Are you preparing for NDA and the question of How to crack NDA in the first attempt remains bumping in your head? Don’t worry you are not the only one struggling with this question, Lakhs of aspirants like you go through the same question. Today in this post we will discuss some toppers verified practical and well-tested ways to crack NDA in the first attempt.

 

Importance of cracking NDA in the first attempt

Every new aspirant thinks of cracking NDA in the first attempt but the question arises is it really worth it to crack NDA in the first attempt? or is it important to crack the exam in the first attempt?

The answer to the question is simple, Firstly it is not at all necessary for all the aspirants to clear the exam in the first attempt. Every student has their own set of capabilities.

However, If you manage to clear the National Defence Academy exam in the first attempt there are many perks you can enjoy like you’ll have very high confidence and motivation for your next goal and also you’ll get more time in your defence carrier to pursue your dreams.

How to crack NDA in the first attempt? (2024) – Ultimate Strategy

Let’s now discuss the tips, tricks and strategies by which you can crack the NDA exam in the first attempt and pursue your dream of becoming an Officer in the Indian Defence Forces.

1. Review Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The first thing to do before starting preparation for any exam let it be JEE, NEET, NDA, CDS or any other exam is to carefully review the full exam pattern and syllabus of that particular exam. So first thing to do before starting your NDA preparation is to carefully review the exam syllabus and pattern.

NDA written exam proceeds with two papers. Paper I is of the Mathematics section and Paper II is of General Awareness Test (GAT). Both papers are mandatory to qualify.

Subject	No of questions	Time allotted	Total Marks
Mathematics	120	2.5 hrs	300
GAT	150	2.5 hrs	600

Get more info on the NDA exam pattern and syllabus: All About NDA Exam

2. Choose the Right Study Material

Choosing the right study material is one of the most important steps before starting preparation for any exam. The right study material helps a candidate to pre-plan the tasks and not to fall for unnecessary time wastage in the wrong study material which ultimately harms the preparation making the aspirant lag behind in the competition.

It is advisable for an aspirant to pre-plan whether he/she wants to take coaching or wants to prepare for the exam himself/herself with self-study. Make sure to pre-arrange the books and required study material if you are planning for self-study.

And if you are looking to take coaching whether online or offline don’t forget to self-study. Self-study is the only key to the selection! (Yes harsh truth!)

3. Create a Study plan

Formulate a study plan! Planned and consistent studying can make you achieve your goal of cracking NDA in the first attempt much easier and more smoother. Make a study schedule stick it on the wall and follow it. 

Your plan should be simple, flexible, and easy to follow so that you don’t throw it away the next day like most aspirants do. Include your daily and monthly tasks in your plan and try to complete your tasks daily.

If you are just beginning your NDA preparation then you should note down the whole syllabus, Plan the number of days to complete the syllabus and revise it. In the same way, plan your mock tests too. 

4. Maintain Consistency 

You must have heard this quote “Consistency is the key to success!” And yes in any exam preparation, it is the ultimate key! No matter whether you study 2 hrs a day 4 hrs a day or 6 hours a day if you are not consistent in the preparation phase, it’s not going to work in your favor.

If you really want to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt then you must study consistently, even if you study 2-3 hours a day but study consistently you can easily crack the National Defence Academy in the first attempt and achieve your dream of becoming an NDA officer.  

5. Do Regular Revision

Studying the whole syllabus and not revising it regularly is the biggest mistake aspirants make. Regular revision is a must-do thing for aspirants to retain the syllabus they are studying.

It is advised to make revision plans just like the study plan to effectively revise the whole syllabus and to retain the information till the date of examination. The revision plans can be weekly, monthly, or even daily.

One effective revision strategy can be through mock tests. If you have completed your syllabus then you can revise it with full syllabus mock tests and if your syllabus is not fully completed then you can also go with chapter mock tests or half syllabus mock tests.

6. Give Mock Tests 

If you have completed your whole syllabus then you should start appearing for mock tests. Mock tests give you an idea of your level of preparation and make you alert of the mistakes you are going to make on your exam day. Also, mock tests make you revise your whole syllabus in one go.

Apart from several other benefits, giving and analyzing mock tests gives you an idea of the time taken during an exam which helps you to further improve your preparation.

7. Focus on Physical Health 

Getting into National Defence Academy requires both physical and mental well-being. If you are an NDA aspirant and want to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt then you should not compromise your physical health.

Apart from studying for your written exam, you should do some physical exercises also like running, push-ups, etc. Which will ultimately help you in achieving your dream. 

So these were some of the tips to crack the NDA exam in the first attempt. Follow these tips and study consistently.

Frequently Asked Questions