How to Crack CDS Exam

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On May 17, 2023, UPSC published the announcement for the Combined Defense Services (CDS) 2 2023 Examination. The UPSC website is where candidates can submit their applications for the CDS 2 2023 Exam. The application deadline is June 6, 2023. According to the schedule of the Union Public Service Commission, notification for the Combined Defence Services Examination (II) 2023 has been made available. The test is a national level examination for selecting applicants for the Indian Naval Academy, Indian Air Force Academy, Officers’ Training Academy, and Indian Military Academies. In this article, we will share tips on how to crack CDS Exam.

The UPSC CDS exam is conducted twice every year.

To make a proper CDS preparation plan, one first needs to know about the CDS preparation syllabus.

CDS Exam Syllabus and Pattern

Relevant for admission in Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Air Force Academy –

Subject | Time Allowed | Total Marks Allotted
1. English | 2 Hours | 100
2. General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100
3. Elementary Mathematics | 2 Hours | 100
Total: 3 subjects | 6 Hours | 300

Relevant for Admission to Officers’ Training Academy:

Subject | Time Allowed | Total Marks Allotted
1. English | 2 Hours | 100
2. General Knowledge | 2 Hours | 100
Total: 2 subjects | 4 Hours | 200

Selection Process

a) A candidate will be entitled to sit for an interview if they pass the written exam.

b) The candidates are ultimately chosen based on how well they performed in the written exam and the interview.

Subject-wise strategy on how to prepare for CDS exam without coaching

English –

Start with vocabulary and grammar in English. Improve your improvisations as you go.

Spend 30 minutes a day reading the newspapers, focusing on the editorials.

Read comprehension drills. Before trying a response, first understand the article’s main points.

Give mock tests and solve past year papers and correct yourself seeing the solutions.

General Knowledge –

Since this is a subject that will be scored, accuracy in this area should be the goal. The following should also be done in addition to completing previous year’s papers and rehearsing with mock exams:

Focusing on geography and Indian history will be beneficial because both subjects are included in the exam paper as questions.

Keep up with current events and news topics. One needs to be knowledgeable about a number of subjects, including the Union Budget, COVID-19, Economic Survey, etc.

It is important to read and keep in mind information about India and its neighbours.

Authors, award winners, the locations of airports and seaports, as well as state animals, must all be mentioned.

Elementary Mathematics –

The most significant grade in this topic will be used to determine your placement on the merit list. As questions are posed from this area, it is necessary to be familiar with subjects like Arithmetic-Number System & Theory, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry, and Statistics. How to master maths includes:

Know the fundamentals first. Understand the theories and approaches to problem-solving.

Discover or discover shortcuts that help you find solutions more quickly.

Learn formulas thoroughly to achieve quick exam answers.

Develop your problem-solving speed since it will give you a competitive edge.

Never respond to queries that are unclear, difficult to understand, or ambiguous.

Tips on how to crack CDS exam in first attempt (Interview)

If a candidate passes the written exam, they will be invited to an interview with the Services Selection Board (SSB). The board uses a standardised process of evaluation that includes interviews, intelligence tests, and personality assessments to determine whether an applicant is qualified for an officer position. The tests come in two flavours: written and task-based practical. The SSB test is a five-day assessment procedure.

Also Read How to Crack SSB 2023

There are two stages to the selection process for the SSB test. Candidates who successfully complete stage I may enter stage II. The stages’ specifics are as follows:

Stage I : This test consists of the Picture Perception & Description Test (PPDT) and Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests. Performance in the PPDT and OIR Tests is taken into account when shortlisting candidates.

A small amount of preparation is required for this section. One should get practise with visual exams that let applicants specify precisely what they can infer from a picture. Consider these areas as you prepare:

Practise the verbal and nonverbal intelligence test questions.

Writing about and seeing photographs require a lot of practise.

Two areas that require improvement are comprehension and assessment, and the only thing that can help with them is practise.

Stage II : An interview, group testing officer tasks, psychological tests, and a conference call are all part of this stage. Four days are spent conducting these examinations. You may find more information about these tests at joinindianarmy.nic.in.

Among the tests’ components are the Word Association Test (WAT), the Self-Reaction Test, and the Self-Description Test. There may also be group discussions, planning exercises, small-group assignments and challenges, individual tasks and challenges, command assignments, a lectorate, and a final group task.

Candidates must research the actual requirements by reading up on them. They can also take part in mock exams held by some coaching facilities to gain a feel for the process. A conference with some of the officers will take place at the end, and they will be looking for qualities like confidence, a positive outlook on life in general, honesty, etc. Attending practise interviews is a smart move.

Also Read – How To Pass Screening Test In SSB Interview

Recommendations on Physical and Medical Examinations

Candidates’ height and weight should be measured using a standard scale.

Candidates must regularly workout and work out to keep in shape.

Candidates have a comprehensive bodily checkup before to going before the medical board to make sure they are free of any illnesses or diseases.

Some Thoughts for the Personal Interview

Candidates must maintain their confidence and maintain a calm demeanor during the personal interview.

Candidates must have the ability to communicate their ideas to the interview panel.

Candidate communication skills must be improved.

Candidates should behave and speak like officers.

Ultimate Tips on How to Crack CDS Exam

Exam candidates need to thoroughly review all they have learned.

For the exam, time management is essential. Candidates must develop good time management skills.

Before the exam, candidates should remain cool and avoid learning any new material.

As wrong answers receive a lower score. In order to avoid making guesses on the exam, applicants

Before the test, candidates should take practise exams.

Conclusion –

Candidates should treat it as a way of life. To become officers in the Army, Navy or Air Force they should first think of themselves as one first. If one believes they can become that. That is the final tip on how to crack CDS exam.