CDS 1 2026 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam follows a structured pattern for admission to Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy. Before analysing the performance, candidates can check the exam structure below:
The total marks for the written exam are 300, followed by the SSB interview round.
CDS 1 2026 English Paper Analysis
The English section tested candidates on grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. Based on student reactions, here are the key highlights:
Candidates reported that this section was scoring for those with strong fundamentals.
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
- Major Topics: Synonyms, Antonyms, Fill in the blanks, Error spotting
- Reading comprehension passages were moderate in length
- Questions were largely direct and manageable
CDS 1 2026 General Knowledge Analysis
The General Knowledge section covered static GK along with current affairs. A brief overview of this section is given below:
Overall, candidates found this section slightly more challenging than English.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
- Focus Areas: History, Polity, Geography, Current Affairs
- Current affairs questions were moderately weighted
- Some questions required conceptual clarity and factual recall
CDS 1 2026 Mathematics Paper Analysis
The Mathematics section was considered the most challenging among all three papers. Key insights based on student feedback include:
Candidates with strong conceptual understanding performed better in this section.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
- Topics Covered: Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration
- Questions were calculation-intensive
- Time management was a crucial factor
CDS 1 2026 Good Attempts and Overall Review
The number of good attempts varies depending on the paper difficulty and candidate preparation. Based on initial reactions, the estimated good attempts are:
The overall paper was balanced, with a mix of easy, moderate, and a few difficult questions.
- English: 70–80 questions
- General Knowledge: 60–70 questions
- Mathematics: 45–55 questions
CDS 1 2026 Answer Key and Next Steps
The official answer key will be released later by the Union Public Service Commission after the completion of the examination process. Candidates who qualify the written exam will be called for the SSB interview, followed by medical examination and final merit list. Aspirants are advised to keep track of official updates for result declaration and cut-off marks, which will determine the next stage of selection.
