CDS 2 Exam Analysis 2026: Difficulty Level, Good Attempts and Important Questions Asked

Summary

The UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (II) 2026 was held on 13 September 2026 in three different shifts. In this article we will analyse and take a closer look at the difficulty level of each paper, the section-wise number of good attempts, the topics asked, and how was the overall paper  when compared with the  CDS 1 2026 exam, conducted on 12 April 2026.

Overall, the paper ranged from easy to moderate/difficult, with [name the section] emerging as the most complicated and time-consuming section for the majority of candidates.

1. Exam Pattern and Shift Timings

Paper	Timing	Questions
English	9:00 AM to 11:00 AM	120
General Knowledge	12:30 PM to 2:30 PM	120
Elementary Mathematics	4:00 PM to 6:00 PM	100

Each paper carried a weightage of 100 marks, with one-third negative marking for every wrong answer. OTA candidates had the privilege to appear only for English and General Knowledge while other candidates had to appear and attempt all 3 papers.

2. Overall Difficulty: CDS 2 2026 Compared With CDS 1 2026

Paper	CDS 1 (12 April 2026)	CDS 2 (13 September 2026)
English	Easy to moderate, scoring	fill in
General Knowledge	Moderate, balanced static and current affairs	fill in
Elementary Mathematics	Moderate to difficult, lengthy calculations	fill in
Overall	Moderate	fill in

In Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (II) 2026 held on 13 September 2026 , Mathematics was the toughest and most time-consuming paper, with several questions involving very lengthy calculations. English, on the other hand, was relatively easier, quick and scoring.

3. Good Attempts: Benchmark and This Attempt

Paper	CDS 1 2026 Good Attempts	CDS 2 2026 Good Attempts
English	70 to 80 out of 120	fill in
General Knowledge	60 to 70 out of 120	fill in
Elementary Mathematics	45 to 55 out of 100	fill in
Total	Around 180 or above	fill in

Good attempts are simply the average of the number of questions that the majority of candidates have tried. This should be used as a rough estimate only and not as an indicator of your final score. Please be aware that attempting more questions does not mean more marks as for each wrong answer, one mark is deducted (1/3 marks).

For example, a candidate answering 60 questions with 90% accuracy can beat another candidate answering 80 questions with only 60% accuracy. This is the reason why both accuracy and the wise choice of questions are just as important as the number of questions attempted.

To know the detailed impact of number of attempts, accuracy and the negative marking on your score, please refer to our guide CDS 2 Safe Score 2026.

Match your attempts against the answer key and estimate your score at Digital Benchers.

4. Section-Wise Analysis

English

Difficulty verdict. Note whether the paper was lengthy, whether any new question formats appeared such as matching lists or correlating sentences, and which areas dominated: spotting errors, ordering of sentences, vocabulary or comprehension.

General Knowledge

Difficulty verdict. Note the split between static and current affairs, and which subjects carried weight. In April, Science and History carried higher weightage and were the decisive scoring areas.

Elementary Mathematics

Difficulty verdict. Note whether calculations were lengthy, which chapters dominated, and whether the pattern shifted. Arithmetic normally carries the largest share, so record whether that held this time.

5. Topics Asked in CDS 2 2026

List the topics candidates reported, paper by paper. Keep this factual and avoid reproducing full questions. Ten to fifteen topic lines per paper is enough.

One of the quickest ways for candidates looking to sit the exam in 2027 is to compare this year’s questions to those from previous years so that they can identify recurring topics, get a clear understanding of the exam pattern, and focus their preparation on the areas that are most frequently tested.

6. What These Attempts Mean for the Cut Off?

Cut-off changes from year to year depending on the difficulty level of the paper. If the paper was easy the Cut-off tends to go high whereas difficult paper tends to move it down. So, if this paper was more difficult than the April exam, candidates can expect the cut-off to be slightly lower.

You can also check the detailed breakup of CDS 2 Expected Cut Off 2026 for academy wise estimates and Previous Year Trends. Keep in mind that the final cut-off is released only by UPSC, and that too after the entire selection process is completed.

1. You can check your score with the answer key and be sure to take off one-third of a mark for each question that you answer incorrectly. 
2. Do not wait until the written part has been completed before you begin preparing for the SSB; starting early will allow you more time to work on it.
3. If you think this effort didn’t turn out as expected, check the areas in which you lost marks and use those to prepare more effectively for CDS 1 2027. 
4. Avoid getting too caught up in the score comparison threads, they can be confusing and don’t affect your real result.