
NDA 1 2026 Marks Calculation: The NDA 1 2026 written examination, conducted by UPSC, comprises two papers: Mathematics (120 questions, 300 marks) and General Ability Test (GAT, 150 questions, 600 marks), totalling 900 marks. To calculate your score, apply the official marking scheme: +2.5 marks for each correct answer and -0.83 marks for each incorrect answer in Mathematics; +4 marks for each correct answer and -1.33 marks for each incorrect answer in GAT. Unattempted questions score zero.
The NDA 1 2026 exam follows a clear marking scheme set by UPSC to test accuracy and knowledge. It includes two papers: Mathematics worth 300 marks and General Ability Test (GAT) worth 600 marks, making a total of 900 marks for the written exam.
Positive marking rewards correct answers: +2.5 marks per correct answer in Mathematics (120 questions); +4 marks per correct in GAT (150 questions).
Negative marking penalises errors: -0.83 marks for each wrong answer in Maths; -1.33 marks in GAT. Unattempted questions carry zero marks.
No sectional cut-off officially, but aim for 25% minimum per subject to stay safe for overall qualification.
This scheme encourages smart guessing only when confident, as penalties can reduce your score significantly. Students should focus on strong subjects first during preparation.
Negative marking in NDA 1 2026 is one-third of the positive marks, designed to curb random guessing. The formula is simple: deduct 1/3rd of the question's value for each incorrect response. No penalty for leaving questions unanswered.
Mathematics: Correct = +2.5, Wrong = -0.83 (2.5 / 3 ≈ 0.83).
GAT: Correct = +4, Wrong = -1.33 (4 / 3 ≈ 1.33).
Key tip for students: Calculate potential loss before attempting – if unsure, skip to protect score.
An NDA score calculator simplifies estimating your NDA 1 2026 performance using answer keys. NDA 2026 answer key score calculator helps aspirants by allowing users to input responses and obtain an estimated total score instantly. Input correct, wrong, and unattempted answers for instant results via the standard formula.
Here's a sample table for quick calculation:
| NDA 1 2026 Score Calculator | ||||
| Paper | Questions | Correct | Wrong | Score Formula |
| Mathematics | 120 | C | W | (C × 2.5) - (W × 0.83) |
| GAT | 150 | C | W | (C × 4) - (W × 1.33) |
| Total | 270 | - | - | Sum of both |
Follow the steps below to use the NDA Score Calculator-
Download the official/provisional answer key from the official website.
Count matches: correct (C), mismatches (wrong, W), skips (zero).
Put the analysis into the formula for Maths and GAT
Add both marks to get the total marks obtained.
Many aspirants rely on the NDA 1 2026 answer key marks calculation to estimate their marks before final result.
The NDA 1 2026 Mathematics paper consists of 120 objective questions for a total of 300 marks. Each correct answer awards +2.5 marks, while each incorrect answer deducts -0.83 marks (one-third of the allotted marks). Unattempted questions receive 0 marks.
The exam, conducted by UPSC on April 12, 2026, lasts 2.5 hours. Candidates should prioritise accuracy to minimise negative marking impact. Official question papers and answer keys are available on upsc.gov.in.
GAT has double weightage (600 vs 300), so balance is key. Maths: 33%, GAT: 67% of total.
| NDA Maths vs GAT Marks Weightage | ||
| Aspect | Maths | GAT |
| Marks | 300 | 600 |
| Questions | 120 | 150 |
| Per Q | 2.5 | 4 |
| Weight | 1x | 2x |
The National Defence Academy (NDA) exam, conducted by UPSC, comprises two papers totalling 900 marks.
Mathematics: 300 marks (120 questions, 2.5 marks each; 2 hours 30 minutes). Covers algebra, trigonometry, calculus, vectors, analytics, and statistics.
General Ability Test (GAT): 600 marks (150 questions; 2 hours 30 minutes).
English: 200 marks (50 questions).
General Knowledge: 400 marks (100 questions on physics, chemistry, history, geography, current affairs).
Negative marking applies: -0.83 for Maths, -1.33 for GAT per wrong answer. Qualifying marks vary by cutoff.
Estimating your NDA score before the official result can help gauge your performance in the UDA Written Exam (conducted by UPSC). Follow these steps for a reliable approximation:
Obtain the Answer Key: Download the official or provisional answer key from upsc.gov.in once released (usually 1-2 weeks post-exam).
Match Responses: Compare your answers sheet-wise (Maths: 300 marks, GAT: 600 marks). Award +2.5 marks per correct Maths answer, +2 per correct GAT answer.
Calculate Scores:
Correct Answers × Marks per Question
Deduct 0.83 marks per wrong Maths answer, 0.6 per wrong GAT answer (1/3rd negative marking).
Total = (Maths Score + GAT Score); Qualifying: ~25% per paper.
Cutoff Reference: Past cutoffs (e.g., NDA 2 2024: ~710/1800). Add ~10-20 marks buffer for normalization.