Is CDS Harder or NDA?

The NDA (National Defence Academy) exam and the CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam are two of the most prestigious exams when it comes to joining the Indian Armed Forces. They are both competitive and conducted by UPSC. The question that aspirants usually ask is, Is CDS harder than NDA? It is not a simple answer of choosing either one over the other since it is a matter of eligibility, age group, subjects, and the amount of preparation needed.

In this blog, we will discuss the similarities, differences, difficulty levels, and exam strategies so that you can have an idea of which exam is harder: CDS or NDA.

Understanding NDA Exam

UPSC conducts the NDA exam twice a year to students who have passed Class 12 or are in the process of appearing in it. The test is aimed at choosing young candidates who are ready to join the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force right after school.

The test is Mathematics and a General Ability Test (GAT). The Mathematics part is based on Class 11 and Class 12, whereas GAT consists of English, General Knowledge, and Current Affairs. The level of difficulty is moderate and it demands precision and speed because the majority of the students are still in their teens at the time they undertake it.

Understanding CDS Exam

UPSC also conducts the CDS exam twice a year, but it is open to graduates. The applicants should be in their last year of their degree or have completed it. As compared to the NDA, the CDS exam is conducted to recruit into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA).

The exam pattern varies slightly depending on the academy. For IMA, INA, and AFA, the test consists of English, General Knowledge, and Mathematics. OTA candidates only appear for English and General Knowledge. Since candidates are graduates, the expected difficulty level of the exam is higher. Preparation often includes the use of resources such as a CDS English book, a CDS GK book, and solving CDS mathematics previous question papers for better practice.

Key Difference Between NDA and CDS

Here’s a table to give you a clear comparison between NDA and CDS:

From the table, it’s evident that CDS is more advanced, while NDA caters to younger candidates just out of school.

Is CDS Harder Than NDA?

In most instances, CDS is harder than NDA, yes. Here’s why:

1. Difficulty of Questions – The questions asked in NDA are more or less based on the NCERT syllabus of Class 11 and Class 12. On the contrary, CDS contains questions which demand graduate-level knowledge, particularly in English and General Knowledge.

2. Age and Competition - NDA candidates are mainly school pass-outs. In CDS, graduates are more mature, and this makes the competition stiffer.

3. Exam Pattern NDA has two papers, whereas CDS (not OTA) has three. The CDS Mathematics paper is long, and one has to solve it by referring to the CDS Mathematics previous question papers to get an idea of the pattern and manage time.

4. English Section- The English section of CDS is taken as more difficult by many aspirants because it involves testing higher level of grammar, comprehension and vocabulary. That is why a book in CDS English is frequently mentioned when one is preparing.

5. General Knowledge- In the case of NDA, GK is more of the school level. But CDS needs graduate-level current affairs, history, polity, geography, economics, and defense-related subjects. Aspirants tend to use a CDS GK book in a structured preparation.

Which exam is tougher – NDA or CDS?

Although the two exams are competitive, CDS is normally regarded as more difficult since the questions are put in a graduate level. NDA, however, is grounded on Class 12 knowledge. The competition is also different-NDA is filled with younger aspirants whereas CDS has mature graduates.

Can I appear for both NDA and CDS?

Sure, provided you are eligible. NDA is first tried by many candidates after Class 12. When they fail, they proceed with their preparation, and after graduation, they appear for CDS.

Is CDS mathematics tougher than NDA mathematics?

Yes, CDS mathematics is more advanced compared to NDA mathematics. While NDA focuses on Class 12 concepts, CDS includes tougher applications, arithmetic, algebra, and geometry problems. Practicing with CDS mathematics previous question papers can help in understanding the depth of the exam.

Which exam has more competition, NDA or CDS?

Both exams are highly competitive, but the competition style differs. NDA has a larger number of applicants since it allows younger candidates, while CDS has fewer applicants but tougher competition due to mature candidates.

Subject-Wise Comparison of NDA and CDS

To understand better, here’s a subject-wise comparison:

Why Many Students Find CDS Harder?

• Maturity of Candidates – In NDA, students are mostly fresh school pass-outs. In CDS, the competition is among graduates, often with years of preparation.

• Broader Syllabus – CDS has a broader GK section compared to NDA.

• English Paper – English in CDS is almost equivalent to competitive exams like SSC and Banking, making it more challenging.

• Mathematics Depth – NDA Mathematics is limited to school level, while CDS requires a graduate’s understanding.

Can NDA Be Harder in Any Way?

While CDS is considered harder overall, NDA can also be tough for younger students due to the following:

• NDA candidates are just out of school, so time management is a challenge.

• GAT in NDA covers a wide range of subjects, which can overwhelm students who are still adjusting to competitive exams.

• NDA requires physical fitness tests and SSB interviews at a younger age, which can be mentally and physically demanding.

Read More: CDS 2 2025: Subject-Wise Strategy for English, GK & Mathematics

Exam Strategy: CDS vs NDA

Here’s a table showing strategic differences in preparation:

Final Verdict – Is CDS Harder or NDA?

Finally, the two exams require discipline, consistency, and preparation. NDA is not easy among school students because it is the first time they are exposed to a competitive examination. But CDS is certainly more difficult in general since:

• It requires graduate-level preparation

• There is competition with well-prepared and mature applicants.

• The syllabus is more in-depth, particularly in English and GK.

• In CDS exams, time management is of more significance.

It does not matter whether you are training to take NDA or CDS; devotion and practice is the most important things. Practice is important to CDS aspirants as they have to practice using a CDS English book, a CDS GK book, and solve CDS mathematics previous year question papers to become confident. Conversely, NDA aspirants must develop good fundamentals at an early stage so that they can succeed in their endeavor.