Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will release the answer key of Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) II after the announcement of the final result. CDS answer key 2020 will be released in PDF format for all the sets of question papers. Candidates can download the CDS 2020 answer key and question papers from the official website i.e. upsc.gov.in. The answer key will have all the correct answers to the questions asked in the exam.
Going through the CDS answer key will enable candidates to know the correct answers and cross-check the calculated scores with their final CDS result score. The authorities only release the final CDS answer key 2020 (the CDS answer key is not released provisionally) after the completion of the recruitment process. Hence, candidates cannot raise objections against the answer key. However, examinees can refer to unofficial answer keys of CDS question paper, released by the CDS coaching institutions to estimate their score before the release of CDS result. To know more about CDS answer key 2020, skim through this article.
CDS Answer Key – Key Dates
Interested candidates can check the key dates of Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination 2020 events in the table below:
CDS Answer Key 2020 Schedule
| Events | CDS I Important Dates | CDS II Important Dates |
| CDS entrance exam | February 2, 2020 | November 8, 2020 |
| CDS written exam result | March 23, 2020 | December 2020 |
| SSB call letter | NA | To be announced |
| SSB Interview | NA | To be announced |
| CDS final result | NA | January 2021 (likely) |
| CDS Answer Key | NA | To be announced |
CDS Answer Key – Steps to Download
Candidates can download the CDS answer key 2020 from the official website by following the steps given below:
Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in
Step 2: Click on the ‘examination’ tab, available on the page.
Step 3: Now, a drop-down menu will appear on the screen, click on the ‘answer keys’ tab.
Step 4: A new page will be displayed on the screen. Click on ‘CDS answer key’ as per the choice of your subject.
Step 5: The link will redirect you to the answer key PDF.
Step 6: Download the answer key and save it for future references.
CDS Answer Key – Previous Years’ Answer Keys
The authorities will release the CDS answer key 2020 after the announcement of the final result. In the meanwhile, candidates can check out the previous years’ CDS answer keys below.
CDS Answer Key 2020 – CDS I
| Subjects | Answer Key Link |
| English | To be available soon |
| General Knowledge | To be available soon |
| Elementary Mathematics | To be available soon |
CDS Answer Key 2019 – CDS II
| Subjects | Answer Key Link |
| English | To be available soon |
| General Knowledge | To be available soon |
| Elementary Mathematics | To be available soon |
CDS Answer Key 2019 – CDS I
| Subjects | Answer Key Link |
| English | Download Here |
| General Knowledge | Download Here |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download Here |
CDS Answer Key 2018 – CDS II
| Subjects | Answer Key Link |
| English | Download Here |
| General Knowledge | Download Here |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download Here |
CDS Answer Key 2018 – CDS I
| Subjects | Answer Key Link |
| English | Download Here |
| General Knowledge | Download Here |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download Here |
CDS Answer Key – Marking Scheme
As per the exam pattern of CDS, candidates are allotted 1 mark for each correct answer. For each incorrect response, one-third mark will be deducted. Check out the formula used for calculating the score here:
| CDS 2020 Score Calculation
Total Marks = Number of Correct Answers – (Number of Wrong Answers × 0.33) |
CDS Answer Key – Question Papers
Candidates preparing for the entrance exam are advised to solve the CDS question papers of previous years to get an idea about the nature of questions, weightage given to different topics and other important aspects of the entrance exam. Candidates can also challenge the CDS question papers by following the steps provided below:
How to raise objections against CDS question papers?
Step 1: Go to the official website – upsc.gov.in
Step 2: Click on question papers through Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep) of UPSC.
Step 3: Enter the required details and submit the same.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) opens the Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep) for a limited time where the candidates cannot raise the objection(s) against the CDS question papers beyond the deadline.
CDS Answer Key – Question Paper Download Links
Candidates can check the PDFs of CDS question papers for the year 2020 and 2019 in the tables provided below:
CDS – II 2020 Question Papers
| Subjects | Question Paper Link |
| English | Not Available |
| General Knowledge | Not Available |
| Elementary Mathematics | Not Available |
CDS – I 2020 Question Papers
| Subjects | Question Paper Link |
| English | Download Here |
| General Knowledge | Download Here |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download Here |
CDS – II 2019 Question Papers
| Subjects | Question Paper Link |
| English | Download Here |
| General Knowledge | Download Here |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download Here |
CDS – I 2019 Question Papers
| Subjects | Question Paper Link |
| English | Download Here |
| General Knowledge | Download Here |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download Here |
CDS – II 2018 Question Papers
| Subjects | Question Paper Link |
| English | Download Here |
| General Knowledge | Download Here |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download Here |
CDS – I 2018 Question Papers
| Subjects | Question Paper Link |
| English | Download Here |
| General Knowledge | Download Here |
| Elementary Mathematics | Download Here |
CDS Answer Key – Result
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) declares the result of CDS exam in two stages – written and final result/merit list. CDS results for the written exam will be available in PDF format and will encompass the roll numbers and names of the qualified candidates. Candidates can check their results on the official website of UPSC. All the candidates who qualify the written test will qualify to sit for the SSB Interview. After the interview round, the final result of CDS will be released. The authorities will release the CDS answer key 2020 after the announcement of CDS II final result.
CDS Exam Pattern 2020
Candidates can check the table below to know more about the CDS answer key 2020.
Overview of CDS Paper Pattern
| Particulars | Specification |
| Name of the exam | Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) |
| Exam conducting body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination mode | Offline |
| Type of questions | Objective-type |
| Sections | For IMA, INA and AFA – English, General Knowledge and Elementary Mathematics
For OTA – English and General Knowledge |
| Marks allotted to each section | 100 |
| Marking scheme | +1 for each correct answer, -1/3 for each wrong answer |
| Time duration | Two hours for each paper |
CDS Answer Key – FAQs
✔️ Can I raise objections or challenge the answer key of CDS?<br />
No. You cannot challenge the CDS answer key. However, there is a provision to raise objections against CDS question paper in case you find any discrepancies.
✔️ Will any coaching centre release the CDS answer key 2020?
Yes. Soon after the written exam gets over, many coaching institutes release the CDS answer key for the candidates. Some of such coaching institutes are Major Kalshi Classes, SSB Crack, Cavalier, Aims & Achieve, etc.
✔️ What’s the benefit of accessing the unofficial answer key of CDS even when UPSC releases the answer keys officially?
The unofficial answer keys of CDS are released by the coaching institutions soon after the exam while UPSC releases the official and final CDS answer keys after the final result declaration. In such a scenario, only unofficial CDS answer keys help the candidates predict their score well before the CDS final result announcement.
✔️ Can I calculate my score by using the CDS answer key?
Yes, you can calculate your CDS exam score by using the answer key of CDS. As per the marking scheme of the CDS exam, 1 mark is credited for each correct answer whereas the deduction of 1/3rd mark for each incorrect response is applicable.
✔️ What is the Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep)?
Question Representation Portal is the platform for candidates to raise objections against the CDS question papers within the specified deadline. UPSC charges no fees from the candidates to raise objection(s) against the question(s).
✔️ In what mode the answer key of CDS will be available?
The CDS answer keys will be released online in the form of PDF’s on the official website. Candidates can easily download the answer key by visiting the website of UPSC and following certain steps after logging into their dashboard.
Keep visiting Buddy4Study to gain knowledge about CDS Exam 2020 and other competitive exams.
