NDA Exam Pattern 2023:The General Ability Test (GAT) and Mathematics portions make up the two components of the UPSC NDA written test. There will be Objective Type Questions on both papers. There will be 270 questions overall, worth a total of 900 points. 120 math questions and 150 GAT questions. Study the NDA Syllabus. Candidates can view this video to learn more about the NDA Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Marking Scheme, Topics, Stages, and other pertinent information. The applicants can view the new NDA 2 Exam Pattern, revisions made, and other pertinent information in this video. NDA FREE Live Mock Test
Table of content

NDA Exam Pattern 2023 Highlights
The UPSC created the 2023 NDA exam pattern, which is detailed in the official announcement. Before beginning their preparations, the applicants must review all the data on the table.
Details | Specifics |
---|---|
Exam Mode & Medium | Offline (Pen and Paper Based) in English and Hindi |
Sections | 2 (Math and GAT) |
Total Questions | 270 (120 Math, 150 GAT) |
Question Types | Objective or Multiple-Choice |
Total Marks | 900 (300 for Math, 600 for GAT) |
Negative Marking | Allowed |
Negative Marking Points | 0.83 points (Math), 1.33 points (GAT) |
Exam Length (per section) | 2.5 hours |
NDA 2023 Exam Pattern
Subject | Paper | Total No of Questions | Duration of Exam | Maximum Marks |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mathematics | 1 | 120 | 2 ½ Hours | 300 |
General Ability Test | 2 | 150 | 2 ½ Hours | 600 |
Total | — | 270 | 900 | — |
NDA GAT Paper Marks Distribution
Sections | Maximum Marks |
---|---|
Part A – English | 200 |
Part B – General Knowledge | |
Physics | 100 |
Chemistry | 60 |
General Science | 40 |
History, Freedom Movement, etc. | 80 |
Geography | 80 |
Current Events | 40 |
Total | 600 |
Mathematics Paper Marks Distribution
Topics | Maximum Marks |
---|---|
Calculus | 50-62.5 |
Quadratic equations | 37.5-50 |
Matrices and Determinants | 75 |
Probability | 25 |
Trigonometry | 75 |
Complex Number | 25-37.5 |
Total | 300 |
Exam Pattern 2023: Marking Scheme
Particular | Mathematics | GAT |
---|---|---|
Total Questions | 120 | 150 |
Total Marks | 300 | 600 |
Marks allotted to each question | 2.5 | 4 |
Negative marking for each incorrect response | -0.83 | -1.33 |
SSB Interview Pattern
Second Round | Duration | Maximum Marks |
---|---|---|
SSB Interview | 4-5 days | 900 |
SSB Interview: Stage I
The Officer’s Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test and the Picture Perception and Description Test (PP and DT) are the two examinations that are included in SSB Interview Stage 1. The Stage II interview procedure will only be open to qualifying applicants.
SSB Interview: Stage II
The second round of the SSB interview involves numerous tasks for group testing officers, conferences, and psychological tests. This stage’s entire process will be finished in 4 days.
Stages | Tests |
---|---|
Stage-I | Screening Test |
– Verbal and non-verbal tests | |
– PPDT | |
Stage-II | Psychological Test |
– Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) | |
– Word Association Test (WAT) | |
– Situation Reaction Test (SRT) | |
– Self Description Test (SD) | |
Group Testing Officers Test | |
– GD | |
– GPE | |
– PGT | |
– HGT | |
– IOT | |
– Command Task | |
– Snake race/Group Obstacle Race | |
– Individual lecture | |
– FGT | |
Personal Interview | |
Conference |
Type of Questions Asked in NDA Exam?
Subjects | Number of Questions | Marks | Marking scheme | Negative Marking |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mathematics | 120 | 300 | +2.5 | -0.83 |
English | 50 | 200 | +4 | -1.33 |
General Knowledge | 100 | — | +4 | -1.33 |
Physics | — | 100 | — | — |
Chemistry | — | 60 | — | — |
General Science | — | 40 | — | — |
History, Freedom Movement, etc. | — | 80 | — | — |
Geography | — | 80 | — | — |
Current Events | — | 40 | — | — |
Grand Total | 270 | 900 | — | — |
NDA Exam Syllabus
The NDA syllabus is split into two sections, Mathematics and General Ability Tests. Questions on a variety of subjects, including general knowledge (GK), English, chemistry, physics, geography, general science, and current events, will be included in the general ability test.
The majority of the NDA exam’s questions, particularly those in mathematics, will be from the 10+2 levels. Candidate preparation for the General Ability test portion should include daily newspaper reading.
Sections | Related Topics | Number of Questions |
---|---|---|
Mathematics | Trigonometry, Differential Calculus, Algebra, Integral Calculus & Differential equations, Logarithms, and their applications, Statistics, Probability, Vector Algebra, etc. | 120 |
English | Grammar and Usage, Vocabulary, Comprehension, and cohesion. | 50 |
General Knowledge | Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, and Current Events. | 100 |
The written exam and the SSB interview are both requirements of the NDA selection procedure, and candidates must show up for both. Both stages follow different patterns. Every candidate who wants to pass the NDA exam has to be familiar with each stage’s format so they may appropriately plan their exam preparation. Educational and other certifications must be submitted by candidates who are selected for the SSB interview. If they were unable to submit them, their application will be rejected.
FAQs
A1: The NDA exam consists of two written papers: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The Mathematics paper contains 120 questions, while the GAT paper contains 150 questions. Both papers are multiple-choice in nature. The exam is conducted in a pen and paper-based offline mode.
: The NDA exam has a total of 900 marks. The Mathematics paper is for 300 marks, and the GAT paper is for 600 marks
Yes, there is negative marking in the NDA exam. For the Mathematics paper, there is a deduction of 0.83 points for each incorrect answer, and for the GAT paper, there is a deduction of 1.33 points for each incorrect answer.
Each section of the NDA exam, including Mathematics and GAT, has a duration of 2.5 hours.