Anangsha
Anangsha Patra
Deputy Manager – Editorial
Updated on Apr 7, 2025 16:48 IST
Maximum weightage in the UPSC NDA exam is given to the General Ability Test (GAT). To score good marks in GAT, candidates must be thorough with English and General Knowledge. The General Ability Test section comprises English and General Knowledge. Here are a few tips and tricks on how to prepare for NDA General Ability Test.

NDA GAT Preparation Tips 2025: The GAT section carries the maximum weightage in NDA exam. To ace this section, candidates must prepare by solving the previous years' question papers and mock tests. Candidates must also refer to good books to clear the concept of the topics given in NDA GAT syllabus 2025. Here are a few tips on how to prepare for UPSC NDA General Ability Test.

How to Prepare for UPSC NDA GAT?

How to Prepare for UPSC NDA GAT?

NDA GAT Preparation Tips 2025: The GAT section of NDA carries questions from English, Physics, Chemistry, Social Studies, General Science, Geography, and Current Events. As the section carries the maximum weightage, candidates need to prepare this paper well. The best way to prepare for NDA GAT section is to solve the previous years' question papers and attempt mock tests. For the General Awareness section, candidates must read the newspapers regularly to stay updated with Current Affairs. For English section, candidates must have a good command on Grammar and Vocabulary. Given below are a few tips and tricks for NDA General Ability Test.

How to Prepare for NDA General Ability Test?

The General Ability Test section of NDA carries a total of 150 questions. The total marks for the test are 600. For the correct answer in this section, candidates will score four marks while 1.33 marks will be deducted for wrong answers. Check below NDA preparation tips for GAT.

Preparation tips for English

This section carries 200 marks. A total of 50 questions will be asked in the English section. NDA syllabus for this subject covers Grammar and Usage, Vocabulary and Comprehension. Reading Comprehension is the area where candidates can score more marks. Candidates should be acquainted with Synonyms and Antonyms. Read newspapers daily to improve your Vocabulary.

Also Read: NDA Books

Preparation Tips for General Knowledge

This section comprises 400 marks. It covers subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies, Geography, and Current Affairs. As this section carries the maximum weightage, candidates must focus on this subject. Here are the topic-wise tips for this section.

NDA Preparation Tips for Physics

Candidates must focus on Class 11 and 12 NCERT textbooks. Try to figure out the expected questions based on previous years’ NDA question papers. The most important topics in physics are Ohm's law, simple electrical circuits, use of X-rays, simple pendulum, hydrometer, microscope and elementary ideas of work.

NDA Preparation Tips for Chemistry

This section is much easier if candidates have a strong command of the basic concepts. Candidates must know about all the laws of Chemical combination. They should study the properties of Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Carbon di Oxide. Be familiar with the structure of Atoms, Molecular Weights, etc.

NDA Preparation Tips for Biology

In this subject, candidates must focus on Life Cells, Protoplasms, and Tissues. Candidates might also get questions on Diet and Energy sources for humans. Be strong with topics such as growth and reproduction in plants and animals.

NDA Preparation Tips for History & Freedom Movement

The syllabus for this subject is vast. The NCERT books can help candidates ace this section.

NDA Preparation Tips for Geography

This section tests candidates' knowledge of physical, social, and economic Geography. Be thorough with the Atlas, India’s Climate, Mineral Sources, Important Sea Ports, etc.

NDA Preparation Tips for Current Affairs

To get a good score, candidates must be thorough with all the important events in India and World. They must know famous personalities, Cultural Activities, Sports, etc. To improve Current Affairsreading the newspaper daily will help candidates to deal with this section.

Also Read: NDA Exam Pattern

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Is NDA exam tough to crack?
A: 

NDA exam is highly competitive. Candidates can crack the exam with proper preparation and practice.

Q:   Is the NDA exam MCQ type?
A: 

NDA Exam comprises two papers-English and Hindi. Total marks allotted to the written exam are 900. Candidates qualifying the written exam are called for SSB Interview. The SSB Interview carries 900 marks.

Q:   Is 340 a good score in NDA?
A: 

To clear the NDA exam, you generally need to score between 340 to 360 out of 900 marks. NDA cut off for written exam is calculated out of 900. NDA cut off for final selection is calculated out of 1800. NDA cut off is calculated based on difficulty level of the exam, number of test takers, number of vacancies. 

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NDA GAT Paper: Distribution of Questions

The distribution of questions in GAT paper is given below.

Sections Maximum marks

Part A - English

200

Part B - General Knowledge

Physics

100

 

Chemistry

60

General Science

40

History, Freedom Movement, etc.

80

Geography

80

Current Events

40

Total

600

Read More: NDA preparation tips for Maths

About the Author
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Anangsha Patra
Deputy Manager – Editorial
Anangsha Patra is MA in Mass Communication & Journalism with more than 10 years of experience in the field of Journalism, Content Writing and Editing. At Shiksha.Com, she works as Deputy Manager-Content for the Sark
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Answered Yesterday

The Commission will release the NDA 2 notification 2026 on the official portal at upsc.gov.in. It will be issued on May 20, 2026. The last date to apply for NDA 2 will be June 9, 2026. 

S

Shikha Goyal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

The Commission released the NDA 1 notification 2026 on December 10. Along with the notification, the application process was started. The last date to fill the application form online was December 30. 

K

Kritika Sharma

Contributor-Level 6

Answered Yesterday

The Mathematics syllabus of NDA written exam consists of Algebra, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, Calculus, Statistics and Probability that is all base on 10+2 level.

G

Gunjan Majumder

Contributor-Level 6

Answered Yesterday

The NDA final merit list is prepared based on the cumulative marks of both written exam (900) and SSB interview (900) which totals at 1800 marks.

N

Nitesh Pruthi

Contributor-Level 6

Answered Yesterday

In the written exam of NDA, Maths paper has 120 questions and the General Ability Test has 150 questions. Therefore, total questions asked are 270.

J

Jasleen Jain

Contributor-Level 6

Answered Yesterday

The total marks for the NDA exam is 1800 that is 900 for written exam and 900 for SSB interview. A score between 400 to 500 is considered secure in the written exam to get into the final merit list. Also, candidates need to pass in each subject minimum of 25% marks. There is no sectional-cut off.

S

Shikha Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered Yesterday

The NDA written exam duration is five hours. It is divided into two papers. Both the papers are of two and half hours duration each and are conducted on the same day in two shifts including Mathes and the General Ability Test (GAT). 

C

Chanchal Shekhar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 weeks ago

Top NDA coaching institutes in India are generally ranked based on selection results, written exam success and strong SSB training support. Some popular names people often consider are Shield Defence Academy, Target Defence Academy, Doon Defence Academy, Baalnoi Academy and Major Kalshi Classes, kno

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A

Akash Shahu

Beginner-Level 2

Answered 2 weeks ago

You can check Ground Zero Defence Academy in Dehradun. I've heard they focus on written + physical + SSB preparation together. You may visit and decide as per your comfort

B

Bhavesh

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 4 weeks ago

Hi Krishna, NDA preparation and JEE preparation are very different in orientation. The General Studies and English paper in NDA makes all the difference. The General Studies in NDA has a vast syllabus and can not be prepared in one or two months. 

JEE preparation need a concentrated effort because th

...Read more

A

Aashi Tiwari

Contributor-Level 6