How to Crack NDA Exam in First Attempt: A Comprehensive Guide

The National Defence Academy (NDA) exam is one of the most prestigious and competitive exams in India that offers a golden opportunity for young aspirants to join the Indian Armed Forces as officers. Every year, lakhs of candidates apply for this exam, but only a few manage to clear it in the first attempt. So, what does it take to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt? How can you prepare smartly and effectively for this exam? What are the common mistakes that you should avoid while preparing for this exam? In this article, I will answer all these questions and more. So let's get started!

Know the Complete Syllabus and Exam Pattern

The first and foremost step to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt is to know the complete syllabus and exam pattern of the exam. The NDA exam consists of three stages: Written Exam, SSB Interview, and Medical Examination. The written exam is further divided into two papers: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). Both papers are bilingual (English and Hindi) and consist of only objective-type questions. 

The Mathematics paper contains 120 questions carrying a total of 300 marks, whereas the GAT paper contains 150 questions carrying a total of 600 marks. The duration of each paper is 2.5 hours. There is negative marking of one-third marks for each wrong answer.

The syllabus of the Mathematics paper covers topics such as Algebra, Matrices and Determinants, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus and Differential Equations, Vector Algebra, Statistics and Probability.

The syllabus of the GAT paper covers topics such as English, General Knowledge, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Freedom Movement, Geography, Current Events.

You can find the detailed syllabus and exam pattern of the NDA exam on the official website of UPSC or on various online platforms such as Defence Guru, Testbook, Cadets Defence, BYJU’S Exam Prep, or NDA Exam.

Knowing the complete syllabus and exam pattern will help you to plan your preparation strategy accordingly and focus on the important topics that carry more weightage in the exam.

Make Notes of Important Topics and Revise Consistently

The next step to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt is to make notes of important topics and revise them consistently. Making notes will help you to summarize the key points, formulas, facts, figures, statistics, etc. that you need to remember for the exam. It will also help you to save time and avoid confusion while revising. You can make notes either by hand or by using digital tools such as Evernote, Google Keep, OneNote, etc.

Revising your notes regularly will help you to retain the information better and improve your memory and recall. It will also help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses and work on them accordingly. You should revise your notes at least once a week or before taking any mock test or previous year paper.

Solve Previous Year Papers and Take Regular Mock Tests

The third step to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt is to solve previous year papers and take regular mock tests. Solving previous year papers will help you to understand the type, level, pattern, and trend of questions asked in the exam. It will also help you to assess your preparation level and identify your mistakes and gaps in your knowledge. You can find previous year papers of NDA exam on various online platforms such as Defence Guru, Testbook, Cadets Defence, BYJU’S Exam Prep, or NDA Exam.

Taking regular mock tests will help you to practice solving questions under time pressure and improve your speed and accuracy. It will also help you to develop your test-taking skills such as time management, question selection, elimination technique, etc. You can take mock tests either online or offline from various sources such as Defence Guru, Testbook, Cadets Defence, BYJU’S Exam Prep, or NDA Exam.

You should solve at least one previous year paper or mock test every week or every alternate day and analyze your performance and feedback. You should also keep track of your scores and improvement and work on your weak areas.

Learn Time Management Skills and Improve Speed

The fourth step to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt is to learn time management skills and improve speed. Time management is one of the most crucial skills that you need to master for any competitive exam, especially for the NDA exam, which has a large number of questions to be solved in a limited time. 

You need to learn how to allocate your time wisely among different sections and questions and avoid wasting time on difficult or lengthy questions. You also need to learn how to skip or guess questions that you are not sure about and avoid negative marking.

Improving speed is another important skill that you need to develop for the NDA exam, as it will help you to attempt more questions and score more marks. You need to practice solving questions with shortcuts, tricks, formulas, etc. that will help you to save time and avoid lengthy calculations. You also need to improve your reading comprehension and vocabulary skills, as they will help you to understand and answer the questions in the English and GAT sections faster.

You can learn time management skills and improve speed by solving previous year papers and mock tests regularly and following the tips given below:

• Divide your time according to the weightage and difficulty level of each section and question. For example, you can allot 90 minutes for Mathematics, 60 minutes for English, and 60 minutes for GAT.
• Start with the section or question that you are most confident about and move on to the next one in descending order of confidence.
• Do not spend more than 1 minute on any question. If you are unable to solve it within that time, mark it for later review or skip it altogether.
• Do not get stuck on any question or section. If you find any question or section too difficult or lengthy, leave it and move on to the next one.
• Use elimination technique to eliminate the wrong or irrelevant options and increase your chances of guessing the right answer.
• Do not mark any answer without reading the question and options carefully. Read the question twice if necessary and look for keywords, clues, hints, etc. that will help you to eliminate or choose the right option.
• Do not change your answer unless you are absolutely sure about it. Changing your answer may result in losing marks due to negative marking.
• Keep track of your time and speed throughout the exam. Use a stopwatch or a timer to monitor your progress and adjust your pace accordingly.
   

Make a Schedule

The fifth step to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt is to make a schedule. Making a schedule will help you to organize your preparation plan and follow it consistently. It will also help you to balance your time between different subjects, topics, activities, etc. that are essential for your preparation. You can make a schedule either daily, weekly, monthly, or according to your convenience and preference.

While making a schedule, you should consider the following factors:

• Your syllabus coverage: You should divide your syllabus into small and manageable portions and assign them deadlines according to your priority and difficulty level.
• Your revision frequency: You should allocate sufficient time for revising your notes, formulas, facts, etc. regularly and before taking any mock test or previous year paper.
• Your practice intensity: You should allocate enough time for practicing questions from various sources such as previous year papers, mock tests, books, online platforms, etc.
• Your learning style: You should choose the mode of learning that suits you best such as self-study, online coaching, offline coaching, group study, etc.
• Your other commitments: You should also consider your other commitments such as school/college studies, hobbies, sports, family, friends, etc. and balance them with your preparation.
   

You can use tools such as Google Calendar, Todoist, Trello, etc. to create and manage your schedule effectively.

Note Down Important Points

The sixth step to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt is to note down important points. Noting down important points will help you to highlight the key information that you need to remember for the exam such as formulas, facts, figures, statistics, dates, names, events, etc. It will also help you to revise them quickly and easily before the exam.

You can note down important points either by hand or by using digital tools such as Evernote, Google Keep, OneNote, etc.

You can also use mnemonics, acronyms, abbreviations, diagrams, charts, tables, etc. to make your notes more memorable and interesting.

Improve General Knowledge

The seventh step to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt is to improve general knowledge. General knowledge is one of the most important sections of the NDA exam that covers topics such as Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Freedom Movement, Geography, Current Events, etc. It carries a total of 400 marks out of 600 marks in the GAT paper. Therefore, improving general knowledge is essential to score well in this section and in the overall exam.

To improve general knowledge, you should follow the tips given below:

• Read newspapers, magazines, books, blogs, etc. regularly and keep yourself updated with the latest news and events happening around the world, especially related to defence, security, politics, economy, sports, culture, etc.
• Watch news channels, documentaries, podcasts, webinars, etc. and listen to the opinions and perspectives of experts and analysts on various issues and topics.
• Refer to NCERT books of class 6th to 12th for the basic concepts and facts of Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, Geography, etc.
• Refer to standard books and online platforms such as Defence Guru, Testbook, Cadets Defence, BYJU’S Exam Prep, or NDA Exam for the advanced topics and current affairs of general knowledge.
• Make notes of important points and revise them regularly.
• Solve questions from previous year papers and mock tests and analyze your performance and feedback.
   

Practice Maths, English, and GK

The eighth step to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt is to practice maths, English, and GK. These are the three main subjects that are tested in the NDA exam and carry a total of 900 marks out of 900 marks in the written exam. Therefore, practicing these subjects is crucial to score well in the exam and clear the cut-off marks.

To practice Maths, English, and GK, you should follow the tips given below:

• Maths: Maths is one of the most scoring subjects in the NDA exam as it has a fixed syllabus and pattern. To practice maths, you should refer to NCERT books of class 11th and 12th for the basic concepts and formulas of maths. You should also refer to standard books such as R.S. Aggarwal or R.D. Sharma for the advanced topics and questions of maths. You should practice solving questions with shortcuts, tricks, formulas, etc. that will help you to save time and avoid lengthy calculations. You should also solve questions from previous year papers and mock tests and analyze your performance and feedback.
• English: English is one of the most important subjects in the NDA exam as it tests your language skills and comprehension abilities. To practice English, you should read newspapers, magazines, books, blogs, etc. regularly and improve your vocabulary, grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. You should also watch movies, shows, videos, etc. with subtitles and improve your listening skills. You should also write essays, articles, letters, etc. on various topics and improve your writing skills. You should also solve questions from previous year papers and mock tests and analyze your performance and feedback.
• GK: GK is one of the most challenging subjects in the NDA exam as it has a vast syllabus and unpredictable pattern. To practice GK, you should follow the tips given in the previous step (Improve General Knowledge) and cover all the topics and current affairs of GK. You should also solve questions from previous year papers and mock tests and analyze your performance and feedback.
   

Focus on Stream Subjects

The ninth step to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt is to focus on stream subjects. Stream subjects are the subjects that are related to your chosen stream of service in the Indian Armed Forces such as Army, Navy, or Air Force. Focusing on stream subjects will help you to prepare well for the SSB Interview and the Medical Examination, which are the next stages of the NDA exam. It will also help you to showcase your interest and aptitude for your chosen stream of service and impress the interviewers and the medical officers.

To focus on stream subjects, you should follow the tips given below:

• Army: If you want to join the Army, you should focus on subjects such as History, Geography, Polity, Economics, etc. that are related to the land warfare and the military operations of the Army. You should also focus on subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, etc. that are related to the technical aspects and the weapons systems of the Army. You should also focus on subjects such as Physical Education, Sports, etc. that are related to the physical fitness and the endurance of the Army personnel.
• Navy: If you want to join the Navy, you should focus on subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, etc. that are related to the naval warfare and the naval operations of the Navy. You should also focus on subjects such as Geography, Oceanography, Meteorology, etc. that are related to the maritime environment and the naval navigation of the Navy. You should also focus on subjects such as English, Communication Skills, etc. that are related to the language proficiency and the communication systems of the Navy.
• Air Force: If you want to join the Air Force, you should focus on subjects such as Physics, Mathematics, etc. that are related to the aerial warfare and the aerial operations of the Air Force. You should also focus on subjects such as Geography, Astronomy, Aeronautics, etc. that are related to the atmospheric environment and the aerial navigation of the Air Force. You should also focus on subjects such as English, Communication Skills, etc. that are related to the language proficiency and the communication systems of the Air Force.
   

Be Aware of Negative Marking

The tenth step to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt is to be aware of negative marking. Negative marking is one of the most crucial factors that can affect your score and rank in the NDA exam. There is negative marking of one-third marks for each wrong answer in both papers of the NDA written exam. Therefore, you need to be careful while marking your answers and avoid making silly mistakes or guesswork.

To be aware of negative marking, you should follow the tips given below:

• Read the instructions carefully before starting the exam and follow them strictly.
• Do not mark any answer without reading and understanding the question and options properly.
• Do not mark more than one answer for any question.
• Do not change your answer unless you are absolutely sure about it.
• Use elimination technique to eliminate the wrong or irrelevant options and increase your chances of guessing the right answer.
• Skip or guess questions only if you have no idea about them or if you have enough time left after attempting all the questions that you know.
   

Stay Updated with Current Affairs

The eleventh step to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt is to stay updated with current affairs. Current affairs is one of the most important and dynamic topics of the NDA exam that covers various issues and events happening around the world, especially related to defence, security, politics, economy, sports, culture, etc. It carries a significant weightage in the GAT paper and the SSB Interview of the NDA exam. Therefore, staying updated with current affairs is essential to score well in these sections and in the overall exam.

To stay updated with current affairs, you should follow the tips given below:

• Read newspapers, magazines, books, blogs, etc. regularly and keep yourself updated with the latest news and events happening around the world, especially related to defence, security, politics, economy, sports, culture, etc.
• Watch news channels, documentaries, podcasts, webinars, etc. and listen to the opinions and perspectives of experts and analysts on various issues and topics.
• Refer to standard books and online platforms such as Defence Guru, Testbook, Cadets Defence, BYJU’S Exam Prep, or NDA Exam for the monthly or yearly compilations of current affairs.
• Make notes of important points and revise them regularly.
• Solve questions from previous year papers and mock tests and analyze your performance and feedback.
   

Prepare for Group Discussion (GD) and Group Planning Exercise (GPE)

The twelfth and final step to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt is to prepare for Group Discussion (GD) and Group Planning Exercise (GPE). GD and GPE are two of the most important tasks that are conducted during the SSB Interview of the NDA exam. They test your communication skills, leadership skills, teamwork skills, problem-solving skills, decision-making skills, etc. 

They also test your general knowledge, current affairs, logical reasoning, etc. Therefore, preparing for GD and GPE is essential to perform well in the SSB Interview and clear the final stage of the NDA exam.

To prepare for GD and GPE, you should follow the tips given below:

• GD: GD is a task where you have to discuss a given topic with a group of 10-15 candidates for 15-20 minutes. The topic can be related to any issue or event of national or international importance. To prepare for GD, you should read newspapers, magazines, books, blogs, etc. regularly and improve your general knowledge and current affairs. You should also watch news channels, documentaries, podcasts, webinars, etc. and listen to the opinions and perspectives of experts and analysts on various issues and topics. You should also practice speaking on various topics with your friends or family or online platforms such as Defence Guru, Testbook, Cadets Defence, BYJU’S Exam Prep, or NDA Exam. You should also follow the tips given below:
  
  
  • Be confident and clear while speaking.
  • Be polite and respectful towards others.
  • Be relevant and logical while presenting your views.
  • Be assertive but not aggressive while expressing your opinions.
  • Be open-minded and flexible while listening to others.
  • Be cooperative and supportive while working with others.
  • Be concise and precise while concluding your points.
     
• GPE: GPE is a task where you have to plan a solution for a given problem scenario with a group of 10-15 candidates for 10-15 minutes. The problem scenario can be related to any situation that requires military intervention or action. To prepare for GPE, you should refer to standard books and online platforms such as Defence Guru, Testbook, Cadets Defence, BYJU’S Exam Prep, or NDA Exam for the sample problem scenarios and solutions. You should also practice solving various problem scenarios with your friends or family or online platforms such as Defence Guru, Testbook, Cadets Defence, BYJU’S Exam Prep, or NDA Exam. You should also follow the tips given below:
  
  
  • Analyze the problem scenario carefully and identify the main issue, objective, resources, constraints, risks, etc.
  • Brainstorm various possible solutions and evaluate their pros and cons.
  • Choose the best solution that meets the objective and minimizes the risks and constraints.
  • Explain the solution clearly and logically using a map, diagram, chart, table, etc.
  • Assign roles and responsibilities to each member of the group and coordinate the actions.
  • Consider the alternative solutions and contingency plans in case of any change or failure.
     

Last Words!

Cracking the NDA exam in the first attempt is not impossible, but it requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and guidance. By following the steps given in this article, you can prepare smartly and effectively for this exam and achieve your dream of joining the Indian Armed Forces as an officer. I hope this article has helped you to understand how to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt and has given you some useful tips and tricks to make your preparation easier and better. If you have any queries or feedback, please feel free to comment below or contact me through my website or social media handles. I wish you all the best for your NDA exam preparation and success.