CDS English syllabus
| Format | What it tests |
|---|---|
| Spotting errors | Grammar rules — agreement, tenses, articles, prepositions |
| Sentence improvement | Choosing the correct form of an underlined part |
| Ordering of words in a sentence | Arranging parts (P, Q, R, S) into a sentence |
| Ordering of sentences | Arranging sentences into a paragraph |
| Synonyms and antonyms | Vocabulary, often in context |
| Fill in the blanks | Grammar and vocabulary together |
| Selecting words / cloze | Choosing words for blanks in a passage |
| Reading comprehension | Several passages with inference questions |
A 6-week CDS English plan
- Weeks 1–2: grammar rules with 10 questions each; 20 words a day in context.
- Week 3: ordering of words and sentences — learn to find the subject and the opening sentence first.
- Week 4: two comprehension passages a day; note the inference questions you get wrong.
- Weeks 5–6: full 2-hour English papers twice a week; review every wrong answer and every skipped question.
CDS English — questions students ask
How many questions are in the CDS English paper?
UPSC does not fix the number in the notification. Recent CDS English papers have had about 120 questions for 100 marks in 2 hours.
What is the negative marking in CDS English?
One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
Is CDS English the same for OTA candidates?
Yes, the paper is the same. OTA candidates take English and General Knowledge only, so English is half their written score.