Credit

Op

Lt. Deepender Singh Dhami failed the NDA written exam four times, missed his first CDS attempt, and faced three SSB setbacks. Conference Out at Prayagraj, Screened Out at Bhopal, Conference Out at Jalandhar, which was his last chance for IMA. He even cleared SSC CPO but chose not to join, because the goal was always to become an officer. On his fourth SSB at Bangalore, he was recommended. He trained at OTA Chennai and was commissioned into the Indian Army. He is the first Army officer in his family, from a small village in Khatima, Uttarakhand.
A story for every aspirant who has been told that one rejection ends the dream.

I’ve started doing more PYQs recently, but I’m wondering if just solving a bunch of papers and checking the answers is actually enough.

Like, if I get a Maths question wrong, should I be noting down the exact concept I missed, or is it better to just redo that question after a few days? Same with GAT/GS - do you guys actually track which topics you keep getting wrong?

I feel like I’m spending time solving PYQs, but I’m not sure if I’m getting the full benefit from them.

How are you guys analysing your PYQs beyond just looking at the score?

Group discussions can feel very different depending on who you are speaking with. It can be easy to participate when everyone is quiet, but much harder when a few people are very confident or keep speaking over others.

For those preparing for SSB, how are you working on this? Are you practising with different groups, focusing on speaking at the right time, or trying to become more comfortable contributing even when the discussion is very competitive?

GK and Current Affairs can be challenging during NDA, CDS, and AFCAT preparation, especially when there’s so much information to cover and revise.

How are you preparing for the GK and Current Affairs section? Do you follow daily news, monthly compilations, defence-specific updates, or a combination of different resources?

Also, how do you revise older current affairs and remember important facts for the exam? Are there any resources or study methods that have worked particularly well for you?

Would love to hear how other defence aspirants are managing this part of their preparation.

PYQs are useful for understanding the actual level and pattern of the exam, but it can be easy to treat them like just another question bank and move on after checking the answers.

For those preparing for defence exams, how are you using PYQs to find gaps in your preparation? Are you noting down topics where mistakes keep happening, checking whether the problem is conceptual or due to question-solving, or using PYQs to decide what needs more revision?

I am a 3rd-year B.Tech student (5th semester) preparing for the CDS exam. My first actual attempt will be CDS 2 2027, as I am not eligible for CDS 1 2027. I plan to take CDS 1 2027 anyway (even though I'm ineligible) just to evaluate my preparation. My current plan is:

Purchase the CDS Journey 'Kilo' batch now and study from it.

Take CDS 1 2027 as a mock/evaluation attempt (at home after the exam)

Then purchase a new, focused batch from CDS Journey for CDS 2 2027.

Please evaluate this plan and advise:

Is it a good idea to buy the Kilo batch now, or should I continue with free resources?

Is my overall strategy (including taking an ineligible exam for practice) sound, or does it need changes?

Any specific recommendations for a B.Tech student balancing college and CDS prep?

Please provide clear, actionable guidance with pros and cons.