UPSC CDS Exam Pattern 2020

It is important for the candidates appearing for the UPSC CDS 2020 examination to have a fair bit of knowledge regarding the UPSC CDS 2020 exam pattern and marking scheme of UPSC CDS 2020 examination. If a candidate is familiar with the exam pattern of UPSC CDS 2020 of part I examination, then the chances of scoring good marks in the entrance exam and getting selected in the subsequent rounds of the examination increase steeply.

In order to get a hang of the UPSC CDS 2020 exam pattern and marking scheme, it is strongly suggested to the candidates to go through the detailed UPSC CDS 2020 syllabus. It will also help the candidates to segregate the important topics from the not so important topics and the types of questions expected in the entrance examination. To enhance the awareness of the candidates appearing for UPSC CDS 2020 exam, CollegeDekho has prepared a detailed analysis of the exam pattern and marking that is expected in this year’s UPSC CDS entrance exam.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has already released the online application form in its official website which will continue till the 19th of November 2019. The UPSC CDS (I) 2020 exam is scheduled to be held on the 02nd of February 2020 while the UPSC CDS 2020 result for the written exam will be declared in April month.

Here are some highlights of the UPSC CDS 2020 exam pattern that will help the aspirants during their preparatory stages.

• UPSC CDS 2020 Paper I will comprise of two parts, i.e written examination and personality test & interview for intelligence. The interview of the candidates will be taken care of by the Service Selection Board

• The maximum marks for the UPSC CDS 2020 paper I will be 300 for those aspirants who wish to join the Air Force Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Indian Military Academy

• For those aspirants who want to apply for Officer’s Training Academy, the maximum marks of UPSC CDS 2020 paper I will be 200

• The question paper will be in MCQ format and except for the English section, the questions will be asked in both English and Hindi language

• For each paper, the candidates will be given 120 minutes to try and attempt all the questions asked

• Under no circumstance, the candidates will be allowed a scribe to write the papers

• Use of calculator is strictly prohibited inside the examination hall

• The decision of setting the qualifying marks remains solely with the Commission

• For questions that deal with Metrics, Weights and Measures are only considered while setting the question paper

• Each question will carry 1 mark and for every wrong entry, the candidates will be penalised with 1/3rd of the mark the question carries

• No marks will be deducted for unattempted questions

Those candidates who will qualify the written part of the UPSC CDS 2020 entrance exam, they will be called up to take part in the SSB interview round. The candidates are suggested to take a quick look at the UPSC CDS SSB interview pattern:

UPSC CDS Stage 1 of SSB Interview

The first stage of the UPSC CDS interview round will comprise of the following things:

Description and Picture Perception Test: The candidates will be shown a picture first for a duration of 30 seconds and then they will be given 4 minutes to write about the same. Thereafter, a few 15 member groups will be formed in which the group members will be asked to discuss the picture and come at a conclusion. The interviewers will arrive at a conclusion themselves regarding the intelligence of the candidates. The ratings will decide who will be eligible for the second stage of the SSB interview round.

UPSC CDS Stage 2 of SSB Interview 

• The second stage of the SSB interview round will last 4 days

• In this stage, the candidates will be assessed on the basis of Group Testing Officers Task, Conference, Psychology Tests etc

• The performance of the candidates will be gauged by three different persons - Group Testing Officer, Interviewing Officer and Psychologist

• Stage 2 will be divided into - 

1. Psychological Test - Thematic Appreciation Test, Word Association Test, Self Description Test and Situation Reaction Test

2. Group Activities - Group Planning Exercise, Group Discussion, Half Group Task, Progressive Group Task, Lecturrette, Group Obstacle Race, Command Task, Individual Obstacles and Final Group Task

After the completion of both the phases, the medical round will be conducted followed by preparation of merit list for admission into courses offered at IMA Dehradun, INA Ezhimala, AFA Hyderabad and OTA Chennai. After the completion of the courses, the candidates will be inducted into the Indian Defense Services as officers.

Here is the subject-wise distribution of questions in UPSC CDS 2020:

Subject-Wise Distribution of Questions for IMA/INA/AFA

Subject-Wise Distribution of Questions for OTA

The subjects of the written examination, the time allowed and the maximum marks allotted to each subject are as follows:

• Every correct answer will be awarded 1 mark.

• For every incorrect answer, 1/3 of the marks will be deducted. 

Download UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2019 Question Papers here!

Download UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2018 Question Papers here!

Download UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2017 Question Papers here!