparing for various competitive exams, there is a common notion that notes are made only for theoretical subjects. However, the candidates who have scored top marks in the Arithmetic section of the RPF Exam suggest that there should be handwritten notes prepared by the candidates for each topic in this section as the preparation process is much smooth and easy. Some of the benefits of preparing notes for the Arithmetic section are as follows.
- It gives a personal touch to the preparation as the candidates recognize their handwriting and recall the thought process that went into making that note.
- It helps the candidates prepare a short and crisp resource that comes in handy for covering more topics in less time.
- It is a go-to source of revision for the candidates which they can modify and update from time to time to accommodate new topics and questions.
5. Practice Makes Perfect: In the arithmetic section, the number of topics is limited and a sincere candidate can cover all of them in a short time. However, understanding all the concepts does not guarantee good marks on the exam. To convert the knowledge into marks, the candidates should practice every type of question that can be asked in each topic. Some of the most authentic sources for practice are:
- Previous Year Questions
- Sectional and Full-Length Mock Tests
- Question Banks
6. Start with Mocks Right Away: If you wish to attain full marks in the Arithmetic section, it is highly recommended that you start attempting mocks along with starting the preparation. It will provide you with a sense of where you stand among the competition on Day 01. The advantages of mocks have been summarized in the points below.
- Revealing the candidate’s strong and weak areas.
- Getting them familiar with the latest exam pattern.
- Helping them find ways to tackle the negative marking.
- Improving their time management skills.
- Maintaining a log of mistakes committed while attempting mocks can help them minimize such errors in the actual exam.
6. Do multiple revisions in different ways: Revision is not just a thing of going through the entire notes or books line by line. To score maximum in the exam, the candidates should also try to adapt to the smart method of doing revision. Discussed in the points below are the ways in which the candidates can revise their prepared material.
- Going through just the basic definitions and formulas to revise the concepts.
- Revisiting the mistakes made in the mock tests to avoid them in the future.
- Focusing on short tricks to save time and increase accuracy in the actual paper.
- Solving previous year’s questions in chapter-wise or set-wise formats.
- Going through short notes compilations provided by authentic channels both offline and online.
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