The Union Public Service Commission organizes the NDA exam twice a year for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defense Academy and Indian Naval Academy programs. The NDA exam consists of a written exam as well as an SSB interview. The written exam has two sections: mathematics and general ability test (GAT).
Before filling out the NDA application form, interested candidates must go through the detailed exam pattern, syllabus, marking scheme, important topics and other important exam details.
Let’s learn about the latest NDA exam pattern where candidates can get several important details about the NDA 2023, like the mode of exam, total marks allotted, marking scheme, the duration of the exam, types of questions asked and important topics to focus on.
NDA Exam Pattern 2023
The NDA exam pattern is defined by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for both the written exam and the SSB interview. The NDA exam pattern 2023 will assist candidates in preparing for the upcoming NDA 2023 exam and achieving a high rank.
Understanding the NDA exam format is one of the first steps toward exam success. Candidates will be able to understand the full structure of the recruitment process by going through the exam pattern.
NDA Exam Pattern 2023: Highlights
Candidates should examine the highlights of the NDA exam pattern listed below.
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Number of papers | GAT and Mathematics |
| Duration of test | General Ability Test: 2 ½ hours
Mathematics: 2 ½ hours |
| Number of questions | General Ability Test: 150
(GAT carries 600 marks) Mathematics: 120 (Mathematics section carries 300 marks) |
| Language of question paper | English and Hindi |
| Total marks | Written Exam: 900
SSB Interview: 900 |
NDA Exam Pattern 2023 for Written Exam
The NDA written exam paper is broken into two sections: GAT and Mathematics. The exam will contain only objective questions. The GAT will consist of 150 questions, with the Mathematics section consisting of 120 questions.
Each segment of the exam will last 2 ½ hours. The GAT section will be worth 600 marks, while the Mathematics section will be worth 300 marks. The GAT is broken into two sections. Part A is made up of English, whereas Part B is made up of General Knowledge. Here is an overview of the exam pattern of the NDA written exam.
| Papers | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| Paper-I | 300 | 2 ½ hours |
| Paper-II | 600 | 2 ½ hours |
| Total | 900 | 5 hours |
NDA Marking Scheme
The UPSC sets the NDA’s marking scheme. For every incorrect answer, one-third of the marks allotted to each question will be subtracted. No marks are deducted for unanswered questions.
NDA Exam Pattern 2023 for SSB Interview
Two stages make up the SSB Interview. Candidates who pass Stage 1 are invited to take the Stage 2 exam. Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and the Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT) are part of Stage 1 of the SSB Interview.
Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and the Conference constitute Stage 2. This stage is worth 900 marks.
What Topics are Important for the NDA exam?
The NDA syllabus’s Mathematics questions are designed to assess a candidate’s calculative ability. The majority of the questions asked are of Classes 10, 11, and 12 levels. The following are a few important topics in the mathematics section which candidates must focus more:
- Arithmetic
- Mensuration
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Statistics, etc.
- Matrices and Determinants
The NDA question paper’s GAT section has questions from English and General Knowledge. Candidates must focus on Grammar, Comprehension, and Reading Abilities for the English section. Candidates should concentrate on Current Affairs, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, and so on in General Knowledge.
