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๐๏ธNDANational Defence Academy: Army, Navy and Air Force wings after Class 12
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), twice a year
Class 12 pass or appearing. Army wing: any stream. Navy and Air Force: Physics and Mathematics
About 16.5 to 19.5 years at the time of entry; unmarried candidates as per notification
900 marks: Mathematics 300 and General Ability Test (GAT) 600
SSB interview (5 days), then medical examination
Syllabus
Mathematics
General Ability Test
Preparation tips
- Master Class 11 and 12 maths concepts first, then speed.
- Read English daily: newspaper editorials and grammar practice.
- Make short notes for science, history and geography from NCERT.
- Follow current affairs every day and keep a quick-reference notebook.
- Solve previous papers and take timed mocks every week.
๐ก๏ธCDSCombined Defence Services: IMA, INA, AFA and OTA for graduates
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), twice a year
Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Officers Training Academy
Graduates (final-year students allowed in some cases); INA needs an engineering degree; AFA needs Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 or an engineering degree
English 100, General Knowledge 100, Elementary Mathematics 100 (2 hours each)
English and General Knowledge (200 marks)
+1 for correct, one-third mark deducted for a wrong answer
Syllabus
English
General Knowledge
Elementary Mathematics
Preparation tips
- Build concepts instead of memorising formulas, so changed question styles do not shock you.
- Attempt the easy, high-yield questions first and avoid wild guesses because of negative marking.
- Use The Hindu or a similar newspaper for English and current affairs.
- Maths is Class 10 level. Daily practice keeps speed up.
- Take mocks under strict time limits and review every wrong answer.
โ๏ธAFCATAir Force Common Admission Test: flying and ground duty branches
Indian Air Force, twice a year
Graduates; technical branches need an engineering degree. Age limits differ by branch
100 questions, 300 marks, 2 hours
General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning and Military Aptitude
+3 for correct, โ1 for incorrect
An Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) is added
AFSB tests and medical examination
Syllabus
General Awareness
Verbal Ability
Numerical Ability
Reasoning and Military Aptitude
Preparation tips
- Plan 3 to 6 months of steady preparation.
- Use quality basics: a reliable GK book, a grammar book and a quantitative aptitude book.
- Practise pattern-recognition and reasoning shortcuts daily.
- Read the newspaper every day for English and current affairs.
- Solve previous papers and full mocks to settle your attempt strategy.
The SSB at a glance
After the written exam, the five-day Services Selection Board tests the whole person.
Officer Intelligence Rating test and Picture Perception and Description Test.
Thematic Apperception, Word Association, Situation Reaction and Self Description.
Group discussion, planning and outdoor tasks that show leadership and teamwork.
Final assessment by the board.
Always confirm dates, eligibility and pattern in the latest official notification.
Your roadmap
Compare NDA, CDS and AFCAT: eligibility, age and branches.
Maths, English and general knowledge from the basics.
Previous papers and timed mocks every week.
Communication, confidence, current awareness and consistent fitness.
Know the medical standards and maintain good health.
Preparation tips
Run, stretch and build stamina every day, not only before the SSB.
Practise explaining your thoughts in short, confident sentences.
It helps the written paper and the SSB interview.
Study with peers and practise group discussions to build team skills.
Authentic answers always beat rehearsed ones.
A steady mind performs better in every stage.
Practice and mock tests
Solve official papers topic by topic from the sites below.
Take full-length mocks and analyse every attempt.
Stuck? Ask your AI tutor in plain words.
Official resources
Go straight to the official source.
Questions answered
Which entry should I choose?
NDA is for Class 12 candidates. CDS and AFCAT are for graduates. Choose according to your qualification and the branch you want.
Is the SSB the same for every entry?
The stages are similar. The details are given by the conducting board in each notification.
Where do I get official papers?
From the official UPSC and Indian Air Force sites listed in the resources section.
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