CDS Mock Test 2027: Online Practice for English, GK and Maths
Timed CDS practice in the real UPSC pattern, with a simple schedule and a method to learn from every attempt.
A CDS mock test is the closest you can get to the real paper before exam day. The Combined Defence Services Examination is conducted by UPSC, and its written stage tests English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics under negative marking. Timed practice shows where you win marks and where you lose them, long before the notification arrives.
This page covers the test types you need, a simple schedule for CDS I 2027 and a method to analyse every attempt.
Table of Contents
Pattern to Practise In
Types of CDS Mock Tests
How to Use Mock Tests
How to Analyse an Attempt
Practise on Testkart
Pattern to Practise In
Set every mock to the real format. Each written paper is two hours long and carries 100 marks. The papers are held in separate sessions, so you cannot move time from one paper to another.
Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
English | 120 | 100 | 2 hours | IMA, INA, AFA, OTA |
General Knowledge | 120 | 100 | 2 hours | IMA, INA, AFA, OTA |
Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 100 | 2 hours | IMA, INA, AFA only |
One-third of a question's marks is deducted for each wrong answer. Candidates applying only to OTA do not take the Mathematics paper. The UPSC calendar lists the CDS I 2027 written exam for 11 April 2027. Calendar dates are tentative and can change, so track the official notice on upsc.gov.in.
Types of CDS Mock Tests
Test type | What it covers | When to take it |
|---|---|---|
Topic-wise test | One topic, such as tenses, percentages or Indian polity | Right after you finish the topic |
Sectional test | One complete paper in two hours | Once the basics of that paper are done |
Full-length mock | All papers of your entry in the exam format | Weekly, once most of the syllabus is covered |
Previous year paper | Real UPSC questions from earlier cycles | One paper a week from week 5 |
Current affairs test | Recent national, international and defence events | Weekly, alongside your monthly notes |
How to Use Mock Tests
Weeks 1 to 4, topic tests: Take a short test after each topic. Do not worry about the score yet.
Weeks 5 to 8, sectional tests: Attempt one full paper a week, rotating between English, GK and Maths. Add one previous year paper a week.
From week 9, full-length mocks: Take one a week at the same time of day as the real paper.
Final two weeks: Take two full mocks, revise your error log and avoid new topics.
How to Analyse an Attempt
A mock is useful only if you review it the same day. Check these four things.
Wrong answers: Label each one as a concept gap, a careless slip or a misread question.
Lucky guesses: A correct answer you were unsure about is still a gap. Add it to your error log.
Slow questions: The pattern allows about one minute per English or GK question and 1.2 minutes per Maths question. Mark anything that took far longer.
Guess discipline: An English or GK question is worth about 0.83 marks and a wrong answer costs about 0.28. A Maths question is worth 1 mark and a wrong answer costs about 0.33. With four options, a blind guess has an expected gain of zero, so guess only after removing at least one option.
Track accuracy, attempts and time per paper across your mocks. A steady rise in accuracy matters more than one high score.Take your first CDS mock test early. The score matters less than what you learn from reviewing it.