NDA Science in GAT: Physics and Chemistry Topics That Repeat

NDA Science preparation includes topics like Modern Physics, Electricity and Magnetism, Motion, Atomic Structure, Everyday Chemistry (cement, glass, fertilisers) and Acids-Bases-Salts which occur again and again almost every year. The NDA Physics Topics and NDA Chemistry Topics form a significant portion of the GAT paper and hence it is important to know the recurring topics to study smart rather than studying everything equally. 

For NDA aspirants, you are already aware that Maths is a subject that receives a lot of focus. But here's a secret: Physics and Chemistry in GAT cover the same topics, more or less, each and every year. As these NDA Important Questions patterns are known, you can achieve full marks with ease. Let's explain this in a simple manner.

NDA Science in GAT – Where It Fits

NDA Science Preparation is a part of the General Ability Test (GAT) which is the second paper in the written test of NDA. GAT is split into English and General Knowledge, with Science (Physics and Chemistry) being part of the General Knowledge section. 

This section is an important part of the English subject having 200 marks and General Knowledge having 400 marks. There are +4 marks for each correct answer and −1.33 marks for each incorrect answer, so accuracy is more important than guessing.

NDA Physics Topics That Repeat Every Year

The NDA Physics Topics are generally easy and conceptual in nature and not hard numerical problems. The questions asked in Physics in NDA are conceptual and application based and are generally from class 11th and 12th level of science. 

Some chapters are repeated in the NDA GAT Science paper in the years. The candidates are recommended to study the following chapters from the NDA Physics syllabus: Laws of Motion, Thermodynamics, Electricity, Magnetism and Modern Physics.

Here are the Physics topics that repeat most often:

NDA Chemistry Topics That Repeat Every Year

NDA Chemistry Topics generally score well as compared to Physics as most of the questions are direct and factual. In the GAT paper, there are about 15 to 20 questions with 60 to 80 marks in Chemistry, most of which are factual and straightforward, thus it is easier to get marks in Chemistry than in Mathematics or Physics. 

Students are encouraged to study Acids, Bases and Salts, Carbon and its Compounds, Physical and Chemical Changes and Everyday Chemistry (composition of glass, cement, fertilisers etc.) in detail. In addition to this, the following topics are frequently repeated: Atomic Structure (electron configuration, periodic table), Chemical Bonding (ionic, covalent, metallic bonds) and Redox Reactions (oxidation numbers, balancing equations).

How Many Questions Come from Physics and Chemistry?

The exact weightage helps you to plan your NDA Science Preparation better. Typically, there are 23-25 questions that are asked from Physics in the NDA GAT paper. Chemistry typically provides about 15-20 questions, valued at 60-80 marks.

This implies that Physics + Chemistry can account for almost 40 questions from the total 100 GK questions — a huge scoring opportunity if well prepared.

NDA Important Questions – Sample Pattern to Practice

Read theory but to do well, practice NDA Important Questions in the same pattern as the actual exam. The topics that are covered in Key Chemistry, such as elements, compounds and mixtures, atomic structure and valency, types of changes (physical and chemical) are the type of topics that you need to know to be able to solve chemistry questions with ease. 

The following are good practices:

• Solving 15-20 previous year Physics and Chemistry questions weekly at least. 

• Timing yourself – GAT science questions are timed. 

• Checking incorrect responses to see what needs to be revised.

Smart NDA Science Preparation Strategy

Simple NDA GAT Science Weekly Plan:

It is advisable to spend some time each day on all the subjects covered in the syllabus, more on the difficult ones and time to revise the easy ones regularly, and solve practice questions and mock tests.

Best Resources for NDA GAT Science

There is no need to have too many books; only the right ones, and used regularly. NCERT Physics and Chemistry Textbooks from Class 9 to 12 continue to be the best foundation for NDA Science Preparation as a large number of questions in GAT Science are framed directly on these concepts. 

Many aspirants use Oswaal Books' NDA preparation guides in addition to NCERT, which present Physics and Chemistry topics chapter-wise and comprise practice questions in line with the actual exam pattern. Organized topic-wise practice helps you identify which topics of NDA Physics and NDA Chemistry need to be revised before the exam day.

Summary

Get it right on the right topics and NDA Science in GAT can be a big scoring opportunity. The topics of Physics such as Motion, Electricity, Magnetism and Modern Physics appear almost every year while the topics of Chemistry such as Acids-Bases-Salts, Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding and Everyday Chemistry appear consistently. Physics and Chemistry can contribute to bringing around 40 questions in the GK section so smart NDA Science Preparation with NCERT basics and regular practice of NDA Important Questions and structured material like Oswaal Books can help you make this one of the best scoring sections.

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