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NDA 1 2026 vs NDA 1 2025: Which Paper Was More Difficult?

NDA 1 2026 vs NDA 1 2025: Quick Answer

Smart Study, regular practice and effective time management are essential for NDA preparation. Students can compare the question papers of NDA 1 2026 and NDA 1 2025 to get an idea of the difficulty level of the exams, the pattern, and how to prepare themselves for the upcoming competitive exam.

Note: Difficulty ratings are based on exam reviews and not official UPSC difficulty ratings. Students’ experiences may vary.

Introduction

Thousands of students appear for NDA exam every year to become a part of Indian Armed Forces.

Many students are asking a good question: NDA 1 2026 was tougher than what? NDA 1 2025?

Students can use the comparison of these papers to understand the type of questions that could be asked in the examination and will be able to prepare themselves better.

The NDA 1 2025 examination was held on 13 April 2025, while NDA 1 2026 took place on 12 April 2026.

The NDA syllabus and format of the exams were followed in both examinations. The level of difficulty of the individual papers and the amount of time required to solve the problems can change from year to year.

Let’s simply make a comparison of both papers. 

NDA 1 2026 vs NDA 1 2025: Exam Pattern

First, understand the basic examination pattern.

Details	NDA 1 2025	NDA 1 2026
Conducting body	UPSC	UPSC
Exam date	13 April 2025	12 April 2026
Maths marks	300	300
GAT marks	600	600
Total marks	900	900
Maths duration	2 hours 30 minutes	2 hours 30 minutes
GAT duration	2 hours 30 minutes	2 hours 30 minutes

The examination pattern remained the same in both years.

Students should remember that Mathematics carries 300 marks, while the General Ability Test (GAT) carries 600 marks.

This means that both papers are important for achieving a good written-examination score.

NDA Maths 2026 vs NDA Maths 2025

Mathematics is one of the most challenging parts of NDA preparation for many students.

The paper contains 120 questions and carries 300 marks. Students have 150 minutes to complete it.

NDA 1 2025 Maths paper

Several exam reviews described the 2025 Mathematics paper as moderate, while some considered it easy to moderate.

The paper covered familiar topics from the NDA syllabus, including:

• Algebra
• Trigonometry
• Matrices and determinants
• Coordinate geometry
• Calculus
• Probability
• Statistics

Students with clear concepts and regular practice were better placed to handle the questions.

However, students who struggled with calculations or basic concepts could still find the paper difficult.

Read Also: Can You Improve NDA Maths in 30 Days? Here’s a Realistic Plan

NDA 1 2026 Maths paper

A couple of reviews found this 2026 Mathematics paper as Moderate to Difficult (some Moderate).

Students had to have an understanding of the mathematical concepts and be able to answer questions with a tight time constraint.

Post-exam discussion included topics like trigonometry, matrices, straight lines, limits, integration and differential equation.

A few questions were mentioned to be difficult to answer and take longer to calculate. 

NDA GAT 2026 vs NDA GAT 2025

The General Ability Test, or GAT, carries 600 marks.

It includes two major parts:

• English: 200 marks
• General Knowledge: 400 marks

GAT is extremely important because it carries twice the marks of Mathematics.

English paper

The English section tests grammar, vocabulary and comprehension.

Students should practise:

• Synonyms and antonyms
• Grammar rules
• Sentence correction
• Vocabulary
• Reading comprehension
• Ordering of words and sentences

Several post-exam reviews described GAT in both years as moderate overall. However, the difficulty of individual English questions may vary.

The best way to improve is to practise English regularly rather than study it only a few days before the examination.

General Knowledge paper

The GK section covers subjects such as:

• Physics
• Chemistry
• General Science
• History
• Geography
• Current Affairs

Both papers required students to prepare a wide range of subjects.

Students who studied only one or two subjects may have found it difficult to attempt questions from the remaining areas.

Which GAT paper was more difficult?

Available reviews do not establish a clear, universally accepted winner. Both examinations were generally described as moderate in several analyses.

Therefore, students should focus on covering the complete syllabus instead of assuming that GAT will always be easy.

Read Also: How to Crack NDA in 6 Months: Complete Study Plan, Timetable & Strategy

Did UPSC Change the NDA Exam Pattern in 2026?

No major change to the standard NDA written-examination structure was established in the comparison.

Both examinations followed this pattern:

• Mathematics: 300 marks
• GAT: 600 marks
• Total: 900 marks
• Time: 2 hours 30 minutes for each paper
• Objective-type questions with negative marking

Pupils should be aware of the distinction between an examination pattern and question difficulty.

The pattern indicates the number of marks and the time allocated. The difficulty is related to the question set of an exam.

If the pattern is the same, but there are more longer calculations or questions that need more understanding, this will make the paper harder.

Always refer to the latest UPSC notification for official rules of the exam. 

A Simple 60-Day NDA Study Plan

If you have already covered the syllabus once, this 60-day NDA plan can help you revise and improve your performance.

Days	What to do
1–15	Revise important concepts and identify weak topics
16–30	Practise subject-wise questions and improve accuracy
31–45	Solve previous-year papers and sectional tests
46–55	Attempt full-length mock tests
56–60	Revise formulas, correct mistakes and strengthen weak areas

Daily study timetable

Subject	Suggested time
Mathematics	2 hours
English	45 minutes
General Knowledge	1 hour 30 minutes
Current Affairs	30 minutes
Revision	30 minutes
Total	5 hours 15 minutes

Adjust the timetable according to your school or college schedule. Consistent study is more important than following an unrealistic routine.

Common Mistakes NDA Aspirants Should Avoid

Many students work hard but do not get the expected results because of avoidable mistakes.

Avoid these common problems:

• Studying without following the official syllabus.
• Ignoring English and General Knowledge.
• Memorising formulas without understanding them.
• Solving mock tests without analysing mistakes.
• Attempting too many questions through guesswork.
• Revising only at the last moment.
• Waiting until the written result to begin SSB preparation.

Remember, success depends on consistent preparation, smart revision and learning from mistakes.

Final Advice for NDA Aspirants

The NDA 1 2026 paper and NDA 1 2025 help students understand the importance of preparing for questions of varying difficulty levels.

There are a number of published reviews which state that the 2026 Mathematics paper was more challenging than the 2025 paper. Difficulty ratings are subjective, though, and there is no way to predict the next examination by comparing to just one of these.

Your concentration should be on developing good concepts, practicing previous year papers, accuracy and time management.

In case a paper is tough, do not get disheartened. Instead, get ready to confidently deal with questions that you aren’t used to.

Any officer in the future needs to be told to be disciplined, patient and perform under pressure. Make a habit of developing these traits when preparing for NDA Coaching in India.