CDS Previous Year Papers: 5 Valuable PDFs to Download

January 24, 2025
cds previous year paper

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

CDS previous year papers are an invaluable resource for candidates preparing for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam, conducted twice a year by UPSC. This prestigious exam recruits officers for the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officer’s Training Academy. Understanding the exam pattern and difficulty level is crucial, and reviewing previous year papers helps candidates get familiar with question types and structure.

The CDS exam is held in two phases—CDS-1 and CDS-2—each consisting of three sections: English, General Knowledge, and Elementary Mathematics.

To support your preparation, we are offering downloadable PDFs of CDS previous year papers to help enhance your exam readiness and boost your chances of success.

cds previous year paper

CDS Previous Year Paper: Benefits

CDS previous year papers are beneficial for candidates preparing for the exam as they

  • Provide an insight into the exam pattern, the type of questions, and the marking scheme.
  • Help you identify your weak areas and work on them.
  • Help you develop time management skills, which are essential for cracking the exam.
  • Aid in getting familiar with the exam’s marking scheme and understanding the accuracy required to score well.
  • Help you learn how to approach tricky questions and solve them quickly and efficiently.
  • Aid in identifying the frequently asked topics and the ones that require more attention.
  • Give a fair idea of how much time they need to spend on each question and plan their strategy accordingly.
  • Gauge your performance and make the necessary changes in your study plan accordingly.

CDS Previous Year Paper for 2024

The table below contains subject-wise links to CDS Previous Year Question Paper 2024 PDFs for both CDS-1 and 2 links:

SubjectsCDS-1CDS-2
EnglishQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF
Elementary MathematicsQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF
General KnowledgeQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF

CDS Previous Year Question Paper for 2023

The table below contains subject-wise links to CDS Previous Year Question Paper 2023 PDFs for both CDS-1 and 2 links:

SubjectsCDS-1CDS-2
EnglishQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF
Elementary MathematicsQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF
General KnowledgeQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF

CDS Previous Year Question Paper for 2022

The table below contains subject-wise links to CDS Previous Year Question Paper 2022 PDFs for both CDS-1 and 2 links:

SubjectsCDS-1CDS-2
EnglishQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF
Elementary MathematicsQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF
General KnowledgeQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF
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CDS Previous Year Question Paper for 2021

The table below contains subject-wise links to CDS Previous Year Question Paper 2021 PDFs for both CDS-1 and 2:

SubjectsCDS-1CDS-2
EnglishQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF
Elementary MathematicsQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF
General KnowledgeQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF

CDS Previous Year Paper for 2020

The table below contains subject-wise links to CDS Previous Year Question Paper 2020 PDFs for both CDS-1 and 2:

SubjectsCDS-1CDS-2
EnglishQuestion Paper PDFQuestion Paper PDF
Elementary MathematicsQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF
General KnowledgeQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF

CDS Previous Year Paper for 2019

The table below contains subject-wise links to CDS Previous Year Question Paper 2019 PDFs for both CDS-1 and 2:

SubjectsCDS-1CDS-2
EnglishQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF
Elementary MathematicsQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF
General KnowledgeQuestion Paper PDF Question Paper PDF

Conclusion 

In conclusion, practicing with previous year question papers for the CDS exam is essential for effective preparation. It not only helps candidates familiarize themselves with the exam pattern and question types but also plays a key role in improving time management and problem-solving skills. By working through these papers, candidates can better assess their strengths and identify areas that need further attention. Our initiative to provide downloadable PDFs of CDS previous year question papers ensures easy access to valuable resources, aiding your preparation. This resource will help you approach the exam with confidence and enhance your chances of success.

Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs)

Q1. Is the previous year’s question enough for CDS?

Ans. While practising the previous year’s question papers is essential to CDS exam preparation, there may need to be more than just them to crack the exam.

Q2. Is CDS a tough exam?

Ans. The CDS exam is moderately difficult. You can easily crack the exam with a good understanding of concepts and strong problem-solving skills.

Q3. Are three months enough for CDS?

Ans. Generally, 3 to 6 months of dedicated and focused preparation can be enough to prepare for the CDS exam if you understand the concepts well and have consistently been working on your weaknesses.

Q4. Do CDS repeat questions?

Ans. While some questions in the CDS exam may be similar to those from previous years, it is rare for exact questions to be repeated. However, questions can be asked on similar topics and concepts.

Q5. Are 2 months enough for CDS preparation?

Ans. It is possible to prepare for the CDS exam in 2 months, but it largely depends on your existing knowledge and aptitude and the amount of time you can dedicate to preparing each day.