CDS 2 2024 English and GK Question Paper Analysis OUT: Check Student Reactions, Difficulty Level and Good Attempts

Combined Defence Services Exam 2025 ( CDS )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 10 Dec '25 - 30 Dec '25

Shikha
Shikha Goyal
Assistant Manager
Updated on Sep 2, 2024 10:05 IST
The CDS 2 2024 exam is ongoing. Candidates can check below the CDS 2 Question Paper Analysis 2024 for English and GK, including the difficulty level, topics asked, good attempts, etc. The CDS 2 2024 English exam will start at 9 am and conclude at 11 am. GK exam will start at 12 pm and will conclude at 2 pm

CDS 2 exam question paper analysis 2024 for English and GK is available here. The CDS 2 exam analysis 2024 is based on students responses. Candidates can evaluate their performance by checking the CDS 2 English and GK Question Paper analysis, including the good attempts, topics asked, difficulty level, etc.

CDS 2 2024 English and GK Question Paper Analysis

CDS 2 2024 English and GK Question Paper Analysis

CDS 2 Question Paper Analysis 2024: The UPSC conducted the CDS 2 exam 2024 on September 1, 2024. The CDS 2 written exam 2024 is held in three shifts. The first shift was from 9 am to 11 am for the English exam. The second shift was from 12 pm to 2 pm for the GK exam, and the third shift will be from 3 pm to 5 pm for Maths After the exam is over, here we will provide the CDS 2 question paper analysis for English and GK based on the responses from the students, including the number of good attempts, difficulty level, topics asked, subject-wise distribution, exam pattern change or not, etc.

Table of contents
  • CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2024: Overall Difficulty Level
  • CDS 2 Exam Analysis: Good Attempts
  • CDS 2 Exam 2024: Section-Wise English Analysis
  • CDS 2 Exam 2024: Section-Wise GK Analysis

CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2024: Overall Difficulty Level

The UPSC CDS 2 2024 exam consists of three sections, namely English, General Knowledge, and Maths. Candidates applying for OTA comprised only two sections, which are English and General Knowledge. The duration of each section is two hours. After the conclusion of the English and GK shift at 2 pm, we will provide the CDS 2 question paper analysis 2024 here.

Q:   Is the CDS exam online or offline?
A:

The CDS exam is conducted in two stages, the written exam and the SSB interview. The CDS exam is an offline exam conducted in pen paper-based format. The CDS marking scheme, negative marking, total marks, exam timing, and the paper pattern for the IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA are available on this page for the CDS exam.

Q:   What is the ideal time to start preparing for CDS exam?
A:
It is ideal that candidates must begin their preparation six months prior to the release of CDS notification. The candidates can check the preparation tips to qualify for the CDS exam: a) The candidates must know the complete syllabus and the pattern of the CDS exam b) Go through the NCERT books of classes 6 to 12 c) Solve previous years' questions and mock tests d) Make time table to cover complete syllabus of CDS exam e) Take frequent breaks to calm and relax.

Shiksha reporter Rupali Pruthi reported live from the centre in Delhi to gather the candidates' feedback regarding the difficulty level of the English and GK sections. As per the students, CDS 2 English paper 2024 was easy but lengthy. Paper pattern changes as compared to CDS 1. Some new questions were asked. 

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According to the student reactions, CDS 2 GK 2024 paper was Moderate some felt easy to moderate. Questions were asked from Current Affairs which were predictable, science, Polity, etc.

Paper Overall Difficulty Level
English Easy but Lengthy
General Knowledge Moderate

Also Read:

UPSC CDS 2 English Question Paper 2024

UPSC CDS 2 GK Question Paper 2024

CDS 2 Exam Analysis: Good Attempts

As per the student reviews, we will provide the number of good attempts in CDS 2 2024 English and GK exam conducted on September 1, 2024. With the help of good attempts, candidates will be able to evaluate their performance and strategise their approach regarding attempting the questions.

Paper Good Attempts
English 83-95
General Knowledge 70-80

CDS 2 English and GK Exam Analysis 2024 Video

Candidates can check here the student reactions about CDS 2 English and GK 2024.

 CDS 2 Exam 2024: Section-Wise English Analysis

Candidates will be able to check the UPSC CDS 2 2024 English section-wise exam analysis. The CDS 2 English exam will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. It covers reading comprehension, vocabulary and usage, grammar, etc. Check below the list of English questions that will be asked in the CDS 2 exam paper.

Topic CDS 2 English Paper Number of Questions Asked Good Attempts
Passages 10 5-8
Vocabulory (Synonyms & antonyms) 20 13-16
Opposite Words 5 2-4
Para Jumbles 20 13-16
Preposition (Fill in the Blanks) 10 5-7
Sentence Combination 5 2-4
Fill in the Blanks 10 5-7
Sentence Improvement 10 6-8
Matching list 5 2-4
Idioms and Phrases 5 3-4
Grammar 10 4-8
Spotting Errors 10 5-8
CDS 2 English Question Paper 2024 Click Here

Also Read: 

CDS 2 Exam Syllabus

CDS 2 Exam Pattern

CDS 2 Exam 2024: Section-Wise GK Analysis

The CDS 2 GK exam will start at 12 pm and will conclude at 2 pm. Here, we will provide the number of questions asked in the CDS 2 exam in GK. Scroll down for CDS 2 section-wise GK analysis 2024.

Topic CDS 2 GK Paper Number of Questions Asked Good Attempts
History 20 12-16
Current Affairs 15 8-12
Geography 20 11-15
Science & Technology, defence questions 20 11-16
Polity  20 12-15
Economics 15 9-12
Environment 10 5-8
CDS 2 GK Question Paper 2024 Click Here

Read More:

CDS Answer Key PDF by Cavalier: Download CDS 2 All SET (A, B, C, D)

CDS 2 Answer Key PDF by Major Kalshi Classes: Download PDF

About the Author
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Shikha Goyal
Assistant Manager

Role: Editorial Domain

Education: Mass Com & Journalism, MSC Mathematics

Expertise: Sarkari Exam Expert

About

Shikha Goyal is a double post graduate with more than 12 years of experience in education domain, journal

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Answered a week ago

After qualifying the SSB round, the selected candidates need to undergo a medical examination. A candidate is declared medically fit or unfit after the result announcement. After qualifying all the selection rounds they will go for training. 

C

Chanchal Shekhar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

Some of the books, help candidates in their CDS preparation are given below:

  • High School English Grammar & Composition Edition by Wren and Martin
  • Objective General English by SP Bakshi
  • Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
  • English Grammar & Composition by S.C Gupta

J

Jasleen Jain

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago


The authority released a total of 453 vacancies for the CDS 2 exam 2025 for admission to the Indian Air Force, Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy for courses. 

M

Manisha Singh

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

It is advised to the candidates to reach the CDS exam centre one hour before the given time. They should carry hall ticket along with them otherwise they will not be able to give the exam.

C

Chanchal Shekhar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, the English section of the CDS exam is scorable if it is prepared properly. Usually the difficulty level of the exam is moderate. 

S

Satyendra Garg

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

Candidates can check the cut off marks for the CDS exam by visiting the official website at upsc.gov.in. The UPSC will release the cutoff according to the academy or course.

S

Shikha Goyal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The methods to check the CDS cut off marks is provided below:

  • Visit at upsc.gov.in.
  • Click on the :Examination" tab.
  • Go to the "Cut Off Marks" dropdown menu.
  • Click on the download link and save it for future reference.

I

Ishita Kaur

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

Yes. In the CDS exam there is a negative marking. One-third mark will be deducted for an incorrect answer. No mark will be deducted for unanswered questions. 

S

Shikha Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

The CDS exam is conducted offline or pen and paper mode. Objective questions will be asked in the examination. Candidates need to mark their choices of answers in the sheet that was provided during the exam. CDS 1 2026 notification released on December 10.

 

 

J

Jasleen Jain

Contributor-Level 6