Updated: August 2026 — Notification & exam dates confirmed via the official UPSC Calendar 2027. Vacancies, fee and age bands are expected until the notification PDF is released.
Quick Answer
The CDS 1 2027 written exam for IMA/INA/AFA has three papers — English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics (100 marks each, 300 total). The OTA exam has two papers — English and GK (200 total), with no Maths. Each paper is 2 hours with 1/3 negative marking, followed by the SSB Interview (300 for IMA/INA/AFA, 200 for OTA).
Understanding the CDS 1 2027 exam pattern and syllabus is what turns study hours into marks. This guide details the paper split, marking and subject-wise syllabus. For the timeline see the CDS 1 2027 notification, and to target a score read the cut off analysis.
CDS 1 2027 Exam Pattern
| Paper | IMA / INA / AFA | OTA | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 100 marks | 100 marks | 2 hours |
| General Knowledge | 100 marks | 100 marks | 2 hours |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 marks | — | 2 hours |
| Written Total | 300 marks | 200 marks | |
| SSB Interview | 300 marks | 200 marks | 5 days |
All papers are objective with 1/3 negative marking (one-third of the marks for a question deducted per wrong answer). Elementary Mathematics is of matriculation (Class 10) level; English and GK are graduate level.
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top CDS coaching in IndiaTalk to a MentorCDS 1 2027 Syllabus (Subject-wise)
English: comprehension, spotting errors, sentence arrangement, synonyms/antonyms, fill in the blanks, idioms and vocabulary.
General Knowledge: Current Affairs, History, Geography, Polity, Economics, General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Defence-related awareness.
Elementary Mathematics (IMA/INA/AFA): Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration and Statistics — matriculation level. See our CDS Maths strategy.
Build your plan around these weights, benchmark against the CDS 1 2027 cut off, and reference the evergreen CDS syllabus guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CDS 1 2027 exam pattern?
IMA/INA/AFA have three papers — English, GK and Elementary Maths (100 marks each, 300 total). OTA has English and GK only (200 total). Each paper is 2 hours with 1/3 negative marking.
Is there Maths in the CDS OTA exam?
No. The OTA exam has only English and General Knowledge (200 marks total); Elementary Mathematics is not part of the OTA paper.
Is there negative marking in CDS 1 2027?
Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for each wrong answer.
What is the level of CDS Elementary Mathematics?
Elementary Mathematics is of matriculation (Class 10) standard, covering Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration and Statistics.
How many marks is the CDS SSB Interview?
The SSB Interview carries 300 marks for IMA/INA/AFA and 200 marks for OTA.
Written by
Capt. Dhaliwal · Director, New Careers Academy
Ex-Indian Army officer and SSB mentor at NCA Academy, Chandigarh (est. 1967), coaching NDA, CDS, AFCAT and SSB aspirants since the 1980s. About the author →
Reviewed by Hartaj Dhaliwal — SSB Strategist, NCA · third-generation officer · recommended by the SSB three times.
