NDA Exam Pattern 2026: Marking Scheme, Question Distribution & Syllabus

The NDA exam is conducted twice every year in April and September. The mode of an exam is offline. Candidates who will clear the written exam will be called for the SSB interview. Knowing the exam pattern is necessary for the exam. It helps to know the structure of the paper. Candidates can check below a few important highlights related to the NDA exam pattern.

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Candidates should have clear understanding about the NDA exam pattern. As it helps in the preparation. The structure of the NDA exam pattern for the written exam is given below.

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NDA Maths Exam Pattern

The Maths paper of NDA carries 120 questions. The Maths section carries a total of 300 marks. Questions are asked from Arithmetic, Mensuration, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics, Matrices and Determinants. 

NDA GAT Exam Pattern 

The GAT section carries 150 questions for 600 marks. The GAT section of NDA question paper carries questions from English and General Knowledge. For the English section, candidates must focus on Grammar, Comprehension, and Reading Abilities. In General Knowledge, candidates should focus on Current Affairs, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History, etc.Candidates can check below the distribution of questions in the GAT paper.

NDA Exam Pattern 2026 for SSB Interview

The SSB Interview is a five day selection process. It will assesses the candidates leadership skills, physical stamina and also the suitability for a career in the armed forces. As we know, those candidates who will qualify the written exam will be called for SSB interview. Students can check the pattern of the SSB Interview.

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There are NDA negative markings for incorrect answers, 1/3 of the marks allotted to each question are deducted for the incorrect answer. There is no deduction in marks for unanswered questions.

Candidates can check below the marking scheme as well as the number of questions.

The NDA SSB interview consists of two distinct stages namely Stage I and Stage II. The intelligence and personality test and a group interview. On the basis of this, candidates are shortlisted for admission to NDA. SSB Interview is conducted in two stages. 

NDA Exam Duration

NDA exam duration is 5 hours, each paper is held for 2 ½ hours. NDA shift timings are given below.

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 The NDA exam consists of two written papers namely Mathematics (300 marks) and General Ability Test or GAT (600 marks). Multiple choice questions are asked in the examination.  The standard of the National Defence Academy exam syllabus is of Classes 9, 10, 11, and 12 standards. The same is given below.

1. Math-Matrices and Determinants, Integral Calculus and Differential Equations, Trigonometry, Vector Algebra, Analytical Geometry Of Two and Three Dimension and Statistics and  Probability, Algebra, etc. 
2. English- Vocabulary, Comprehension, Cohesion, Preposition, etc.
3. General Knowledge-Physics, Chemistry, Social Studies, General Science, Geography, and Current Events. 

NDA 2026: Maths Important Topics to revise

Candidates can check below some of the important topics in Mathematics that will help in the preparation.

• Probability
• Algebra
• Trigonometry
• Calculus
• Vector & 3D
• Matrices & Determinants
• Coordinate Geometry
• Statistics
• Sets
• Relations & Functions, etc.

NDA 2026: GAT Important Topics to revise

English: Candidates can focus on grammar, vocabulary, etc.

Some more topics to prepare are finding mistakes, synonyms, antonyms, idioms & phrases, making sentences, etc.

General Knowledge: Some of the important topics that candidates can focus and also help in their preparation:

Electricity, Optics, Work, Power, Energy, Laws of Motion,  Acids and Bases, Elements and Compounds, Changes in Matter, human body, food, nutrition, Indian Freedom Movement, Earths' Crust, Climate, Resources, current affairs, etc. 

NDA exam is a prominent examination among students who want to join Indian Defence Forces. NDA is the gateway for candidates who wish to join the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. It is not a cakewalk to get through NDA and SSB. Making a smart study plan is effective for a better preparation strategy. First, candidates should clear their basic concepts. They should not forget to practice the NDA last year question papers. Revise the topics given in the syllabus as much as you can. 

Check NDA exam pattern FAQs below.