CDS Exam Pattern 2025: Check CDS 1 & 2 Paper Pattern

Registration: 11 Dec '24 - 31 Dec '24

Updated on Nov 28, 2024 14:26 IST

CDS exam pattern 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) specifies the CDS exam pattern for the written exam and SSB Interview. UPSC lays the best career option for candidates who want to become a commissioned officer in the Indian Defence Forces. The candidate who wants to qualify for the CDS exam must go through the exam pattern and syllabus of the CDS exam

CDS exam patterns for the INA, AFA, and IMA are similar but the CDS OTA exam pattern is slightly different from the other three. The CDS exam 2025 will be conducted in two stages, the written exam and the SSB interview. The CDS exam is an offline exam conducted in pen paper-based format. The CDS marking scheme, negative marking, total marks, exam timing, and the paper pattern for the IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA are available below for the CDS exam.

Also Read: CDS OTA Syllabus 2025

Q: What is the exam pattern for CDS 2025 exam?

The CDS exam pattern has been divided into two categories- Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA). The exam taken for the IMA, INA, AFA is taken for three subjects- General Awareness, Mathematics and English. On the other hand, the OTA exam is taken for two subjects- English . and General Awareness. The exam pattern for these categories have been given below for the candidates: For IMA, INA and AFA: a)Total Number of Subjects: English. Elementary Mathematics and General Knowledge b) Time Duration: Six hours (2 hours for each paper) c) Maximum Marks: 300 marks (100 marks for each paper) For OTA: a) Total Number of Subjects: English . and General Knowledge b) Time Duration: Four hours (2 hours for each paper) c) Maximum Marks: 200 Marks (100 marks for each paper). .

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Q: What is the pattern for CDS written exam?

The CDS (Combined Defence Services) written exam consists of three papers English General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The details of the pattern for each paper are as follows: English: The English paper is of 2 hours duration and carries a total of 100 marks. It tests the candidate's proficiency in the English language and includes questions on comprehension, synonyms, antonyms, error detection, sentence rearrangement, and fill in the blanks. General Knowledge: The General Knowledge paper is of 2 hours duration and carries a total of 100 marks. It tests the candidate's knowledge of current events, history, geography, and other topics related to India and the world. Elementary Mathematics: The Elementary Mathematics paper is of 2 hours duration and carries a total of 100 marks. It tests the candidate's knowledge of elementary mathematics, including topics such as arithmetic, Algebra geometry, and Trigonometry. All the papers are objective type and consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The standard of the papers is that of a graduate-level examination. It is important to note that there is negative marking for wrong answers in the CDS written exam. One-third of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for each wrong answer. Therefore, candidates should prepare well and practice solving mock tests and previous year question papers to score well in the CDS written exam and increase their chances of selection.

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Q: What is QPReP in CDS exam?

QPReP stands for "Question Paper Representation and Practice Platform". It is an online platform developed by the UPSC for candidates appearing in various competitive exams, including the CDS exam. The QPReP platform provides candidates with the opportunity to practice and familiarize themselves with the exam format and pattern. It contains a pool of mock test papers that are designed to simulate the actual exam and cover all the topics and subjects included in the syllabus. The platform also provides instant feedback and performance analysis to help candidates identify their strengths and weaknesses and improve their preparation. The QPReP platform is available to all registered candidates for the CDS exam and can be accessed through the UPSC's official website. Candidates can log in to their account and choose the mock test papers they wish to attempt. The platform also allows candidates to customize the test papers according to their preferences, such as the number of questions, difficulty level, and time limit. Overall, QPReP is a useful tool for candidates appearing in the CDS exam to enhance their preparation and increase their chances of success.

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Table of Contents

Highlights of CDS Exam Pattern 2025
CDS Exam Pattern for INA, AFA, IMA
CDS Exam Pattern OTA
Structure of CDS Question Paper
CDS Negative Marking
CDS Exam Pattern 2025 for SSB Interview
CDS Previous Years' Paper Analysis
Instructions to fill CDS Answer Sheet
CDS Syllabus 2025
CDS Best Preparation

Highlights of CDS Exam Pattern 2025

Candidates can check in brief, the exam pattern of the CDS exam as mentioned below:

Parameters	Details
Mode of exam	Offline
Number of sections	Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Air Force Academy (AFA)-Three Officers’ Training Academy (OTA)-Two
Total marks of the test	IMA, INA, and AFA-300 OTA-200
Nature of questions	Objective type
Language of question paper	Hindi and English
Duration of the test	Two hours for each section of the test

Q: Can girls apply for the CDS exam?

Yes, girls can apply for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam. The eligibility criteria for the CDS exam are the same for both male and female candidates. The following are the eligibility criteria for girls to apply for the CDS exam: Age Limit: Female candidates should be between 19 to 25 years of age as on 1st January or 1st July of the respective years (depending on the CDS exam they are applying for). Educational Qualifications: Female candidates should have a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university or institution. Physical Standards: Female candidates should meet the prescribed physical standards for admission to the respective defence services. It is important to note that the CDS exam is highly competitive, and candidates, including girls, need to prepare well and perform their best in all the stages of the selection process to increase their chances of selection for admission to the respective defense academies. Therefore, girls who are interested in joining the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force can apply for the CDS exam if they meet the above-mentioned eligibility criteria and should prepare well to succeed in the exam.

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Q: Is there a time limit for each subject in CDS exam?

Yes, there is a time limit for each subject in the CDS exam. The exam is conducted in three stages, namely a written exam, an interview, and a medical exam. The written exam comprises three papers: English General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics, and each paper has a specific time limit as mentioned below: a) English 2 hours b) General Knowledge: 2 hours c) Maths 2 hours The total time duration of the CDS exam is 6 hours. It is essential to manage time effectively during the exam to attempt all questions within the given time frame. Candidates should also keep in mind that there is a negative marking for incorrect answers and they should answer the questions carefully.

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Q: What is the language of question paper in CDS exam?

The language of CDS question paper is bilingual, i.e, English and Hindi. The question paper for the English subject is in the English Language, while the questions for General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics subjects are available in both English and Hindi languages. Candidates can choose the language in which they want to attempt the question paper while filling their application form. It is important to note that the question paper for each subject will be available in only one language, and candidates cannot switch between languages during the exam.

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CDS Exam Pattern for INA, AFA, IMA

The candidates appearing for the CDS exam to become defence personnel through INA, IMA and AFA must know the exam pattern. The candidates can understand the exam with a better perspective if they know the exam pattern. The UPSC CDS exam pattern has been given below for INA, IMA, and AFA:

The written exam for IMA, INA, and AFA comprises three sections: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics
The total exam duration for IMA, INA, and AFA is six hours (each section is for two hours)
The total marks of the test for IMA, INA, and AFA are 300

CDS Exam Pattern for Written Test

The candidate can check the CDS written test exam pattern in the table below:

CDS Exam Pattern
Mode of Exam	Offline
Number of Subjects	3
Name of Subjects	English, General Awareness, and Maths
Total Marks	300 marks
Time Duration	6 hours
Type of exam	Objective
Medium of Exam	Bilingual (Hindi and English)

CDS Exam Pattern OTA

OTA (Officers Training Academy) has a different exam pattern as compared to the IMA, INA, and AFA exams. The exam pattern for the UPSC CDS OTA exam has been given below for the candidates to know the intricate pattern of the exam easily:

The written exam for OTA comprises two sections: English and General Knowledge
The total exam duration for OTA is four hours (each section is for two hours)
The total marks of the test for OTA are 200

Q: What is the exam pattern for OTA CDS exam?

The OTA (Officer's Training Academy) CDS exam pattern is similar to the CDS exam pattern for the other academies, with a few differences. The OTA CDS exam is conducted in two stages: a written exam which is followed by an interview. The written exam consists of two papers: a) English This paper is of two hours duration and consists of objective-type questions designed to test the candidate's understanding of English grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and usage. B) General Knowledge: This paper is also of 2 hours duration and consists of objective type questions on various topics such as Current Affairs history, geography, economics, and general Science. It is important to note that there is no Elementary Mathematics paper for the OTA CDS exam Also, the OTA CDS exam is conducted only for the candidates who have applied for Short Service Commission (Non-Technical) course. The interview for the OTA CDS exam is similar to that of the other CDS academies and includes a Psychological Aptitude Test and a Personal Interview.

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Q: What is the syllabus for CDS exam?

Candidates who are preparing upcoming CDS exam must follow the syllabus to prepare for the exam. The CDS syllabus is divided into two categories- a) INA (Indian Naval Academy), IMA (Indian Military Academy), and AFA (Air Force Academy) b) OTA (Officers Training Academy) Syllabus for INA, IMA and AFA The syllabus for the IMA, INA and AFA comprises three sections English GAT and Elementary Mathematics. To get the detailed syllabus for INA, IMA and AFA click on the refer to the link below: https://www.shiksha.com/exams/cds-exam-syllabus.

OTA Syllabus:

The OTA syllabus has two sections English and general knowledge. OTA exam syllabus does not have a Maths section. The topic-wise syllabus for the OTA has been provided for the candidates.

English

Sentence Arrangement
Synonyms and Antonyms
Jumble Words
Idioms and Phrases
Ordering Sentences
Ordering Words

GAT (General Ability Test)

Current Affairs
History
Polity
Geography
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Sociology
Defence Related Awareness
Sports and Culture
Environmental Studies.

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Q: What is the duration of CDS interview process?

The duration of the CDS interview process varies depending on various factors. Including number of candidates appearing for the interview, the number of interviewing officers, and the time taken for evaluation of each candidate. Generally, the interview process takes place over a period of four to five days, with each candidate being called in batches. Each candidate have to appear before a panel of officers for the Personal Interview and the psychological aptitude test, which usually lasts for 30 to 40 minutes.

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Structure of CDS Question Paper

The structure of the CDS question paper for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA is as follows:

IMA, INA, AFA
Subject	Duration (In hours)	Maximum Marks
English	2	100
General Knowledge	2	100
Elementary Mathematics	2	100

OTA
Subject	Duration (In hours)	Maximum Marks
English	2	100
General Knowledge	2	100

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Q: How many questions are asked in the Maths section of CDS exam?

The CDS question paper for Mathematics carries a total of 100 questions. The section from which the questions are asked has been given below for the candidates: a) Profit and loss b) Elementary Number Theory: Division algorithm c) Prime and composite numbers: Tests of divisibility by 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 11. d) Multiples and factors e) Factorisation Theorem, etc. The candidates must go through these Maths section to secure maximum marks as these section comprise maximum marks in the question paper in the Maths section.

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Q: How many questions are asked in the English section of CDS exam?

Total number of questions asked in the English Language of CDS exam is 120. These questions are asked from different sections. These sections has been given below for the candidates: a) Basic Grammar b) Idioms & Phrases c) Synonyms and Antonyms d) Reading Comprehension Solving e) Substitution of Words f) Error Spotting g) Para Jumbles.

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Q: How can I prepare for CDS Maths and Current Affairs for CDS exam?

You can use the following approach to Current Affairs for the CDS WATCH TV- Spend a couple of hours watching TV every day. It offers information on every subject in an engaging manner that is simple to remember. Watch reputable news stations like CNN and BBC for the daily bulletin. It serves as the greatest and the simplest method to understand current events. NEWSPAPER READING The oldest and most popular method for increasing understanding of current issues is to read newspapers. Local, regional, national, and international news can all be found there. Get a subscription to a reputable newspaper, such as "The Hindu, " and make reading the newspaper a morning ritual. USE THE INTERNET SMARTLY: Use your time online more wisely by avoiding time-wasting websites like Facebook and Instagram. In terms of websites, there are several, however practically all of them require payment. As a result, I would prefer to advise you to use reputable YouTube channels, such as Study IQ instruction. Write because you tend to forget what you've read easily. Writing aids in memory retention and strengthens information in the brain. Therefore, put what you learn in writing and take brief notes that you can refer to later. For CDS Maths Prioritize the preparation of the crucial topics first while allocating time for the challenging ones. Determine how much time to spend on each sort of question by taking practice exams. Additionally, in order to have a sense of the kinds of questions that will be in the exam, candidates must complete prior year's question papers. Candidates must acquire time management shortcuts, suggestions, and techniques. Recall basic computations like squares and cubes. Make a list of formulas and shortened forms to keep on hand for last-minute revision. Due to the exam's negative marking policy, they should only mark an answer if they are certain about it. During the exam, avoid making educated guesses. Candidates should consult quality mathematics textbooks when preparing for the CDS.

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CDS Negative Marking

For a better understanding of the marking system of the CDS exam, the marking scheme of the CDS exam is given below. The candidates can go through the points to understand the exam marking scheme. The section-wise marking scheme has also been given for the candidate's ease on the page below.

For the incorrect answer, 1/3 mark is deducted
Candidates marking more than one option are treated as incorrect
If a question is left unanswered, there will be no negative marking

Section Wise Marking Scheme

The section-wise marking scheme of the CDS exam has been given below for the candidates. The section-wise marking scheme will help the aspirants to understand the complex structure of the marking scheme:

Specifications	English	GK	Mathematics
Maximum marks	100	100	100
Marks for the correct answer	+1 mark for each correct option	+1 mark for each correct option	+1 mark for each correct option
Negative marking	-0.33 marks for each wrong answer	-0.33 marks for each wrong answer	-0.33 marks for each wrong answer

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CDS Exam Pattern 2025 for SSB Interview

The SSB Interview for IMA, INA, and AFA is for 300 marks each while for OTA, it is 200. The SSB Interview procedure consists of two stages: I and II. Only those candidates who qualify the stage I are permitted to appear in stage II. The details of both stages are given below:

Stage I comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception Description Test (PP&DT)
Stage II comprises Interviews, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and Conferences. These tests are conducted over days

Download CURRENT AFFAIRS Guide -Click Here

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CDS Previous Years' Paper Analysis

The previous years' paper analysis for the CDS exam is given below. This analysis will help candidates to know the types of questions asked in the exam.

English

The English question paper is designed to test the candidates' understanding of the English language.

English	No. of Questions
Cloze Test	10
Preposition & Determinants	10
Completion of Sentence	10
Antonyms	10
Part of Speech	10
Spotting Error	10
Ordering of Word in a Sentence	10
Fill in the Blanks	10
Synonyms	10
Idioms & Phrases	10
Ordering of Sentences	10
Total	120

Elementary Maths

The distribution of questions in this subject is given below.

Topic	No. of Questions
Mensuration	14
Geometry	20
Algebra	7
Number system	20
Trigonometry	14
Average/Statistics	4
Time and Work	3
Speed & Distance	6
Simple Interest and Compound Interest	5
Percentage	2
Clock	2
Profit and Loss	1
Mixture and allegation	1
Set Theory	1
Total	100

General Awareness

The distribution of questions in GK paper is given below.

Subjects	No. Of Questions
Geography	16
History	24
Economy	11
Polity	17
Physics	11
Chemistry	17
Biology	7
Current Affairs	18
Static/Misc.	2
Total	120

Also Read: CDS Exam Analysis

Instructions to fill CDS Answer Sheet

The candidates appearing for the CDS exam must know the instructions to fill out the CDS exam answer sheet so that they do not make any mistakes while filling out the OMR answer sheet. The instructions to fill out the answer sheet are given below.

As soon as the candidate receives the answer sheet, they should check that it is numbered at the bottom. If it is found un-numbered they should at once get it replaced by a numbered one
Candidates should write with a black ball pen the name of the centre and subject in English or Hindi
The test booklet series is indicated by Alphabets A, B, C, or D at the top right-hand corner of the booklet
Write roll numbers exactly as it is in your e-Admission Certificate with a black ball pen in the boxes provided for this purpose. Do not omit any zero(s) which may be there
The next step is to find out the appropriate subject code from the Time Table
Encode the Test Booklet Series, Subject Code, and Roll Number in the circles provided for this purpose. Do the encoding with a black ball pen. The name of the Centre need not be encoded
Writing and encoding of the Test Booklet Series is to be done after receiving the Test Booklet and confirming the Booklet Series from the same

CDS Syllabus 2025

The standard of the papers in Elementary Mathematics is of Matriculation level. The standard of papers in other subjects is approximately such as may be expected of a graduate of an Indian University. The question paper is designed to test the candidates’ understanding of English and workmanlike use of words. General Knowledge includes knowledge of current events and such matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspects as may be expected of an educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific subject. The paper also includes questions on the History of India and the Geography of nature which the candidate should be able to answer without special study. Candidates can check the topics included in the CDS syllabus.

Subjects	Topics
English	The question paper is designed to test the candidates’ understanding of English and Grammar
General Knowledge	Economics, Physics, General Awareness, Politics, History, Geography, Sociology, etc.
Elementary Mathematics	Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, Statistics, etc.

CDS Best Preparation

The candidates preparing for the CDS exam must go through the CDS best books for the preparation. The list of the CDS books been given below for the candidates in the table :

Name of Books	Subject	Author/Publications
Objective General English	English	S.P Bakshi (Arihant Publications)
Manorama Year Book	General Awareness	Philip Mathew
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exam	Quantitative Aptitude	R.S Aggarwal