Your Complete Guide To NDA Preparation And How To Crack It

Many people in our country dream of getting into the armed forces, but getting a shot at this prestigious position is not everyone’s cup of tea. NDA is regarded as one of the most highly regarded jobs in the country. People spend months studying for the NDA entrance exam and still many of them don’t get in. It takes continuous efforts, dedication, and the right mentorship to crack the entrance test and interview. 

Less than 15% of the people who apply for the entrance test are actually interviewed and the margin of people selected is even lesser. On average, a candidate has a 0.02% chance of going to the interview and one in 2,000 people actually make it to the academy. This is how tough the exam is. Previous year’s figures and the grim chances of selection are enough to intimidate and scare people. The best way to crack the exam is to find the right mentor and coaching institute; someone who knows how the entrance test works can help you with the tricks and will be there to guide you through the process.

The NDA admission process can be divided into two phases.

The first phase includes a written exam and the second phase includes an SSB interview. Both these stages are equally important and equally difficult. The entrance exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission or UPSC. Anyone who has cleared their +2 board exams can appear for NDA and join the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force as an officer.

Criteria For NDA

As per the UPSC guidelines, a student appearing for the exam must be aged between 16.5 years to 19.5 years, he/she must be an Indian national who has cleared the +2 examination or an equivalent examination.

How To Prepare For NDA?

NDA exam is difficult to crack and hence having clarity on what questions can come is really important. When it comes to the pattern of the exam, the following sections are covered:

  1. Mathematics
  2. General Ability

Under both these sections, a candidate gets two hours and thirty minutes to solve the questions. The mathematics section has 120 questions and the General ability section has 150 questions. Apart from the entrance exam, the SSB interview also carries equal weightage. Like any aptitude-based entrance exam, it is necessary to solve mock papers. Before you go for the final NDA exam, make sure that you have given enough practice papers. Some of the topics that appear in the exam include trigonometry, probability, matrices, calculus, and algebra from mathematics and; biology, physics, geography, current affairs, chemistry, and civics from General Ability.

The NDA entrance exam also has negative markings, this means that the candidate needs to be careful with what questions they answer. Tests like these are all about solving the right kind of questions in the limited time you have. While you may not know how to select the questions to answer, the right mentor and coaching will help you identify them. The right coach/mentor will help you build your confidence, prepare you for all kinds of questions that might come, and make sure you practice enough questions. This is why it is necessary to join the right institute which will help you nurture your intelligence and improve it.

If you are looking for an institute/school that will provide you with the right guidance, Check out New Public School and its various top-notch facilities

You will also need to make a strict study plan/schedule and follow it on a regular basis. It is also necessary to clear your basics and practice questions to make sure you don’t forget them. Once your basics are imprinted in your mind, you can increase the level of difficulty to the practice questions.

Related read: NDA with schooling after 10th

NDA Test Is Just The First Step

NDA exam is your best shot at joining the Indian Army, Navy, or Air force. Although the NDA entrance exam and interview are difficult to crack, it is just the beginning. Life in the defence services means living with discipline and a rigid schedule. Before you join, you must know what you are getting into and be prepared to live a life of discipline.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can a candidate appearing for the 12th standard apply for the NDA examination?

Yes, students appearing for their 12th exam can give the NDA test. They need to make sure that they have physics, chemistry, and maths as a subject.

  • What are the NDA examination centres in India?

The written NDA exam is conducted in 41 cities throughout the country. The candidates are given a choice to select a city while they fill the application form. They can select three options, and any one of them can be allotted to the applicant.

  • What is the eligibility criteria for the NDA entrance exam?

Anyone who has cleared the +2 exam or any equivalent exam with mathematics and physics subject is allowed to appear for the NDA entrance test

  • How can I apply for the NDA exam?

The online application for NDA is available on their official website. You can directly go there and apply for the entrance examination

  • What is the fees for appearing in the NDA examination?

All general and OBC candidates need to pay rupees 100 as the exam fees whereas SC/ST candidates/Sons of JCOs (Junior Commissioned Officer) /NCOs (Non-Commissioned Officers) /ORAs (Other Ranks of Army) and equivalent ranks in the Indian Navy/Indian Air Force are exempted from paying the fees.

The payment can be done through cash/credit card/debit card or net banking.

  • Are mobile phones allowed in NDA?

Mobile phones are prohibited during the NDA exam.

  • Do NDA cadets get holidays?

Yes, NDA cadets get holidays like OTA and IMA cadets. Additionally, every six months, the cadets get to take 26-28 days leaves.

  • Do 12th standard marks matter in NDA?

It is necessary to pass the 12th examination to be eligible for NDA. The actual marks and stream don’t matter as long as you pass in the exams.

  • How do you prepare for General Knowledge?

General Knowledge is less about the practice and more about reading. You need to be up to date with what’s happening in the world. You can prepare for GK by reading newspapers, magazines, journals and checking out online news forums.

  • How many times is the NDA exam held?

NDA exams are generally conducted twice in a year via offline mode. The next NDA exam will be held on 18th April 2021.

  • How long is the SSB interview process?

The interview process goes on for around 5 days. The applicants are judged on the basis of their personality and intelligence. They have to go through a basic intelligence test, a psychological test, group testing, and a personal interview.

Before any tip and suggestion, the first thing you need to do is start working towards your goal. Sometimes we get so intimidated by the end goal, that we spend too much time thinking and too less actually working. Make sure you start working towards the exam today and spend as much time as you can practicing what you know and learning what you can. 

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