CDS 2023 Analysis: The Combined Defence Services (I), 2023 (CDS) english, GK exam was successfully conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on April 16, 2023. Based on the feedback of candidates who appeared in the exam this year, Jagran Josh’s exam prep team has prepared a detailed CDS exam analysis which includes difficulty level, good attempts, topics asked, and questions weightage.
In this article, aspirants can find the detailed exam analysis for CDS 1 2023.
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CDS Exam Analysis 2023
Here we have presented the detailed CDS 1 Exam Analysis 2023 to help candidates understand the level of exam, questions asked from different sections, good attempts and expected cut off. The written test for IMA, INA, and AFA carries 300 marks whereas the exam for OTA carries 200 marks. Based on the performance in the written exam, candidates are shortlisted for the SSB Interview.
CDS Exam Analysis 2023: Difficulty Level
Based on the candidates’ feedback who appeared in the exam, we have compiled the CDS 1 2023 difficulty level for each section. This year English and GK was easy-moderate. The overall CDS exam difficulty level of the exam over the past 10 years’ has been reported to be moderate to difficult. Let us see the subject-wise difficulty level, topics asked, and questions weightage this year for the CDS exam below.
CDS English Language Difficulty Level
Candidates shared that the English language section was Moderate. Look at the topics asked and questions weightage this year from the table below.
Topic |
Number of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
Reading Comprehension |
15 |
Moderate |
Synonyms |
5 |
Moderate-Difficult |
Sentence Completion |
10 |
Easy-Moderate |
Ordering of Words |
10 |
Moderate |
Cloze Composition |
10 |
Moderate-Difficult |
Preposition and Determiners |
10 |
Easy-Moderate |
Ordering of Sentences |
10 |
Moderate-Difficult |
Word Meaning |
10 |
Moderate |
Fill in the Blanks |
10 |
Moderate-Difficult |
Usage of Paired Words |
10 |
Moderate |
Spotting Errors |
10 |
Moderate |
Parts of Speech |
10 |
Easy-Moderate |
Total |
120 |
Moderate |
CDS General Knowledge Difficulty Level
Most of the questions this year were asked from Science, Polity, History, Economics, etc. Candidates shared that the General Knowledge section was Moderate. Refer to the table below for the topics asked and questions weightage this year.
Name of Sub Section |
Difficulty Level |
Science |
Easy-Moderate |
History |
Moderate-Difficult |
Polity |
Moderate |
Geography |
Easy-Moderate |
Economics |
Moderate |
Current Affairs |
Moderate-Difficult |
Static GK |
Moderate |
Total |
Moderate |
CDS Mathematics Exam Analysis
Candidates shared that the Mathematics section was Difficult. Look at the topics asked and questions weightage.
Topic |
Difficulty Level |
Algebraic Identities |
Moderate |
Area and Perimeter(2D) |
Moderate |
Circle |
Moderate-Difficult |
clock and time |
Moderate-Difficult |
Data Interpretation |
Easy-Moderate |
HCF and LCM |
Easy-Moderate |
Height & Distance |
Moderate |
Linear Equations |
Moderate |
Logarithm and Exponential |
Moderate-Difficult |
Polynomials and Inequations |
Moderate |
Powers and Roots |
Moderate-Difficult |
Properties of Number System |
Easy-Moderate |
Quadratic |
Moderate-Difficult |
Quadrilaterals and Polygon |
Moderate-Difficult |
Ratio and Proportion |
Moderate |
Reminders |
Easy-Moderate |
Sequence and Series |
Moderate-Difficult |
SI and CI |
Moderate-Difficult |
Statistics |
Moderate |
Time and Distance |
Moderate |
Triangles |
Moderate |
Trigonometry |
Moderate-Difficult |
Volume and Surface Area (3D) |
Moderate-Difficult |
Work and Time |
Moderate |
Overall |
Difficult |
CDS Exam Analysis 2023: Good Attempts
As per the candidates feedback, the CDS 1 good attempts for each section is as follows: English language (60-65), Mathematics (50-60), and GK (55-65).
Paper |
Good Attempts |
English |
60-65 |
General Knowledge |
55-65 |
Mathematics |
50-60 |
Today CDS Question Paper 2023
Aspirants can download the questions paper for CDS 1 exam conducted on April 16, 2023 for English, GK, and Maths from the direct link shared below:
Subject | CDS 2023 Question Paper Link |
CDS English Question Paper 2023 | PDF Link |
CDS 2023 GK Question Paper | PDF Link |
CDS Exam Expected Cut Off 2023
Along with the exam analysis, candidates can also check the expected CDS cut off marks for IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA to ascertain their performance and chances of qualifying the exam. After considering all the factors that affect the cut off marks and feedback from the candidates, we have provided below the expected cut off marks for reference purposes.
Academy |
Written Exam |
IMA (Indian Military Academy) |
119-131 |
INA (Indian Naval Academy) |
104-121 |
AFA (Air Force Academy) |
146-151 |
OTA (Officers’ Training Academy) men |
73-84 |
OTA (Officers’ Training Academy) women |
75-85 |
CDS 1 2022 Previous Year Exam Analysis
Candidates shared that the overall difficulty level of the exam last year was Moderate. In brief, the difficulty level and good attempts are as follows: English language (easy to moderate, 66-71 good attempts), Mathematics (easy to moderate, 62-66 good attempts), and GK (moderate, 61-65 good attempts). Check the CDS 1 2022 exam analysis for detailed section-wise topics asked and questions weightage.