NDA Exam Pattern

The Pattern of written Examination:

The written exam comprises two papers Mathematics and General Ability as below:

Code Subject No of ques. Total marks Marks for correct answer Marks for wrong answer Time duration
01 Mathematics 120 300 2.5 0.83 2½ Hrs.
02 General Ability 150 600 4 1.33 2½ Hrs.
Total Marks 900
SSB Test/Interview 900

The Second Paper (General Ability) of NDA will be checked of those students who have qualified in first paper (Mathematics).

The Second Paper General Ability comprises two parts as:

Part Subject Marks
A English 200
B General Knowledge 400

The questions of English will be designed to test the candate’s understanding of English and workman like use of words. The syllabus covers various aspects like Grammar and usage, vocabulary, comprehension, and cohesion in extended text to test the candidate’s proficiency in English.

The marks and subjects with marks distributions of General Knowledge are as below:

Subject Section Marks
Physics A 100
Chemistry B 60
General Science 40
History, Freedom, Movement D 80
Geography E 80
Current F 40

The qualified candidates in written examination will be called for Personal Interview-SSB.

The SSB procedure consists of two-stage selection process stage l and stage II, which are conducted over 4 days.

Stage I: Office Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test and Picture Perception/ Description Test (PP&DT)

Stage II: Interview, Group Testing Office task, Psychology Test and the Conference.

Note: Only those candidates who clear the stage I are permitted for stage II.

A candidate recommended by the service selection board (SSB) will undergo a medical examination by a Board of Service Medical Officers. Only those candidates who are declared fit by the Medical Board will join National Defense Academy.