UPSC CSAT Complete Information Guide
About UPSC CSAT
The UPSC CSAT, or Civil Services Aptitude Test, is a crucial component of the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India. The CSAT serves as the second of two papers in the preliminary stage of the examination. It was introduced in 2011 to assess the analytical, decision-making, and comprehension abilities of candidates aspiring to join the Indian Civil Services.
Basically UPSC CSE exam has three stages of exam as below and UPSC CSAT fits into one of the stages
| Stage | Paper | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage1 (Prelims) | Paper I – General Studies – (Objective – Cut off marks for Stage 2 Eligibility) Paper II – CSAT (Objective- (Minimum 66 Marks to be obtained- Qualifying) | 200 200 | 2 hrs 2 hrs |
| Stage 2 (Mains) | Papers 1 to 9 ( General Studies and Elective papers ) | 1750 | 3 hrs/Paper |
| Stage 3 (Interview) | Panel Interview | 275 | 1 hr Approx. |
Final Selection will be based on Marks obtained in Stage 2(Mains) and Stage 3(Interview) combined.
Why UPSC introduced CSAT paper ?
- Although UPSC CSAT paper is qualifying in nature, it is also one of the important papers, because without clearing 33% marks in this paper, candidate is not eligible to sit for the UPSC mains exam.
- CSAT paper is specially designed by UPSC to test the Reading comprehension, Basic Mathematics and Aptitude for reasoning ability of the candidate.
- The syllabus of the paper is crafted to evaluate your ability to read English paragraphs with above-average speed, comprehend the content, and draw conclusive inferences from them. Given that English is the predominant language of global communication and serves as a common official language for both government and non-governmental organizations across all states in our country, it plays a central role in facilitating communication at various levels.
- The Quantitative Ability section assesses candidates’ fundamental numeracy and mathematical problem-solving skills at up to the 10th standard level with speed. Expectations include a grasp of basic concepts such as percentage, ratio, interest, averages, and elementary rules of division and multiplication.
- In Logical Reasoning, candidates are evaluated on their capacity to deduce meaning from given inputs, whether in the form of statements or mathematical terms. This involves correlating multiple data points provided and extracting useful conclusions from them.
- With the understanding that you will be assuming the role of a Class I officer, UPSC aims to guarantee that the selected candidate possesses the requisite aptitude to tackle challenges in real-world job scenarios.
Exam Pattern of UPSC CSAT / Paper II of Prelims
- Total Marks- 200
- Number of Questions- 100
- Time – 2 Hours ( No section wise time )
- Negative marking – Yes (1/3rd marks are deducted for every wrong answer)
- Exam Mode- Offline
- Language- Hindi/English
- Qualifying Marks- 66 Marks (33%) to be obtained to be eligible
Detailed Syllabus of UPSC CSAT- Paper II- UPSC Prelims 2024
| Reading Comprehension | 1. Paragraph based questions |
Quantitative Ability | 1. Numbers 2. Average 3. Percentage and Ratios 4. Mixtures 5. Linear Equation 6. Simple Interest Compound interest 7. LCM HCF 8. Sets 9. Probability 10. Data Interpretation 11. Sequence and Series 12. Calendar 13. Clock 14. Work Time 15. Time Distance 16. Boat Stream 17. Geometry |
Reasoning Ability | 1. Directions 2. Inequalities 3. Coding Decoding 4. Syllogism and Logical Deduction 5. Data Sufficiency 6. Reasoning Literary 7. Ranking Puzzles 8. Sitting arrangement Puzzles 9. Relation Puzzles 10. Multiple Correlation Puzzles |
How to Prepare for UPSC CSAT Paper/ UPSC Prelims Paper II
Preparing for the UPSC CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) paper requires a strategic approach and dedication. Here are some tips to help you prepare effectively:
- Understand the Syllabus: Familiarize yourself with the CSAT syllabus. You can refer to the syllabus that officially provided by UPSC. The best way to find out what is relevant syllabus is by referring Previous Years questions papers and analyzing the exam pattern and weightage of the topics in it.
- Previous Year Question Papers: Like for any other exam this is the most important data that you should have in hand. PYQ will provide clear understanding about what are the number of topics to be covered, which are the relevant topics and which are non relevant topics. How the weightage on the topics has changes over time and what is the difficulty level of the paper. You can also Download our book on UPSC Prelims CSAT Topic Wise PYQs (eBook).
- Study Materials: Gather comprehensive study materials for fundamental understanding of topics and for practice. For Quantitative aptitude and Reasoning the book by Mr. R. S. Agarwal is sufficient and comprehensive enough. Although for in depth preparation you can refer to books by Arun Sharma specially designed for CAT exam. For Reading comprehension also you can refer to the book by Mr. Arun Sharma for CAT. We will be soon publishing a book for preparation and practice specially designed for CSAT exam based on PYQ analysis so as to minimize your preparation time. Until then you can refer to our PYQ analysis booklet to ease your efforts.
- Create a Study Plan: Develop a structured study plan that covers all the topics within the syllabus. Allocate sufficient time for each subject, and prioritize areas where you need more practice. Try not to skip any topic because UPSC changes the weightage on topics every year. Treat this as one of the important papers so as to once you have prepared for this paper, you will not have to refer to CSAT preparation again and again.
- Focus on Basics: Strengthen your basics in quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, and comprehension. Practice solving mathematical problems, reading passages, and improving your reasoning skills regularly.
- Practice Regularly: Regular practice is key to success in CSAT. Since the paper has 100 questions and 120 minute of time it is most important to be able to read and solve the question in nearly 2 minutes. After getting basic idea of the topic, practice as much as possible to become familiar with the concepts, questions and how to approach them in a short cut manner. Solve mock tests, sample papers, and previous years’ question papers to get familiar with the exam pattern and improve your speed and accuracy.
- Seek Guidance: Based on level of current expertise in CSAT studies, You may consider joining a coaching institute or online courses for structured guidance and expert assistance in your preparation to minimize the preparation time.
- Stay Positive and Consistent: Stay motivated and maintain a positive attitude throughout your preparation journey. Be consistent with your efforts and stay focused on your goal of clearing the CSAT exam.
Remember, thorough preparation, consistent practice, and a positive mindset are essential for success in the UPSC CSAT paper. Good luck with your preparation!
Our Study Material
UPSC CSAT Previous Year Question Paper Analysis Book. This book is most relevant and useful to start you preparation for the CSAT paper. It is a must have book to ease your preparation for the price of a Pav Bhaji.
This is one of the best guiding book for UPSC CSAT