NDA Exam Pattern: Marking Scheme, Subjects, and Time Duration
Prepare effectively for the NDA exam by understanding its pattern. Know the marking scheme, subjects, duration, and question distribution to excel in the exam.
Meet Tony by EaseToLearn
The first ever AI Buddy for making competitive exams a breeze.
Start your NDA journey now!
EaseToLearn is providing an exclusive interface for your NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY & NAVAL ACADEMY EXAMINATION 2025. Get the latest updated NDA mock test series, NDA previous year question papers, NDA Question Bank, and NDA Study material. Sign up on the Easetolearn NDA Course to get the Latest NDA Exam Pattern 2025.
Easetolearn will give students all the information regarding the Exam Pattern of the NDA 2025 Exam. It will make it easier for students to understand the pattern of the NDA exam like the total number of questions, marking scheme, sections of the exam and duration of the exam.
To Join the Online NDA Mock Test Series 2025: Click Here
NDA EXAM PATTERN 2025
Two times a year, in January and July, the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission), New Delhi, conducts this competitive exam for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force Wings of the NDA and Naval Academy. The outcome of a written exam administered by the UPSC, followed by intelligence and personality test administered by a Services Selection Board, determines admission to the above programme.
Attributes |
Details |
Examination Mode and Medium |
Offline mode(Pen Paper Based) |
Language |
English and Hindi |
Number of Sections |
2(Mathematics and General Ability Test) |
Questions Type |
Objective or Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) |
Total Number of Questions |
270 Questions (120 from Mathematics and 150 from General Ability Test) |
Total Marks for Entrance Test |
900 Marks (300 Marks for Mathematics and 600 Marks for General Ability Test) |
Negative Marking |
- 0.33 marks |
Duration of Exam |
2 hours and 30 minutes (Each Section) |
UPSC NDA & NAScheme ofWritten Examination 2025
The following are the subjects, allowed time, and maximum marks for each subject in the NDA and NA written examinations:
Exam Subject |
Code |
Duration |
Maximum Marks |
Mathematics |
01 |
2 hours and 30 minutes |
300 |
General Ability |
02 |
2 hours and 30 minutes |
600 |
The NDA & NA papers in all the subjects consist of multiple choice questions only.
NDAPaper-1 Mathematics(Code No. 01) (Maximum marks 300)
NDAPaper-II General AbilityTest (Code No. 02) (Maximum marks 600) consist the following:-
- Part A NDA English(Maximum Marks - 200)
- Part B NDA General Knowledge(Maximum Marks - 400)
NDA & NA 2025 General Knowledge has 6 sections with a break-up of 400 marks as below:
Sections |
Total Marks |
Physics |
100 Marks |
Chemistry |
60 marks |
General Science |
40 marks |
History, Freedom Movement (Social Studies) |
80 marks |
Geography |
80 marks |
Current Events |
40 marks |
Note- Out of the maximum number of points allotted for this NDA paper's Part B. The weighted percentages for the questions in Sections A, B, C, D, E, and F will be roughly 25%, 15%, 10%, 20%, 20%, and 10%, respectively.
UPSC NDA & NDA Intelligence and Personality Test 2025
The SSB procedure consists of two stage selection process: Stage 1, and Stage 2. Only those candidates who clear the stage 1 are permitted to appear for Stage 2. The details are:
- Stage 1 consists of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests that are Picture Presentation* Description Test (PP&DT). The candidates will be shortlisted based on a combination of performance in OIR and PP&DT.
- Stage 2 consists of Interviews, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests and conferences. These tests are conducted over 4 days.
The group testing officer (GTO), the psychologist, and the interviewing officer (IO) will conduct the interview and choose the students who fulfil the requirements most closely.
NDA Exam Pattern 2025 : FAQs
- Q: How many papers are there in the NDA Exam?
- A: The NDA Exam typically consists of two papers: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT).
- Q: Are both papers conducted on the same day?
- A: Yes, both the Mathematics and GAT papers are usually conducted on the same day.
- Q: What is the duration of each paper in the NDA Exam?
- A: The duration of the Mathematics paper is usually 2.5 hours, and the GAT paper is also of 2.5 hours. The total duration for both papers is 5 hours.
- Q: What subjects are covered in the Mathematics paper of the NDA Exam?
- A: The Mathematics paper covers topics such as Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Statistics, and Probability.
- Q: What does the General Ability Test (GAT) in the NDA Exam cover?
- A: The GAT comprises sections on English, General Knowledge, and Science. The English section assesses candidates' understanding of grammar and usage. The General Knowledge section covers topics related to current events, history, geography, and more. The Science section includes Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
- Q: Is the NDA Exam conducted in an online or offline mode?
- A: The NDA Exam is conducted in an offline (pen-and-paper) mode.
- Q: Are the questions in the NDA Exam objective or subjective?
- A: The questions in the NDA Exam are mostly objective (multiple-choice questions) in both the Mathematics and GAT papers.
- Q: Is there negative marking in the NDA Exam for incorrect answers?
- A: Yes, there is usually negative marking for incorrect answers in the objective-type questions of the NDA Exam.
- Q: Can I use a calculator in the NDA Exam?
- A: The use of a calculator is generally not allowed in the NDA Exam. Candidates need to rely on their problem-solving skills and mathematical abilities.
- Q: How are the scores calculated in the NDA Exam?
- A: The scores in the NDA Exam are calculated based on the number of correct and incorrect answers. There is a specific marking scheme for each paper.
- Q: What is the language of the NDA Exam question paper?
- A: The question paper is usually provided in English and Hindi languages. Candidates can choose their preferred language while filling out the application form.
- Q: Are there any changes in the exam pattern for NDA 2025?
- A: Exam pattern changes, if any, will be communicated through the official notification. It's important to check the official website for updates.
Try EaseToLearn for free
Sign up for free Online Test