NDA exam pattern
The NDA & NA written exam is two papers on the same day, each 2½ hours long: Mathematics, and the General Ability Test in two parts. Every question is multiple choice, and a wrong answer costs a third of its marks.
The pattern and marking here are from UPSC’s notification for the NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026. Check upsc.gov.in for the current notification before exam day: NDA & NA (II) 2026 notification
Papers and marks
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 120 | 300 | 2½ hours |
| General Ability Test | 150 | 600 | 2½ hours |
| Written exam | 270 | 900 | 5 hours |
- Mathematics
- Questions120
- Marks300
- Time2½ hours
- General Ability Test
- Questions150
- Marks600
- Time2½ hours
- Written exam
- Questions270
- Marks900
- Time5 hours
Marking
| Paper | Correct | Wrong | Left blank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | +2.5 | −0.83 | 0 |
| General Ability Test | +4 | −1.33 | 0 |
- Mathematics
- Correct+2.5
- Wrong−0.83
- Left blank0
- General Ability Test
- Correct+4
- Wrong−1.33
- Left blank0
Rules worth knowing
- The General Ability Test has two parts: Part A, English, 50 questions for 200 marks, and Part B, General Knowledge, 100 questions for 400 marks, covering physics, chemistry, general science, history and the freedom movement, geography and current events.
- Every question is objective, with four options. Choose one: marking more than one answer counts as a wrong answer.
- A wrong answer loses one third of the marks the question carries. A question left blank costs nothing.
- Calculators and log tables aren’t allowed.
Common questions
- How many questions are in the NDA exam?
- 270 across two papers: 120 in Mathematics and 150 in the General Ability Test, which has 50 in Part A (English) and 100 in Part B (General Knowledge).
- Is there negative marking in NDA?
- Yes. A wrong answer loses one third of the question’s marks: 0.83 of 2.5 in Mathematics and 1.33 of 4 in the General Ability Test. A blank costs nothing, and marking more than one answer counts as wrong.
- How long is each NDA paper?
- 2½ hours each. Mathematics and the General Ability Test are separate papers on the same day.
Our NDA mock tests are being prepared.
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