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NDA Exam Pattern
NDA Application Form 2023 kicks off the recruitment process for interested and qualified candidates in the defence sector. The National Defence Academy trains and recruits candidates who are committed to using their skills to serve the nation. The recruitment drive is held twice a year by the academy. The written exam for the recruitment phase will be held on April 16, 2023. The NDA 1 application form 2023 will be available from December 21, 2022, to January 10, 2023. Read the entire article to know the latest NDA Exam Pattern.
NDA Exam Pattern Overview
Candidates preparing for the NDA Exam can check the details about the examination in the table given below:
| Particulars | Details |
| Name of the Exam | NDA |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Conducted in A Year | Twice a Year |
| Examination Date | 16th April 2023 |
| Mode of Examination | Offline (Pen and paper) |
| Medium of Examination | English |
| Number of Sections | 2 |
| Question Paper Type | Objective or MCQ |
| Total Number of Questions | 270 Questions (120 from Mathematics and 150 from GAT) |
| Total Marks for Entrance Test | 900 Marks (300 Marks for Mathematics and 600 Marks for GAT) |
| Negative Marking | Yes (0.83 marks for Mathematics and 1.33 marks for GAT) |
| Exam duration | 2.5 hours (Each Section) |
NDA Exam Pattern 2023
As part of the NDA Selection Process, candidates must pass the written exam and appear for the SSB interview. To be eligible for SSB, an aspirant must achieve the NDA Cut Off score set by UPSC for the written exam. The National Defence Academy Exam is administered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) (NDA Exam). The exam format is intended to select the most qualified candidates to serve as officers in the Indian Armed Forces. This exam is conducted twice a year in two stages. The first stage of the NDA Exam will be held on April 10, 2022, followed by the second stage on September 4, 2022.
The Union Public Service Commission holds the NDA exam twice a year for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy courses. The NDA Exam Pattern consists of a written exam and an SSB interview. The written exam is divided into two sections: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The Mathematics paper is worth 300 points, while the GAT paper is worth 600 points. The NDA written exam has a total score of 900. The questions in Mathematics are drawn from topics covered in Class 12. The GAT paper includes English, General Knowledge, and General Science questions.
The SSB interview is divided into two stages. The first stage includes OIR, PP & DT tests, and the conference, while the second stage comprises psychology tests and the conference. The SSB interview is also worth a maximum of 900 points. We have provided the most recent NDA exam pattern where candidates can learn about the NDA 2023 Exam, such as the mode of exam, total marks allotted, duration of the exam, types of questions asked, and so on.
Read More: NDA Syllabus 2023
UPSC NDA Exam 2023 Subjects
The UPSC creates the NDA 2023 Exam Pattern. The NDA 2023 Exam will be conducted in offline mode, and all questions will be of the MCQ type, according to the NDA Exam Pattern. The exam is given in both English and Hindi.
The question paper will consist of two sections- Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). Other information about exam patterns from both sections is listed below.
| Subject | Paper | Total no. of Questions | Duration of Exam |
Maximum Marks |
| Mathematics | 1 | 120 | 2.5 Hours | 300 |
| General Ability Test (GAT) | 2 | 150 | 2.5 Hours | 600 |
| Total | 270 | 900 |
Read More: NDA Age Limit 2023
NDA Exam Math Paper Marks Distribution
The following table shows the Distribution of NDA Mathematics Papers:
| Topics | Marks |
| Calculus | 50-62.5 |
| Quadratic Equations | 37.5-50 |
| Matrices and Determinants | 75 |
| Probability | 25 |
| Trigonometry | 75 |
| Complex Number | 25-37.5 |
| Total Marks | 300 |
Read More: NDA 1 2023 Admit Card
NDA Exam GAT Paper Marks Distribution
NDA GAT Paper marks distribution for English and GK section is 200. Check out the details below:
| Sections | Sub-sections | Maximum Marks |
| Part-A-English | English | 200 |
| Part-B-General Knowledge | Physics | 100 |
| Chemistry | 60 | |
| General Science | 40 | |
| Indian History, Indian National Movement | 80 | |
| Geography | 80 | |
| Current events | 40 | |
| Total | 600 |
Read More: NDA Previous Year Question Papers
NDA Exam Pattern 2023 Marking Scheme
Aspirants can look up previous years’ NDA written exam cutoffs. The Mathematics section will have 120 questions worth 300 points. All questions will be worth 2.5 points, with points only awarded for selecting the correct answer. For each incorrect answer, 0.83 marks will be deducted. The general ability test will be worth 600 points, with English worth 200 points and General Knowledge worth 400 points total.
There will be a total of 150 questions in this section, 50 from English and 100 from General Knowledge. Candidates will be awarded 4 marks for each correct answer in this section, with a deduction of 1.33 marks for each incorrect answer. There will be no mark or negative marking for unanswered questions.
Read More: NDA Salary
NDA SSB Interview 2023
All candidates who passed the written test and met the qualifications for NA and NDA postings were interviewed by the Services Selection Board (SSB), and a call letter was then provided to you with all the pertinent details, including the interview’s date, time, and place.
The psychological aptitude test and the intelligence test are two different examinations that are part of the NDA SSB Interview round.
Only candidates who successfully complete Phase 1 will be eligible for Phase 2, which includes the other examinations. The SSB Round process is finished in around 5 days overall. Applicants for the Air Force must be able to pass the Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS).
Read More: NDA Result
NDA SSB Interview Phases
| Phase 1 | Day 1: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP & DT). |
| Phase 2 | Day 2: Psychology Tests
Day 3: GTO (Group Testing Officer) Tasks Day 4: Interview Day 5: Conference |
NDA Document Verification
One of the most important steps in the NDA Selection Procedure is the document verification and submission process. At the time of the interview, the chosen candidates must present their supporting documentation so that it can be checked. In order to complete the verification process, the following documents are needed:
- Certificate of completion of 10th or 10+2 as proof of education
- Caste verification for qualified candidates.
- Identification documentation.
- Evidence of residence
NDA Exam Final Merit List
Once the medical exams are finished, the final merit list is compiled. The next group of officers will unquestionably be those who are found medically fit and make it to the final merit list. The final merit list is only comprised of candidates who have excelled in every stage of the NDA selection process in 2022. Your results on the personality assessments that came after the SSB interview will also be taken into consideration. If you are found to be unfit for the position at any point during the NDA selection process in 2023, your merit accrued throughout the process will be ruled invalid.
NDA Exam Pattern FAQs
Q. What is the NDA exam pass mark?
Ans. To pass the NDA Written Examination, candidates must achieve a minimum of 25% in each subject. Candidates who pass the written exam will be invited to the SSB interview.
Q. Can one qualify for SSB without coaching?
Ans. Yes, one can. There are many officers who have cracked the SSB exams without any coaching.
Q. How necessary is physical fitness for SSB?
Ans. The significance of being physically and psychologically fit for the services must be understood by all applicants who have a yearning to join the Indian Armed Forces.
Q. What is the number of papers in the NDA exam?
Ans. General Ability and Mathematics Total Marks: The Mathematics paper is worth 300 points, while the General Ability test is worth 600 points. The written exam will be worth 900 points.
Q. Where is the NDA SSB interview held?
Ans. NDA SSB Interview 2022 2AFSB or Air Force Selection Board is situated in Sidharth Nagar of Mysore’s CV Complex. Here are also held the SSB interviews for the NDA and CDSE, as well as the PABT test for IAF candidates whose SSB is at Bangalore’s Selection Center South.
Q. Is the NDA SSB exam tough?
Ans. In contrast to other competitive tests, NDA exams are regarded as being challenging. due to the broad syllabus, lengthy written exams, group discussions, interviews, medical examinations, and physical and mental assessments that they also administer.
Q. Is selection in NDA easy?
Ans. The NDA selection process is neither easy nor difficult. This exam requires a better understanding of mathematics and a General Ability to pass the written exam along with psychological aptitude, intelligence and medical fitness.
Q. How tough is the NDA interview?
Ans. The most difficult test to pass to enter the Indian Defense Forces is the NDA exam. To be accepted into the National Defense Academy, a candidate must succeed in both the written exam and the SSB interview. During the SSB interview, psychological aptitude and IQ are evaluated.
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