The book lists that circulate for ALP preparation are almost universally copied from generic railway exam recommendations — they fail to account for the 40-mark weight of Basic Science and Engineering in CBT 2 Part A, which is the single most important section for rank determination. This guide is built around that reality.
Mathematics (CBT 1 and CBT 2 Part A)
| Book | Author/Publisher | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand) | All arithmetic topics: percentages, SI/CI, ratio, time and work, TSD — complete coverage |
| NCERT Mathematics Class 9 and 10 | NCERT | Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry — conceptual foundation that Aggarwal builds on |
General Intelligence and Reasoning (Both CBTs)
| Book | Author/Publisher | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand) | Complete coverage: verbal (series, analogies, coding-decoding) and non-verbal (figure series, mirror image, pattern completion) |
General Science (CBT 1 Only)
| Book | Author/Publisher | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| NCERT Science Class 9 and 10 | NCERT | Complete CBT 1 General Science coverage at the right depth — Physics, Chemistry, Biology all included |
Basic Science and Engineering (CBT 2 Part A — 40 Marks)
| Book | Author/Publisher | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Workshop Calculation and Science (WCS) | NCVT / DGT | Units and Measurements, Simple Machines, Levers, Basic Electricity, Safety and Health — the primary source for all non-Drawing BSE content |
| Engineering Drawing | N.D. Bhatt (Charotar Publishing) | Orthographic projections (first/third angle), isometric views, sectional views, dimensioning — the most important Engineering Drawing reference for ALP |
| NCERT Physics Class 11 (selected chapters) | NCERT | Units and Measurements (Ch. 2), Laws of Motion (Ch. 5), Work/Energy/Power (Ch. 6) — for mechanics depth beyond Class 10 |
Trade Part B (Qualifying — 35% Threshold)
| Source | Best For |
|---|---|
| NCVT Trade Theory Books (your specific trade) | Primary source — defines the exact scope of Part B questions for your trade |
| Arihant / Laxmi Publications Trade Guides | Available for major trades (Electrician, Fitter, Electronics Mechanic, Diesel Mechanic) — include PYQ sections |
General Awareness and Current Affairs
| Source | Best For |
|---|---|
| Monthly current affairs magazines (Pratiyogita Darpan, etc.) | Last 6–12 months current events |
| Lucent's General Knowledge | Railway-specific static GK, important appointments, awards |