CDS Exam Analysis 2025 - Check Subject-wise CDS 1 Paper Analysis

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

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
  1. CDS Exam Analysis 2025
  2. CDS Exam Analysis for Previous Years
  3. CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2024
  4. CDS Exam Analysis - Previous Years’ CDS Analysis
  5. CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2023
  6. CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2022
  7. CDS Result 2025
  8. CDS Cut off 2025
CDS Exam Analysis 2025 - Check Subject-wise CDS 1 Paper Analysis
CDS Exam Analysis 2025 - Check Subject-wise CDS 1 Paper Analysis

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

SubjectGood AttemptsDifficulty level
English85-91Moderate

UPSC CDS 1 2025 Paper Analysis for General Knowledge

Subject
Good AttemptsDifficulty level
General KnowledgeTBATBA

UPSC CDS 1 2025 Paper Analysis for Mathematics

SubjectGood Attempts
Difficulty level
MathematicsTBATBA

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.

SectionsNumber of good attempts

English

90 - 100
General Knowledge50 - 60
Elementary MathematicsTBA

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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Questions related to CDS

Have a question related to CDS ?

Dear aspirant !!

Hope you are doing well !!

For CDS (Combined Defence Services) exams, the eligibility criteria regarding age depend on the specific course you are applying for. Here’s a breakdown based on your date of birth (08-05-2001) and the requirements for CDS 2 2025:

For 2025 cds 2;-

  1. Indian Military Academy (IMA) :

    • Age: 19 to 24 years on 1st July of the year of examination.
    • For CDS 2 2025, the exam will be held in September 2025. The candidate must be born between 2nd July 2001 and 1st July 2006 (both dates inclusive).
    • Since you were born on 08-05-2001, you fall within the eligible age range for IMA, so you can apply for IMA .
  2. Indian Naval Academy (INA) :

    • Age: 19 to 22 years on 1st January of the year of examination.
    • For CDS 2 2025, you must be born between 2nd January 2003 and 1st January 2006 (both dates inclusive).
    • Since your birthdate (08-05-2001) is outside this range, you cannot apply for INA in CDS 2 2025.
  3. Air Force Academy (AFA) :

    • Age: 20 to 24 years on 1st July of the year of examination.
    • For CDS 2 2025, you must be born between 2nd July 2001 and 1st July 2005 (both dates inclusive).
    • Since you were born on 08-05-2001, you can apply for AFA .
  4. Officers Training Academy (OTA) :

    • Age: 19 to 25 years on 1st January of the year of examination.
    • For CDS 2 2025, you must be born between 2nd January 2000 and 1st January 2006 (both dates inclusive).
    • Since you are 24 years old and your birthdate is 08-05-2001, you can apply for OTA .

You can attempt CDS 2 2025 for the Indian Military Academy (IMA) , Air Force Academy (AFA) , and Officers Training Academy (OTA) . However, you are not eligible for the Indian Naval Academy (INA) .

for details,visit the below link ;-

Careers360

https://competition.careers360.com

https://competition.careers360.com/articles/cds-eligibility-criteria


Thanks for asking

hello,

yes, a distance degree from Swami Vivekanand University(SVU) is valid for UPSC CDS (IMA/OTA) if it is UGC and DEB approved. ensure that the university and its distance courses are recognized at the time of admission to avoid issues in SSB verification. always check the UGC website for the latest approval status before applying.

For a cost-effective BA program in Hyderabad while preparing for NDA/CDS, consider government colleges offering BA programs and supplementing your preparation with coaching from reputable NDA/CDS institutes.

Here's a breakdown to help you choose:

1. BA Colleges in Hyderabad (Government vs. Private):

Government Colleges:

Pros: Lower fees, potentially better academic rigor.

Cons: May have limited course options or placements.

Examples: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Osmania University.

Private Colleges:

Pros: Wider course options, potentially better infrastructure and placement opportunities.

Cons: Higher fees.

Examples: Sreenidhi Institute of Science & Technology, Swami Vivekananda Degree & PG College.

2. NDA/CDS Coaching Institutes in Hyderabad:

Reputable Institutes:

Hyderabad Defence Academy: Offers NDA and CDS coaching, along with intermediate education.

Sri Netaji Study Circle: A popular institute for NDA coaching.

Impact Academy Of Human Excellence: Another well-regarded institute for NDA preparation.

Dice Academy: Known for its coaching for NDA and CDS.

Yuvatarang Defence Academy & Junior College: Offers NDA and CDS coaching.

Consider these factors when choosing a coaching institute:

Faculty: Experienced and qualified teachers.

Infrastructure: Study materials, library, and other facilities.

Fees: Compare the cost of different institutes.

Location: Choose a location that is convenient for you.

3. Balancing BA Studies with NDA/CDS Preparation:

Time Management:

Effective time management is crucial to balance studies and coaching.

Study Groups:

Form study groups with fellow aspirants to share resources and motivate each other.

Online Resources:

Utilize online platforms for additional study materials and practice tests.

Physical Training:

Don't neglect physical fitness, which is a crucial part of the NDA/CDS selection process.

4. Important Notes:

  • NDA/CDS Exams:

The NDA exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year. The CDS exam is also conducted by the UPSC, and the selection process includes a written test and an interview conducted by the Service Selection Board (SSB).

Eligibility:

Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for both NDA and CDS, including age, educational qualifications, and physical standards.

Multiple Attempts:

You can appear for both NDA and CDS exams in different years, maximizing your chances of joining the armed forces.

BA Courses:

The National Defence Academy (NDA) offers Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees with various specializations.

Hello Kanchan,

You are eligible to appear for the CDS (Combined Defence Services) Exam based on your date of birth (16 October 2003) and graduation timeline. Here’s when you can apply:

  • CDS 1 2025 : Yes, you can apply (Notification in December 2024, Exam in April 2025)

  • CDS 2 2025 : Yes, you can apply (Notification in May 2025, Exam in September 2025)

    Age Limits for CDS 2025 (Tentative)

  • Indian Military Academy (IMA): 02 January 2002 – 01 January 2007

  • Indian Naval Academy (INA): 02 January 2002 – 01 January 2007

  • Air Force Academy (AFA): 02 January 2002 – 01 January 2006 (with Physics & Math in 12th or Engineering Degree)

  • Officers Training Academy (OTA): 02 January 2001 – 01 January 2007

Since your graduation will be completed next year (2025) , you can apply in your final year , but you need to submit proof of graduation before the final selection .


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.


To determine if you're eligible to give the CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam in 2027, let's check the age criteria:


Age Criteria for CDS Exam

- For Indian Military Academy (IMA): 19-24 years

- For Indian Naval Academy (INA): 19-24 years

- For Air Force Academy (AFA): 19-24 years

- For Officers' Training Academy (OTA): 19-25 years


Your Age in 2027

- Born in 2003

- Age in 2027: 24 years


Considering the age criteria, you'll be eligible to appear for the CDS exam in 2027 for:


- Indian Military Academy (IMA)

- Indian Naval Academy (INA)

- Air Force Academy (AFA)


However, you'll be at the upper age limit for these academies. For Officers' Training Academy (OTA), you'll still be within the eligible age range.


Please note that these eligibility criteria are subject to change, and you should verify the age limits and other eligibility criteria with the official UPSC website or notification before applying.

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