5 Secret Tips to Excel in the GK Section of CDS Exam

Do you really have it in you?

Imagine a life in the Indian Defense Forces serving the nation and having the most thrilling and promising job there can possibly be. Compare it to a 9 to 5 job, staring into your PC screen, walking around like zombies. Which one sounds better? Of course, the latter. And that too by a fair margin. So what’s stopping you from living your dream life? Twice a year, the Combined Defense Service Examination (CDS) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This exam is conducted to select the candidates eligible for recruitment into the Indian Armed Forces. Various institutes for which they can be recruited, if found qualified, are:

1. Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
2. Officers Training Academy, Chennai and Gaya
3. Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala
4. Indian Air Force Academy

High Competition and High Difficulty

CDS Exam provides the young graduates of our country with a glorious opportunity to join the nation’s defence forces and serve our motherland. Every year more than 10 lakh candidates appear for the CDS Exam. But only around 7000 to 9000 actually clear the exam. So it means the competition is quite challenging. Only after clearing the written examination we are eligible to appear for the SSB interview. Candidates all over India look forward to the notification published on the UPSC website regarding the CDS examination. All of them have big aspirations, and they are willing to work hard to achieve their dreams of joining the defence forces.

Top Preparation Tips to Crack CDS Exam

To prepare for the exam, many candidates join various coaching centres. Some choose to study on their own. Whatever may be your choice, you must understand the syllabus, prepare according to it and revise. Other than the sections covering Elementary Mathematics and English, we must lay an equal emphasis on the General Knowledge section of the exam.

The Syllabus

First of all, before you dive into the hectic routine of preparing for a competitive examination, you must learn the lay of the ground. In simple terms, you must understand what you are going into. Knowing the examination syllabus is a must. The syllabus for the General Knowledge portion is vast. The revised syllabus is available on the UPSC website. The exam syllabus contains multitudes of topics ranging from basic economics, politics and sociology. You must cover topics from social studies to have a crack at such questions. Students with a science background might find it easy to answer the MCQs related to physics and chemistry. The questions, though they are relatively easy but they cover a number of topics. The questions from biology barely exceed the Class 10th level, but you ought to know your basics of biology. Going through the NCERT textbooks is highly recommended.

Decoding the patterns

Now that you are done with learning about your exam syllabus, you must know the examination pattern. The whole examination is divided into three papers, each of them covers English, Elementary Mathematics and General Knowledge. The candidates are allotted 2 hours each for each section. All the questions are multiple-choice questions, with four options and one correct answer. Every answer will be rewarded with 4 marks. The candidates must keep in mind that there is a negative marking for every wrong answer. 1/3rd marks will be deducted as negative marking. But if you do not attempt the question, no negative marking will be done. Each paper carries 100 marks, and the candidates must clear the cut-off marks for the examination. Every year UPSC determines the cut-off marks on the basis of different factors.

Learning to play smart

Preparation for a competitive examination and actually appearing for it are two different experiences. Many of us study the various sections of the syllabus separately. While sitting in the examination, when all those questions appear in a particular pattern in the examination sheet, we find ourselves overwhelmed. Irrespective of the hard work we have done for the examination, we must adapt to the pressure of the examination hall. This can be done by attempting various mock tests for CDS examination. Multiple websites provide such mock tests. By appearing in such tests, candidates get to feel the real-time pressure of the examination under a ticking clock. Mock tests help us to get mentally prepared for the actual test. Solving previous questions give us an edge over other candidates. India GK in Hindi must not be neglected by the candidates. GK question answers are to be practised on a daily basis. GK quiz can be of further assistance. Especially when you are preparing along with a group, GK quizzes can be a fun way of learning. Regional topics must be covered too.

Mark the important topics first

CDS examination aspirants have a vast syllabus to cover. It is virtually impossible to prepare meticulously for each major and minor topic. So the candidates must devise a strategy to cover the entirety of the syllabus before the examination date. Based on their perusal of previous year questions, you must mark the important topics. The important topics can be those from which a majority of questions are asked. By analyzing the exam pattern, you can decide which portions are to be appropriately studied and which topics are just to glance through. Students usually prefer to read the current affairs of national and international importance. Regional issues are also significant. Books like Rajasthan GK in Hindi can be really helpful. You must be aware of your own shortcomings and therefore prepare accordingly. The critical portions are to be finished once and then must be revised too.

A perfect strategy

An ideal way to get going with the preparation for the CDS examination also includes strategic planning. The candidates have a limited amount of time to prepare for the examination. Therefore, they must be economical in terms of time spent studying. A proper routine must be followed to get good results. The fundamentals are to be revised. Important topics are to be revised.

Furthermore, effective time management can automatically increase the chances of your success. A proper timetable needs to be followed. All the sections are to be divided into different slots and studied separately. A separate slot must be maintained for revision purposes.

Every candidate can easily crack the CDS examination organized by UPSC by following the five tips mentioned above. Hard work coupled with intelligent strategy and proper time management can help you sail through the written exam and be better prepared for the next stage, i.e. SSB interview.