NDA Exam is conducted by UPSC twice a year to shortlist candidates for SSB interviews. SSB Interview is conducted by the SSBs of the three forces. Candidates who get recommended and are medically fit are issued joining letters based on their final merit made from an aggregate of scores of written exam and SSB.
As I managed to clear the exam in my first attempt I would share some tips and strategies which will make your work a bit easier
- Get Hold of Syllabus
The official notification released by UPSC contains the full syllabus for the written examination . Go through it and then skim through the questions asked in previous year(papers available on UPSC website) so that you can make a list of which topics to read. This is a very important step as it saves a lot of time to prepare for the exam and you can avoid reading the useless part. Example : Sections like Ancient History is rarely asked in the exam so you can plan on avoiding subjects like these and devote time to high scoring topics like Modern History, Famous Govt. Schemes, etc. The same goes for topics of Mathematics
- Go through the NCERT religiously
Especially for Maths section, go through all the definitions in class XI-XII books as recently many questions are asked from basic domains of functions, definition of terms, etc. For this you can make different lists of formulas on sheets of paper like all formulas of integration and stick it on a wall near your study table and same for Inverse Trigno., Probability, etc.
For GAT section also try completely reading at least the science, history and geography books of IX and X if not earlier classes as many questions are asked directly from the books.
- GK Sections Strategy:
Many of those giving first attempt are also in their board year so I wouldn’t recommend reading newspapers for GK section. You can go through the editorial for SSB prep but for preparation of written follow the trend. If you carefully observe PYQs you will notice that some topics like Military Exercises, Awards, Defence deals/equipment, railway zones, new govt schemes, family planning, etc is asked almost every time . So select topics like these and search for it from net or you can refer to SSBCrack Exam study material where all of this is provided in a concise manner.
- Accuracy is priority
Some of you must be preparing for JEE or NEET exams and know that for good ranks you will have to solve almost all of questions . But in NDA exam final ranks rarely matter once you enter academy. One aspect in which NDA exam becomes tougher is negative marking and that too 1/3rd of marks awarded to correct question. So candidates need to focus on accuracy first and then develop speed. For example: If you are weak at Maths and just solve 50 question out of 120 in MAT with 100 percent accuracy you will easily clear the sectional cutoff.
- Tricks/Shortcuts
Maths There are way too many tricks or shortcuts available in books and internet. But I would recommend you to use a notebook and write the ones you are able to use while solving the questions. And also if you notice some particular order in questions note them down as they will help you during final week revision.
Same for GAT like for remembering the parts of Indian Constitution there is TEARS OF OLD PM and many more for other topics too so search for them all available on
Internet and don’t just memorise them note them down
- Study-Materials:
SSBCrack E-books are enough to clear the exam but you can also refer to Pathfinder for Maths, Objective General English by SP Bakshi . Don’t read Spectrum or Lakshmikant they are not at all required. For science part only NCERTs can help you. Don’t blindly follow any book, see if it suits you because every author has a different way of explanation. But remember to check for a book with the trends of PYQs as you have to prepare for NDA only and some authors at times put too much advanced question whuch are genrerally not asked.
- Syllabus Completion is a Myth
The truth is you cannot complete the syllabus of any UPSC Exam, its too much vast. Make a list of topics you can complete and make make sure that these will sail you through the exam. Be ready to leave some topics even if they are important. Like if you are in class XII and haven’t studied calculus so focus on class XI maths(60% of exam) and other topics . Just remember to atleast solve all questions of those chapters which came in the past 10 exams.
- Mock Tests:
The moment you enter class XII start giving mocks(available on SSBCrackExams website) as it will help you in identifying your weak areas of class XI especially in Maths . Keep Sundays for mock exams. At start you will score very less but with time your confidence will grow and that confidence is what very people lack and are not able to clear exam in spite of great academic talent. Sections like English and maths become very easy to tackle if you take mocks continuously. Analyse your mocks yourself and then make new strategies which will help you in tackling tougher parts.
- Time Management:
If you are in class XII you can focus on completing your Maths syllabus from book only thus helping in your boards too and then devote time for practicing questions from various sources (like PYQ) and make a time table with goals for a certain week like thus week should be for Trigno+1857 Rebellion + Clouds + Fundamental Duties etc. Just a time table for studies won’t work you will have to add objectives for every day/week/month to remain focussed
- Motivation
Many of you might feel low at times as you have to cover your class XII and NDA also at the same time. Moreover the syllabus doesn’t match so you may have thoughts to leave NDA exam this time and attempt it after completing boards. But remember this is the Golden Chance for any candidate as is said in the defence aspirants community. This is the best chance as assessors also would be a bit lenient towards you seeing your hardwork and dedication. For sure this would not be the only chance you will have but it surely would be the best to achieve you aim of stars-on-shoulders.
You should also take help from your buddies who are preparing for the NDA exam as every mind brings with it unique ideas and a peer pressure in this aspect will always lift you.
How to prepare for the NDA Exam?
- Take the best NDA Exam Online Course by SSBCrackExams.
- Take the NDA Exam Mock Test Series to boost your prep.
- To Crack SSB Interview ENROLL NOW: SSB INTERVIEW ONLINE COURSE
Conclusion:
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles” -Sun Tzu . This quote pretty much sums it up what has been written above as this exam doesn’t require exceptional intellectuality but a clear strategy with self-discipline.
Jai Hind
