Yes, 400 is a good score in the NDA, and it can enhance your probability of passing the written examination by UPSC to a great extent. But in the National Defence Academy (NDA) also you are selected based on the cutoff, number of vacancies, and your performance in the SSB interview.
How is the NDA Written Exam Scored?
The NDA written exam is divided into two papers:
|
Paper Name |
Total Marks |
Subject |
|
Mathematics |
300 |
Maths |
|
General Ability Test (GAT) |
600 |
English + General Knowledge |
Total = 900 Marks
A score of 400 means you’ve scored roughly 44% of the total marks, which is generally above the average NDA cutoff in most years.
Read More: From 12th Board Exam to NDA Officer: Here’s Your Step-by-Step Plan
What is the NDA Cutoff for the Written Exam?
|
Year |
Written Exam Cutoff (Out of 900) |
|
2023 |
301 |
|
2022 |
355 |
|
2021 |
343 |
As has been observed above, when you get 400 marks, you are far much above the cut off. But this score does not mean that one has been selected, since the SSB interview (with 900 marks) is also important.
Is 400 Enough to Clear the Final NDA Merit List?
Your overall score (written + SSB interview) should be competitive in order to be in the final NDA merit list.
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In case you have scored 400 in the written exam, then you have to get a good SSB performance (at least 360-400 marks) to get a good probability of getting in the final list.
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Although 400 is a good score, a lot of top candidates have a higher score. Nevertheless, this is a safe score in the SSB call.
What is the Way to Get 400+ in the NDA Written Exam?
Students have to use a strategic preparation plan in order to achieve or surpass the 400-mark target:
• Regularly solve NDA previous year papers to get an idea of the pattern and the level of difficulty.
• Practice with the NDA question bank that has topic-wise and complete length practice sets.
• Improve on Mathematics and GAT by going through concepts and trying timed mock tests.
How Useful is Solving the NDA Previous Year Paper?
Solving the NDA previous year paper assists in:
• Learning the pattern and trends of questions put by UPSC.
• Figuring out what you do best and what you do not.
• Real-exam practice of time management skills.
Why Use an NDA Question Bank Along with the NDA NA Book?
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A comprehensive NDA question bank gives you topic-wise practice to build accuracy and speed.
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While a NDA NA book provides conceptual clarity, the question bank ensures consistent practice, which is key to achieving a 400+ score.
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Final Verdict
400 is a very good score in the NDA exam, placing you above most candidates. With a solid SSB interview performance, it can lead you straight to the final merit list. However, to consistently hit that mark, you must rely on continuous practice using NDA previous year paper, a good NDA NA book, and a focused NDA question bank.
