High-Scoring Topics in NDA Maths You Must Focus On

There is no bigger honor than to serve your country. Agreed? Joining one’s country’s army can be the biggest blessing and honor if you are thinking the same. It is time to prepare yourself for the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam. It is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and is considered to be one of the most competitive exams in the country.

Among the two written exam papers, the mathematics and the General Ability Test (GAT) hold great importance. To clear the GAT, you will have to practice and learn mathematical concepts and their applications. This will not only help you to clear the cutoff, but it will also boost your final merit position. The 300-mark GAT exam consists of 120 questions (2.5 marks each with -0.83 negative marking for a wrong answer). To maximize your score, it is important to know which topics are high-scoring and should be prioritized over others. So, now the question comes: what to study and which topics to focus on? 

In this blog, we will explore topics that are high scoring and will guarantee your good scores in GAT. So, let’s get started.

IS IT RIGHT TO FOCUS MORE ON SELECTIVE TOPICS?

If you go through the vast NDA syllabus, you will definitely get stressed. It covers almost every topic of high school mathematics. However, not every topic carries equal weight and hence importance in the actual exam. By analyzing the NDA's previous year's solved paper book, we can see that certain topics are repeatedly asked and contribute to a major chunk of marks. If you focus on these topics, it will ensure—

1.      Higher accuracy due to familiarity with the concept

2.      Better time management in the exam

3.      Maximum output with minimum effort

4.      Better confidence on the exam day.

So, which ones are THE HIGH-SCORING TOPICS IN NDA MATHS?

Here’s a breakdown of the highest-scoring topics, their approximate weightage, and difficulty level:

This table covers most of the repeated topics asked in the GAT over the past few years. To practice better, we recommend practicing math using the NDA question bank, which covers a wide range of questions from almost every topic. It will help you to learn to apply concepts accurately and efficiently.

Let’s go over some important topics to know what you actually need to focus on:

1.      Algebra

Topics must be covered: quadratic equations, progressions, logarithms, binomial theorem, sets, relations, permutations, and combinations.

2.      Trigonometry

Topics must be covered—trigonometric ratios, identities, heights and distances, equations, and inverse trigonometric functions.

3.      Matrices and Determinants

Topics must be covered: properties of determinants, adjoint, inverse of a matrix, and system of linear equations.

4.      Calculus

Topics must be covered—limits, continuity, differentiation, and integration.

5.      Vector Algebra

Topics must be covered: dot product, cross product, and their applications in geometry.

6.      Probability and Statistics

Topics must be covered: mean, median, mode, variance, probability rules, and Bayes’ theorem.

7.      Coordinate Geometry

Topics must be covered: straight lines, circles, parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas.

8.      Complex Numbers

Topics must be covered: conjugates, modulus-argument, and cube roots of unity.

MARKS DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE TOPICS

We now know that not every topic is not as important as others. To give you a clear idea of how these topics contribute to your total score, let’s see an approximate marks distribution based on past NDA exams.

We’ve made your preparation a little easier with all the important math topics. But still, an important question remains: how to prepare for the NDA? Do we really need a strategy? Answer: YES. It is important to have a strategy for preparation, revision, and even attempting the question paper.

Read More: Common Mistakes to Avoid in NDA English Section

Let’s go through the NDA Math Preparation Strategy recommended by the experts.

Step 1: Start with High-Scoring Topics

Covering high-scoring topics like algebra and trigonometry can give you an edge over the other students. These topics are usually lengthy and complicated, which means you will be left with easier and shorter topics in the end.

Step 2: Strengthen Conceptual Topics

While learning math, it is important to build concepts to solve questions easily and quickly. Make sure to practice with the NDA question bank to give yourself all-around practice.

Step 3: Daily Practice Routine

Practice will make you perfect. Solving more math questions not only means conceptual clarity, better scores and ranks, but also success in GAT. Make sure to dedicate at least 2-3 hours to practice. Also, get yourself the best NDA exam book to get a lot of practice questions, short notes, expert insights on various topics, and previous year questions asked.

Step 4: Mock Tests and Previous Year Papers

To feel confident on your exam day, you need to simulate and practice the exam. Make sure you have a mock test book and the NDA previous year's solved paper book to get an idea of which type of questions are asked and how you need to practice. You can also mark topics that you find easy and difficult to form your attempt at question paper strategy.

Let’s go through an expert-recommended 4-week study plan example—

Tips for NDA Math Success

• Start with high-priority topics and then move on to other topics.

• Attempt at least one mock test or a previous year question paper every week. Also, put on a timer to practice time management as well.

• Avoid spending too much time on tough questions—move ahead and come back later.

• Solve at least 100–120 questions daily in the last 2 weeks before the exam.

• Keep NCERT Books (Class 11 & 12) as your base and refer to NDA-specific guides for practice.

• Be consistent and disciplined in your practice.

CONCLUSION

The NDA Maths paper is not about attempting every question—it is about being selective, accurate, and efficient. By focusing on high-scoring topics, which are mentioned above in the blog, you can easily secure over 180-200 marks, which is well above the average cut-off.

Also, preparing for such a competitive exam doesn’t mean that you have to cover every single topic. Instead, you have to come up with a smart preparation and revision plan, which will help you build strong concepts and teach disciplined practice and strategic time management techniques. Remember—work smart, not just hard.

All the best!