We all want to build good and successful careers, don’t we? A career in Armed Forces of India is one such glorious, much respected and much sought after career in India. Especially the post of a ‘Commissioned Officer’ is being dreamt of by many Indian youngsters! But getting this dream job is not that easy. First of all, the sheer number of aspirants is too high! Add to that the limited number of seats across various Defence related Academies in India like- NDA (National Defence Academy), IMA (Indian Military Academy), NA (Naval Academy) and AFA (Air Force Academy), you have cut throat competition for seats as a result! Like any other premier academic seat in India, to get into the above mentioned ones and to become an Officer, a candidate has to clear competitive exams! Here, I will share some tips that’ll help you clear the written examination part associated with NDA and CDS (Combined Defence Services) entrance tests.
What exactly is the written exam of NDA like?
First of all, let me tell you what the written exam is all about. To get selected to the training program, a candidate has to go through a two phase selection process.
The first phase is written examination and the second phase is an SSB (Services Selection Board) Interview. I’ve already written and shared an article about PABT tips and some useful tips to crack SSB Interview. So, I’ll be only dealing with the written examination part in this article. Also check – NDA exam.
Blueprint of the written examination
The written examination is MCQ (Multiple Choice Question) styled. Candidates have to use OMR sheets to record their answers. One has to select the right answer from a set of options given with each question.
The examination can be said to be consisting of broadly 3 main parts- Mathematics, English and General Knowledge. Let us see some important facts about these main sections-
Mathematics Section-
Includes topics that you’ve faced in 12th standard like- Algebra, Trigonometry, Probability, Permutations and Combinations, Analytical question, Percentage, Profit and Loss, Ratio and proportion etc.
English Section-
This section is all about testing your English language skills. Expect questions related to mistake spotting, synonyms, antonyms, article writing, grammar related questions, comprehension etc.
General Knowledge section-
Covers variety of topics ranging from science to current affairs! Some of the topics are- Indian history, World History and events, Physics, Chemistry, Biology etc.
Now that we have gone through the blueprint and the various different sections of the examination, let us focus on the tips and tricks that will help you score the maximum marks.
Useful NDA written exam tips to help you clear the examination
#1 Solving previous years’ question papers will help much
If you are really serious about passing the written exam and scoring well in it, consider solving as many question papers that you can lay your hands upon. The trend so far has been that the blueprint of the written examination has not changed significantly over all these years.
The figures in different years’ question papers may be different, but the style of the questions asked each year are the same! Upon solving previous years’ question papers, you’ll come across the ‘style of the questions’. Since the same styled questions are asked in the exam, you won’t have much trouble solving them! This is also a good way to get the necessary ‘exam practice’!
#2 Buy NDA written exam guides
I said before that solving question papers helps. But how would you learn stuff that you come across on the question papers that you don’t know? In such circumstances, guide books, tailor made for NDA aspirants, comes handy!
One of the best guide book is the one published by Arihant Publication house. It usually covers each and every topic associated with the written examination. Also, as an added bonus, it also contains question papers from previous years and the solutions to those papers too in it!
#3 Learn the shortcuts, when it comes to Mathematics
The mathematics part of the exam is a bit tricky. The questions asked in it are analytical and needs to be worked upon to find the solution. As long as you don’t know the shortcut method, it will for sure take much time and efforts to find the right answer. This often results in waste of time and marks!
Learning the shortcut methods using the guide book will help you save time. This will eventually help you attend all the questions asked in the paper.
#4 Time management is of key importance
It is all about managing the time that has been allotted in a good manner. Try mastering the shortcut methods and save time. Don’t waste time solving a question that you don’t have any idea about. Instead of that, move on to the next question. Always keep an eye on your wrist watch.
#5 Beware of negative marking
Like almost all the MCQ styled entrance tests, this examination also has the ‘negative marks’ system. As per this system, each wrong question attempted by the candidate will result in 0.25 marks being deducted from the grand total!
This means that 4 wrong answers can get 1 mark deducted from your score! Thus, keeping this negative marking system in mind, never go for wild guesses while answering the question paper.
Leave the questions that you are not quite sure about. To an extent, intelligent guessing can be used. But never attempt wild guessing. It may end up ruining your final score.
#6 Work on your space management skills
Wondering what space management is all about? Well, when it comes to mathematics, to solve questions, some or the other sort of rough work is involved. Such rough work requires blank space. You may do such stuff in your mind too, if you are exceptionally smart!
But almost all of us will need to do rough work on the blank spaces provided. But the problem is that the amount of blank space provided is not too much. It is quite limited, to be honest. So, in order to tackle this issue and to prevent ourselves from running out of blank space, we must practice space management.
Learn to do calculations and rough work in as limited space as possible. Also, do much of the task using mental arithmetic rather than written work.
#7 TV and NEWS Paper can be of help
As mentioned above, Current Affairs forms an integral part of this examination. To clear the exam and score well, this section must be well attended to!
The best way to do this task is by making use of Television and NEWS Papers. Make use of them to stay up to date on topics associated with Current Affairs as well as National and International NEWS. Guide books alone won’t help you master Current Affairs. That’s when TV and NEWS Papers comes handy!
#8 Extensive reading is the way to score in English section
If you are naturally strong in English since your school days, you won’t have much problem dealing with the English section of the examination. Otherwise, you’ll have to polish your skills.
The best way to do this is by reading. Reading English story books, novels, NEWS Papers etc will help you improve your language as well as build vocabulary at the same time. Believe me, it will also improve your grammar and writing skills to an extent.
#9 History of India: Don’t ignore it
It may well be boring to prepare history section. But at least don’t skip the part associated with the history of our country! Lots of questions are asked, which are related to Indian history. Skipping this section will prove to be a costly mistake! Prepare this section well.
You may also check –
Taking care of the above aspects will make sure that you’ll pass the written part with flying colors! If necessary, you may also go for Coaching classes and programs. They’ll ensure that your learning process is complete and an accelerated one! And remember to practice. The more you practice, the better will be your speed and time management skills! Best of luck!
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Sir, I am in class 10 and I am really weak in mathematics but I want to join army so for that I have to clear the exam.sir please tell me what I do plzz reply me sirrr plzz
sir my dob 12/01/2003
i apply for nda2
SIR , MY DOB IS 1/08/2000 HOW MANY ATTEMPTS I HAVE NOW
Hllo Sir I am N.D.A. Aspirant and all the Basics of Mathematics i have Cleared in 11th class now After Few Days I will be in 12th Class
And Sir i Want to prepare for it in thus year and tell me Which author is Good for it and From then i Have to Solve the Questions of N.D.A because their is Quite Stress of Board exams in 12th Staandard
and in 1 year with stress of Board Exams how can i Clear this Test
Guide me
this all information is very important to many curious students who want to crash NDA.
sir/mam
my dob is 23/07/1999
shall i apply for nda 2018 sept
Sir
I am 12 pass in computer technical 64.40% in 12th mark how to nda join
and other basic computer course complete
MS-CIT
DTP
ENGLISH 30
ENGLISH-40
MARATHI-30
Thank you very much for you information sir…….but sir please tell me that can the students clearing +2 from NIOS (NATIONAL OPEN SCHOOL) appear in in NDA…. Im good in all subjects but i have done my +2 from NIOS…… Will it create any problem in the selection procedure…….
Again thank you sir in advance! ????
sir there is a problem with me I wrote name on my arm by a machine.and its can’t remove.. one of my friend said that I can’t join nda because of this so suggest me plz
There are some parts where tattoo is allowed. Other than those parts, it is not allowed, unless the person belongs to certain tribes (in whose cases it is allowed to have tattoo).
I shall clear entrance exam . How to face next program of the Defence Acadmey. I join the coaching of English to prepare exam.
sir I am Niranjan Murthy .I am in 11th class I want to join NDA please suggest me good guide books for preparing to clear examinations. kindly i need your suggestion.
Arihant publications’ books and guides are good. These days, good material is available online for free. You may make use of such resources.
Respected sir,
i want to join indian air force after +2 , sir i am student of +1 class , so I want to give NDA exam in 10class i got 75.2% (HP DARAMSALA boad ncert pattern) in this year ,sir can i join indian air force in high rank after +2 , and please give me nda pervious years question paper and solution and send me perparetion books
thankyou sir
I passed class 12 and my dob is 1/1/99 . could i give exam of april 2017 because the next year on 1 jan i will be of 19 , so i want to know is sept 2016 is my last try or not , however i will try for this time my best .
Sir my last question is that how to prepare for ssb interview because my friends is say dat ssb is very difficult stage to clear The NDA sir im waiting for your answer……sir I am really love Indian army
Jai hind sir
Shubham, check out the SSB Interview tips article available on this blog.
Sir my aim is NDA and i love indian army and i am not so well in english and there are only four months are left for exam preperaton so sir what can i do to improve the english
Jai hind sir
Shubham, try reading English newspapers and magazines.
sir I want to join indian army and I’m also a NCC cadet,,,and I want to know which subject should be take in BSc for applying IMA exam
Dayananda, any discipline would do the trick.
Sir
iam Gokul p sajeev (18)
basically iam weak in studies . my +2 result is on the way its on first week of may 2016
but i love to touch the skies .april 17 is my NDA examination .,well, NDA exam will be hard for me
beacuse of lack of my studies .MY aim is to join IAF .everyone is keep on saying i will not get this beacuse iam very weak in studies .so will i sir the student like me can join IAF in future or can pass NDA examination …..
Hopeing for your reply..
Gokul, with determination and hard work, no target is beyond one’s reach! With the right planning, strategy and consistent efforts, you may crack the examination. You may take help of a coaching class, if necessary.
Sir , I am hopeful of cracking this exam . This is my second attempt , I have given my 12th class exams and expecting around 94% ..I am sure of doing at least 60 questions in maths and 30-35 questions in english but the history section is weak and biology section is second to none ..Will I still be able to clear the exam ??
Also, will my marks in the written stage combine with the SSB stage or is there a separation ?
Akhil, work on history and improve it. In the final merit list, marks scored in written test will also be taken into consideration.
sir wht is procedure for IAF and course for it please guied me abut this topic….thankxxx
Sir i’m the student of class 12 and im from a poor family sir i have scored less mark in english sub so it can effect my nda merrit ? Sir plz give me some tips.
Abhishek, it won’t cause much problem. Just focus on your performance from now on.
Sir which class history is important in NDA exam and which class mathematics is important plese guide
Akarsh, Independence movement, Armed Forces history etc are important. 10th, 11th and 12th level mathematics is important.
Respected Sir,I have done my 11th class and I only know the syllabus of 11th class so, will it be easy for me to clear NDA upcoming exam on 17th april and how many questions will be there in matHs exam from 11th class and how much I should do to clear the EXAM.
Amit, you may take a look at solved question papers to get used to the format of the paper.
sir , as mentioned of using an shortcuts to save our time what are the books prescribed to learn them jst bcoz its my last turn and i dont want to get fail this time
Nabeel, books by Arihant publications is good.
Sir
for nda examination only few days are remaining.sir can you give some tips to crack the examination .how can i prepare within few days
Sibin, tips have already been shared in the article. Do give them a look.
sir my name is Himanshu sharma and i have a last chance for nda exam is 17 april 2016 . sir please give me a advice for crack nda written in 10 days. sir i prepared for this exam last year.
Himanshu, 10 days is quite less time. Still, you may go through solved papers.
hi Sir m navin sen from himachal army is my lyf wnt to crk NDA but my mathematics is not well what I can doo now.. tell m sir plzzz
what kind of mental and physical preparations(including physical fitness) are needed to crack NDA entrance exam.i am a 11th completed NDA aspirant.