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CDS Exam Analysis 2025 offers insights into the difficulty level, paper trends, and good attempts. CDS Exam Analysis 2025 suggests that overall difficulty level was moderate.
PWOnlyIAS
April 14, 2025
CDS Exam Analysis 2025 for Combined Defence Services Examination (1) held on 13th April 2025 reveals that the English section saw unexpected pattern shifts, making it trickier than previous years. CDS 1 was conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to select candidates for elite defense forces.
As candidates finalize their preparation, it is equally crucial to understand how the CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2025 will help in evaluating performance and estimating scores, offering insights into the anticipated difficulty level, good attempts, and expected cut-off marks.
This comprehensive CDS Exam Analysis 2025 will help aspirants understand what to expect in the exam, what type of questions may be asked, and how to measure their performance after the test.
The CDS 1 Exam 2025 showcased a mix of surprises and consistency across its three sections. The English paper stood out with a noticeably changed pattern, catching many aspirants off guard and emphasizing the importance of strong grammar and vocabulary basics.
The General Knowledge (GS) section maintained a moderate level of difficulty, combining both static and current affairs questions, requiring conceptual clarity. Meanwhile, the Mathematics paper remained relatively standard, focusing on fundamental concepts.
Overall, candidates who focused on basics and consistent practice were better positioned to perform well.
| CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2025 | |||
| Paper | Total Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts (with Accuracy) |
| English | 120 | Moderate to Difficult | 60 – 70 |
| General Knowledge | 120 | Moderate | 70–80 |
| Mathematics | 100 | Moderate | 45 – 55 |
Also Read: CDS Question Paper 2025
One of the most critical aspects of the CDS Exam Analysis 2025 is estimating the number of good attempts. This helps candidates gauge how they may have performed. Here are the good attempts for each paper:
Also Read: CDS 1 Answer Key 2025
| CDS Exam Analysis Good Attempts (Expected) | |
| Subject | Good Attempts (with Accuracy) |
| English | 60 – 70 |
| General Knowledge | 70–80 |
| Mathematics | 45 – 55 |
These attempts are considered safe with 80–90% accuracy. Remember, due to negative marking, guessing should be minimized.
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam is conducted twice a year by UPSC to recruit candidates for the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). Here’s a quick look at the CDS 1 Exam 2025 Overview:
| CDS 1 Exam 2025 Overview | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | Combined Defence Services (CDS) 1 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Exam Date | 13th April 2025 |
| Mode of Examination | Offline (Pen and Paper Mode) |
| Duration | 2 hours for each paper |
| Total Papers | 3 (For IMA, INA, AFA) |
| Subjects | English, General Knowledge, Mathematics |
| Language | Bilingual (English & Hindi) |
Candidates appearing for OTA will have to attempt only English and General Knowledge papers.
Understanding the CDS Exam Pattern 2025 is essential to evaluating the difficulty and strategizing for good attempts. It will also help aspirants align their strategy with the real-time format. The CDS exam varies slightly for different academies like IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA. Here is the paper-wise structure:
| For IMA, INA & AFA | ||
| Subject | Marks | Duration |
| English | 100 | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
| Mathematics | 100 | 2 hours |
| For OTA (Officers’ Training Academy) | ||
| Subject | Marks | Duration |
| English | 100 | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours |
Negative Marking: One-third of the marks allotted to a question will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
The CDS Expected Cut Off 2025 helps in estimating your chances of clearing the written exam. These values are not final but based on previous year trends, the number of candidates, and expected paper difficulty.
While the official cut-offs will be released after the result declaration, here’s a tentative CDS Expected Cut Off 2025 based on trends:
| CDS Expected Cut Off 2025 | ||
| Academy | Written Exam Cut Off (Out of 300/200) | Final Cut Off (Out of 600) |
| IMA | 130–135 | 250–260 |
| INA | 120–125 | 245–255 |
| AFA | 145–150 | 270–280 |
| OTA (Men) | 95–100 (Out of 200) | 170–180 (Out of 400) |
| OTA (Women) | 95–100 (Out of 200) | 170–180 (Out of 400) |
Note: Cut-offs are subject to variation depending on exam difficulty and the number of candidates.
This is a common query among aspirants, which helps candidates measure which sections require more focus during the last-minute revision. Common types of questions include:
These sections are designed to test both accuracy and time management skills.
The CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2025 highlights the importance of strategic preparation and familiarity with the CDS Exam Pattern 2025. With balanced difficulty across sections, candidates must prioritize accuracy and efficient time management. As the exam approaches, stay calm, revise critical topics, and aim for the CDS Expected Cut Off 2025 to secure your defense career.
Ready to boost your UPSC 2025 preparation? Join PW’s UPSC online courses today!
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