Defence | CDS

English Language for CDS

CDS sets 120 English Language questions for 100 marks in the Written Examination (IMA, INA and AFA), so it is worth planning your preparation around the topics below.

120 questions100 marks4 topics

How to approach English Language in CDS

Reading comprehension and the cloze test decide this section, and both reward reading widely more than memorising rules. Build a daily reading habit, learn to spot the grammatical error patterns that recur, and treat vocabulary as something absorbed in context rather than crammed from a list.

Weightage in the paper

How much English Language is worth in each CDS stage, from the official pattern.

Stage	Questions	Marks	Time	Share
Written Examination (IMA, INA and AFA)	120	100	—	35%

English Language syllabus for CDS

Every topic in the official syllabus. The linked ones open a set of solved questions you can practise straight away.

Grammar and usage
Vocabulary, synonyms and antonyms
Sentence improvement and ordering
Comprehension

Sample English Language questions with solutions

Written to the CDS pattern, with the answer key and the method behind it — a look at how the section is actually set before you drill the full topic sets.

Reading comprehension · solved example

Microfinance was once hailed as a cure for rural poverty. By lending tiny sums to people who lacked collateral, it promised to turn the poor into entrepreneurs. Early results were encouraging: women in particular used the loans to start small trades and gained a measure of independence. Over time, however, critics noted that many borrowers used the money for consumption rather than investment, and that high interest rates could trap the very people the loans were meant to help. The consensus today is more cautious. Microfinance is a useful tool, but not a substitute for schools, roads and steady jobs.

The word "hailed" in the passage most nearly means:

sold
delayed
criticised
ignored
praisedCorrect

Solution

"Hailed" here means praised or acclaimed.

Error spotting · solved example

Find the part that contains an error. If there is no error, choose option E. He is senior (A) / than me (B) / by three years (C) / in the department (D).

He is senior
than meCorrect
by three years
in the department
No error

Solution

Words like 'senior', 'junior', 'superior' and 'prior' are followed by 'to', not 'than'. So 'than me' should be 'to me': he is senior to me by three years.

Reading comprehension · solved example

The shift to remote work, accelerated by the pandemic, has reshaped how companies think about offices. Employees enjoy saved commutes and greater flexibility, while firms can hire talent regardless of location. But the picture is not uniformly bright. Junior staff often learn best by watching seniors, something that video calls cannot fully replicate. Team spirit, too, can fray when colleagues never meet. Many organisations have therefore settled on a hybrid model, blending office days for collaboration with home days for focused work. Whether this compromise endures will depend on results, not slogans.

What model have many organisations adopted?

A hybrid modelCorrect
Fully office-based
No work at all
Night shifts only
Fully remote

Solution

Many settled on a hybrid model.

Reading comprehension · solved example

The gig economy, built on short tasks arranged through apps, has given millions a flexible way to earn. A driver or delivery rider can, in theory, choose when to work and for whom. This freedom is genuine, but it comes at a cost. Gig workers rarely receive the paid leave, insurance or pensions that regular employees take for granted. When demand dips, their income vanishes with it. Some governments are now testing rules that would grant basic protections without erasing the flexibility that draws people to the work in the first place.

What is the gig economy built on?

Long-term contracts
Government jobs
Factory shifts
Short tasks arranged through appsCorrect
Farming

Solution

It is built on short tasks arranged through apps.

Practise English Language

Untimed drills with the method shown after every question — the step between learning a topic and sitting it under a clock.

Sit English Language under a real clock

English Language shows up in every CDS mock test, in the same interface, with sectional locking and negative marking.

CDS: 27-question practice mock
27 questions | 27 min
Start

Frequently asked questions

How many English Language questions are asked in CDS?

CDS 2026 cycle sets 120 English Language questions for 100 marks in the Written Examination (IMA, INA and AFA).

Is there negative marking for English Language in CDS?

Yes. CDS deducts one third of a mark for each wrong answer, English Language included, so unsure guesses cost you. One third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.

Which English Language topics matter most for CDS?

The CDS syllabus lists Grammar and usage, Vocabulary, synonyms and antonyms, Sentence improvement and ordering, Comprehension. Weight your revision towards the ones you are weakest on and confirm the emphasis against the paper analysis for recent cycles.

How can I practise English Language for CDS free?

Every English Language question on this site is free and written to the exam pattern. Use the topic drills for instant-feedback practice, the daily quiz to keep the section warm, and the CDS mock tests to sit it under a real clock with negative marking.