In this guide
The CDS syllabus fits on two pages of the notification, and that is the problem. The English and GK sections are a few sentences each, and the maths section is a dense list. Read quickly, it tells you very little about what to study first, how deep to go, or what the questions actually look like.
This guide unpacks each paper: what the official text says, what it means in practice, and how to turn it into a plan you can track.
Elementary Mathematics (IMA, INA, AFA)
The notification describes the standard as roughly that of Class 10. That is about the concepts, not the difficulty under time pressure: 100 questions in 120 minutes is 72 seconds each.
| Area | What the syllabus covers | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Number system (natural numbers, integers, rational and real numbers), unitary method, percentage, simple and compound interest, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, variation, time and distance, time and work | The biggest block. Word problems with clean numbers, testing method and speed |
| Elementary number theory | Divisibility tests, prime and composite numbers, factors and multiples, HCF and LCM, the division algorithm | Short, quick questions; easy marks if the rules are at your fingertips |
| Logarithms | Base-10 logarithms and the laws of logarithms | Usually direct application of the laws |
| Algebra | Basic operations, factors, remainder theorem, HCF and LCM of polynomials, quadratic equations and the relation between roots and coefficients, simultaneous linear equations, linear inequations, set notation, rational expressions, laws of indices | Identities and factorisation save the most time here |
| Trigonometry | Sine, cosine and tangent for acute angles, standard values at 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°, simple identities, heights and distances | Identity questions and one- or two-step heights and distances |
| Geometry | Lines and angles, triangles (congruence, similarity, medians and altitudes), parallelograms, rectangles and squares, circles with tangents, loci | Theorem-based questions; a quick sketch often solves them |
| Mensuration | Areas of triangles, quadrilaterals and circles, and composite figures; surface area and volume of cuboids, cylinders, cones and spheres | Formula recall plus careful arithmetic |
| Statistics | Collecting and tabulating data, bar charts, pie charts, histograms and frequency polygons, mean, median and mode | Reading a chart or table correctly, then a small calculation |
Two practical observations. First, the arithmetic and geometry blocks are wide, so time spent on them pays off across many questions. Second, trigonometry and algebra reward a small set of identities learnt thoroughly. The maths plan for CDS turns this table into a sequence.
English (all academies)
The official text says the paper tests the candidate's understanding of English and workmanlike use of words. There is no literature, no essay and no grammar terminology to memorise. In practice, recent papers have used a familiar set of question types:
| Question type | What it tests | How to build it |
|---|---|---|
| Spotting errors | Grammar in context: agreement, tenses, prepositions, articles | A grammar checklist, then daily practice |
| Sentence improvement | Choosing the correct or better phrasing | Same grammar base; read all options before choosing |
| Synonyms and antonyms | Vocabulary, often in context | Daily word lists; revise with sentences, not lists alone |
| Ordering of sentences and parts | Logic and flow of ideas | Look for pronouns, connectors and time markers |
| Comprehension | Reading accurately and quickly | Daily reading of editorials; answer only from the passage |
| Fill in the blanks and cloze | Collocation and grammar | Read the whole sentence or passage first |
| Idioms and phrases | Common idiomatic meanings | A running list, revised weekly |
The mix of types varies between papers. What does not vary is the time: 120 questions in 120 minutes. Reading speed matters as much as grammar.
General Knowledge (all academies)
The official text asks for general knowledge, including current events and everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspects, as may be expected of an educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific subject. The paper also includes Indian history and geography.
In practice, recent papers have drawn on:
| Area | Typical scope |
|---|---|
| History | Ancient, medieval and modern India; the freedom struggle; major world events |
| Geography | Physical geography, India, world |
| Polity | The Constitution, Parliament, the executive, judiciary, constitutional bodies |
| Economy | Basic concepts, banking, budget, Indian economy |
| Science | Physics, chemistry and biology at school level; space and technology |
| Environment | Ecology, biodiversity, pollution, climate |
| Defence | The armed forces, ranks, equipment, exercises |
| Current affairs | National and international events, awards, sports, organisations |
The GK paper has no fixed topic weights. Its breadth is the challenge, which is why a steady weekly routine beats a burst of reading in the last month.
How to find the real weightage
The syllabus lists topics but not their weight. Previous years' papers show the actual balance. Spend one evening doing this:
- Take the last five papers of one subject.
- Tag every question with a topic from the tables above.
- Count the tags for each topic across the five papers.
- Divide by five to get an average per paper.
- Mark the top half of topics as "first priority".
This takes a few hours and gives you a map that no generic list can. Redo it with the most recent paper each cycle, because the balance shifts over time.
Setting priorities
If you are sitting all three papers:
- GK: the broadest paper. Start early and cover a subject a week.
- English: daily practice, 45 to 60 minutes, from the first day.
- Maths: practice-heavy. Learn a topic, then solve past questions on it until they take under a minute.
If you are sitting only English and GK for OTA, split your time between them, with a little more for GK because of its range.
A tracker you can copy
Make one row per topic from the tables above. Tick each column as you complete it.
| Paper | Topic | Studied | Past questions solved | Revised once | Revised twice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | Percentage | ||||
| Maths | Triangles and similarity | ||||
| Maths | Trigonometric identities | ||||
| English | Spotting errors | ||||
| English | Ordering of sentences | ||||
| GK | Modern history | ||||
| GK | Indian geography | ||||
| GK | Polity |
Quick self-test
- What is the stated standard of the maths paper? Roughly Class 10.
- Does the English paper include literature or an essay? No. It tests usage and understanding.
- Name three blocks of the maths syllabus. Any three of arithmetic, number theory, algebra, trigonometry, geometry, mensuration, statistics.
- Where do you find the real weight of each topic? In previous years' papers.
Once your tracker is ready, put it on a calendar with the six-month CDS plan.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Union Public Service Commission website .
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