Combined Defence Services Exam comprises two stages.

• STAGE I: WRITTEN TEST
• STAGE II: INTELLIGENCE & PERSONALITY TEST

STAGE I: WRITTEN TEST

The entrance for Combined Defence Services comprises a Written Exam followed by Intelligence and Personality Test. The details follow:

Written Examination for Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy

Paper	Subject	Duration	Number of qs	Maximum Marks
I	English	2 hours	120	100
II	General Knowledge	2 hours	120	100
III	Elementary Mathematics	2 hours	100	100
Total				300

Interview(called as Intelligence & Personality Test) comprises 300 marks

Written Examination for Officers' Training Academy

Paper	Subject	Duration	Number of qs	Maximum Marks
I	English	2 hours	120	100
II	General Knowledge	2 hours	120	100
Total				200

STAGE II: INTELLIGENCE & PERSONALITY TEST

This stage comprises two sub-stages.

STAGE - I

Stage one selection system includes the following:-

(a) Intelligence Test (verbal and non verbal).

(b) Picture Perception and Description Test

(c) Discussion of the picture - 30 Minutes

Once all candidates have undergone stage one. The results for stage one testing are declared. Recommended candidates are retained for stage-II testing and those not recommended are dispatched back.

STAGE - II

It comprises psychological tests, group tests, and group tasks. These three tests are conducted on three consecutive days.

A) PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS

• Thematic Apperception Test:
• Word Association Test:
• Situation Reaction Test:
• Self Description Test:

B) GROUP TESTS

GTO - Day 1 This includes the following:-

• Group Discussion:
• Group planning exercise:
• Progressive group task:
• Group obstacle race:
• Half group task:
• Lecturette:

C) GROUP TASKS

• Individual Obstacles:
• Command Task:
• Final Group Task: