CDS 2 Exam Day Guidelines 2025: Check Code of Conduct for Exam, Schedule & Timings
Combined Defence Services Exam 2025 ( CDS )
Registration - 10 Dec '25 - 30 Dec '25
UPSC released the CDS 2 2025 exam day guidelines along with the admit card on the official website at upsc.gov.in. The exam is scheduled to be conducted on September 14, 2025. Check below CDS exam day guidelines to know the dress code, important documents required, and many more.
CDS Exam Day Guidelines
CDS 2 exam day guidelines 2025 released by the Commission. The CDS 2 2025 exam will be held on September 14, 2025. CDS exam time for English paper will be 9.00 am to 11.00 am, 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm for GK, and 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm for Elementary Mathematics. Candidates who will appearing for the CDS exam must carefully go through the CDS 2 exam day instructions and guidelines that will be issued by the UPSC. This will help candidates avoid any last-minute mistakes or confusion. Candidates must abide by the CDS exam day guidelines 2025, ranging from the dress code to the required documents to carry stationary items that are needed during the exam, and so on. Go through the CDS exam day guideline 2025 to know about what to bring, what not to bring, during the exam, and general tips for the entrance exam.
Also Read: CDS 2 2025 Exam Analysis Live Updates
- CDS Shift Timing 2025
- CDS Exam Day Guidelines 2025
- CDS Exam Pattern
CDS Shift Timing 2025
CDS shift timing for different subjects is given below for the candidates. Along with the CDS shift timings, the candidates must check the CDS exam schedule below:
| Paper | Exam Timings |
|---|---|
| English | 9.00 am to 11.00 am |
| GK | 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm |
| Elementary Mathematics | 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm |
The Commission released the CDS 1 and 2 exam date at upsc.gov.in. The CDS 1 exam will be conducted on April 12, 2026 and the CDS 2 on September 13. Candidates must be aware that these dates are released by the UPSC.
Yes, the UPSC will release the CDS admit card a few days before the exam. The admit card will consist of the exact address and name of the exam centre.
CDS Exam Day Guidelines 2025
Candidates can check below CDS exam day guidelines released by the UPSC.
- UPSC CDS 2 admit card released by UPSC. Candidates should check the e-admit card carefully and bring discrepancies, if any, to the notice of UPSC immediately.
- Candidates should mention their name, roll number, registration ID, name and year of exam while raising any issue with UPSC.
- Candidates must bring their admit cards along with the original photo identity card. Candidates must preserve their admit cards till the declaration of final results.
- Candidates must enter the exam hall at least 30 minutes before the scheduled commencement of the CDS exam. Entry to the examination venue closes 10 minutes prior to the scheduled commencement of the exam in each session.
- Candidates should note that they will not be allowed to appear at any other venue except the venue mentioned in the e-admit card.
- Mobile phones, calculators, or any electronic gadgets are not allowed inside the exam centre premises.
- There is a penalty (negative marking) for wrong answers marked by a candidate in the objective-type question papers.
Also Read: CDS 2025
- Answers should be marked by a black ballpoint pen.
- Candidates are advised not to bring any valuables/costly items to the examination hall.
- Candidates whose photographs on the e-admit card are not clear, have to bring photo-identity proof such as an Aadhaar Card, Driving License, Passport, Voter Card, and three passport-size photographs one for each session for appearing in the exam with an undertaking.
- Wearing of mask/face cover is mandatory for all candidates. Candidates without masks/face covers will not be allowed entry into the exam centre.
- Candidates will have to remove their masks for verification, whenever required by the examination functionaries.
- Candidates need to carry their own hand sanitizers (small size) in a transparent bottle.
- Candidates need to follow personal hygiene inside the CDS exam centre.
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Candidates need to carry the following documents to the CDS exam centre
1. CDS Admit Card
2. Photo ID Proof
3. Two passport size photographs
There are some of the items that candidate can not take with themselves while giving the CDS examination. Such items are mobile phones, laptops, tablets, calculators, etc. That is electronic items are not allowed. If any of the candidate found with such items in the exam centre then he or she will not be allowed to sit in the exam.
The CDS 2 2025 application and notification was released on May 28, 2025. The application window was open till June 20, 2025. The exam was conducted on September 14, 2025. On the other hand, the CDS 1 2025 application form and the notification was released on December 11, 2024 and the last date to apply was January 1, 2025. The CDS 1 exam was conducted on April 13, 2025.
CDS Exam Pattern
The CDS exam pattern is divided into the written exam and SSB interview. The UPSC CDS exam pattern of written exam for IMA, INA, AFA is different from OTA. The written exam of IMA, INA, and AFA comprises three sections- English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics. The total marks allotted to the test are 300. The total exam duration for IMA, INA, and AFA is six hours (each section is for two hours). The written exam of OTA comprises two sections- English and General Knowledge. The total marks allotted to the written exam of OTA are 200. The duration of the written exam is four hours (each section is for two hours). The standard of the topics in the CDS syllabus for Elementary Mathematics is of Class 10 level. The standard of papers for other subjects is of graduation level.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month 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
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month 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
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month 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
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month 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
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month 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
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month 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
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
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 will be released on December 10.
J
Contributor-Level 6
The Commission released the CDS 1 and 2, 2026 notification, application process and exam dates on the official website at upsc.gov.in. The CDS 1 2026 notification will be released on December 10, 2025. The CDS 1 2026 application dates are December 12 to December 30, 2025. The CDS 1 exam will be held on April 12, 2026. On the other hand, CDS 2 2026 notification will be announced on May 20, 2026 and the last date to apply will be June 9, 2026. The CDS 2 2026 exam will be conducted on September 13, 2026.