CDS (Combined Defense Services) Exam Pattern 2018
Last Updated -
March 06 2018
CDS (Combined Defense Services) 2018 exam will be organized in offline method only. Aspirants who seeking to appear for CDS 2018 should go via CDS 2018 Exam Format and Syllabus cautiously. They should know about the important chapters and instructions to be followed while taking the test.
- 240 MCQ type questions for aspirants applying for OTA as Mathematics is not eligible for OTA. Check CDS 2018 Hall Ticket
- The exam will be organized in offline method only
- 340 MCQ type questions that would be asked from Mathematics, GK and English.
- The total time allotted for each paper is 2 hours
- One-third mark will be deducted for each inaccurate answer
- Negative marking is eligible in the CDS 2018 Exam. Check CDS 2018 Result
CDS 2018 Application Form filling will start on November 9, 2018 and will end on December 2, 2018. CDS 2018 written exam consists of 3 papers (2 papers in case of OTA). CDS 2018 is tentatively scheduled to be organized on February 5, 2018.
Highlights Table of CDS 2018
Aspirants can refer to the following table to check medium of CDS 2018 for each paper. Paper for Mathematics and GK will be available both in English and Hindi language, whereas paper for English will be available only in English only.
The following table gives information about the highlights of CDS 2018 Exam Format:
| Method of Exam | Offline only (Pen and paper mode) |
| Number of Questions asked | 340 MCQ Type |
| Number of questions in OTA | 240 MCQ Type |
| Maximum Marks | 300 and 200 (OTA) |
| Period of Exam | 2 hours (120 minutes) for each paper |
| Medium | Hindi or English |
| Sections in Paper | English: 8-9 GK and Mathematics: Questions are asked in mixed attitude |
| Negative marking | One-third mark deducted for every inaccurate answer |
Marking Scheme for CDS 2018
CDS 2018 consists of only Multiple Choice Questions. For getting into Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy, aspirants are need to appear for all the 3 papers- English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics. Each paper carries 100 marks.
Negative marking is eligible for every wrong marked response. More than one option marked is treated as incorrect. For each inaccurate response, 1/3 of the marks will be deducted. In CDS paper, each question carries 4 options and out of which only 1 option is correct. However, if a question is left unresponsive there will be no negative marking.
The following table explains the detailed marking scheme of the exam.
| CDS 2018 Paper | English | GK | Mathematics |
| Maximum Marks | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Marks for Accurate response | +0.8 marks for each accurate option | +0.8 marks for each accurate option | +1 marks for each accurate option |
| Negative marking | -0.33 marks for each wrong response | -0.33 marks for each wrong response | -0.33 marks for each wrong response |
The following table shows Marking scheme for 2018 OTA (Officers Training Academy):
| CDS 2018 Paper | English | GK |
| Maximum Marks | 100 | 100 |
| Marks for Accurate response | +0.8 marks for each accurate option | +0.8 marks for each accurate option |
| Negative marking | -0.33 marks for each wrong response | -0.33 marks for each wrong response |
Distribution of Questions
Equal weight is given to GK and English as both the papers will contain 120 questions each in CDS 2018. However, paper of mathematics will consist of 100 questions.
| Paper | Number of questions |
|---|
| English | 120 |
| Mathematics | 100 |
| GK | 120 |
The selection of the aspirants is on the basis of marks scored in the interviews. Total marks for interview for Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy is 300 marks, whereas 200 marks are allotted for interview for OTA.
CDS 2018 Intelligence and Individuality Test Format
SSB interview will be the 2nd part of the selection process. SSB Interview will contain two stages i.e. Stage 1 and Stage 2. Aspirants qualify the stage 1 exam will be called for stage 2.
Stage 1: It is an OIR (Officer Intelligence Rating) Test which contains Picture Perception and Description Test (PP & DT). Aspirants will be shortlisted as per their performance in QIR test and PP and DT.
Stage 2: Aspirants passing stage 1 will be called for this stage. These tests are conducted in four days. This part consists of Group Testing Officer Tasks, Interview, Conference and Psychology Test.
English Syllabus for CDS 2018
English question paper will be designed to test the aspirants' understanding of English language. As per earlier year analysis, following are the important topics asked in English paper.
| Topic | Number of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
|---|
| Sentence Improvement | 20 | Easy |
| Reading Comprehension | 23 (5 passages) | Easy to Moderate |
| Synonyms | 8 | Moderate |
| Antonyms | 7 | Easy |
| One Word Substitution | 5 | Moderate |
| Para-Jumble | 10 | Easy to Moderate |
| Sentence-Jumble | 7 | Moderate |
| Spot the Mistake | 20 | Easy |
| Cloze Test | 20 | Easy |
Preference Books
CDS 2018 Exam Preparation English books are mentioned below:
| Name of the Book | Author | ISBN |
|---|
| Objective English | S.P. Bakshi | 978-9351768449 |
| Quick Learning objective English | R.S. Aggarwal | 978-8121922111 |
General Knowledge Syllabus for CDS 2018
For GK paper, aspirants can cover the following topics:
- Religions
- Indian History
- Latest Present Affairs
- Books & Authors
- Indian Geography
- Indian Constitution
- Sports, Awards, etc
- Indian Politics
- Indian Economy
- Indian Navy & Military
As per earlier year analysis following are the important topics for GK paper:
| Topic | Number of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
|---|
| History | 19 | Difficult |
| Science | 27 | Easy (Concept-based questions) |
| Geography | 22 | Moderate (Analytical based questions) |
| Ecology | 06 | Moderate (Fact-based questions) |
| Polity | 20 | Easy to Moderate |
| Economy/Trade | 11 | Moderate (Fact-based questions) |
| Miscellaneous /Armed Forces | 15 | Moderate (Fact-based questions) |
Recommended Books
CDS does not have a well-structured syllabus for General Knowledge so a thorough study is required for GK paper.The following books can be followed to study for GK paper.
| Name of the Book | ISBN |
|---|
| Manorama Yearbook 2017 (English) 50th Edition | ASIN: B00O1N77HG |
| Lucent’s General Knowledge | ISBN-10: 8192933563 |
Elementary Mathematics Syllabus for CDS 2018
Mathematics paper covers topics from diverse topics. Following are the topic covered in CDS 2018 Mathematics paper.
- Algebra
- Number System
- Geometry
- Mensuration
- Arithmetic
- Elementary Number Theory
- Trigonometry
In the following table, earlier year paper analysis of mathematics paper is mentioned.
| Topic | Number of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
|---|
| Mensuration | 14 | Easy |
| Algebra | 7 | Easy to Moderate |
| Mean-Median-Method (Frequency Distribution Table) | 4 | Easy |
| Time speed and Distance | 6 | Easy |
| Number System | 20 | Easy to Moderate |
| Simple interest/Compound interest | 5 | Easy |
| Percentage | 2 | Easy |
| Profit/Loss | 1 | Easy |
| Mixture | 1 | Easy |
| Time and Work | 3 | Easy |
| Trigonometry | 14 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Set Theory | 1 | Easy |
| Clock | 2 | Easy |
| Geometry | 20 | Easy to Moderate |
Preference Books
Aspirants can follow the NCERT books to complete the basics but for competitive exam level mathematics, you required a book on quantitative aptitude to learn and exercise advanced concepts.
List of Mathematics books is as follows:
| Name of the Book | Author | ISBN |
|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Dr. R.S. Aggarwal | B01MCU1JSH (ASIN) |
| Quicker Mathematics | M. Tyra | 978-8190458924 |
| Quantitative Aptitude Numerical Ability: Fully Solved 7000 + Objective Questions | Kiran Prakashan | B00U241N14 (ASIN) |
Instructions to Fill CDS Response Sheet 2018
Aspirants are advised to follow the instructions to fill OMR sheet very cautiously as the response sheets are to be evaluated on machine and any violation of these instructions may result in reduction of scores. Before marking answers on the Response Sheet, candidates have to fill in different particulars in it.
After receiving CDS 2018 Response Sheet, aspirants have to check that it is numbered at the bottom. The top of the response sheet will have the particulars shown in the figure below. If it is un-numbered, it has to be replaced by a numbered one.
The following points should be kept in mind while filling CDS 2018 response sheet:
- The next step is to find out the suitable subject code from the test booklet. Thereafter, encode the test booklet series, subject code and the roll number by using black pen.
- Write your roll Number as per hall ticket with black ball pen in the boxes offered for this purpose. You are not supposed to omit any zero which may be there.
- You have to write with black ball pen the name of the center and subject in English or Hindi.
- The test Booklet Series will be indicated by Alphabets A, B, C or D at the top right hand corner of the Booklet.
- Writing and encoding of test booklet series has to be done after receiving the Test Booklet and checking the booklet series from the same. For example, for English paper of ‘A’ Test Booklet Series you have to encode the subject code, which is 01 as shown below:
- In the next step, you have to encode the Roll No. An example to encode the Roll Number is shown below.
- Aspirants have to make sure that they have cautiously encoded their subject Test Booklet series and Roll Number.
Share on Whatsapp
Related News
