NDA exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission twice a

year. As per the 2022 calendar of UPSC, NDA 1 2022 is scheduled to be

held on April 10, 2022, and NDA 2 on September 4, 2022. UPSC has set the
NDA 2022 exam pattern. The latest NDA exam pattern is discussed here in
detail. Candidates will get to know several important things about NDA
2022 exam, like the mode of exam, total marks allotted, the duration of
the exam, types of questions asked, etc. So, keep reading to know more
about the latest NDA exam pattern.

NDA 2022 will be conducted in two parts, a written exam, and a

personality test (SSB interview). The written exam will consist of two
papers, Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The Mathematics
paper carries 300 marks. The GAT paper carries 600 marks. So, the total
marks for the NDA written exam will be 900. The Mathematics questions
will be asked from topics covered in 10+2 level. The GAT paper will include
questions from English, General Knowledge, and General Science. 

The SSB interview will also have two stages. The first stage will have OIR
and PP & DT tests, while the second stage will have psychology tests and
the conference. The maximum marks allotted for the SSB interview is also
900. The details of the exam pattern for NDA 2022 are discussed in the
following sections.

NDA Exam Pattern at a Glance 

Sections of The Exam  Written And Interview

No. of Papers in the Written Exam  2 (Maths And GAT)

No. of Stages in the Interview 2

Duration of the Maths Paper 2 Hours 30 Minutes 

Duration of the GAT Paper 2 Hours 30 Minutes 

 900 (300 for Maths, 600 for
Total Marks for the Written Exam 
GAT)

Total Marks for the SSB Interview

900
Session 

Types of Questions Asked in the Written

Objective Type (MCQs)
Exam 

Pen and Paper-based

Mode of the Exam 
(Offline)

So as given in the above table, the written part of the NDA exam 2022 will
be conducted over a duration of 5 hours - two and a half hours for Maths
and two and a half for GAT. The written exam is conducted on a single
day. The questions will be in Hindi and English.
 
Syllabus for the Maths Paper of NDA Exam 2022
The following are the broad topics for the NDA exam maths syllabus.

 Algebra

 Vector Algebra

 Operations on Matrices

 Determinants

 Trigonometry

 Analytic Geometry In Two And Three Dimensions

 Differential Calculus

 Integral Calculus

 Differential Equations

 Operations On Statistics

 Probability
Syllabus for the GAT Paper 
The topics for the GAT paper are as follows.

 English Grammar: Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Cohesion

 Physics (Class 12 standard)

 Chemistry (Class 12 standard)

 General Science

 Indian and International History

 Geography

 Current Affairs

NDA Written Exam Pattern

Mathematics: In the written test, the Maths paper will have 120 questions.
For every correct answer, 2.5 marks will be awarded. The full mark for this
section is 300. There will be negative marking. The negative marking for
each of the incorrect answers is ⅓ of 2.5 - that is 0.83. 

General Ability Test: The GAT paper will consist of 150 questions. Each of
these questions carries 4 marks, and thus the total marks for this section
are 600. There will be negative marking too. The negative marking for each
of the incorrect answers is ⅓ of 4 -  that is- 1.33. This is where the NDA
exam pattern 2022 differs a bit from the other exams. 

The various sections in the NDA GAT Written Test and the marks
distribution for each of the sections are provided below.

NDA GAT Written Test: Marks Distribution

 Sectio Mark
Subject
n s
Part A English 200
Part A English 200
Geography 80
History 80

Current Affairs 40
Part B General
40
Science

Chemistry 60

Physics 100

No marks will be deducted for an unattempted question.

Marking Scheme of NDA Written Test 

Detail
Particulars
s
Total Number of Maths Questions 120
Marks allotted for each question 2.5
Negative marking for each incorrect math answer -0.83
Total Number of GAT Questions  150
Marks allotted for each question 4 
Negative marking for each incorrect GAT answer 1.33
Negative marking for each unattempted Question  0 

One thing that should be noted here, is that you need to obtain the pass
marks for both the papers. Suppose you do not get the pass marks for the
Maths paper, then as per the NDA exam pattern 2022, your GAT answer
sheet will have no value.
SSB Interview: Intelligence & Personality Assessment
Once you pass the written test, you will be notified of the SSB interview.
The NDA interview is known as the SSB interview as it is conducted by the
Service Selection Board. A rigorous process for the SSB interview is
maintained. The NDA SSB Interview is conducted in two stages - Stage 1 &
2. Those who get through the 1st stage of the interview will be eligible for
the second stage. The interview process takes about 4 to 5 days to be
completed.

Stage 1
Within Stage 1 of the NDA SSB Interview, there will be a screening test and
a PPDT test. The screening test will consist of verbal and non-verbal tests
which are not that difficult. The questions in the screening test may
include- making sentences, correcting the spelling, arranging words in a
particular order as asked, etc. 

In the Picture Perception and Description Test, you will be shown a picture
for 30 seconds and then you will be asked to write about that picture
within 3 minutes. Later, the candidates will be divided into groups. You
have to discuss the picture and your story with the other candidates.

The PP & DT will be followed by a Psychological Test in Stage 1.  The

psychological tests will be divided into several stages. They are as follows.

 Thematic Apperception Test - This is similar to the picture test

described above - only harder and more intense.

 Word Association Test - This is similar to a picture test, but the

pictures are replaced by words.

 Situation Reaction Test - In this test, you will be presented with

some situations and then you have to write about your responses to
these situations.

 Self Description Test - In this test, you have to talk about yourself,
your personal life, etc.
Stage 2
Based on the screening test, candidates will be selected for Stage 2 of the
interview process.

In Stage 2, there will be a Group Testing Officers Test or the GTO test. The
GTO test also has multiple steps and they are:

 Group Discussion

 Group Planning

 Progressive Group Task

 Half Group Task

 Individual Obstacles Task

 Command Task

 Snake Race

 Individual Lecture

 Final Group Task

Personal Interview and Conference

Then there will be a vital personal interview following the GTO in Stage 2.
You will be facing an IO or Interviewing Officer and you have to maintain a
strict code of conduct and answer questions tactically, logically, and
intelligently. From personal questions to political discussions, from
psychological questions to general intelligence questions - nothing will be
spared. Honesty, agility, and sincerity are the keywords here.

The personal interview round will finally be followed by a conference

round.

SSB Interview at a Glance

Stage 1 Stage 2
Screening Group Discussion, Group
Verbal
Test Planning
Non-Verbal Progressive Group Task
 Picture Perception Half Group Task 

Description Test Individual Obstacles Task 

PPDT Command Task 
Psychological Thematic Apperception
Snake Race
Test
Word Association Test Lecture and Final Group Task

Situation Reaction Test Personal Interview

Self Description Test Conference

Tips to Ace the NDA Exam

For Written Test 

 NCERT books are your best bet. Questions will be asked from the
10+2 level in NDA 2022.

 The syllabus is extensive. They ask questions from here and there.
So, instead of reading too many books, focus on the basic theories,
and fundamentals. Only then, you will be able to answer the tricky
questions.

 For Current Affairs, refer to the latest version of the Manorama

Yearbook.

 For GK, you can refer to any good book like that of Lucent.

 You need to revise your History and Geography lessons as per the
10th, 11th, and 12th grades.

 The important topics for Mathematics include- Mensuration,

Arithmetic, Trigonometry, Algebra, Statistics, Geometry, etc.

For Interview Session 

 Start practicing the picture tests at your home. Quick-thinkers will

have an edge over others. 

 Increase your observation power with the help of meditation.

 Stay calm and focused. 

 Sincerity and honesty are the keywords to prepare for the

interview.