CDS Preparation Tips

CDS Preparation Tips

ByNaveen Singh  |  Updated on: Aug 6, 2020
CDS exam is a National Level Entrance exam conducted twice a year, first in the Month of February and second in the month of November. Get to know about the UPSC CDS 1 & 2 exam details here.

Combined Defence Service is one of the major exams that is held for recruitment of Commissioned Officers in the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy by the Union Public Service Commission. Every year UPSC conducts CDS exams twice a year for the candidates. This year also UPSC has announced the date of the CDS exam 2024 on their official website.

As per the official notification, the CDS exam 2024 will be conducted on 21st April 2024. With the release date of the examination, it is now time for candidates to start their CDS 2024 exam preparation. As the syllabus can be quite vast so CDS exam preparation should be done strategically. In this article, we have given you the Best tips for CDS 2024 preparation. Read below to know how to prepare for the CDS exam 2024.

Candidates who are willing to sit in the CDS exam 2024 must select the right strategy for preparation for CDS exam 2024. To make your preparation easier and result-oriented, we have covered every detail for CDS exam 2024 preparation, including easy tips for CDS exam preparation 2024, subject-wise preparation for CDS exam 2024, Exam Pattern, FAQs, and many more.

How to Prepare for CDS Exam 2024

The Union Public Service Commission conducts CSD exams for the recruitment of various posts. It is the most prestigious exam for government service but with the right preparation strategy and study material one can easily crack such a high competition exam. 

More than 3 Lakh people apply for an application form every year for the CDS exam. Thus, considering the competition for less than 371 vacancies, candidates can choose some of the CDS Exam Preparation tips given below to help aspirants to score well without wasting time, reading unnecessary books and content, etc during the preparation.

Important Links for CDS 2 Exam 2022, 4 September -

Exam Pattern for CDS Exam 2024

Before starting with the CDS Exam Preparation it is necessary for candidates to have a clear idea about the exam overview. Once a candidate understands the overview of CDS exam 2022, it will help them a lot to navigate the syllabus. Knowing the proper CDS criteria paves the way to success for candidates. The number of aspirants keeps on increasing day by day, thus it creates stiff competition. To Check out the CDS exam overview in detail read the below table.

Overview

Details

Name of Exam

Combined Defence Service

Mode of Exam

Offline 

Number of Questions asked

300 MCQ

Number of questions in OTA

200 MCQ 

Maximum Marks

300 for Indian Military, Navy, and Air Force) and 200 for OTA

Medium

Hindi or English

Negative marking

One-third marks deducted for every incorrect response

Note-: 

  • Each paper consists of Multiple-Choice Questions.
  • There will be a negative marking of ⅓ for each wrong answer.
  • The question paper for General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics will be in Hindi and English both.
  • The duration of each examination will be 2 hours. 

Subject Wise Preparation for CDS Exam 2024

English Language –

  1. This subject covers topics like Vocabulary, Proficiency, Phrases, One Word Substitution, Sentence Improvement, rearrangement of sentences, English Usage Errors, Spotting Errors, Idioms, Phrases, and English Comprehension.
  2. To score good marks in English one should do regular practice for the  CDS Exam 2022 preparation.
  3. Revise grammar rules and concepts regularly. However, do not put so much pressure on yourself, take it slow and steady.

General Knowledge and Current Affairs –

  1. General Knowledge includes sections such as  Ancient, Medieval, and Modern History, Economics, General Science, Civics, and Geography.
  2. To get In-depth and complete knowledge of current affairs it is required that candidates start preparing from the past 8 months.
  3. Candidates should also update themself on all current news and events. He\she should read a summary of editorials which will help them a lot in gaining perspective about any news or issue.

Mathematical Aptitude –

    1. Elementary Mathematics consists of topics like Profit and Loss, Percentage, Time Speed and Distance, Ratios, Algebra, and Average. The main purpose of this subject is to check the numerical ability of the candidate.
    2. This subject required more practice than others. If you have properly practiced all the core topics, the math section becomes easier than the other subjects because "practice" is the key to perfecting your preparation. 
    3. It is not necessary to attempt all the questions but it is important to correctly attempt the questions. While preparing for math a candidate should learn the fundamentals and then devise the strategy to solve the questions in a time-efficient manner. 
    4. Time management is the key to this subject. Candidates should allot their time in such a way that they understand all the questions clearly and answer them correctly.
    5. It is not compulsory to attempt all the questions but it’s important to correctly attempt the questions. 

Important Tips to follow for CDS Exam Preparation 2024

  1. The first and the most important tip for CDS exam Preparation is to go through all the previous year's question papers. This tip helps students to understand the pattern of the question paper.
  2.  Prepare a timetable to cover subject-wise topics.
  3. Study and memorize the syllabus so that you can decide which topics you need to study.
  4. Make sure candidates should attempt 1 mock test daily and analysis on the same day this will help to identify the weak spots.
  5. Make sure the basic concept of all the subjects should be clear and keep all the important data at your fingertips.
  6. While preparing for the exam, candidates should prepare flashcards and highlight the important points.
  7. Make a topic-wise short note that will result in better understanding and revision before exam day.

CDS Preparation Tips FAQs

  • To prepare for the CDS exam 2024 a candidate should practice the previous year's questions and mock tests. He\ she should Prepare a timetable to cover subject-wise topics and also understand the syllabus so that you can decide on which topics you need to focus on. Aspirants should also make sure to attempt 1 mock test daily and analysis on the same day this will help to identify the weak spots along with this they should also make sure the basic concept of all the subjects should be clear and keep all the important data at your fingertips.

    While preparing for the exam, candidates should prepare flashcards and highlight the important points. Make a topic-wise short note that will result in better understanding and revision before exam day.

  • The CDS exam is one of the tough exams to qualify for. But with proper planning and dedication, one can easily crack the exam while job as well. For the preparation of CDS exam candiadate should make a proper timetable, memorize and understand the syllabus, go through all the PYQs and join some online class or Byjus Exam Prep for effective preparation. Candidate should also practice 1 mock test daily, clearly understand all the concerts and topics and make notes subject wise for last minute revision.

  • Candidates appearing for the CDS exam 2024 are advised to begin their preparation at least 3 to 6 months before the examination. Prepare a timetable and devote 6 – 8 hours to preparations. Take short breaks in between. Boost up your confidence level by getting updated with all the current affairs.

  • Yes, One-third of marks were deducted for every incorrect answer in the CDS exam 2024.

    Before starting with the CDS Exam Preparation candidates must have a clear idea about the exam overview so that they can easily understand how to prepare for their examination without any difficulty. Knowing the proper CDS criteria paves the way to success for candidates.

  • The CDS exam is one of the tough exams to qualify. But with proper planning and dedication, one can easily crack the exam without coaching as well. All you have to do is plan a proper timetable, memorize and understand the syllabus, go through all the previous year's question papers, attempt 1 mock test daily, try to clear all the basic concepts of the topic, and make notes for the subject wise.

CDS & Defence

NDACDSAFCATCAPFCRPF and BSFOthers