# NDA 2 GAT Paper Analysis 2026: Difficulty Level, Good Attempts and Questions Asked - Canonical: https://academic247.com/news/nda-2-gat-paper-analysis-2026-difficulty-good-attempts-questions - Updated: 2026-11-04 - Published: 2026-09-13 - Authors: Priya Sharma - Category: Exams UPSC conducted the NDA 2 GAT exam on September 13, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Coaching experts rate English as easy-to-moderate and General Knowledge as moderate, with good attempts around 33–37 in English and 55–65 in GK. This Academic247 analysis covers memory-based questions, section-wise difficulty, cutoff outlook, and preparation tips for future aspirants. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) successfully held the National Defence Academy (NDA) 2 General Ability Test (GAT) on **September 13, 2026**, from **2:00 PM to 4:30 PM**, at centres across India. Lakhs of Class 12 pass-outs and school students who dream of joining the Army, Navy, or Air Force appeared for the 150-question, 600-mark paper that tests English and General Knowledge in a single sitting of two and a half hours. For candidates who sat the exam in cities such as Delhi, Gurugram, [Dehradun](https://academic247.com/news/dehradun-upsc-cds-nda-na-exams-2026-centres-timings-candidate-guide), and [Almora](https://academic247.com/news/almora-cds-nda-exam-restrictions-200-metre-zone-september-13), the immediate question after leaving the hall is simple: *How did I perform?* Memory-based paper analysis released by coaching institutes within hours of the exam offers the first reliable clue. Academic247 brings you an independent, student-friendly breakdown of the **NDA 2 GAT paper analysis 2026** covering difficulty level, expected good attempts, subject-wise questions recalled by candidates, negative marking impact, and what this means for cutoffs and SSB preparation. ## NDA 2 GAT 2026 Exam at a Glance Understanding the paper structure helps you interpret any post-exam analysis correctly. The GAT is Paper 2 of the NDA written examination. It is conducted on the same day as the Mathematics paper, Which was held in the morning session. Candidates who appeared at centres covered in our exam-day guides including the [Dehradun UPSC CDS, NDA and NA Exams 2026 centre guide](https://academic247.com/news/dehradun-upsc-cds-nda-na-exams-2026-centres-timings-candidate-guide), the [Gurugram CDS NDA Exam 2026 arrangements](https://academic247.com/news/gurugram-cds-nda-exam-2026-centres-shifts-arrangements), and the [Almora exam-day 200-metre zone rules](https://academic247.com/news/almora-cds-nda-exam-restrictions-200-metre-zone-september-13) reported smooth conduct overall, with standard UPSC invigilation protocols. ParameterDetailsExam dateSeptember 13, 2026Session timing2:00 PM to 4:30 PM (2.5 hours)Total questions150 MCQsMaximum marks600PartsPart A: English (50 Q) | Part B: General Knowledge (100 Q)Negative marking 1.33 marks deducted per wrong answer MediumEnglish and Hindi The GAT score is combined with the Mathematics paper (300 marks) to determine written-exam merit. Aspirants should cross-check their Maths performance using our companion resource: [NDA 2 Maths Question Paper 2026 with Answer Key and Solution PDF](https://academic247.com/news/nda-2-maths-question-paper-2026-answer-key-solution-pdf). ## Overall Difficulty Level of NDA 2 GAT 2026 Based on feedback collected from candidates and faculty at defence Coaching hubs, the **NDA 2 GAT 2026 difficulty level** is best described as **moderate overall**, with a clear split between the two halves of the paper. ### English: Easy to Moderate The English section carried 50 questions covering vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, and idiomatic usage. Multiple students reported that idioms and phrases appeared prominently consistent with past NDA trends. Passages were readable within the time limit, and sentence correction items followed standard patterns seen in previous years. Candidates with regular reading habits and NCERT-level grammar revision found this section manageable. Experts recommend allocating roughly 40 to 45 minutes to English so that the bulk of the remaining time about 105 minutes can be devoted to the longer GK section. Within English, vocabulary and idiom questions should be attempted first if you are confident, because they consume less time than lengthy comprehension passages. Students from English-medium CBSE and ICSE schools generally reported finishing this section with five to ten minutes to spare, while Hindi-medium candidates who invested in grammar drills over the past year also found the difficulty manageable. ### General Knowledge: Moderate The 100-question GK block spans Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Polity, and Current Affairs. Coaching experts rated GK as **moderate** because several questions required conceptual clarity rather than rote memorisation. Geography and History items closely mirrored NCERT themes from Classes 9 to 12, while Physics included application-based numericals that demanded calm calculation under time pressure. SectionQuestionsDifficulty (Expert View)English (Part A)50Easy to ModerateGeneral Knowledge (Part B)100ModerateOverall GAT150Moderate ## Good Attempts in NDA 2 GAT 2026: What Coaching Institutes Say **Good attempts** refer to the number of questions a well-prepared candidate can confidently attempt after accounting for accuracy and negative marking. These figures are indicative not official cutoffs and vary slightly across institutes. SectionGood Attempts RangeNotesEnglish33 to 37 out of 50Higher accuracy expected; avoid blind guessingGeneral Knowledge55 to 65 out of 100Selective attempts in tough Physics/Chemistry itemsCombined GAT88 to 102 out of 150Net score depends on accuracy ratio If you attempted fewer questions but maintained high accuracy, your net score may still remain competitive. Conversely, attempting 110-plus questions with poor accuracy can hurt because each wrong answer costs 1.33 marks. Use the good-attempt range as a benchmark when comparing your performance with peers in coaching batches across Rajasthan, Delhi, and other defence-preparation clusters. ### How Good Attempts Translate to Probable Scores Assuming an accuracy rate of 80 percent a realistic target for well-prepared candidates the expected net score from good attempts can be estimated as follows. In English, 35 correct answers yield 140 marks; if the remaining two attempted questions are wrong, the penalty is roughly 2.66 marks, giving a net of about 137 marks out of 200. In GK, 60 correct answers produce 240 marks; with five wrong attempts among the 65 tried, the deduction is approximately 6.65 marks, leaving a net near 233 marks out of 400. Combined, that projects to roughly 370 out of 600 on GAT alone a competitive figure when paired with a solid Maths score above 400 out of 600. These projections are illustrative. Your actual score depends on how many questions you left blank, how many guesses went wrong, and whether you lost time on lengthy Physics calculations. Treat institute good-attempt figures as planning benchmarks, not guarantees of SSB selection. ## Memory-Based Questions Asked in NDA 2 GAT 2026 UPSC releases the official question paper on its website a few days after the exam. Until then, memory-based recalls help aspirants for future attempts understand the examiner's current focus. The following compilation is drawn from candidate reports and institute analysis not an official key. ### English Section Highlights - Idioms and phrases featured as a prominent vocabulary theme. - Standard grammar and usage questions aligned with previous NDA English patterns. - Reading comprehension passages were moderate in length. ### Geography Questions Recalled - States with jute mills among Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Odisha. - Slash-and-burn agricultural practices. - Physical processes of weathering. - Western disturbances in the Indian climate. - Earthquake waves and their characteristics. - Hawaiian volcanoes as classic examples of a landform type. - Temperate forests in the Nilgiri, Annamalai, and Palani hills. - Latitudes, longitudes, and structure of the atmosphere. - Earth's equatorial bulge and polar flattening (geoid concept). - Trade wind direction in the southern hemisphere. - Pacific Ocean currents. - Types of river erosion and nature of rocks. - Drought definition involving maldistribution of rainfall. - Landlocked states sharing a border with Madhya Pradesh. - Agricultural population density ratio. ### History Questions Recalled - Indian National Congress session held in December 1929. - Industrial Revolution in Britain. - Shortughai a Harappan trading post in Afghanistan and its economic significance. ### Chemistry Questions Recalled - Oxidation numbers. - Nitrogen and its compounds. - Acid-base titration with HCl, NaOH, and phenolphthalein indicator colour. - Properties of hydrogen and water. - Types of chemical reactions. - Percentage composition of nitrogen and hydrogen in urea. - High melting points of ionic compounds. - Coconut oil hydrolysis with potassium hydroxide. - Portland cement composition. - Hydrogen bonding. - Colloids. ### Physics Questions Recalled - Raindrop apparent direction for observers moving east and north at equal speeds (relative velocity). - Biconvex lens with refractive index 2 and unequal radii of curvature; image distance condition. - Carrom striker collision: mass, velocity, contact time, and average force calculation. - Minimum horizontal speed for a pendulum bob to complete a vertical circle (length 50 cm). ### Polity and Current Affairs Questions Recalled - Role of political parties in modern democracies. - Constitution of India fundamentals. - National integration themes. - Panchsheel principles. - UN reforms. - Five-Year Plan titled *Towards Faster and More Inclusive Growth*. - PESA Act, 1996. - Committee recommending constitutional recognition of local bodies. - Anti-defection provisions and the constitutional amendment that introduced them. - Neighbourhood First policy. ### Biology Questions Recalled - Respiration in animals. - Complex permanent tissue in plants. - Hindbrain components in human beings. - Regulation of food exit from stomach to small intestine. - Organisms showing external fertilisation. - Organelles present in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. - Connective tissue identification. - Plant groups with a haploid dominant body. - Flower structure. - Characteristics of insect-pollinated plants. ## NDA 2 GAT 2026 vs Previous Years: What Changed? Seasoned NDA trainers who compared the September 13 paper with NDA 2 2025 and NDA 1 2026 sessions noted more continuity than surprise. Geography retained its traditional weightage with map-based reasoning and climate concepts. History continued to favour the freedom struggle and ancient India. Polity questions touched both static constitutional knowledge and contemporary policy vocabulary such as Neighbourhood First a sign that UPSC expects aspirants to connect textbook civics with current diplomatic priorities. The Physics section, however, drew more comment than usual. Four numerical questions in a single GAT paper is not unprecedented, but the combination of relative velocity, lens formula, collision mechanics, and circular motion in one sitting tested whether candidates could switch between concepts quickly. Chemistry remained formula-friendly, with direct questions on urea composition, ionic bonding, and indicator colour changes topics that appear repeatedly in NDA and CDS papers alike. Biology coverage was evenly spread across human physiology, plant anatomy, and reproduction no single chapter dominated. For school students still in Class 11, this reinforces the value of treating Biology as a scoring ally even if your stream is PCM, because roughly one in four GK questions will come from life sciences every year. ## Section-Wise Preparation Insights from the 2026 Paper The memory-based list confirms a familiar UPSC pattern: **NCERT-first preparation wins**. Geography and History questions reward students who studied board textbooks thoroughly whether they attended [best schools in Delhi 2026](https://academic247.com/rankings/best-schools-in-delhi-2026), [best schools in Mumbai 2026](https://academic247.com/rankings/best-schools-in-mumbai-2026), [best schools in Jaipur 2026](https://academic247.com/rankings/best-schools-in-jaipur-2026), [best schools in Kota 2026](https://academic247.com/rankings/best-schools-in-kota-2026), [best schools in Sikar 2026](https://academic247.com/rankings/best-schools-in-sikar-2026), [best schools in Bengaluru 2026](https://academic247.com/rankings/best-schools-in-bengaluru-2026), or [best schools in Hyderabad 2026](https://academic247.com/rankings/best-schools-in-hyderabad-2026). For science sections, NDA does not require JEE Advanced-level depth, but numerical fluency matters. Students who also prepare for medical entrance exams may find Biology comfortable; those in PCM streams should not neglect Biology entirely, as roughly 25 GK questions routinely come from life sciences. ### Actionable Tips for Future NDA Aspirants 1. **Build an NCERT revision cycle:** Cover Classes 6–12 for Geography, History, Civics, and General Science at least twice before the exam. 2. **Practise timed MCQ blocks:** Solve 100 GK questions in 90 minutes weekly to build stamina matching exam conditions. 3. **Maintain an error log:** Record every wrong answer from mock tests and revisit weak topics fortnightly. 4. **Limit guessing:** With 1.33 negative marks per error, mark only when you can eliminate at least two options. 5. **Read newspapers daily:** Polity and current-affairs questions increasingly reference policy frameworks such as Neighbourhood First and UN reforms. 6. **Pair GAT with Maths:** Written merit requires balanced performance; do not over-invest in GK at the cost of Mathematics. ## Negative Marking and Score Estimation Each correct answer in GAT carries **4 marks**. Each incorrect answer leads to a deduction of **1.33 marks**. Unattempted questions score zero neither adding nor subtracting. This scoring rule makes accuracy more valuable than raw attempt count. A simplified estimation formula: - **Raw score** = (Correct × 4) − (Wrong × 1.33) - Compare your estimated raw score against institute-predicted cutoffs after both GAT and Maths are analysed together. Official answer keys will be published on the UPSC website. Until then, institute keys offer a provisional check. For a parallel example of how national-level exams release keys and response sheets, see our coverage of the [NEET PG 2026 answer key and response sheet timeline](https://academic247.com/news/neet-pg-2026-answer-key-response-sheet-nbems-qualifying-marks). ## Expected Cutoff Outlook After NDA 2 GAT 2026 UPSC declares category-wise cutoffs only after the final result, typically combining written exam and SSB recommendation stages. Historically, a moderate GAT paper with Maths of average difficulty produces written cutoffs in a familiar band for the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings. Factors that may influence NDA 2 2026 cutoffs include: - Total number of vacancies in the notification. - Overall difficulty of the Mathematics paper held the same morning. - Candidate volume and regional performance trends. - Normalisation is not applied across sessions for NDA single-day exam simplifies comparison. Candidates estimating borderline scores should begin SSB interview preparation immediately rather than waiting for results. Personality testing takes weeks to mature, and early starters gain a measurable edge. ### Historical Cutoff Context (Indicative Only) While UPSC has not yet declared NDA 2 2026 cutoffs, past trends offer orientation. Written-exam cutoffs for the Army wing have often settled in the mid-30-percent range of total marks (900 combined for Maths and GAT), with the Air Force and Navy wings typically higher due to fewer vacancies and stronger applicant pools. A moderate GAT paper usually does not dramatically shift these bands unless the Mathematics paper was unusually easy or difficult. Candidates should therefore wait for both paper analyses before drawing firm conclusions about their selection chances. ## Where to Prepare: Coaching and Rankings Across India Post-exam analysis is useful, but long-term success still depends on structured coaching, disciplined self-study, and school-level foundations. India’s defence coaching ecosystem is strongest in Rajasthan, Delhi-NCR, and select metro hubs. ### Rajasthan and Sikar: The Defence Coaching Heartland Sikar has emerged as a national hub for NDA and defence preparation alongside its established JEE coaching market. Aspirants comparing institutes can consult: - [NDA coaching in Sikar 2026: institutes, fees, and results](https://academic247.com/news/nda-coaching-in-sikar-2026-top-institutes-course-fees-results-how-to-choose) - [Top 5 NDA coaching institutes in Sikar 2026](https://academic247.com/news/top-5-nda-coaching-institutes-in-sikar-2026-fees-results-selection-guide) - [Top 10 NDA coaching academies in Sikar 2026](https://academic247.com/news/top-10-nda-coaching-academy-in-sikar-fees-contact-details) - [Top 3 NDA academy in Sikar 2026](https://academic247.com/news/top-3-nda-academy-in-sikar-2026-fees-hostel-results-and-how-to-choose) - [Top 3 best girls NDA academy in Sikar 2026](https://academic247.com/news/top-3-best-girls-nda-academy-in-sikar-2026) - [Which NDA coaching is rank 1 in Sikar? Verified 2026 guide](https://academic247.com/news/which-nda-coaching-is-rank-1-in-sikar-verified-2026) - [Alpha NDA Academy vs Prince NDA Academy Sikar comparison](https://academic247.com/news/best-nda-coaching-in-sikar-2026-alpha-nda-academy-vs-prince-nda-academy-sikar-fees-results-comparison) - [Top 5 defence coaching institutes in Sikar 2026](https://academic247.com/news/top-5-defence-coaching-institutes-in-sikar-2026-fees-results-hostel-guide) - [Top coachings in Sikar 2026 rankings](https://academic247.com/rankings/top-coachings-sikar-2026) - [Top 5 JEE coaching in Sikar 2026](https://academic247.com/news/top-5-jee-coaching-sikar-2026-ai-tech-smart-boards) (for students balancing board and competitive prep) At the state level, readers may explore [best NDA coaching in Rajasthan 2026](https://academic247.com/news/best-nda-coaching-in-rajasthan-2026-why-alpha-nda-academy-is-a-top-choice) and [top coaching institutes in Rajasthan 2027 for first-attempt success](https://academic247.com/news/crack-nda-in-first-attempt-top-5-coaching-institutes-in-rajasthan-2027-with-highest-selection-rate). ### Metro and Tier-2 City Coaching Rankings Students outside Rajasthan can benchmark institutes using city-wise Academic247 rankings: - [Top coachings in Delhi 2026](https://academic247.com/rankings/top-coachings-delhi-2026) - [Top coachings in Mumbai 2026](https://academic247.com/rankings/top-coachings-mumbai-2026) - [Top coachings in Jaipur 2026](https://academic247.com/rankings/top-coachings-jaipur-2026) - [Top coachings in Kota 2026](https://academic247.com/rankings/top-coachings-kota-2026) - [Top coachings in Bengaluru 2026](https://academic247.com/rankings/top-coachings-bengaluru-2026) - [Top coachings in Hyderabad 2026](https://academic247.com/rankings/top-coachings-hyderabad-2026) For the next UPSC cycle, early planners targeting the April 1, 2027 attempt should review [best NDA coaching for the April 1, 2027 attempt with expert SSB faculty](https://academic247.com/news/best-nda-coaching-for-april-1-2027-attempt-expert-faculty-ssb). ## What Happens After the GAT Exam? The NDA selection pipeline extends well beyond September 13. Key upcoming milestones include: 1. **Official answer key:** UPSC releases provisional keys on upsc.gov.in; objections follow a defined window. 2. **Written result:** Roll numbers of candidates shortlisted for SSB are published. 3. **SSB interview:** Five-day assessment at Service Selection Board centres. 4. **Medical examination:** Conducted for candidates recommended by SSB. 5. **Final merit and academy allocation:** Based on combined written and SSB performance. Candidates who find the GAT manageable but struggled in Maths should recalibrate preparation immediately. The combined written score not GAT alone determines SSB calls. ## Exam-Day Time Management Recap for GAT Effective time management on September 13 separated candidates who finished comfortably from those who left 15 to 20 GK questions unattempted. A strategy that worked for many successful aspirants in prior cycles and that aligns with the 2026 paper structure is as follows: 1. **First 45 minutes:** Complete English. Target 40 or more attempts with high confidence. 2. **Next 30 minutes:** Scan all 100 GK questions and mark easy ones in History, Geography, and Biology. 3. **Next 60 minutes:** Solve marked GK questions, leaving lengthy Physics numericals for last. 4. **Final 15 minutes:** Attempt remaining GK questions where you can eliminate options; avoid fresh guesses in the last two minutes. Candidates appearing at high-density centres in Gurugram, Dehradun, and Almora reported no unusual time pressure from administrative delays, thanks in part to clear entry protocols documented in our pre-exam centre guides. ## Conclusion The **NDA 2 GAT 2026 paper analysis** points to a balanced, NCERT-aligned examination: English was approachable for prepared readers, while General Knowledge tested conceptual depth across science and social studies. Good attempts in the range of **33–37 in English** and **55–65 in GK** represent a solid performance band according to leading coaching institutes. Memory-based recalls emphasise geography, polity, application Physics, and standard Chemistry patterns consistent with recent NDA cycles. Whether you appeared from a metro centre or a tier-2 town, the next steps are the same: estimate your score conservatively, begin SSB groundwork, and for future aspirants anchor preparation in NCERT texts plus disciplined mock testing. Academic247 will continue publishing answer keys, cutoff analysis, and coaching rankings to support India's defence aspirants at every stage of the journey.