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CDS | Written Examination (IMA, INA and AFA)

CDS: 27-question practice mock

A compact, single-clock CDS practice mock: 27 original questions across English Language, General Awareness and Mathematics, each with a worked solution. One third of a mark is deducted for a wrong answer.

Before you start

  • 27 questions in 27 minutes on a single clock — a short drill, not a full-length paper.
  • Each question carries one mark; one third of a mark is deducted for a wrong answer, and unanswered questions carry no penalty.
  • Every question is original, written to the CDS pattern, with a worked solution shown after you submit.

Sections in this test

SectionQuestions
English LanguageEnglish Language9
General AwarenessGeneral Awareness9
MathematicsMathematics9

Sample questions with worked solutions

A few questions from this test, with the answer key and the method behind it. The full set of 27 runs under a timer, and every solution is on the analysis screen once you submit.

English Language · 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.

General Awareness · solved example

The headquarters of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is in:

  • Washington, D.C.Correct
  • Paris
  • Geneva
  • London

Solution

The IMF is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Mathematics · solved example

Find the next term: 5, 11, 23, 47, ?

  • 94
  • 96
  • 95Correct
  • 93

Solution

Each term is double the previous plus one: 5×2+1 = 11, 11×2+1 = 23, 23×2+1 = 47, and 47×2+1 = 95.

English Language · 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.

English Language · 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.

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How this test is marked

Correct answer

+1

Wrong answer

-0.3333

Unanswered

0

Because a blank carries no penalty, guessing only pays when you can eliminate at least two options. The analysis screen after the test shows you exactly where guessing cost you marks.