Combined Defence Services (CDS) Mock Test 2026
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How to practice for Combined Defence Services (CDS)?
What is the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam Pattern?
IMA, INA, AFA
written • Weightage: 300
English
Questions
120
Duration
120 Min
Marks
100
Negative
-0.27
General Knowledge
Questions
120
Duration
120 Min
Marks
100
Negative
-0.27
Elementary Mathematics
Questions
100
Duration
120 Min
Marks
100
Negative
-0.33
OTA (Officers Training Academy)
written • Weightage: 200
English
Questions
120
Duration
120 Min
Marks
100
Negative
-0.27
General Knowledge
Questions
120
Duration
120 Min
Marks
100
Negative
-0.27
Important Guideline
Total Duration is 360 Minutes with 340 Questions.* Negative marking rules are strictly applicable. Avoid guessing.
Practice Combined Defence Services (CDS) Topics by Round
Section-wise topic practice links mapped to the actual stages and rounds of Combined Defence Services (CDS). This keeps revision aligned with the latest exam pattern and makes it easier to jump directly into the high-weight sections aspirants usually search for.
IMA, INA, AFA · General Knowledge
General Awareness
IMA, INA, AFA · Elementary Mathematics
Quantitative Aptitude
OTA (Officers Training Academy) · English
English
OTA (Officers Training Academy) · General Knowledge
General Awareness
Section-wise mini mocks
Practice Quant, Reasoning, English and other exam sections with 30 questions in 30 minutes.
Combined Defence Services (CDS) Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026
What is the Combined Defence Services (CDS) syllabus for 2026?
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) syllabus covers 3 subjects: English Language, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics. The exam has 340 questions across 3 sections in 360 minutes, with negative marking.
Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | Questions | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 120 | 120 min | −0.33 per wrong answer |
| General Knowledge | 120 | 120 min | −0.33 per wrong answer |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 120 min | −0.33 per wrong answer |
| Total | 340 | 360 min |
Marking scheme: +1 correct · -0.33 wrong · 0 unanswered. Last updated: 2026-06-01.
Subjects in the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Syllabus
- English Language
- General Knowledge
- Elementary Mathematics
Drill individual topics with free topic-wise practice tests before attempting full-length papers.
Is there negative marking in Combined Defence Services (CDS)?
Yes. Combined Defence Services (CDS) deducts marks for wrong answers in every section (−0.33 per wrong answer). Unanswered questions carry no penalty, so skip questions you cannot eliminate options for.
Combined Defence Services (CDS) Cutoff Marks — Category-wise Trends
| Year | General | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 140 | 134 | 116 | 110 |
| 2024 | 102 | 98 | 86 | 82 |
| 2024 | 46 | 44 | 38 | 36 |
Last updated: 2026-06-01
How are cutoffs determined?
Cutoff marks for Combined Defence Services (CDS)are set by the conducting body after each exam cycle based on the number of vacancies, the total number of candidates who appeared, and the difficulty level of that year's paper. Category-wise relaxations (OBC, SC, ST) are applied as per government reservation policy. Use the table above to gauge where you need to score to secure a call for the next stage.
Frequently Asked Questions — Combined Defence Services (CDS)
For IMA, INA, and AFA, the CDS exam consists of three papers: English (120 questions, 120 mins), General Knowledge (120 questions, 120 mins), and Elementary Mathematics (100 questions, 120 mins). For OTA (Officers Training Academy), candidates only take the English and General Knowledge papers.
Yes, there is negative marking in the CDS exam. One-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted as penalty for each wrong answer.
The CDS syllabus comprises English Language (vocabulary, grammar, comprehension), General Knowledge (current affairs, science, history, geography), and Elementary Mathematics (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry).
The CDS exam is highly competitive and has a hard difficulty level. Regular practice of elementary math and general knowledge is essential for clearing the cut-offs.
Yes! YourMockTest offers CDS mock tests matching the latest pattern. You can practice with standard time limits and receive instant scoring and detailed answer explanations.
