Practice, Papers & Mock Tests · Guide 4 of 7
NDA Subject-wise Online Practice
Dates, vacancies and fees can change. Always confirm on the official NDA website before you apply.
The NDA written test (the Mathematics paper has 120 questions for 300 marks in 2½ hours (the General Ability Test has 150 questions for 600 marks)) rewards candidates who have answered thousands of questions and learned from every mistake. This page maps each subject of the NDA syllabus to free practice pages on LearnFrenzy, so you can work topic by topic with explanations – Mathematics, Reasoning, General Awareness, General Science and English.
How to use this page: pick one subject a day, finish 30–50 questions, read every explanation (even for the answers you got right) and note the facts you did not know. Once a week, take the timed NDA Mathematics Test or the full NDA Full Mock Test.
Subject-wise practice map
The share column is an approximate guide from recent papers. It changes from year to year, so treat it as a planning aid, not a promise.
| Subject | What is asked | Approx. share | Practise on LearnFrenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Algebra, matrices & determinants, trigonometry, analytical geometry, calculus, vectors, statistics & probability | 120 Q · 300 marks | Quantitative Aptitude, Heights & Distances, Probability, Permutations & Combinations, Logarithms |
| English (GAT Part A) | Grammar & usage, vocabulary, comprehension and cohesion in extended text | 50 Q · 200 marks | Spotting Errors, Synonyms, Antonyms, Reading Comprehension |
| Physics | Motion, force, work & energy, heat, sound, light, electricity & magnetism | 25% of GK (100 marks) | Physics |
| Chemistry | Physical & chemical changes, elements & compounds, acids & bases, carbon, everyday chemistry | 15% of GK (60 marks) | Chemistry |
| General Science | Human body, nutrition, diseases, plants & animals, achievements of science | 10% of GK (40 marks) | Biology, General Science |
| History & Freedom Movement | Indian history, the national movement, world history (Renaissance, French & Industrial Revolutions, world wars) | 20% of GK (80 marks) | Indian History |
| Geography | Earth & solar system, atmosphere, climate, oceans, India's physical & economic geography | 20% of GK (80 marks) | Indian Geography, World Geography |
| Current Events | National & international events, defence news, awards, sports, personalities | 10% of GK (40 marks) | Basic General Knowledge, Sports |
Mathematics: build speed with accuracy
- Learn the basics in this order: number system, HCF & LCM, percentage, ratio, average, profit & loss, interest, speed, time & distance and time & work.
- Then geometry and mensuration: area & perimeter, volume & surface area and heights & distances.
- Memorise squares up to 30, cubes up to 20 and the common fraction–percentage pairs (1/8 = 12.5%, 1/6 = 16.67%) – they save minutes in the exam.
Reasoning and General Awareness
- Reasoning: series, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, analogy, odd one out and figure-based questions such as mirror images and embedded figures.
- General Awareness: history, geography, polity, economy, sports, awards and defence current affairs – exercises, new inductions, gallantry awards and service chiefs.
- General Science: physics, chemistry and biology up to the class 10–12 level.
A weekly practice routine
| Day | Practice | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Mathematics – arithmetic | 40 questions |
| Tuesday | Physics, chemistry and biology | 40 questions |
| Wednesday | Reasoning or English grammar | 40 questions |
| Thursday | Mathematics – algebra, geometry and mensuration | 40 questions |
| Friday | History, geography, polity and defence current affairs | 40 questions |
| Saturday | NDA Mathematics Test (timed) | 1 test |
| Sunday | Full mock test + review of the week's mistakes | 1 mock |
Do not ignore fitness and the SSB
A good written score only earns you a call to the Services Selection Board. The SSB tests your officer-like qualities over five days, and the medical examination follows. Start a light daily routine now – a 3–4 km run, push-ups, sit-ups and stretching – read a newspaper every day for the group discussion and interview, and practise speaking about yourself, your family and your goals in clear, simple English.
How to review your mistakes
- Sort every wrong answer into one of three types: did not know the fact or formula, knew it but misread or miscalculated, or guessed.
- Write facts and formulas you did not know in a short notebook by subject – revise it every Sunday.
- For calculation slips, re-solve the question without looking at the answer and note the step where you went wrong.
- For guesses, track how often an educated guess (after removing two options) was right. That tells you how much risk to take in the real exam, where a wrong answer costs one-third of the marks for that question.
NDA tip: NDA Mathematics has more questions than most candidates can solve in 150 minutes, so speed decides the score: skip a long question after about a minute and come back to it. In the GAT, give physics extra time – it carries 100 of the 400 General Knowledge marks.
Next steps
- Take the timed NDA Full Mock Test 1 to see where you stand.
- Read the NDA Previous Year Question Papers guide to see which topics come back every year.
- Follow the NDA Preparation Strategy for a month-by-month plan.