CDS (Combined Defence Services Exam (UPSC)) — Free Online Mock Test

CDS exam at a glance

CDS section breakdown

The CDS mock test on Wrexa Edge replicates the real exam's section structure — same names, same question count per section, same time limits. No inter-section breaks — the timer runs continuously.

• English (120 Q)
  120 questions · 120 minutes · ~60 sec/question
• General Knowledge (120 Q)
  120 questions · 120 minutes · ~60 sec/question
• Elementary Mathematics (100 Q)
  100 questions · 120 minutes · ~72 sec/question

CDS scoring & marking scheme

Strategy: CDS penalises wrong answers (-0.33 per mistake). Skip a question if you cannot eliminate at least 2 options — guessing blindly hurts your scaled score more than blanking.

Scale: CDS (out of 340).

How CDS is conducted

• Mode
  Standard — practice without proctoring on Wrexa Edge, or enable optional webcam proctoring to simulate test-day conditions.
• Test format
  Linear / fixed-form — every candidate sees the same number of questions per section.
• Backtracking
  Allowed — you can revisit and change answers within a section.
• Mark for review
  Available — flag tough questions and return to them before submitting the section.

CDS time strategy

With 340 questions in 360 minutes, you have about 64 seconds per question on average. Successful candidates aim for the following pacing on each section:

• English (120 Q)
  Target ~60 sec/question. If a question takes more than 90 seconds, mark for review and move on.
• General Knowledge (120 Q)
  Target ~60 sec/question. If a question takes more than 90 seconds, mark for review and move on.
• Elementary Mathematics (100 Q)
  Target ~72 sec/question. If a question takes more than 108 seconds, mark for review and move on.

Wrexa Edge's analytics show your actual time-per-question after every mock so you can spot which sections you're losing time on.

CDS topics covered

Across the 50 Wrexa Edge variants of CDS, the following topics appear most often (sample distribution from one variant):

English (120 Q)

• Grammar — Subject-Verb Agreement · 7
• Grammar — Tense · 7
• Grammar — Pronouns · 7
• Grammar — Usage & Confused Words · 7
• Grammar — Punctuation · 7
• Grammar — Sentence Structure · 7
• Grammar — Parallelism · 7
• Grammar — Modifiers · 7

General Knowledge (120 Q)

• Indian History · 25
• Indian Polity · 20
• Indian Geography · 20
• Current Affairs 2023-2025 · 20
• General Knowledge · 15
• Banking & Economy · 10
• Science & Technology 2023-2025 · 10

Elementary Mathematics (100 Q)

• NDA-Math — Trigonometry · 20
• NDA-Math — Calculus — Derivatives · 12
• Algebra — Quadratics · 4
• Algebra — Systems · 4
• Algebra — Exponents · 4
• Algebra — Inequalities · 4
• Algebra — Functions · 4
• NDA-Math — Calculus — Limits · 3

Sample CDS questions

A preview of real practice questions from the Wrexa Edge CDS bank — the same style, phrasing and difficulty you'll face on test day. Full solutions unlock free inside the mock.

These are a handful of the 17000 unique CDS questions across all 50 Wrexa Edge variants — start a free mock to attempt the full set with instant scoring.

CDS difficulty calibration

Advanced tier. Advanced-level: high-stakes exam with rigorous content depth. Expect 4-8 months of structured prep.

Three 2-hour papers · English 120 + GK 120 (polity/history/geography/CA/science) + Elementary Math 100. UPSC twice a year. · Official language: English & Hindi.

Verified content — Wrexa Edge's CDS bank has been deeply curated with real exam-aligned content (estimated 100% syllabus coverage).

How Wrexa Edge prepares you for CDS

• Real test-day interface
  Our nta skin mirrors the actual CDS testing software — same timer, palette, tools, and navigation.
• 50 distinct variants
  17000 unique practice questions, each variant a fresh test — not just shuffled options.
• Detailed analytics
  Scaled score, section accuracy, topic-wise heatmap, time-per-question — see where to focus after every attempt.
• Spaced repetition (Notebook)
  Wrong answers and flagged questions flow into an SM-2 spaced-repetition deck so you actually retain what you learn.
• Optional proctoring
  Browser-based face-api detection (no install) — turn it on to simulate a high-stakes environment.
• Free to start
  No credit card. Sign up, pick a variant, and your first CDS mock starts in under a minute.

Frequently asked questions

What is the CDS exam pattern?

Combined Defence Services Exam (UPSC) contains 340 questions across 3 sections: English (120 Q), General Knowledge (120 Q), Elementary Mathematics (100 Q). Total duration is 360 minutes (about 64 seconds per question).

Does CDS have negative marking?

Yes — CDS carries negative marking of -0.33 per wrong answer and 1 per correct answer. Skipping is safer than guessing blindly.

How is CDS scored?

Scaled score range: 0 to 340. CDS (out of 340).

How can I practise CDS online for free?

Wrexa Edge offers free full-length CDS mock tests with instant scoring, detailed explanations, and 50 distinct variants. Sign up for free at Wrexa Edge and start practising in under a minute — no card required.

What is the difficulty level of CDS?

CDS is rated Advanced difficulty on Wrexa Edge. Advanced-level: high-stakes exam with rigorous content depth. Expect 4-8 months of structured prep. Three 2-hour papers · English 120 + GK 120 (polity/history/geography/CA/science) + Elementary Math 100. UPSC twice a year. · Official language: English & Hindi.

How long is the CDS exam?

CDS runs for 360 minutes total across 3 sections. On Wrexa Edge the timer is enforced exactly as on the real exam — including no inter-section breaks.

What topics are covered in CDS?

CDS is split into: English (120 Q), General Knowledge (120 Q), Elementary Mathematics (100 Q). Each section is timed and weighted separately. Three 2-hour papers · English 120 + GK 120 (polity/history/geography/CA/science) + Elementary Math 100. UPSC twice a year. · Official language: English & Hindi.

What tools or aids are allowed during CDS?

No special tools are required.

Is the CDS test adaptive?

No — CDS is a fixed-form (linear) test. Every candidate sees the same number of questions per section.

How many CDS mock tests does Wrexa Edge offer?

Wrexa Edge generates 50 distinct CDS variants — each with different question content, not just shuffled options. That's 17000 unique practice questions you can attempt, all in the real test-day interface, free to start.

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