The UPSC CSE Exam is a highly competitive exam in India that selects candidates for various civil services. The Prelims exam comprises two papers - Paper 1 (General Studies Paper-1) and Paper 2, the UPSC CSAT or GS Paper 2. The CSAT full form is Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). The UPSC CSAT was introduced in the year 2011 and is designed to test a candidate's aptitude, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making skills, and comprehension ability. The CSAT is qualifying is nature, meaning that the marks obtained in this exam will not be considered in preparation of the final merit list. However, to pass the UPSC Prelims CSAT exam, candidates are required to obtain a minimum of 33% marks. There will be a total of 80 questions for 200 marks asked in the CSAT Paper. The duration of the CSAT is 2 hours. 

In this article, we will provide you with a concise guide to the UPSC CSAT Exam, including its eligibility criteria, syllabus, exam pattern, and preparation tips to help you clear this critical exam/paper.

Check out CSAT Course for preparation here!

UPSC CSAT Full Form

The UPSC CSAT Full Form is UPSC Civil Services Aptitude Test. It is the 2nd of the two papers that comprise the IAS Prelims exam. The CSAT is a qualifying paper that evaluates a candidate's aptitude and overall knowledge required to become an IAS Officer. The UPSC CSAT was introduced in 2011 and marked a significant shift in the structure of the Prelims exam. It is also known as the General Studies Paper-2 or GS Paper-2 of Prelims stage. Marks obtained in this paper are not taken into account in the preparation of final UPSC Result. However, candidates must obtain minimum qualifying marks, i.e., 33% in this paper to qualify the Prelims stage. 

UPSC CSAT Exam Pattern 2025

The UPSC CSAT Paper (Prelims GS Paper 2) will be conducted on a single day along with the Prelims GS Paper 1. Both papers will be objective type. The CSAT paper will be of a total of 200 marks. Have a look at the UPSC CSAT Exam Pattern in the table below:

CSAT Paper - Points to be noted:

• Every right answer is rewarded 2.5 marks.
• For Every wrong answer one-third of the marks will be deducted.
• The questions are of an objective type.
• No marks are deducted for unattempted questions.

You can check the detailed UPSC Exam Pattern here!

UPSC CSAT Qualifying Marks

The UPSC CSAT paper is qualifying in nature. The total marks is 200 and candidates need to score at least 33% marks to qualify for the next round. This comes up to nearly scoring 66 marks out of 200. Candidates should not ignore this paper just thinking it is a qualifying paper. It should be prepared with equal dedication.

Check out CSAT Preparation Strategy For UPSC here.

UPSC CSAT Syllabus

The UPSC CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) is a rigorous examination that assesses candidates for various civil services roles. Understanding the Maths Syllabus of UPSC CSAT, which includes topics such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry, is essential to excel in the quantitative aptitude section. Additionally, the Reasoning Syllabus covering topics such as analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, and data interpretation, is crucial for candidates to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. A strong grasp of these subjects is crucial for achieving success in the UPSC CSAT examination and excelling in various fields of public service.

Importance of UPSC CSAT Exam

Candidates appearing for UPSC IAS CSAT must know the importance of why the paper is being conducted and what importance it holds. Given below are the possible reasons why the UPSC CSAT Exam is important for the candidates appearing in the exam:

• For determining the final order of merit (IAS prelims ranking) of the applicant to qualify for the UPSC mains examination, the total marks of both UPSC Prelims Paper-1 (General Studies Paper) and Paper-2 (CSAT Paper) were taken into account.
• However, a portion of the aspirant community objected to the CSAT being included in the ranking order, and the UPSC responded by making a minor alteration in the design. The CSAT was made a qualifying paper in 2015.
• To pass the Civil Services Preliminary Examination, students must achieve a minimum of 33 per cent, or 66 out of 200, on the CSAT paper, according to the current UPSC examination structure.
• Only those candidates who achieve a score of 66 or more in GS Paper-2 while simultaneously exceeding the UPSC-mandated cut-off marks in GS Paper-1 are eligible to take the civil services mains examination.

Practice UPSC Reasoning Questions here!

UPSC CSAT Preparation Tips

Check out the below tips for UPSC CSAT preparation:

• Practice 4-5 Reading Comprehension on a daily basis. You can also learn new words to enhance your vocabulary. This will help you comprehend the reading comprehension better.
• Logical reasoning and data interpretation are also very important. Get yourself comfortable with numbers and increase your calculation skills.
• Divide your time wisely and give equal time and importance to General Studies I and CSAT/ General Studies II.
• Some of the questions are lengthy and time-consuming. So candidates should also prepare for writing speed.

Practice UPSC GK Questions here!

UPSC CSAT - Important Books To Refer

The candidates will have to refer to a different set of UPSC CSAT Books to prepare for the CSAT/ General Studies II Paper. We have listed a few books to boost your preparation.

Candidates must also refer to the below book list for CSAT (UPSC Prelims GS Paper 2).

CSAT UPSC - Trend Analysis From 2011-2020

Given below is the subject-wise trend analysis for CSAT Exam from the year 2011-2020. Candidates should understand the CSAT paper trend properly to get a better understanding of how the CSAT paper was designed in the past few years.

In the table below, you can have a look at the no. of questions that were asked about a particular topic of the CSAT Paper from the year 2011-2020.

UPSC CSAT Previous Year Paper (2014-2019)

It is extremely important for the candidates to refer to the previous year papers before they appear for their exam. The UPSC CSAT question papers help you understand what kind of questions were asked and what weightage those questions hold in the exam.

Given below is the table containing UPSC CSAT Previous Year Papers from 2014-2022:

Check the analysis of UPSC 2021 CSAT Paper and Answer Key here.

A Brief Timeline Of UPSC CSAT (Prelims Paper 2)

• Prior to 2011, the UPSC Prelims followed the recommendations of the Kothari Committee in 1979.
• Back then, the UPSC Prelims comprised two papers:
  • GS - 150 points
  • Paper II - 300 marks on one of 23 optional subjects.
• The UPSC revised the Civil Services Exam's preliminary stage in 2010-2011. There are two more papers to go. Both papers, however, are now worth 200 marks.
• The UPSC Prelims GS Paper II became a test of candidates' analytical abilities. The Prelims GS Paper II is commonly known as the CSAT ( Civil Services Aptitude Test).
• The CSAT paper was counted similarly to the GS Paper I in UPSC Prelims when it was first introduced.
• Candidates, mainly from rural backgrounds, claimed that the CSAT paper unfairly hampered their chances of passing the UPSC exam, which sparked extensive debate.
• As a result, the Central Government declared in August 2014 that CSAT scores would no longer be counted and that it would only be used as a qualifying paper (33 per cent qualifying threshold) beginning in 2015. Candidates from 2011 were also given a second shot.
• From the year 2015, The pattern of CSAT in UPSC Prelims has remained the same.

Here, we have completed this article on UPSC CSAT 2023. If you have any other suggestions for the best books for the IAS exam, please comment below.You should start your preparations now by reading the books mentioned in this article. Install our latest Testbook app now and get all the UPSC IAS study materials today.

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