The NDA 1 2027 exam pattern has two objective papers on 11 April 2027: Mathematics (120 questions, 300 marks) and the General Ability Test (GAT) (150 questions, 600 marks). Each paper lasts 2.5 hours, and every wrong answer costs one-third of its marks.

Whether you’re in Class 12 or retaking after NDA 2 2026, here’s what a wrong answer costs and how the SSB lifts the total to 1,800.

UPSC’s notice is due on 2 December 2026; we’ll update this page then.

NDA 1 2027 Exam Pattern at a Glance

Here's the full NDA 1 2027 marking scheme, as per UPSC's latest examination rules.

• Mode: Offline, pen-and-paper, on an OMR answer sheet
• Question type: Objective MCQs with four options
• Language: Bilingual (Hindi and English), except GAT Part A, which is English only
• Timings: Maths 10:00 am - 12:30 pm; GAT 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Both papers fall on one day, so you're testing for five hours with a lunch break in between. See the full NDA 1 2027 schedule.

Note: The written examination carries 900 marks in total, followed by the SSB assessment for another 900 marks, making the overall merit total 1,800 marks. 

NDA Maths Paper: 120 Questions in 150 Minutes

The NDA 1 2027 Maths paper has 120 objective questions for 300 marks and a duration of 2.5 hours (150 minutes). Each correct answer carries +2.5 marks, while a wrong answer leads to a deduction of approximately 0.83 mark under the current UPSC pattern.

How Much Time Do You Get Per Math Question?

With 150 minutes for 120 questions, candidates get about 75 seconds per question on average. Divide the time evenly. Most questions sit at Class 11–12 level, so the real test isn’t difficulty alone; it’s accuracy at speed.

In practice, you won’t spend 75 seconds on every question. Direct formula questions can take 30-40 seconds, which buys time for longer calculus or coordinate geometry problems.

• Untimed practice is why many students leave the last block untouched.

For chapter-wise topics, see the complete NDA 1 2027 Maths syllabus.

NDA GAT Paper: How the 600 Marks Are Split?

The General Ability Test (Paper 2) has 150 questions worth 4 marks each: 600 marks in 150 minutes. That’s 60 seconds per question, even tighter than Maths.

Part A: English (50 Questions, 200 Marks)

English tests grammar and usage, vocabulary, comprehension and cohesion. It’s the only section without a Hindi version.

Part B: General Knowledge (100 Questions, 400 Marks)

Subject-wise weightage is roughly:

• Physics: 25%
• History & Freedom Movement: 20%
• Geography: 20%
• Chemistry: 15%
• General Science: 10%
• Current Events: 10%

GK alone is worth 400 marks, more than the entire Maths paper. Yet many aspirants give Maths the bigger share of their study time.

See the NDA 1 2027 GAT syllabus for full topic lists.

How NDA Negative Marking Actually Works?

The One-Third Rule

• A wrong answer costs one-third of that question’s marks: 0.83 in Maths and 1.33 in GAT.
• An unattempted question costs nothing.
• Marking more than one option counts as a wrong answer.

Some websites still list Maths as +3.5/−0.88. UPSC’s scheme is +2.5/−0.83.

Worked Example: Your Real Maths Score

1. You attempt 90 questions: 70 correct, 20 wrong.
2. Marks earned: 70 × 2.5 = 175
3. Penalty: 20 × (2.5 ÷ 3) = 16.67
4. Net score: 158.33 out of 300

Should You Guess the NDA?

With four options, blind guessing breaks even. Out of four guesses, one right (+2.5) and three wrong (−2.5) leave you at zero. Rule out one option and the odds tip in your favour, so guess only after eliminating at least one choice.

Key Takeaway: Accuracy beats attempts. Twenty wrong answers in Maths quietly cancel out nearly seven correct ones.

Qualifying Marks, Written Cut-Off and the SSB: From 900 to 1,800

UPSC can set qualifying marks in one or more papers, so a weak paper can rule you out even if your total looks fine. It then fixes an overall written cut-off; see past trends on the NDA previous year cut-off page.

Clear both, and you’re called for the SSB, worth another 900 marks.

Final selection also depends on medical fitness and vacancies. See how the NDA selection process works, from OIR to the interview.

What This Pattern Means for Your Preparation?

The marking scheme should shape your study plan, not just your exam-day choices.

• Don’t underprepare for GAT; it carries double the marks
• Practise Maths in timed sets: 10 questions in 12–13 minutes
• Take full-length Maths and GAT mocks on the same day
• Track your wrong-answer count after every mock
• Keep a monthly current events revision list

“Students rarely lose their NDA on questions they couldn’t solve. They lose it on the ones they shouldn’t have touched.” - Saurabh Singh, Academic Director, Major Kalshi Classes

Take a free NDA mock test to find your baseline.

How Should the Exam Pattern Change Your Attempt Strategy?

The NDA exam pattern rewards accuracy, not just the number of questions attempted. Because incorrect answers reduce your score, candidates should avoid random guessing and focus on questions they can solve with reasonable confidence.

A smarter approach is to:

• Attempt high-confidence questions first
• Skip time-consuming questions initially
• Return to doubtful questions only if time allows
• Track wrong answers during mock-test analysis
• Practise within the actual 150-minute limit for each paper

Key Takeaway: Your goal should be to maximize net score, not simply maximize attempts.

How Major Kalshi Classes Prepare You for This Exact Pattern?

At Major Kalshi Classes, preparation is built around the scoring rules above, not just the syllabus.

• Pattern-accurate mocks: Maths scored at +2.5/−0.83 and GAT at +4/−1.33, so you find your safe guessing threshold before 11 April.
• GAT given its due weight: GK and English coaching matched to their 400 and 200 marks.
• Written to SSB, one roadmap: faculty-led SSB training and SSB interview books by MKC Publication.

Compare online vs offline NDA coaching, or explore the NDA 1 2027 batches.

Conclusion: Know the Marks, Then Train for Them

The NDA 1 2027 exam pattern consists of five facts: two papers, 900 written marks, GAT worth double Maths, a one-third penalty per wrong answer and 1,800 for final merit.

Your result depends on how closely your practice matches it.

Take the NDA Pattern Beyond Theory

Save the exam pattern, marking rules, negative-marking details, and preparation checklist with the free NDA 1 2027 Starter Kit, then test yourself with a full-length NDA mock.