The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Exam, conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is one of the most sought-after defence exams in India. Through this exam, candidates are recruited as officers into the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Officers Training Academy (OTA).

The CDS exam is highly competitive because it includes a-

• Written Test

• SSB Interview and 

• Medical Examination

To succeed, aspirants must understand the- 

• Exam Pattern

• Subject-Wise Weightage, and 

• Difficulty Level of Previous Years

In this article, we bring you the CDS Question Paper Analysis (Last Five Years up to 2025) to help you identify important topics, recurring question patterns, and exam trends for effective preparation.

The CDS 1 2025 exam was held on 13 April 2025, while CDS 2 2025 is scheduled for 14 September 2025. Let’s dive into the analysis.

What is The CDS 2 Exam Pattern 2025?

The exam pattern of CDS 2 remains the same in 2025. Candidates appearing for 

1. IMA 

2. INA, and 

3. AFA have to attempt three papers- 

• English, 

• General Knowledge, and 

• Mathematics,

While OTA candidates attempt only two papers- 

1. English and 

2. General Knowledge

What is the Marks Distribution For IMA, INA and AFA?

The marks distribution for IMA, INA, and AFA section-wise are as follows: 

What is the Marks Distribution  For OTA?

The marks distribution for OTA are as follows: 

CDS 1 2025 Question Paper Analysis

The previous year's paper analysis subject-wise is given below: 

English Paper: CDS 1 2025

• Difficulty Level: Moderate but a bit lengthy
  
  

• Good Attempts: 87–93 questions
  
  

• Question Types Included:
  
  

1. Spotting errors and sentence improvement
   
   

2. Reading comprehension passages
   
   

3. Synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitutions
   
   

4. Cloze passages
   
   

5. New question types: homophones, borrowed words

Candidates who had strong grammar and vocabulary found this section scoring.

General Knowledge Paper: CDS 1 2025

The GK section was of moderate difficulty. It tested candidates’ knowledge of both static subjects and current affairs.

• History: 23 questions, mostly from Modern Indian History
  
  

• Geography: 13 questions on physical geography, 6 on Indian geography, 1 on maps
  
  

• Polity: Questions on Constitution, fundamental rights, and government policies
  
  

• Economics: Questions on Indian economy and basic concepts
  
  

• Current Affairs: 20–25 questions, including defence exercises, government schemes, and international relations
  
  

• Science: Around 30 questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology basics

History, Polity, Science, and Current Affairs dominated the GK paper. Candidates with updated current affairs knowledge had an advantage.

Read More- CDS 2 GK 2025 Answer Key PDF with Expected Cutoff

Mathematics Paper: CDS 1 2025

The Mathematics paper was rated moderate to difficult, with a strong emphasis on Geometry.

• Geometry: 31 questions (easy to advanced level)
  
  

• Arithmetic: 15–20 questions on profit & loss, percentages, ratio & proportion
  
  

• Number System: 16–18 questions
  
  

• Mensuration: 15–17 questions
  
  

• Algebra: 12–15 questions
  
  

• Trigonometry: 10–12 questions
  
  

• Statistics: 5–7 questions

Geometry, Arithmetic, and Number System were the most important areas. Candidates who practiced previous year CDS Maths papers scored well.

Read More- CDS 2 2025 Maths: Avoid These Common Errors & Improve Accuracy

CDS 2 Previous Year Question Paper Trends (2020–2024)

Looking at the last five years’ question papers for CDS 2, here are the consistent patterns:

English Paper Trends

• Always easy to moderate in difficulty.
  
  

• Grammar-based questions like error spotting, sentence improvement, comprehension, and cloze test appear every year.
  
  

• Vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms, substitutions) makes up a large portion.

Mathematics Paper Trends

• Arithmetic and Number System are asked every year in good weightage.
  
  

• Mensuration, Geometry, and Algebra form the backbone of the paper.
  
  

• Difficulty has gradually increased, with more application-based questions in 2024–2025.

General Knowledge Paper Trends

• Current Affairs and Science remain the most important sections.
  
  

• Polity, History, and Geography also carry consistent weightage.
  
  

• The level is unpredictable, but usually moderate.

Summary Table (2021–2025 Trends)

The key highlights for the subject-wise CDS 2 2025 exam are as follows: 

What is the Best Preparation Strategy for CDS 2025 Exam?

Based on the last five years’ analysis including 2025, here are some preparation tips:

For English

• Revise grammar rules daily
  
  

• Practice error spotting and comprehension
  
  

• Learn 10–15 new vocabulary words regularly
  
  

For Mathematics

• Focus on Arithmetic, Geometry, and Algebra
  
  

• Solve previous year CDS maths papers
  
  

• Time management is crucial
  
  

For General Knowledge

• Read daily current affairs from newspapers and defence-related updates
  
  

• Study NCERTs for Polity, Science, and Geography
  
  

• Revise Modern Indian History

Conclusion

The CDS 2 Question Paper Analysis 2020–2025 clearly shows that the exam maintains its difficulty level but introduces new twists every year. For CDS 2 2025, aspirants should:

• Prioritize Geometry, Arithmetic, and Number System in Maths
  
  

• Focus on Science, Current Affairs, and History in GK
  
  

• Strengthen grammar and vocabulary in English
  
  

With smart preparation and regular practice of previous year papers, candidates can increase their chances of clearing the CDS 2 Exam 2025 in the first attempt.

Read more: CDS vs NDA – Which Was Tougher in 2025?