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Time, Speed and Work PYQs (previous year questions) for CDS: Time, Speed and Work (Elementary Mathematics) had 133 questions across the 66 official CDS papers we tagged (2016–2026), and appeared in 22 of them. Asked in 11 of 11 years. The concepts asked in the most papers: Trains, Time and Work, Speed and Distance.
Year-wise question count
Asked in 11 of 11 years, with 2 papers each year.
| Year | Questions |
|---|---|
| CDS 2026 | 10 |
| CDS 2025 | 4 |
| CDS 2024 | 13 |
| CDS 2023 | 11 |
| CDS 2022 | 13 |
| CDS 2021 | 11 |
| CDS 2020 | 10 |
| CDS 2019 | 11 |
| CDS 2018 | 19 |
| CDS 2017 | 15 |
| CDS 2016 | 16 |
Most-asked concepts
Sorted by the number of papers a concept appeared in.
| Concept | Questions | Papers | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trains | 24 | 18 | 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016 |
| Time and Work | 41 | 17 | 2026, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 |
| Speed and Distance | 19 | 13 | 2026, 2025, 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 |
| Average Speed | 8 | 8 | 2026, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 |
| Speed and Time | 10 | 7 | 2025, 2024, 2022, 2021 |
| Boats and Streams | 7 | 7 | 2026, 2023, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2016 |
| Pipes and Cisterns | 7 | 7 | 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 |
| Clocks | 6 | 6 | 2024, 2022, 2021, 2018, 2016 |
| Races | 6 | 6 | 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016 |
| Circular Motion | 2 | 2 | 2019 |
| Data Sufficiency | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Speed and Stoppage | 1 | 1 | 2026 |
| Time Calculation | 1 | 1 | 2016 |
How to practise Time, Speed and Work PYQs
- Start with the concepts at the top of the table. They have come back the most.
- Solve one year’s Time, Speed and Work questions from the official PDF against the clock, then check the answer listed below.
- Log every miss as a concept gap, a calculation slip or a misread. Each needs a different fix.
- Once a concept is clean in two papers, move to the next. Then sit a full paper from the year pages.
Questions by year
Each line gives the question number and paper, type, concept, our one-line summary and the official answer, with a link to the official PDF.
CDS2026
- Q.9 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Time for 24 men and 72 women given two work combinations PDF
- Q.14 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Two workers working on alternate days, completion day PDF
- Q.15 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days needed to build a larger wall with more men and hours PDF
- Q.16 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Speed of train Q from times taken after crossing train P PDF
- Q.17 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Stoppage: Minutes per hour a train stops given speeds with and without stops PDF
- Q.18 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Boats and Streams: Ratio of boat speed to stream speed from downstream and upstream speeds PDF
- Q.6 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Speed of a train crossing two walkers moving the same way PDF
- Q.14 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Original walking speed from time saved at a higher speed PDF
- Q.24 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Boats and Streams: Speed of the stream for a boatman's round trip PDF
- Q.94 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Average Speed: Average speed of a cyclist for a round trip PDF
CDS2025
- Q.46 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Time: Usual time when travelling at 3/5 speed makes a man late PDF
- Q.50 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Time for a train to pass a station of combined length PDF
- Q.51 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Length of a faster train crossing a man in a slower train (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.52 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Distance at which a later-starting faster walker meets the first (official answer: C) PDF
CDS2024
- Q.2 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Time: Find x when four cars cover the same distance at given speeds and times (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.20 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Least time to finish a job using some of four workers (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.29 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days to finish a job when men leave in batches (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.45 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Number of men from equal work done in different days (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.55 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Distance at which a later faster train catches an earlier one (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.59 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Find q from men and days needed for a job (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.73 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Distance from a station where two trains meet (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.74 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Time at which two trains starting at different times meet (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.75 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Time for two trains to cross each other (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.9 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Ratio of speeds of two trains from crossing times PDF
- Q.42 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Time: Average speed of a monkey climbing a rod between towers PDF
- Q.62 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Data Sufficiency: Data sufficiency on days for A, B and C together to finish work PDF
- Q.90 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Clocks: Times the minute and second hands coincide between 2:01 and 4:01 PDF
CDS2023
- Q.8 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for C alone given relative work speeds of A, B, C (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.10 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Speed of a train from crossing times in both directions (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.34 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Relative efficiency of women and men from two work scenarios (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.35 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Pipes and Cisterns: Hours tap C ran before being closed while filling a tank (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.36 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Ratio of wages for three workers with different times (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.40 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Boats and Streams: Speed of stream from equal-time downstream and upstream trips (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.64 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Time to walk around a square field of given area (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.4 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for A, B, C together to finish half the work (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.7 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Value of n from relative work rates of A, B and C (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.14 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Home-to-office distance from early and late arrival speeds (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.78 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Train length from times to overtake two walkers (official answer: B) PDF
CDS2022
- Q.7 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Time: Distance from early and late arrival at two speeds (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.19 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Average Speed: Average speed of a car over three trips (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.27 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for a mixed group of men and women (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.28 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Time: Speed u from two cars' times and speed difference (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.40 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Time of the faster train from speed difference (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.13 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days after which X leaves the joint work (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.14 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Additional persons to finish work at fewer hours (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.15 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Time for a group of women and men (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.16 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: When two trains from opposite stations meet (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.23 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Clocks: Angle between clock hands at 4:40 (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.34 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Time: Original speed of an aircraft slowed by weather (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.36 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Time: Distance walked before overtaking (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.39 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Time: Speed of Y from walking times (official answer: C) PDF
CDS2021
- Q.29 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Speed of a train passing a platform (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.34 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Average Speed: Average speed of a train over two stretches (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.35 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Time: Usual time when slower speed causes delay (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.39 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for fewer people to clean fewer floors (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.40 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Value of x from work done by varying men and days (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.6 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Extra men needed to finish work on time (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.28 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Value of n from work ratios of men and days (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.33 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Boats and Streams: Speed of the stream from a round trip (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.38 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Clocks: When clock hands coincide between 3 and 4 (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.39 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for two tailors to stitch 30 suits (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.44 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Time: Total distance from two journey plans (official answer: C) PDF
CDS2020
- Q.28 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Races: Winner and margin in a race with a head start (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.29 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Usual speed of a train saving two hours at higher speed (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.30 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Ratio of a man's daily work to a woman's (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.44 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Time taken by Y from speed ratio and time difference (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.48 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Pipes and Cisterns: Time for the second outlet alone to empty a tank (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.15 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Time for a train to cross a bridge (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.18 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Units of work done by men with changed hours and days (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.24 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Original speed of a car that saves an hour (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.38 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: When the third traveller must start to overtake the first (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.41 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Length of a journey from changed speed and time (official answer: B) PDF
CDS2019
- Q.5 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Speed of a third car that meets two earlier-started cars together (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.11 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Distance to school from two cyclists' speeds and time gap (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.23 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Circular Motion: Timing of a plane circling an airport from equal elevation angles (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.31 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Average Speed: Average speed of a runner over a three-part race (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.36 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for a mix of men and women to reap a field (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.40 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Time for two people working together (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.17 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Circular Motion: Time for three runners to meet again at the start (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.25 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days a food stock lasts for fewer men (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.79 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Pipes and Cisterns: Time for the second tap alone to drain a tank (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.84 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Speed ratio of car and train from two journey plans (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.94 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Find x from work ratio of two worker groups (official answer: B) PDF
CDS2018
- Q.25 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for 6 women and 3 men to finish a job (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.26 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Extra men needed to finish work on schedule (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.27 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Length of a train crossing a pole (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.32 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Tractors needed to plough 100 hectares in 50 days (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.40 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Speed ratio of trains in same and opposite directions (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.46 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Boats and Streams: Distance rowed to a place and back in a stream (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.47 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Pipes and Cisterns: Statements needed to find a tank's capacity (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.48 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Average Speed: Return speed given average speed for round trip (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.56 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Clocks: Angle moved by hour hand in 10 minutes (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.10 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for A alone when efficiencies change (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.28 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Speed of a train passing a platform (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.29 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Average Speed: Average speed over a three-part journey (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.30 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Races: Result of a 6000 m race between A and C (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.32 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for B alone when A is thrice as efficient (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.40 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Hours per day needed by 8 men to build a wall (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.42 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Clocks: Clock gain or loss when hands meet every 72 minutes (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.43 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: When and where a car owner catches a thief (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.44 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for Y alone from joint and X's time (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.45 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for 8 persons to paint 20 rooms (official answer: D) PDF
CDS2017
- Q.23 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Races: Speed of B when A gives a start and wins (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.24 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for women to finish men's work (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.28 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for A alone from joint and B's rate (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.30 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for 5 men and 6 women to finish (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.31 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Meeting time of two trains from opposite cities (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.35 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Time for a train to pass a runner (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.44 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Distance thief runs before being caught (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.12 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Time to pass 91 kilometre stones (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.13 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Races: Speed of B in a 100 m race with a start (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.37 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Men who left a job midway (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.38 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Days for goats and sheep to graze a field (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.39 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Pipes and Cisterns: Time for an outlet to empty a tub (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.40 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Distance from a round trip at two speeds (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.45 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Boats and Streams: Statements on rowing and stream speeds (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.93 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Average Speed: Average speed over two stretches (official answer: A) PDF
CDS2016
- Q.22 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Speed of a train passing a walking man (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.24 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Cyclist's original speed from time change (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.33 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Petrol used over a trip at varying speeds (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.39 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Usual speed of a train from time saved (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.43 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Clocks: Time away when clock hands swap positions (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.46 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Pipes and Cisterns: Time for an outlet to empty a tank (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.47 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Races: Time by which A beats an injured B (official answer: A) PDF
- Q.74 (CDS (I) Maths) · MCQ · Time Calculation: Time when Madhukar was told of a meeting (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.12 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Races: How often the winner laps the other in a race (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.17 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Time and Work: Hours for A and B to finish remaining work (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.18 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Original time when speed rises 20% (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.26 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Boats and Streams: Speed of current from rowing data (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.37 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Pipes and Cisterns: Time tank fills when second pipe opens later (official answer: C) PDF
- Q.38 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Trains: Platform length from train crossing data (official answer: B) PDF
- Q.39 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Speed and Distance: Time ratio for speeds 2:3:4 (official answer: D) PDF
- Q.99 (CDS (II) Maths) · MCQ · Average Speed: Average speed for a round trip (official answer: C) PDF
Other Elementary Mathematics topics
- Number System and Simplification PYQs
- Percentage, Ratio, Profit and Interest PYQs
- Algebra PYQs
- Trigonometry PYQs
- Geometry PYQs
- Mensuration PYQs
- Statistics PYQs
FAQ
How many Time, Speed and Work questions come in CDS?
In the official papers we tagged: 10 in 2026, 4 in 2025, 13 in 2024, 11 in 2023, 13 in 2022, 11 in 2021, 10 in 2020, 11 in 2019, 19 in 2018, 15 in 2017 and 16 in 2016 (2 papers each year). That is 133 questions in all, about 6% of Elementary Mathematics.
Which Time, Speed and Work topics repeat in CDS?
Asked in the most papers: Trains, Time and Work, Speed and Distance. The concept table lists every one with its count.
Are these official CDS questions?
Yes. Every question is from an official CDS paper hosted on our year pages. The one-line summaries are ours; open the PDF linked beside each question for the full text.