01
Start with the paper combination
CDS preparation depends on the academy route. The IMA, INA and AFA written combination includes English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics; OTA uses English and General Knowledge. Verify the applicable scheme in your examination notice before choosing tests or a timetable. This is a study-oriented overview rather than a replacement for the complete UPSC syllabus, marking instructions or examination timetable.
02
English: understand language in context
Use official papers to see how understanding and use of English are tested. During preparation, separate comprehension, vocabulary and sentence-level errors. For a passage, identify the evidence that supports your answer. For a usage question, explain the sentence rather than remembering only the option letter. Keep a short record of recurring difficulties and revisit them with fresh examples. Avoid treating a commercial topic list as an official promise about question distribution.
03
General Knowledge: organise the breadth
Build a subject map from the notice, then connect practice questions with the relevant background. History, geography, general science and current events need different kinds of revision. For a changing fact, record the date and source. For a stable concept, explain it in ordinary language and test it later. A large daily headline list is not a substitute for understanding the subject behind a question.
04
Elementary Mathematics: practise methods
Where Mathematics applies, organise the syllabus into arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, geometry, mensuration and statistics. Use the detailed official list to fill in the subtopics rather than treating these headings as complete coverage. For each weakness, work through the reasoning, solve a fresh problem unaided and then introduce time limits. A formula sheet helps revision only if you know when and why each relation applies.
05
Turn topics into measurable preparation
For every topic, record whether you have studied it, attempted questions and reviewed errors. These are different stages: having read a chapter does not mean you can use it under examination conditions. Start with a realistic number of topics and reserve time for reattempts. This Academy checklist supports planning; it is not a predicted weightage or a claim that all topics need equal time.
- Topic and official syllabus reference.
- Diagnostic question or paper source.
- Error cause and concept to revisit.
- Fresh reattempt and next revision date.
06
Use official papers without overpredicting
Compare more than one previous paper to understand the range of questions. Follow the marking and time instructions for your intended examination when taking a full practice paper. Review unanswered as well as incorrect questions. Do not infer a future cutoff or topic allocation from a single past paper. The preparation-plan guide explains how to combine subject work, timed practice and correction in a sustainable week.