CDS Exam Last 5 Years Trends Analysis

In this article, we have provided the last five years’ trends analysis of the CDS Exam to assist the candidates to get an idea about the topic-wise questions asked in the exam. It is one of the prestigious exams conducted by UPSC, twice a year for the Grade-A Gazetted post in Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Indian Army.

CDS is considered as one of the toughest written exams in India, which is also followed by SSB Interviews and medical tests. The CDS Trend Analysis over the previous 5 years can be very helpful to candidates appearing in CDS 2023. The applicants will benefit from having a better understanding of the expected number of questions, key subjects, and degree of difficulty for each topic. The upcoming CDS 2023 exam will be conducted on 16 April 2023 in various exam centres in the country to fill out a total of 341 vacancies.

Read the article below and check CDS Exam Last 5 Years Trends Analysis to better understand the CDS Exam Pattern, topics covered and difficulty level.

CDS Exam Last 5 Years Trends Analysis – Paper Pattern

Here is a complete list of exam patterns along with the trends analysis. There are 3 exam sections for AFA, INA and IMA. But in OTA, there are 2 papers including the English and GK.

Note the table below to get an updated exam pattern for CDS for AFA, INA and IMA.

Section No. of Questions Marks
English 120 100
General Knowledge 120 100
Elementary Mathematics 100 100
Total Marks 300

Note the table below for the CDS paper pattern for the OTA exam.

Section No. of Questions Marks
English 120 100
General Knowledge 120 100
Total Marks 200

CDS Exam Pattern Trends Analysis for English Paper

In the table below we have shared the CDA Exam Last Five Years Trends Analysis for English paper.

Year Ordering of Sentence Error Spotting and Sentence Improvement Reading Comprehension Cloze Comprehension One word substitution Antonym and Synonym Reported Speech Parts of Speech Parts of Speech Other Topics
CDS 2 2020 10 10 10 20 — 20 — 10 10 30
CDS 1 2020 10 10 10 — — 20 10 10 — 50
CDS 2 2019 13 15 17 19 — 20 — 10 10 16
CDS 1 2019 10 20 20 15 — 20 — 10 10 15
CDS 2 2018 20 10 18 15 — 21 6 — 10 20
CDS 1 2018 10 20 20 15 — 20 — — — 35
CDS 2 2017 20 25 21 10 6 8 — — — 30
CDS 1 2017 20 46 22 — — — — — — 32
CDS 2 2016 — — — — — — — — — —
Average 14 20 18 12 6 18-20 8-10 10 10 —

Watch Videos on Last Five Years Trends Analysis for CDS

CDS Exam Pattern Trends Analysis for Mathematics Paper

Note the table below CDA Exam Last Five Years Trends Analysis for Elementary Mathematics paper.

Year Statistics Mensuration Algebra Trigonometry Number System Geometry Arithmetic
CDS 2 2020 10 23 11 11 18 13 14
CDS 1 2020 11 17 9 13 26 10 14
CDS 2 2019 11 24 20 5 17 13 10
CDS 1 2019 10 11 12 10 17 20 20
CDS 2 2018 5 16 21 12 13 15 18
CDS 1 2018 3 16 12 10 12 20 25
CDS 2 2017 12 14 13 11 10 20 20
CDS 1 2017 7 14 17 17 14 11 20
CDS 2 2016 8 20 15 18 17 5 17
Average 10 17 15 11 16 13 18

CDS Exam Pattern Trends Analysis for GK Paper

The topic-wise analysis for past 5 years for CDS GK exam paper.

Year Polity History Geography & Environment Economics Current Affairs Science
CDS 2 2020 17 20 21 9 23 30
CDS 1 2020 17 17 11 8 22 25
CDS 2 2019 15 16 13 6 21 29
CDS 1 2019 10 18 21 11 26 34
CDS 2 2018 15 23 19 10 — —
CDS 1 2018 10 21 19 5 — —
CDS 2 2017 22 19 20 5 — —
CDS 1 2017 — — — — — —
CDS 2 2016 — — — — — —
Average 15 20 18 8 23 30

Hopefully, this article will help you to get an understanding for the CDS Exam Last Five Years Trends Analysis. It will help you to analyse the expected number of questions, key subjects, and degree of difficulty per topic. To help you pass the CDS on your first attempt, have a look at our English, Arithmetic, and General Knowledge CDS 2023 preparation method.