UPSC has prescribed NDA 2019 syllabus. NDA examination is divided into two papers – Mathematics and General Ability. It aims to judge a candidate on his logical ability and general awareness. NDA 2019 is scheduled to be conducted on April 21, 2019.
| NDA Exam Pattern | NDA Syllabus for Maths | SSB Interview for NDA Selection | NDA Syllabus in Hindi |
- The Mathematics paper contains 300 marks while General Ability test holds 600 marks. The written test will be of total 900 marks.
- For every incorrect response, 0.33 marks will be deducted as negative marking in the examination.
- After clearing the written test, candidates have to go through the SSB Interview. The interview process will have total 900 marks.
- The question paper of Mathematics and PART B of General Ability test will be available in both English and Hindi languages.
NDA 2019 Exam Pattern
NDA 2019 is scheduled for April 21, 2019. It is an offline examination i.e. pen and paper based test with objective type questions.
NDA 2019 Exam Pattern is different for both the papers. It is necessary to qualify them in order to ensure admission in the National Defence Academy. NDA exam pattern for both the papers is given below:
Mathematics
| PAPER I- MATHEMATICS | |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 300 Marks |
| Total No. of Questions | 120 |
| Marks awarded for Correct answer | 2.5 marks |
| Marks deducted for wrong answer | -0.85 |
| Exam Duration | 2.5 Hours |
General Ability
| PAPER II- GENERAL ABILITY | |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 600 marks |
| Total No. of Questions | 150 |
| No. of questions in English Section | 50 |
| No. Of questions in General knowledge Section | 100 |
| Maximum Marks for English | 200 marks |
| Maximum Marks for G.K. | 400 marks |
| Marks for Correct Answer | 4 marks in both sections |
| Marks for Incorrect Answer | -1.33 marks in both sections |
| Exam Duration | 2.5 Hours |
NDA Syllabus for Mathematics
Paper 1 in NDA is purely based on Mathematics. No change is observed in NDA Syllabus from the previous year. The questions will be asked from 10+2 level only. The sub-sections in this part are also of basic-level mathematics.
Here are all important topics in NDA Syllabus for Paper 1 i.e. Mathematics:
| NDA Syllabus for Mathematics | |
|---|---|
| Algebra | Matrices and Determinants |
| Trigonometry | Analytical Geometry of Two and Three Dimensions |
| Differential Calculus | Integral Calculus and Differential Equations |
| Vector Algebra | Statistics and Probability |
Best Books for NDA Preparation
For Paper 1 in NDA i.e. Mathematics, it is always a better approach to put in some extra efforts. For this, you will need to refer to some books other than NCERT of class XI/XII.
- These books are a great mix of theoretical knowledge and their practical application, in the form of questions.
- We advise you to practice from them as much as possible.
Here are some of the best books for NDA Preparation for Mathematics paper:
| Book Name | Author/ Publisher |
|---|---|
| Mathematics for NDA and NA: National Defence Academy and Naval Academy | R S Aggarwal |
| Quantitative aptitude for competitive examinations | R S Aggarwal |
| Study Package MATHEMATICS NDA & NA Entrance Exam | Arihant |
| NDA Mathematics (Hindi) | RPH Editorial Board |
NDA Sample Questions for Mathematics
NDA 2017 Paper Analysis for Mathematics
NDA Paper 1 in April 2017 had maximum questions from Algebra, Matrices and Determinants, Trigonometry, Calculus, Probability, complex number and Quadratic equation.
- Mathematics sections was comparatively easier than previous year.
- The exam was for 300 marks in total.
Here is the topic-wise distribution of questions in NDA 2017 Paper 1:
| TOPIC | NO. OF QUESTIONS |
|---|---|
| Calculus | 20-25 |
| Quadratic equation | 20-15 |
| Matrices & Determinants | 30 |
| Probability | 10 |
| Trigonometry | 30 |
| Complex number | 10-15 |
NDA Syllabus for General Ability Test
Paper 2 in NDA i.e. the General Ability Test judges a candidate’s basic awareness and English proficiency. This section is further divided into two parts, English and General Knowledge.
- Total marks awarded to Paper 2 are 600.
- This paper must be completed in 2.5 hours.
- Here is the subject-wise NDA Syllabus for Paper 2:
Part A- English
- The English portion of the entrance test is designed in a way to judge a candidate’s knowledge of the basic grammar and vocabulary.
- It judges a candidate’s ability to form correct sentences and use of words.
- The syllabus of the English paper ranges from various aspects like the knowledge and usage of grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and his mental ability to remember and place the meaning of words in their proper places.
- Marks allotted to this section are 300.
Part B- General Knowledge
The question paper on General Knowledge will cover current affairs, questions from Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies, Geography and Current Events. NDA syllabus of each topic is given below. The paper aims to check knowledge and intelligent understanding of the subject.
Physics Section
The table below includes the important topics asked in Physics section of the General Ability Test:
| NDA SYLLABUS FOR PHYSICS | |
|---|---|
| States of Matter and its properties | Light and Sound (properties) |
| Motion and Laws of Motion | Magnet and its properties |
| Work, Energy and Power | Current and Electricity |
| Modes of Transfer of Heat and its effect | General Principles of Working of Simple Pendulum, Pulleys, Siphon, Levers, Balloon, Pumps, Hydrometer, Pressure Cooker, Thermos Flask, Gramophone, Telegraphs, Telephone, Periscope, Telescope, Microscope, Mariner’s Compass; Lightening Conductors, Safety Fuses |
Chemistry Section
The basic knowledge of Chemistry and various chemicals is tested in the chemistry section. The topics to be considered for preparation are given below:
| NDA SYLLABUS FOR CHEMISTRY | |
|---|---|
| Physical and Chemical Changes | Properties of Oxygen, Hydrogen etc. with Oxidation and Reduction |
| Air and Water (properties) | Carbon and its forms |
| Chemical equations and Laws of Chemical Combination | Atom and its structure (details) |
| Elements, Compounds and Mixtures | Fertilizers |
| Acid, Bases and Salts | Use of materials for preparation of different chemicals |
General Science Section
The topics for general science are tabulated below. The candidates must prepare according to the NDA Syllabus to obtain a good score in the NDA exam.
| NDA SYLLABUS FOR GENERAL SCIENCES | |
|---|---|
| Basic Unit of Life: Cell | Reproduction in Plants and Animals |
| Living and Non-Living Things | Human Body and Life processes |
| Epidemics: causes and preventions | Food and Balanced Diet |
| Solar System | Achievement of Eminent Scientists |
History Section
The important topics covered in the history section of the general ability test in NDA is given in the table below:
| NDA SYLLABUS FOR HISTORY | |
|---|---|
| Indian History: Culture and Civilisation | Constitution and Administration of India |
| Nationalism in India | Government of India at various levels |
| Five Year plans of India | Renaissance and Discovery |
| French, Russian and Industrial Revolution | United nations and Concept of one world |
| Democracy in India | Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi |
Geography Section
Candidates must prepare the following topics thoroughly for Geography section in NDA 2019:
| NDA SYLLABUS FOR GEOGRAPHY | |
|---|---|
| Earth and its Origin and Movement (latitudes and longitudes) | Tides and Oceanic Currents |
| Rocks and Its classification | Atmosphere and Atmospheric Pressure |
| Types of Climate | Regional Geography of India |
| Agricultural and Industries | Transportation and Trading routes of India |
| Imports and Exports of India |
Current Affairs Section
Candidates must follow the latest newspapers and magazines with information about the current events across the country and the world both. The topics to be prepared to qualify in this section with good marks are tabulated below:
| NDA SYLLABUS FOR CURRENT AFFAIRS | |
|---|---|
| Important and Recent Events in India | Current and Important World Events |
| Important Indian or Non-Indian Personalities related to Cultural Activities and Sports | – |
Best Books for NDA Preparation
There is no set syllabus for Paper 2 as the questions challenge a candidate’s vigilance for current and recent events around the globe. Along with it, basic knowledge for various subjects is tested.
- For NDA Preparation, go through books, magazines, newspapers, archives, news channels etc. to be able to score well in this paper.
- Candidates must have the basic knowledge of the subjects that are tested in NDA.
- Other than newspapers and class XII books, there are plenty of NDA Preparation Books available in the market that can help you with the General Ability Section. Here are a few of them:
| Book Name | Author/ Publisher |
|---|---|
| History Of Modern India (History) | Bipan Chandra |
| Science and Technology in India (Science and Technology) | Kalpana Rajaram : Spectrum |
| Oxford School Atlas (Geography) | Oxford |
| Social Problems In India (Indian Society – GS1) | Ram Ahuja |
| Objective General English for Competitive Exams | S.P. Bakshi |
| Manorama Yearbook 2019 | Mammen Mathew |
NDA Sample Questions for General Ability Test
NDA 2017 Paper Analysis for General Ability Test
Paper 2 in NDA 2017 had 150 questions. Marks allotted to this paper were 600.
- Questions in English were from the prescribed NDA Syllabus.
- From Section B, science had the toughest questions.
- Questions from the remaining subjects were moderate in difficulty level.
Here is the analysis for NDA 2017 held in April:
PART A- English
| Topic | No. of Questions | No. of Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Spotting Errors | 5 | 20 |
| Comprehension | 6 | 24 |
| Selecting Words | 10 | 40 |
| Ordering of Words in a Sentence | 9 | 36 |
| Sentence Improvement | 10 | 40 |
| Antonyms | 5 | 20 |
| Synonyms | 5 | 20 |
| Total | 50 | 200 |
PART B- General Knowledge
| Topic | No. of Questions | No. of Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 23 | 92 |
| Chemistry | 16 | 64 |
| General Science | 11 | 44 |
| History & Freedom Movement | 16 | 64 |
| Geography | 17 | 68 |
| Current Events | 17 | 68 |
| Total | 100 | 400 |
NDA Preparation Tips
Here are some useful NDA Preparation Tips to score better in the exam:
- Make sure you are thorough with the NDA Syllabus and exam pattern.
- Do not forget to refer to class 11 and Class 12 NCERT books.
- You must know the basic formulae/ concepts from Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
- Plan a preparation schedule and practice as many NDA Practice Papers as possible.
- For the English section, focus on reading comprehension, basic grammar and vocabulary. You must revise the basic grammar rules from a reliable source.
- Be well aware of current affairs and events that are making news.
- Make sure the political and historical scenario of India is on your tips.
- Take help from coaching centers if required, but make sure they hold a good record.