Combined Defence Services Exam

(CDS) 2024

Conducted by
Union Public Service Commission

An exclusive Guide by
CDS 2024 Pattern Visit on Shiksha
CDS exam pattern 2023: T he Union Public Service Commission specif ies the CDS exam
pattern f or the written exam and SSB Interview. UPSC lays the best career option f or
candidates who want to become a commissioned of f icer in the Indian Def ence Forces. T he
candidate who wants to qualif y f or the CDS exam must go through the exam pattern and
syllabus of the CDS exam.

T he latest CDS 2 exam pattern has been discussed in the article. T he notification f or the
CDS 2 exam was released by the UPSC on May 17, 2023. T he CDS 2 exam was conducted
f or the admission of the candidates in IMA, AFA, INA, and OT A.

CDS exam pattern f or the INA, AFA, and IMA are similar but the CDS OT A exam pattern is
slightly dif f erent f rom the other three. T he CDS exam is conducted in two stages, the written
exam nad SSB interview. T he CDS exam is an of f line exam conducted in pen paper-based
f ormat. T he CDS marking scheme, negative marking, total marks, exam timing, and the paper
pattern f or the IMA, INA, AFA, and OT A is available below f or the CDS exam.

Also Read: CDS OT A Syllabus 2023

Candidates can check below, in brief , the exam pattern of CDS exam.

Paramet ers Det ails

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

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T he candidates appearing f or the CDS exam to become def ence personnel through INA, IMA
and AFA must know the exam pattern. T he candidates can understand the exam with a better
perspective if they know the exam pattern. T he UPSC CDS exam pattern has been given
below f or INA, IMA, and AFA:

T he written exam f or IMA, INA, and AFA comprises three sections: English, General
Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics

T he total exam duration f or IMA, INA, and AFA is six hours (each section is f or two hours)

T he total marks of the test f or IMA, INA, and AFA are 300

CDS Exam Pat t ern f or Writ t en Test

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

CDS Exam Pat t ern

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)
OT A (Of f icers T raining Academy) has a dif f erent exam pattern as compared to the IMA, INA
and AFA exams. T he exam pattern f or the UPSC CDS OT A exam has been given below f or
the candidates to know the intricate pattern of the exam easily:

T he written exam f or OT A comprises two sections: English and General Knowledge

T he total exam duration f or OT A is f our hours (each section is f or two hours)

T he total marks of the test f or OT A are 200

T he structure of CDS question paper f or IMA, INA, AFA, and OT A is as f ollows:

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

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

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For a better understanding of the marking system of the CDS exam, the marking scheme of
the CDS exam is given below. T he candidates can go through the points to understand the
exam marking scheme. T he section-wise marking scheme has also been given f or 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

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 If a question is lef t unanswered, there will be no negative marking

Sect ion Wise Marking Scheme

T he section-wise marking scheme of the CDS exam has been given below f or the candidates.
T he section-wise marking scheme will help the aspirants to understand the complex structure
of the marking scheme:

Specif icat ions English GK Mat hemat ics

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

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T he SSB Interview f or IMA, INA, and AFA is f or 300 marks each while f or OT A, it is 200. T he
SSB Interview procedure consists of two stages: I and II. Only those candidates who qualif y
the stage I are permitted to appear in stage II. T he details of both stages are given below:

Stage I comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception
Description T est (PP&DT )

Stage II comprises Interview, Group T esting Of f icer T asks, Psychology T ests and
Conf erences. T hese tests are conducted over days

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Related Links:

CDS preparation tips 2023

CDS 2023 books

T he previous years' paper analysis f or CDS exam are given below. T his analysis will help

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candidates to know the types of questions asked in the exam.

English

T he English question paper is designed to test the candidates' understanding of the English
language.

English No. of Quest ions

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

Element ary Mat hs

T he distribution of questions in this subject is given below.

No. of
Topic
Quest ions
Mensuration 14
Geometry 20
Algebra 7
Number system 20

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 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

T he distribution of questions in GK paper is given below.

Subject s No. Of Quest ions

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

T he candidates appearing f or the CDS exam must know the instrutions to f ill out the CDS

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exam answer sheet, so that they do not make any mistake while f illing out the OMR answer
sheet. T he instructions to f ill 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 f ound un-numbered they should at once get it replaced by a
numbered one

Candidates should write with black ball pen the name of the centre and subject in English
or Hindi

T he 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 Certif icate with black ball pen in the
boxes provided f or this purpose. Do not omit any zero(s) which may be there
T he next step is to f ind out the appropriate subject code f rom the T ime T able

Encode the T est Booklet Series, Subject Code and the Roll Number in the circles provided
f or this purpose. Do the encoding with black ball pen. T he name of the Centre need not be
encoded
Writing and encoding of T est Booklet Series is to be done af ter receiving the T est Booklet
and conf irming the Booklet Series f rom the same

T he standard of the papers in Elementary Mathematics is of Matriculation level. T he standard

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

Subject s Topics
The question paper is designed to test
English the candidates’ understanding of
English and Grammar

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 Economics, Physics, General
General Knowledge Awareness, Politics, History,
Geography, Sociology, etc.
Arit hmet ic, Algebra, Trigonomet ry,
Elementary Mathematics Geomet ry, Mensuration, St at ist ics,
et c.
T he candidates preparing f or the CDS exam must go through the CDS best books f or the
preparation. T he list of the CDS books been given below f or the candidates in the table :

Name of Books Subject Aut hor/Publicat ions

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