Combined Defence Services Exam:Books For Preparation

The Combined Defence Services Exam (CDSE) is a national-level open exam for boys and girls, at Graduation/ B Tech level, who wish to choose the Indian Armed Forces as a career as Class-I Commissioned Officer.

The CDSE exam is conducted by the UPSC twice every year in February and September and Hyderabad is one of the main centres for this exam.

The next CDS exam would be held on September 18, 2011 and its notification was issued by the UPSC on May 7. The last date for submission of the form is June 7.

The eligibility is that the candidates should be born between July 2, 1987 and July 1, 1993 (both dates inclusive). The qualification is any graduation from any stream or presently in the final year of graduation of any stream and those likely to appear for final exams in March/ April 2012. B Tech students of any stream in their final year are also eligible to take the CDS examination.

The selection process involves two stages. In the first stage there would be a written test (300 marks). The paper I – Mathematics (100 marks) (Arithmetic, Unitary Method, Mensuration, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Co-ordinate Geometry and Statistics); Paper II - English Grammer (100 marks); Paper III -General Ability- 100 marks (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics Geography, History, Political Science, International and National affairs). In the second stage there would be a Service Selection Board Interview (900 marks). The candidate would be tested in Basic perception (intelligence, verbal and non-verbal), Psychological tests – Projective personality (Word Association Test, Thematic Apperception Test, Situation Reaction Test (SRT), Group testing service – Indoor tests (Group discussion, Progressive Group, Half group task, Individual or group obstacle race; and Personal interview.

BOOKS FOR CDS PREPARATIONS:Previous Year Papers and Model Papers

The final national merit list of CDS would be the total of written exam and SSB score (300+900) and candidates are selected on the total final score obtained.

Captain R. Sircar, Director of Officers Academy (040-27834739 or 27820339) says the key to success is to score more marks in the written examination as maximum marks on could expect in the SSB (second stage) is about 50 to 55 per cent.