How is cut-off calculated in CDS for written examination?

The Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam is held twice to recruit the Indian Armed Forces candidates. Thousands of candidates appear for the examination every year conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, but only a few hundred candidates are shortlisted after the rigorous selection process.

CDS is a combined recruitment exam for all the three divisions of Armed Forces and Officers Training Academy located in Chennai. The candidates know the complete syllabus and the cut-off marks required to get the call for SSB Interview/Medical Examination. CDS cut off will help them in formulating the right strategy for clearing the CDS Exam.

What are the factors affecting the CDS cut-off?

Every year UPSC and SSB intend to give a different cut-off guided by the following factors:

1. Number of Students: The total number of students appearing for the CDS Exam in a particular attempt.
2. Number of Vacancies: The total number of vacancies announced by IMA, OTA, INA and IAF.
3. Difficulty Level: The difficulty level of the exam is also a critical factor in deciding the cut-off.
4. Previous years’ cut-off marks trend: The candidates need to score above the cut-off marks to get selected and should not be guided by the last years’ cut-off list.

UPSC does not release the cut-off details for the 5-day SSB Interview but releases them only after the whole process, including written test, SSB Interview, and medical examination have been conducted.

CDS Cut-off for Written Exam

The cut-off pattern differs from year to year, and the candidates need to score the minimum aggregate cut-off marks to qualify for the SSB Interview. The CDS Written Exam cut-off remains the same for IMA, INA and IAF, and OTA.

• The candidates need to secure the minimum qualifying marks set at 20% in each subject. 
• If they score below 20% in any written examination subject, they are not being considered for SSB Interview.

CDS Cut-Off for SSB Interview

SSB Interview is a two-stage process through which a candidate’s leadership skills, personality traits are checked. The candidate’s physical and mental strength is matched before the medical examination takes place.

Stage 1 includes the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test and Picture Perception Description Test (PP & DT).

Stage 2: It includes the face-to-face Interview, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and the conference.

CDS Cut-Off 2021 (Expected)

The actual cut-off is only made known to candidates once all the stages of the CDS Exam are finished. In the below-mentioned table, we can only tell the candidates the expected cut-off basis the previous years’ patterns.

CDS Cut-off has constantly been rising over the last few years as both UPSC and SSB have decided to recruit quality candidates. The popularity of getting recruitment in the Armed Forces of India has increased sharply. The reason is the stable career and high salaries provided by the Armed Forces of India. Thus, to crack the CDS cut off and get shortlisted for your desired post, join BYJU’s Exam Prep today.

CDS Cut-Off for the previous years

UPSC will be declaring the CDS 2021 cut-off only after the conclusion of this year’s recruitment and selection drive. In the meanwhile, the candidates can look at the officially announced CDS 2019 cut-off list for reference. The CDS exam was conducted twice in the year 2019. The below table will provide you with the relevant details:

CDS I 2019 Cut-Off (Official Figures)

CDS II 2019 Cut-Off (Official Figures)