The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam twice a year for those interested in joining the Indian Air Force, Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, or Officer’s Training Academy.
After passing a medical exam, candidates who pass both parts of the exam, the Written Test and the SSB interview round, are selected as Commissioned Officers in the aforementioned renowned Defence Academies.
Candidates should remember that if they wish to join the IMA/INA/AFA, they must pass this exam with flying colours. You’ll need at least three months of committed hard work and strategic planning to pass this exam.
Those who have a strong foundation in mathematics will have an easier time attempting the maths section, which is critical for clearing the written exam. Those who aren’t very skilled, on the other hand, shouldn’t be concerned; with enough time, practise, and proper strategy, they, too, can ace this section.
On that note, let’s go over the effective strategies for acing the math section of the next UPSC CDS exam, topic by topic.
Table of Contents
Algebra
Out of a total of 100 questions, 17 to 20 are asked from algebra. Basic operations, simple factors, and remainder theorems should be the first steps in algebra training. Let’s go through some quick tips for solving algebra problems.
- First, while practising, learn and grasp the basic method of solving a question.
- Use variables to answer questions since it simplifies your work and saves you time.
- In algebra, you must learn all of the useful formulae and tricks. Understand the theory behind the formulas or tricks so that you can simply derive them in the future if you forget them.
- Practice enough questions of each type to ace this topic.
Number System
Any candidate studying for CDS 2022 will most likely receive 15 to 20 questions from this area. As a result, students must focus on each topic and concept, such as Basics of the Number System, LCM & HCF, BODMAS, Number Theory, Surds & Indices, Factorization, and others. Let’s go over a few pointers for addressing and preparing for Number System questions.
- Candidates can use NCERT maths books up to class 10th to get a grip on the fundamentals of the number system.
- Solve at least 50 questions on this topic per day, ranging from easy to challenging.
- Candidates should concentrate on HCF and LCM questions, as well as locating the unit’s position and product of numbers.
- You should understand the tricks of the sum of natural numbers, the sum of squares, the sum of cubes, Divisibility tests, and H.C.F AND L.C.M, as well as a few key formulas.
Geometry
Geometry is one of the most important areas of mathematics. In the CDS Mathematics paper, there are 15 to 20 problems from geometry.
- Circles, parallel lines, and triangles are some of the concepts that must be learned alongside coordinate geometry, with triangle congruence and resemblance being particularly important.
- Make a list of the geometry formulae on a sheet of paper and hang it up where you’ll see it often. It will help you remember them.
Trigonometry
About 10-15 questions from trigonometry are asked in the CDS Mathematics paper. Let’s go through some simple tips for preparing trigonometry.
- Learn all of the trigonometric ratios, identities, formulae, and other fundamental concepts.
- When addressing height and distance problems, take in mind the type of angle indicated in the question (angle of elevation or angle of depression).
Statistics
Statistics could account for up to 8 questions in the CDS exam’s math portion. The three aspects of statistics are Common Statistics Terms, Frequency Distribution, and Data Interpretations.
- To start with, candidates should learn Mean, Median, Mode, Variance, and Mean Deviation common statistics terms.
- Candidates must initially learn key essential concepts in Frequency Distribution, including Class, Class Limit, Class Frequency, Cumulative Frequency, and should know how to study various types of data, tables, and graphs.
- You must be well versed in concepts such as Arithmetic Mean, Percentage, Profit and Loss, Ratio, and others in order to solve data interpretation questions.