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Preparation roadmap

UPSC CDS Preparation Roadmap

Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) · Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

A structured 24-week preparation plan for UPSC CDS aspirants covering English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics, current affairs, previous year questions, mock tests, SSB preparation, revision, and final exam readiness. The written examination differs by academy. IMA, INA and AFA candidates take English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics, while OTA candidates take only English and General Knowledge. The written examination is followed by the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview/personality assessment and medical examination. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

UPSCGraduateIntermediate

Duration

24 weeks

Study load

18-22 hours per week

Subjects

3

Free resources

5

Study timeline

Foundation

Weeks 1-6

Build strong fundamentals in all required written-exam subjects.

  • Read the official CDS syllabus and understand the academy-specific paper pattern.
  • Build English grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and sentence-correction fundamentals.
  • Complete Mathematics basics including number system, percentage, ratio, average, profit and loss, and time-work.
  • Start General Knowledge with History, Geography, Polity, Economy, and General Science.
  • Begin daily current affairs preparation.
  • Start reading about the Indian Armed Forces, defence organisations, national security, and important defence developments.
  • Begin light physical fitness and running practice for SSB preparation.
  • Start solving CDS previous year questions topic-wise.

Core Practice

Weeks 7-12

Convert fundamentals into exam-level accuracy and speed.

  • Practise English grammar and vocabulary every day.
  • Solve Mathematics topic-wise questions with emphasis on arithmetic.
  • Cover Indian History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and defence-related General Knowledge.
  • Maintain concise current affairs notes.
  • Solve CDS previous year questions after completing each topic.
  • Attempt one sectional test for each subject every week.
  • Start timed mixed-question practice.
  • Begin basic OIR and PPDT preparation for SSB.
  • Continue regular physical conditioning.

Written Exam Build-up

Weeks 13-18

Improve speed, accuracy, and exam temperament.

  • Attempt one to two full-length written-exam mocks every week.
  • Practise each paper within its prescribed time limit.
  • Analyse every mock and maintain a mistake tracker.
  • Solve previous year CDS papers under actual exam conditions.
  • Revise English vocabulary and grammar rules regularly.
  • Increase Mathematics calculation-speed practice.
  • Revise static GK and current affairs systematically.
  • Practise OIR questions and PPDT narration/discussion.
  • Continue physical preparation alongside written preparation.

Final Revision and SSB Preparation

Weeks 19-24

Stabilize written-exam scores and build SSB readiness.

  • Attempt two to three full-length written mocks every week.
  • Revise Mathematics formulas and shortcuts.
  • Revise English grammar, vocabulary, and frequently repeated question types.
  • Revise History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science, Defence, and Current Affairs.
  • Reattempt incorrect questions from all mocks and PYQs.
  • Practise complete papers under actual time conditions.
  • Intensify OIR and PPDT practice.
  • Practise story writing, narration, group discussion, and personal interview questions.
  • Prepare a clear understanding of personal background, education, interests, strengths, weaknesses, and career motivation.
  • Maintain physical fitness and avoid excessive training immediately before the written examination.

Weekly roadmap

Week 6

Complete English, Mathematics, and General Knowledge fundamentals.

Week 12

Finish the first major syllabus coverage and begin regular sectional tests.

Week 18

Complete full written-exam syllabus, PYQs, and regular mock tests.

Week 21

Begin intensive final revision and SSB/OIR/PPDT preparation.

Week 24

Stabilize written mock performance and maintain SSB readiness.

Subject-wise syllabus

English

5 hours/week
GrammarVocabularySynonymsAntonymsSentence CompletionSentence ImprovementSpotting ErrorsFill in the BlanksIdioms and PhrasesOrdering of WordsOrdering of SentencesReading ComprehensionSentence StructureWord UsageParts of SpeechActive and Passive VoiceDirect and Indirect SpeechCloze-type Questions

General Knowledge

6 hours/week
Current AffairsIndian HistoryIndian National MovementIndian GeographyWorld GeographyIndian PolityIndian ConstitutionIndian EconomyGeneral SciencePhysicsChemistryBiologyEnvironmentDefence and SecuritySpace and TechnologyImportant OrganisationsAwards and HonoursSportsImportant PersonalitiesNational EventsInternational Events

Elementary Mathematics

6 hours/week
Number SystemNatural NumbersIntegersRational NumbersReal NumbersFundamental OperationsSquare RootsDecimal FractionsUnitary MethodTime and DistanceTime and WorkPercentagesSimple InterestCompound InterestProfit and LossRatio and ProportionVariationElementary Number TheoryAlgebraBasic Operations on Algebraic ExpressionsSimple FactorsRemainder TheoremHCF and LCMPolynomialsQuadratic EquationsSimultaneous Linear EquationsLinear InequationsGeometryLines and AnglesTrianglesCongruencySimilarityParallelogramRectangleSquareCircleLociMensurationAreasVolumesTrigonometryHeights and DistancesStatisticsGraphical RepresentationFrequency DistributionMeasures of Central Tendency

Free resources

UPSC Official Website

Website

Use for official CDS notifications, syllabus, examination calendar, previous year question papers, results, and recruitment updates.

NCERT Textbooks

Study Material

Useful for foundational History, Geography, Science, Polity, and Mathematics preparation.

Previous Year CDS Papers

Practice

Solve previous year papers topic-wise initially and then under full examination conditions.

Daily Current Affairs Notes

Notes

Maintain concise notes focused on national events, international affairs, defence, science, sports, awards, and important government developments.

Defence Awareness Resources

Study Material

Follow reliable official defence sources for major exercises, appointments, equipment, commands, operations, and defence technology developments.

Mock test plan

  • Weeks 1-6: Topic-wise quizzes and PYQs.
  • Weeks 7-12: One sectional test for each subject every week.
  • Weeks 13-15: One full-length mock every week.
  • Weeks 16-18: One to two full-length mocks every week.
  • Weeks 19-24: Two to three full-length mocks every week.
  • Practise each paper within its prescribed time limit.
  • Analyse every mock before attempting the next one.
  • Maintain separate mistake trackers for English, GK, and Mathematics.
  • Reattempt incorrect PYQs and mock questions every week.

Revision plan

  • Maintain one Mathematics formula and shortcut notebook.
  • Revise English grammar rules twice a week.
  • Maintain a vocabulary notebook with synonyms, antonyms, idioms, and difficult words.
  • Maintain concise General Knowledge notes.
  • Revise current affairs weekly and monthly.
  • Reattempt incorrect questions from previous year papers.
  • Revise important History, Geography, Polity, Science, and Defence topics.
  • Review the mock-test mistake tracker every week.
  • Keep separate SSB notes for OIR, PPDT, psychology, group tasks, and interview preparation.

Tips

Decide early whether you are preparing for IMA, INA, AFA, or OTA because the written papers differ.
Give English daily practice because vocabulary and grammar improve through consistency.
Do not ignore Elementary Mathematics if applying for IMA, INA, or AFA.
Treat General Knowledge as a continuous subject rather than a last-month subject.
Solve official CDS PYQs to understand the actual UPSC question style.
Start SSB preparation before the written result rather than waiting for the shortlist.
Build communication, confidence, teamwork, and leadership qualities naturally through regular practice.
Maintain physical fitness throughout the preparation period.
Avoid relying entirely on coaching notes; use the official syllabus and PYQs as the core reference.
Use the latest official UPSC CDS notification and syllabus as the final source of truth. UPSC currently lists CDS Examination (II), 2026 among its active examinations. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}