Top Tips to Crack NDA PET Exam in First Attempt
The National Defence Academy (NDA) examination is a prestigious national examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for admission into the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The exam is conducted twice a year – NDA 1 and NDA 2. While NDA 1 is conducted for admission in the January batch, NDA 2 admits qualified defence candidates in the July batch.
To qualify NDA exam, candidates go through various examination levels and display their skills and eligibility to earn the honor of serving in the Indian defence forces. This exam is divided into two stages – Written Examination and Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) interview. While the written exam tests the Mathematical and General abilities of the candidates, the SSB interview is a detailed test process wherein the candidates must undertake various tests to prove their mettle. There are multiple levels in SSB, including screening, a psychological test, group testing officers (GTO) tasks, and a personal interview. Some necessary medical examinations are also conducted later.
The NDA Physical Examination Test (PET) is one of the tests conducted during the GTO Task to determine and judge candidates’ physiological capabilities and abilities to carry out characteristic military tasks. Candidates start training from an early age to enhance their fitness levels and meet specific requirements mentioned in the NDA notification. The best time for candidates to prepare for this exam is right after taking their board exams. However, many start their fitness journey even before that.
Here’s a brief exploration of important dates and tips to crack this exam in the first attempt.
What are the registration dates for NDA exam 2024?
Candidates can take the NDA-2 exam 2024, which will be held on 1 September 2024. Passing this examination will get them admission in the July batch of 2025. The notification for this exam will be out on 15 May 2024. As per NDA 2 2024 age limit criteria, only those candidates born between 2 January 2005 and 1 January 2008 will be eligible to apply for this examination.
The registration link for the NDA -1 exam 2024 was open from December 20, 2023, to January 9, 2004. It is closed now.
Tips to Crack NDA PET Exam in First Attempt
The NDA examination is one of the toughest examinations across the globe. It tests various aspects of candidates, such as balance, coordination, strength, stamina, endurance, willpower, etc., that are necessary for daily tasks and protecting the motherland from various threats. Initially, many candidates are confused about how to prepare for the NDA physical fitness test and which military-style workouts they should incorporate into their physical training routine. The following tips will help candidates develop a basic understanding of how to enhance their physical fitness to crack the NDA PET exam at first attempt.
1. Improve Your Endurance and Stamina Levels
The best way to build endurance and stamina is by incorporating cardio exercises, including running, stair climbing, cycling, and swimming, into your daily fitness routine. For instance, run daily for at least 4 km to enhance your sustenance against fatigue and breathlessness. These exercises make your heart pump blood more effectively, lower your resting heart rate, and improve your aerobic capacity. As a result, your cardiorespiratory endurance is improved, and you can give consistent performance for longer durations. Just make sure to be consistent in your endeavors and regularly switch your workouts every 14-20 days (about 3 weeks) to not let your body get used to the physical fitness routine and reap the benefits of your fitness efforts.
2. Indulge in Functional Training
Functional training is beneficial for defence candidates as it is a kind of 360-degree training that helps in enhancing various aspects required in the NDA physical test exam. This type of physical fitness training trains your muscles to perform physical tasks without strain and reduces the risk of injuries. It improves stamina, energy, balance, flexibility, and aerobic capacity. It is a low-impact exercise that helps you strengthen your physical abilities without putting pressure or strain on your joints. Some of the functional fitness exercises include jumping jacks, bodyweight squats, push-ups, bear crawls, lateral lunges, glute bridges, and walking. Incorporating these exercises into your fitness routine does not require frequent visits to the gym and can be performed at a convenient place.
3. Run, Run, Run
Running is a significant component of the NDA physical fitness test. Every candidate should be able to run 2.4 km within 15 minutes. Achieving this goal will require a consistent routine and staunch determination. Candidates who look forward to beginning their running training should aim to run thrice a week. Running daily might induce intense fatigue in the initial days, so start with thrice a week and gradually increase the number of days.
To run, you can include the following in your routine:
- Fartlek Run: In this routine, you run fast for a particular distance and then reduce your pace to jog slowly for that same distance to recover yourself.
- Tempo Run: Also known as Threshold runs, this running exercise requires sustained efforts for running at an explosive pace (higher than your regular speed) for a specific duration. You do not pause and do repetitions after a tempo run, which is why it is a difficult feat to achieve during the initial days of your NDA physical training.
Conclusion
It is significant to enhance your fitness to pass the fitness round of the SSB interview. Every year, thousands of candidates take this exam, and only a few are chosen for this coveted honor. So, prepare to the best of your abilities and seek external help, if necessary, to get into shape and fulfill all the requirements mentioned in the NDA notification. While it might feel overwhelming in the initial days, it will get better gradually!
Good luck!
