How to Prepare for NDA 2026 Along with Board Exams

Tips to Manage Time Effectively Between Boards and the NDA Exam

Are you going to try for the NDA in Class 11th or Class 12th? That is great, but sometimes preparing for NDA and preparing for boards can be tiring. Both of you will just have to give effort and time to it, and it won't be an easy job to serve them both simultaneously without the other one suffering.

So, how do you break NDA 2026 without compromising your boards? Simple, just have a clever and practical plan. In this article, we will teach you how to deal with both without exhausting yourself.

Understanding the Challenge

Before you start with the preparation, be careful of what you are doing. The NDA exam is an exam that is held twice a year, and it is extremely tough; it requires your subject knowledge, logical aptitude, and even personality to be tested. Along with this, your board exams (CBSE, ICSE, or state boards) are also equally crucial.

These reflect your school record, so they leave the options open should you wish to pursue further education after school at any other time in the future. The point is, don't think of these sit exams as competing options. The secret to this process is to learn efficiently and prepare for the NDA and board exams at the same time.

Step 1: Know the NDA Exam Structure

To plan smartly, you first need to know what an NDA actually demands. The written exam has two papers:

The NDA Maths comes directly from the syllabus of 11th and 12th grade, same as the boards. GAT consists of English and GK. So if you prepare smartly, prepping for one subject actually helps in the other subject. So it's a win-win.

Step 2: Create a Realistic Timetable

The key to doing both is not to work harder but to work smarter. You don't need to have a 12-hour day of study; you need consistency and discipline.

Here’s a schedule you can tailor to the timings of your school:

This schedule allocates equal importance to both sides. The catch is that daily contact, even a single hour of NDA preparation daily, makes a huge difference in the long run.

Step 3: Combine the Board and the NDA Syllabus Smartly

The majority of students believe that NDA and boards are two totally different exams that's not the case. In actuality, there is a lot of similarity between the two. Here's how you can combine the preparation:

Mathematics

All the topics in NDA Maths like Algebra, Trigonometry, Matrices, Probability, and Calculus are in your 11th and 12th syllabi.

While revising these topics for board exams, make short notes of concepts and formulas. If you finish the chapter, solve some NDA-level questions to improve your concept application skills.

Science

The Science part in NDA's GAT paper includes Physics, Chemistry, and Biology until the 10th class level. As a Science stream student, you already possess an advantage here. While studying your school notes, pay particular attention to concepts as opposed to long derivations, since NDA questions are conceptually oriented.

English

English carries 200 marks in the NDA GAT paper. Your board preparation already has grammar, reading comprehension, and writing skills, all of which will come in handy for NDA. Develop a habit of reading newspapers daily. It enhances vocabulary, reading comprehension, and awareness at the same time.

General Knowledge and Current Affairs

This is one space that requires constant effort. Reading daily news, defence news, and national events will keep you ahead of others. 15–20 minutes a day on current affairs is sufficient if you remain consistent.

Step 4: Weekend Strategy – Use It Wisely

School and coaching may fill up weekdays, so the weekends should be optimally utilised.

Here's an intelligent weekend routine:

• On Saturdays, dedicate your time to solving NDA Maths and English mock tests.
• On Sundays, revise current affairs, science, and static GK.
• Every alternate week, take a full-length NDA mock test to build speed and exam stamina.

Step 5: Keep Yourself Physically Fit

While preparing for NDA, there is the written part, but in addition to building a physical and mental edge. The SSB interview and training in the academy also demand a lot of stamina and endurance.

Exercise 30-45 minutes a day, run, do push-ups, yoga, or play any sport. It makes you fit and enables you to focus better. When your body is healthy, your mind remains active too, making it easier to study and retain what you've learned.

Step 6: Avoid Common Mistakes

Most NDA aspirants commit some simple but expensive errors while preparing with the boards. Steer clear of them to avoid a great deal of stress later.

Ignoring Boards Completely

Some students focus only on the NDA and neglect their board exams. This can backfire because board preparation strengthens your base in subjects like Maths and English. Keep a balanced focus.

Not Solving NDA-Level Questions

Theory is not enough. You need to practice objective-type questions regularly. After completing a chapter, attempt the NDA previous year in order to check your speed and accuracy.

Studying for Long Hours Without Breaks

Learning for extended study periods of 10-12 hours is not productive, as it tires you and dilutes retention. Study in small blocks of around 50 minutes of learning, with breaks in between of 10 minutes, to remain fresh.

Step 7: Get the Right Guidance

Self-study is an important part of the process, but a professional mentor will hasten the process and keep you going. If you decide to join a legitimate NDA coaching institute, you will be provided with organised preparation, frequent tests, and guidance for the written and the SSB stage.

For example, Centurion Defence Academy provides NDA coaching courses as per board timings and offers conceptual classes, personal counselling, physical training, and SSB counselling under one roof.

If you want to do things the online way, the Centurion Digital App has live sessions, sessions already recorded, and practice tests that will enable you to keep preparing for the NDA process without having to leave your school.

Step 8: Follow a 3-Phase Preparation Plan for NDA 2026

Here’s a simple and practical roadmap for your journey to the NDA 2026 exam.

Phase 1: Foundation Building (Till March 2025)

Do your Class 11th and initial 12th basics at this stage. Practice daily, take notes, and begin contributing about an hour daily towards NDA work.

Phase 2: Integrated Preparation (April 2025 – Feb 2026)

Your board syllabus and NDA are now parallel to each other. Practice questions at the NDA level from completed board topics.

Practice previous years' papers as practice, and practice GK and English daily. In the evenings and weekends, to gauge your progress, give some mock tests.

Phase 3: Final Revision (After Boards, March 2026 onwards)

After you've completed your board exams, you'll have NDA alone to worry about. Prepare each subject meticulously, provide a mock test on the whole subject every two days, and focus on accuracy and speed.

Physical activity, but your mind should be chilled before the exam.

Step 9: Maintain the Right Mindset

Managing the NDA and boards can be exhausting at times, but you are not the first to do so. There are thousands of students each year who do it. Some of those students even end up joining the elite academy. Your determination, commitment, and attitude are what matter most.

Do not let your experience define what another individual is experiencing. Stick to your schedule, improve a little each day, and have a positive attitude. Sometimes you may feel like it is dragging along, but it will be consistent.

Final Words

It is a difficult task to prepare for the NDA 2026 exam and board exams at the same time, but with proper time management and focus, it is very much achievable. As your board exams are the platform that improves your academic skills, NDA is the one that is putting you forward to become a future officer. Study smart, be disciplined and also take care of your health. You can do well in both.

With the right coaching institution, like the Centurion Defence Academy, it becomes quite easy to stay well-organised and focused. Start right away, plan, and be consistent. Work hard, do what I advise and have the right belief mechanism, and you'll be in contention to succeed in the NDA and serve the nation.

Read more:

NDA 2026: Common Mistakes to Avoid During Preparation

NDA Foundation with Schooling: The Smartest Career Choice After 10th

Top 3 Books for NDA Maths Preparation

Top 7 NDA Coaching Institutes in India 2025 with Fees