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CDS Exam Analysis 2025 - Check Subject-wise CDS 1 Paper Analysis
Edited By Meghana Mohana Krishnan | Updated on Apr 14, 2025 10:33 AM IST | #CDS
Ongoing Event
CDS Application Date : 28 May' 2025 - 20 Jun' 2025
Candidates can check the CDS exam analysis 2025 on this page. Various notable coaching centers provide the CDS 2025 exam analysis based on candidates feedback. The CDS paper analysis 2025 helps to know the difficulty of the exam and predict expected cut offs. The CDS 1 exam was concluded on April 13, 2025. Some coaching centres additionally release exam analysis and unofficial question papers along with unofficial CDS answer keys.
This Story also Contains
- CDS Exam Analysis 2025
- CDS Exam Analysis for Previous Years
- CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2024
- CDS Exam Analysis - Previous Years’ CDS Analysis
- CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2023
- CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2022
- CDS Result 2025
- CDS Cut off 2025
Candidates can prepare for the exam by going through the previous year exam CDS exam analysis to better understand how the topics in the exam syllabus will turn up. For details regarding the UPSC CDS analysis of previous years' exams, candidates can go through the material given below.
CDS Exam Analysis 2025
Candidates can check the CDS 2025 exam analysis for the English and General Knowledge (GK) paper after the exam ends. The CDS exam analysis 2025 helps candidates understand the overall and important topics, section-wise difficulty level, topic-wise distribution of questions, etc. The CDS 2025 paper analysis is based on the actual CDS question paper.
UPSC CDS 1 2025 Paper Analysis for English
| Subject | Good Attempts | Difficulty level |
| English | 85-91 | Moderate |
UPSC CDS 1 2025 Paper Analysis for General Knowledge
| Subject | Good Attempts | Difficulty level |
| General Knowledge | TBA | TBA |
UPSC CDS 1 2025 Paper Analysis for Mathematics
| Subject | Good Attempts | Difficulty level |
| Mathematics | TBA | TBA |
Quick links:
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025
CDS Exam Analysis for Previous Years
The past years exam analysis of UPSC CDS 1 & 2 are listed in the tables below.
UPSC CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2024 (English)
Subject | Difficulty level |
English | Easy- Moderate |
CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2024 (General Knowledge)
Subject | Difficulty level |
General knowledge | Moderate-Difficult |
CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2024 (Mathematics)
Subject | Difficulty level |
Mathematics | Moderate |
CDS 2 2024 Exam Analysis - Difficulty Level (Overall)
Sections | Number of Questions | Level |
English | 120 | Moderate |
General Knowledge | 120 | Moderate |
Elementary Mathematics | 100 | Moderate to Difficult |
Overall | 300 | Moderate to Difficult |
CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2024
Candidates who wrote CDS exam 2024 noted new question patterns for subjects like English. General Knowledge questions were difficult according to general consensus. The number of questions under science were lower than usual while economics saw a hike in the number of questions. The overall difficulty of the exam was considered moderate.
| Sections | Number of good attempts |
English | 90 - 100 |
| General Knowledge | 50 - 60 |
| Elementary Mathematics | TBA |
UPSC CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2024 (English)
Subject | Difficulty level |
English | Easy- Moderate |
CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2024 (General Knowledge)
Subject | Difficulty level |
General knowledge | Moderate-Difficult |
CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2024 (Mathematics)
Subject | Difficulty level |
Mathematics | Moderate |
CDS Exam Analysis - Previous Years’ CDS Analysis
The previous year's CDS paper analysis can help candidates in shaping their CDS preparation in such a way that they perform better in the exam. Candidates can go through the details mentioned below to get an idea about the weightage of topics and the number of questions asked from specific topics in the CDS exam.
CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2023
CDS 2 2023 Exam Analysis - Difficulty Level (Overall)
Sections | Number of Questions | Level |
English | 120 | Moderate |
General Knowledge | 120 | Moderate |
Elementary Mathematics | 100 | Moderate to Difficult |
Overall | 300 | Moderate to Difficult |
UPSC CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2023 (English): Good attempts
Subject | Good attempts | Difficulty level |
English | 68-74 | Moderate |
CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2023 (General Knowledge): Good attempts
Subject | Good attempts | Difficulty level |
General knowledge | 65-72 | Moderate |
CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2023 (Mathematics): Good attempts
Subject | Good attempts | Difficulty level |
Mathematics | 55-60 | Moderate to Difficult |
CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2023
CDS 1 2023 Exam Analysis - Difficulty level (Overall)
Sections | Number of Questions | Level |
English | 120 | Moderate |
General Knowledge | 120 | Moderate |
Elementary Mathematics | 100 | Difficult |
Overall | 300 | Moderate to Difficult |
UPSC CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2023 (English): Good attempts
Subject | Good attempts | Difficulty level |
English | 67-72 | Moderate |
CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2023 (General Knowledge): Good attempts
Subject | Good attempts | Difficulty level |
General knowledge | 60-71 | Moderate |
CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2023 (Mathematics): Good attempts
Subject | Good attempts | Difficulty level |
Mathematics | 52-58 | Difficult |
CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2022
Candidates can check the CDS 2 exam analysis for the English and General Knowledge (GK) paper. The CDS 2 exam analysis helps candidates understand the overall and important topics, section-wise difficulty level, topic-wise distribution of questions, etc. The CDS 2 paper analysis is based on the actual CDS question paper.
CDS 2 Exam 2022 - Difficulty level
Sections | Number of Questions | Level |
English | 120 | Moderate |
General Knowledge | 120 | Moderate |
Elementary Mathematics | 100 | Tough |
Overall | 300 | Moderate |
UPSC CDS 2 2022 Exam Analysis (English): Good Attempts
Subject | Good attempts | Difficulty level |
English | 60 to 65 | Moderate |
UPSC CDS 2 2022 Exam Analysis (General Knowledge): Good Attempts
Subject | Good attempts | Difficulty level |
General knowledge | 55 to 65 | Moderate |
UPSC CDS 2 2022 Exam Analysis (Mathematics): Good Attempts
Subject | Good attempts | Difficulty level |
Mathematics | 50 to 60 | Moderate |
CDS 2 2021 Exam Analysis: Mathematics
Based on the feedback of candidates who appeared for the Combined Defence Services 2 2021 exam, last year, the difficulty level of the UPSC CDS Maths question paper was moderate to difficult. As per the CDS maths paper analysis, the questions asked from geometry, algebra, mensuration, trigonometry, SI and CI, etc. were a bit hard. The overall CDS 2 maths paper was between moderate to difficult. Candidates who attempted 67 to 74 questions correctly in the maths paper should be able to clear the CDS exam depending on their performance in other papers.
UPSC CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2021: Mathematics (Topic-Asked)
Number system - 20 Questions
Geometry - 20 Questions
Mensuration - 14 Questions
Trigonometry - 14 Questions
Time and Work - 3 Questions
Clock - 2 Questions
Percentage - 2 Questions
Algebra - 7 Questions
Time speed and Distance - 6 Questions
Set Theory - 1 Question
Mean-Median-Mode - 4 Questions
Simple Interest/ Compound Interest - 5 Questions
Mixture - 1 Question
Profit/ Loss - 1 Question
CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2021: General Knowledge (GK)
According to the candidates who appeared in the CDS 2 exam last year, the general knowledge paper was of a moderate level. However, the current affairs section was moderately difficult. Students who attempted around 65 -70 questions will be able to clear this paper.
UPSC CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2021: General Knowledge (Topic-Asked)
The following were the topics and number of questions asked in the UPSC CDS 2 examination (GK paper).
Current Affairs - 18 questions
Economics - 11 questions
Geography - 16 questions
Medieval History - 6 questions
Modern History - 18 questions
Polity - 17 questions
Physics - 11 questions
Chemistry - 14 questions
Biology - 7 questions
Defence - 2 questions
CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2021: English
There was a mixed reaction from the candidates who appeared in the UPSC CDS 2 English exam last year. Some said it was moderate, many said it was easy and no one felt it was hard. Candidates who have a good command of English will be able to score more than 70 marks easily.
Other Relevant Links
UPSC CDS 2 Paper Analysis 2021: English (Topic-Asked)
The following were the topics and number of questions asked in the UPSC CDS 2 examination (English paper) last year.
Spotting Errors - 10 questions
Sentence arrangement
Synonyms - 10 questions
Antonyms - 10 questions
Selecting words - 10 questions
Ordering of sentences - 10 questions
Comprehension - 10 questions
Ordering of words in a sentence
Fill in the blanks - 10 questions
Idioms and phrases - 10 questions, etc.
CDS 2 2021 Paper Analysis
Subject | Level of Difficulty | Good Attempts |
Elementary Mathematics | To be notified | To be notified |
English | Easy to Moderate | 85-95 |
General Knowledge | To be notified | To be notified |
CDS 1 Paper Analysis 2021
Subject | Level of Difficulty | Good Attempts |
Elementary Mathematics | Moderate | 70-73 |
English | Easy to Moderate | 88-92 |
General Knowledge | Moderate to difficult | 70-72 |
CDS 1 & 2 2020 Paper Analysis
Subject | Level of Difficulty | Good Attempts |
Elementary Mathematics | Moderate to Difficult | 85 -90 |
English | Easy to Moderate | 80 - 90 |
General Knowledge | Moderate to Difficult | 70 - 90 |
CDS 2 2020 Paper Analysis - English
Topics | Number of Questions |
Idioms and phrases | 10 |
Ordering of sentences | 10 |
Reading Comprehension | 10 |
Spotting Error | 10 |
Ordering words in sentences | 10 |
Synonyms | 10 |
Spelling mistakes | 10 |
Antonyms | 10 |
Fill in the Blanks | 10 |
Part of speech | 10 |
Transformation of sentences | 10 |
Reported speech | 10 |
Quick links:
CDS Result 2025
The CDS 1 result 2025 will be released online at upsc.gov.in. UPSC will release the result for the CDS written exam and SSB interview separately. As per the result of the CDS written exam, aspirants who qualify for one stage of the exam will be able to appear for the subsequent stage.
CDS Cut off 2025
Union Public Service Commission will release the UPSC CDS 2025 cut off after the final stage of the exam on the official website. UPSC CDS cut off is the minimum mark required by candidates to qualify for the CDS 2025 exam. The qualifying cut-off marks of CDS 2025 are prescribed by UPSC. The actual CDS 2025 cut off is determined on the basis of various parameters like - the difficulty level of the exam, the number of applicants who appeared for the CDS exam and the total number of vacancies. Candidates must score equal to or more than the CDS cut-off marks to clear the exam. Candidates appearing for the exam can check the expected CDS cut off 2025 for all the defence services in the table below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When is the CDS 1 2025 exam analysis going to be released?
Candidates who appeared in the exam can check the CDS 2025 paper analysis here after the examination.
2. What is the mode of UPSC CDS examination?
The CDS exam is conducted in offline mode for all the stages.
3. What are the various stages of the CDS exam?
The UPSC CDS exam has two stages - the written exam and the SSB interview.
4. What is the academic qualification required for the CDS exam?
Applicant must be a graduate to apply for CDS examination.
5. What is the CDS 2025 form fee?
The CDS 2025 application form fee is Rs 200.
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26 min ⋆ May 16, 2025 09:05 AM ISTQuestions related to CDS
Have a question related to CDS ?
Yes, You are eligible to apply for CDS OTA 2026(April exam) Based on your date of birth
Make sure you also:
- Graduation degree from a recognised(Or are in the final year).
- Or unmarried(For OTASSC non-technical entry).
- Meet the required, medical and physical standard as per SSB/UPSE Norms .
Avanishsree VP 10 June,2025
Hello Aditya,
As a PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) student after your 12th board exam, you cannot directly appear for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam because it requires a bachelor’s degree. However, here’s a clear and concise guide on how you can prepare for and give the CDS exam after completing further studies, tailored to your background:
-
Understand CDS Eligibility
: The CDS exam, conducted by UPSC twice a year, recruits for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers’ Training Academy (OTA).
-
Educational Requirement
:
- IMA and OTA: Any bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
- INA: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
-
AFA: Bachelor’s degree with Physics and Mathematics at 12th level or Bachelor of Engineering.
-
For PCB Students
: Since you don’t have Mathematics in 12th, you’re eligible for
IMA and OTA
after completing a bachelor’s degree (e.g., B.Sc., B.A.). INA and AFA are not an option unless you pursue an engineering degree or have Mathematics at the graduation level.
-
Age Limit
: 19–25 years (varies by academy; check upsc.gov.in for 2025 details).
-
Educational Requirement
:
-
Steps to Prepare After 12th
:
-
Pursue a Bachelor’s Degree
: Enroll in a degree program (e.g., B.Sc. in Biology, Chemistry, or related fields, or even B.A.) to meet CDS eligibility. This takes 3–4 years.
-
Apply for CDS During Final Year
: You can apply for CDS in the final year of your degree, provided you complete graduation before the training starts.
-
Application Process
:
-
Visit upsconline.nic.in when notifications are released (typically
December 2024
for CDS I 2025 and
May 2025
for CDS II 2025).
-
Fill out the form, pay the fee (Rs. 200; exemptions for SC/ST/females), and select IMA/OTA as your preference.
-
Visit upsconline.nic.in when notifications are released (typically
December 2024
for CDS I 2025 and
May 2025
for CDS II 2025).
-
Pursue a Bachelor’s Degree
: Enroll in a degree program (e.g., B.Sc. in Biology, Chemistry, or related fields, or even B.A.) to meet CDS eligibility. This takes 3–4 years.
-
CDS Exam Structure
:
-
For IMA/OTA
: Written exam includes English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics (Maths is optional for OTA).
-
PCB Advantage
: Your Biology and Chemistry background helps with General Knowledge (science sections). English preparation is manageable with practice.
-
Challenge
: If you’re weak in Mathematics, focus on OTA, where Maths is not required, or practice basic 10th-level Maths for IMA.
- Next Steps : Clear the written exam, then pass the SSB interview and medical test.
-
For IMA/OTA
: Written exam includes English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics (Maths is optional for OTA).
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.
kumardurgesh1802 20 May,2025
To prepare for CDS, CGL, and CAT during graduation, create a clear study schedule focusing on basics, reasoning, and aptitude. Practice daily mocks, improve time management, and stay consistent. Balance college and preparation with discipline and regular revision.
Sujal Singh 20 May,2025
Your date of birth is 24th February 2006, and you will complete graduation in July 2028. For the CDS exam, the maximum number of attempts depends on your age limit and category, but generally, candidates have around 4 to 6 attempts before reaching the age limit.
Sujal Singh 20 May,2025
For CDS 2 2025, with a date of birth of 6th October 2001, you are eligible for both IMA and OTA. The age limits for IMA are 19-24 years and for OTA are 19-25 years as of 1st January 2025, making you eligible for both academies.
Sujal Singh 25 April,2025
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