NDA 2 Exam Analysis 2026: Check Paper Review, Difficulty Level and Expected Cutoff Marks

NDA 2 2026 exam has been held by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) on September 13, 2026. The exam was held for aspirants aspiring admission in Army, Navy and Air Force Wings of National Defense Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy.

As the exam is already over, the students are advised to use NDA 2 Exam Analysis 2026 to know the difficulty level of paper, questions per section, good number of attempts and expected cutoff marks.

There were two papers in the NDA 2 2026 exam. They were – Mathematics and GAT (General Ability Test). Overall the difficulty level was easy to moderate but there were some Mathematics subjects which needed more time and calculation.

Candidates can strengthen their preparation by solving NDA Previous Year Question Papers with Solutions PDF, which helps them understand the exam pattern, difficulty level, and frequently asked topics.

NDA 2 Exam Analysis 2026: Overview

The Written Test is allotted 900 marks in all. Those candidates who pass the Written Test are eligible to appear in the further rounds of the Selection Procedure.

NDA 2 2026 Difficulty Level

The NDA 2 2026 paper was not too hard but easy to moderate as per the complete paper analysis. There was variation in level of difficulty based on subject and topic.

Mathematics comprised some calculation-heavy parts, therefore, time management was essential for the candidates. GAT paper comprised English, GK, Science, History, Geography, Polity, and Economics.

Good attempts are only an estimate. The actual safe score can vary depending on accuracy, negative marking and the overall performance of candidates.

NDA 2 Exam Analysis 2026: Mathematics Paper Review

The Mathematics paper comprised varied topics which include algebra, calculus, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, statistics, probability, and vectors.

However, there were some topics which comprised a relatively larger number of questions. These include probability, matrices and determinants, 2-dimensional geometry, 3-dimensional geometry, complex numbers and quadratic equations.

The distribution of topics wise is presented below:

The paper required candidates to balance speed and accuracy. While many questions were manageable, lengthy calculations could consume valuable time.

NDA 2 2026 GAT Paper Analysis

Questions from English, Current Affairs, History, Geography, Polity, Economics and Science were there in the General Ability Test (GAT).

Questions on Synonyms and Antonyms, Sentence Completion, Idioms & Phrases, Cloze Test, Passages and Word Classes appeared in the English test.

From Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Polity, Economics and Current Affairs, there were questions in General Knowledge.

The GAT paper required more than just memorisation of General Knowledge. Science and Current Affairs also formed an important part of the paper.

NDA 2 2026 Good Attempts

Considering the analysis that is already presented, one can estimate the amount of attempts made in Mathematics as being about 90 to 100 and about 110 to 130 attempts made in GAT as being reasonable numbers if these questions were attempted correctly.

The number of attempts does not show the true level of knowledge, because one should understand that guessing will affect the results negatively.

These figures are indicative and shouldn't be treated as an official UPSC benchmark.

NDA 2 Expected Cutoff 2026

The NDA 2 2026 expected cutoff shall depend upon various considerations, which include the level of difficulty of the exam, number of aspirants, number of vacancies and overall performance of aspirants.

From the above-mentioned analysis, the expected cutoff for the written test shall be highly competitive. The cutoff expected range of the overall written test is from 330 to 370 out of 900. The expected cutoff by wing is as follows:

These are expected figures and not official UPSC cutoff marks. The actual cutoff will be released by UPSC after the examination process.

• Written Exam - 330–370 / 900
• Minimum qualifying requirement  - 25% in each subject, as applicable
• Final Cutoff - To be determined after written + SSB

NDA 2 Previous Year Cutoff Trends

Previous-year cutoff marks can help candidates understand how the NDA cutoff has changed over time.

NDA 2025 Cut off

NDA 2024 Cut off

NDA 2023 Cut off

NDA Cut off 2022

NDA 1 Cut off 2021

The figures show that the written cutoff can change significantly from one examination cycle to another. Therefore, candidates shouldn't treat any single previous-year cutoff as a fixed target.

NDA 2 Final Selection Cutoff Trends

The final NDA selection cutoff is based on the combined performance in the written examination and SSB stages. The final merit score is calculated out of 1,800 marks, with 900 marks for the written examination and 900 marks for the SSB stage.

These figures are useful for understanding past trends, but the NDA 2 2026 final cutoff will depend on the written result, SSB performance, vacancies and other selection factors.

What Should Candidates Do After NDA 2 2026 Exam?

Candidates who think that they will be able to meet the cutoff for the written exam should not wait until the result is out before beginning their SSB preparations.

Some of the criteria used to judge candidates during the SSB round include communication, leadership, team spirit, decision making, reasoning, and personality.

Candidates may utilize the time available between the written test and the next round in order to prepare for:

• Officer-Like Qualities
• OIR preparation
• PPDT practice
• Psychology tests
• GTO tasks
• Personal Interview preparation
• Communication skills
• Current affairs
• Decision-making and reasoning

Starting SSB preparation early can help candidates use the gap between the written examination and the next stage more effectively.

NDA 2 Exam Analysis 2026: Conclusion

The NDA 2 2026 paper had questions related to conceptual knowledge, precision, general knowledge, and time management. In mathematics, the candidates were assessed based on how carefully they dealt with long calculations, and the GAT paper was from a wide variety of topics.

The candidates are advised to refer to the analysis and cutoff only to predict their performance, as the actual cutoff will depend upon the overall performance of the examination.

Those who are hopeful to pass the written test now should prepare for the SSB exam. Preparing early will give time to practice their skills related to communication, psychological tests, GTO activities, and the interview round.

-------

NDA Study Material