NDA & NA PREPARATION

The exam has two parts – mathematics (300 marks) and general ability (600 marks). One gets two-and-a-half hours for each test. The difficulty level is not very high but one has to keep their wits about themselves and finish the test fast.

There are many noble reasons to join the defence services. But even if you see it as just a job, the revised stipend and pay packages (thanks to the sixth pay commission) will make you happy to join the NDA in Pune. During post-NDA training at the service academies, cadets will now get Rs 21,000/- a month as against Rs 8,000/- paid till last year .

You can take the NDA entrance exams while in class XII. Once you clear this exam, the next step is a Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. The last step is a medical test. After this, you have to wait for the NDA merit list. If you are in it, you will be in NDA.

Three years at NDA, and you will become a gentleman cadet ready for the final phase of training at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, before you are commissioned as an officer.

Paper-I (mathematics)

Algebra, matrices and determinants, trigonometry, analytical geometry of two and three dimensions, differential calculus, integral calculus and differential equations, vector algebra, statistics and probability

Paper-II (general ability)

Part ‘A’ (English): The paper tests the candidate’s understanding of English.

Part ‘B’ (general knowledge): The paper covers physics, chemistry, general science, history, geography and current events. It is broken up in parts A to F.

Intelligence and personality test

In addition to the written test, the candidates will be put to intelligence tests, both verbal and non-verbal. They will also be put to group tests such as group discussions, group planning, outdoor group tasks, and asked to give brief lectures on specified subjects. This is an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities, but also social traits and interests in current affairs. The idea is to test the candidate’s officer-like qualities

Here are a few tips from Lt Colonal Ashokan (retd) , Olive Greens Academy, Chandigarh, a leading trainingcentre for the SSB Interview.

• Rigorous preparation is essential, especially in physics, chemistry and mathematics. Check out NDA Entrance Exam Success Pack - Test Preparation CD & Previous Years Solved Question Papers

• Focus on biology, as it makes up a big chunk of the general ability test.

• In biology, the big topics are diseases and causes, animal kingdom, plant anatomy and morphology

• In chemistry, stress on equivalent weights, chemical analysis, inorganic compounds, periodic tables, concepts of physical chemistry, equilibrium, thermodynamics and quantum mechanics.

• In physics, stress on electromagnetism, mechanics, thermo dynamics.

• The science questions are mainly from class XI, CBSE syllabus.

• The best way to brush up on general knowledge is to go through The Competition Success Year Book

• Read newspapers and magazines thoroughly and underline words you do not know and look these up in the dictionary

• Add 15-20 English words daily to your vocabulary. This prepares you not just for the written exam but also for the interview. Use of Hindi in the Services Selection Board interview is accepted.

• No question is repeated in the test papers. But do check out some previous years test papers to understand the pattern, and to assess your level of knowledge and understanding of the papers.

All the Best for your NDA entrance Exam !!