UPSC CSAT Exam: Syllabus, Pattern, Marks, Changes, & More

Whether you’re a seasoned UPSC aspirant or just starting your journey, understanding the CSAT exam is crucial for you to tailor your preparation to its specific demands.

In this article, we’ll provide you with a complete guide to the UPSC CSAT exam, including its history, pattern, eligibility criteria, syllabus, etc.

What is CSAT?

The full form of CSAT is the Civil Services Aptitude Test, also known as UPSC Prelims General Studies Paper 2. It was introduced as a major reform in the UPSC examination pattern in 2011 to test the aspirants’ analytical skills, interpersonal ability, decision-making, general mental ability, aptitude, and reasoning ability. Here’s a brief history of CSAT:

Introduction of CSAT in 2011

CSAT was introduced in 2011 by the UPSC, the governing body responsible for conducting the Civil Services Examination in India. Before 2011, the UPSC preliminary exam consisted of two papers:

1. Paper I: General Studies. 
2. Paper II: One subject to be selected from the list of optional subjects.
   

However, the UPSC introduced CSAT in 2011 as a Paper 2 alongside the General Studies Paper 1 to make the prelims more objective and assess the aptitude of aspirants. This marked a significant change in the examination pattern.

CSAT Structure from 2011-2014

From its introduction in 2011 till 2014, the marks of both General Studies Paper 1 and Paper 2 (CSAT paper), were added to calculate the cut-off marks for the UPSC Prelims exam.

Controversy and Concerns

The introduction of CSAT faced criticism and concerns, particularly from some aspirants who felt the paper was biased against candidates from certain educational backgrounds. There were protests and demands for its removal.

Changes and Reforms in 2015

In response to the concerns raised by aspirants, the UPSC made changes in 2015 by making CSAT General Studies Paper 2 qualifying in nature. It meant that the marks scored by a candidate in this paper were not to be counted to calculate the cut-off of the prelims exam. However, a candidate will have to score at least 66 marks (33%) out of the total 200 marks to qualify the CSAT paper.

Now that you have understood the brief history and changes of the UPSC CSAT exam, let’s understand its pattern.

UPSC CSAT Pattern

We have explained the CSAT exam pattern below to help you understand the CSAT paper’s marking scheme, mode, and qualifying marks.

Number of Papers

The CSAT is the second paper of the UPSC Prelims, with General Studies Paper 1 being the first paper. The CSAT paper is conducted with General Studies Paper 1 on the same day.

Paper Structure

CSAT Paper 2 is of a qualifying nature and is meant to assess candidates’ aptitude and analytical abilities. It consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs).

Time Duration

Candidates have a total of 120 minutes (2 hours) to complete the CSAT Paper 2. During this time, candidates must answer multiple-choice questions (MCQs) that cover various areas such as maths, reasoning, English, decision-making, and data interpretation. Effective time management is crucial to ensure that questions are attempted within the allocated time to score at least 66 marks.

Important note: There is no sectional timing in the CSAT paper.

Total Marks

The total marks for the CSAT General Studies Paper 2 are 200.

Total Number of Questions

There are a total of 80 questions. Each question is worth 2.5 marks, making it a total of 200 marks for 80 questions.

Qualifying Marking

The UPSC CSAT paper is qualifying in nature. With a total of 200 marks available, candidates must score a minimum of 33% marks within 2 hours to qualify this paper, which comes up to 66 marks out of 200.

Negative Marking

One-third of the marks allotted to each question i.e. 0.83 marks are deducted for each incorrect answer. No marks are deducted if a candidate leaves a question blank on the OMR sheet.

Mode of Exam

The CSAT is conducted in the offline mode, also known as the pen & paper mode. Candidates are provided with a question paper booklet and an OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) sheet. They must mark their answers by shading the corresponding circles on the OMR sheet using a black ballpoint pen. The OMR sheet is then collected for evaluation.

Paper Language

CSAT is available in both English and Hindi languages. Candidates can answer the CSAT questions in either English or Hindi based on their language preference. This bilingual approach ensures that candidates who are more comfortable with either of these languages can effectively take the CSAT paper in the language of their choice, providing them with a level playing field during the examination.

For your easy understanding, we have provided the above-mentioned information in a table form below.

Now that you have understood the CSAT paper pattern, let’s understand its eligibility criteria.

UPSC CSAT Paper Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility to appear for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, including the CSAT paper, is determined based on certain criteria. Here are the key eligibility criteria:

1. Nationality

For the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Foreign Service, and the Indian Police Service, the candidate must be a citizen of India.

For other services, certain categories of persons, such as citizens of India, Nepal and Bhutan, Tibetan refugees, and individuals of Indian origin who have migrated from certain countries, may also be eligible, subject to specific conditions. Please refer to the latest official UPSC CSE notification for detailed information.

2. Age Limit

The age limit is sub categorised into two limits: upper and lower. The details of the same are given below:-

Age Limit Relaxation

In addition to the previously mentioned UPSC CSAT age limit eligibility criteria, there are some specific age relaxations for candidates belonging to certain categories, such as Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and others. The extent of the relaxation varies based on the category and other factors.

3. Minimum Educational Qualification

A candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree from any of the recognised Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 or possess an equivalent qualification.

4. Number of Attempts

The number of attempts allowed for the UPSC Civil Services Examination varies based on the candidate’s category:

Important Note: The SC/ST category can take unlimited attempts until the candidate reaches the maximum age limit (including age relaxation).

Now that you have a clear understanding of the CSAT paper pattern and eligibility criteria, it’s time to understand the CSAT syllabus.

CSAT Exam Syllabus

The official notification of the UPSC Civil Services Examination specifies the syllabus of the CSAT paper as follows:

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc. (Class X level)
• Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. (Class X level)

For easy understanding, the above syllabus can be divided into 3 subjects:

1. Maths
2. Reasoning
3. English

Important Note:
We have deliberately not listed “Decision Making and Problem Solving” and Interpersonal skills, including communication skills, in the above table, as no question on these topics has been asked since 2014.

This is an overall view of the CSAT syllabus. Below, we have explained the detailed subject-wise syllabus of the CSAT paper. 

Maths Syllabus for UPSC CSAT

Here is the detailed maths syllabus for UPSC CSAT:

• Number System
• HCF and LCM
• Percentage
• Profit and Loss
• Simple Interest
• Compound Interest
• Ratio and Proportion
• Age and Partnership
• Data Interpretation
• Time and Work
• Pipes and Cistern
• Time, Speed and Distance
• Boats and Stream
• Average
• Alligation and Mixture
• Mensuration 2D and 3D
• Permutation and Combination
• Probability
• Number Series

Most Important Topics for CSAT Maths

We have carefully analysed the number of questions asked from each topic of maths in the past years. Based on our analysis, here are the most important topics for CSAT maths:

• Number System
• HCF and LCM
• Percentage
• Profit and Loss
• Ratio and Proportion
• Age and Partnership
• Time and Work
• Time, Speed, and Distance
• Average
• Mensuration 2D and 3D
• Permutation and Combination
• Probability
• Number Series

Important Note: 

• When preparing for the maths section of the CSAT paper, remember to practise regularly and solve various problems to cover different types and difficulty levels. 
• Consider taking mock tests to simulate the exam environment and improve your time management skills.

Reasoning Syllabus for UPSC CSAT

Here is the detailed reasoning syllabus for the UPSC CSAT:

• Syllogism
• Blood Relation
• Direction Sense
• Alphabetical and Alphanumeric Series
• Coding and Decoding
• Analogy
• Calendar
• Clock
• Counting Figure
• Cube and Cuboid
• Dice
• Continuous Letter Series
• Ranking and Order
• Arrangement and Puzzle

Important Topics for CSAT Reasoning

Like maths, we have also analysed the reasoning questions from the previous years, and based on our analysis, here are the most important topics for CSAT reasoning:

• Syllogism
• Blood Relation
• Direction Sense
• Alphabetical and Alphanumeric Series
• Coding and Decoding
• Calendar
• Clock
• Continuous Letter Series
• Ranking and Order

Important Note: 

• While preparing for the reasoning section, focus on understanding basic concepts to develop a strong logical and analytical thinking foundation.
• Solve multiple problems from different topics and gradually increase the complexity. 
• Remember, reasoning is a skill that needs practice, critical thinking, and a systematic approach.

English Syllabus for UPSC CSAT

Here is the detailed English syllabus for the UPSC CSAT:

• Reading Comprehension
  • Assumption
  • Inference
  • Conclusion

Most Important Topics for CSAT English

Reading comprehension is the only topic from which questions are asked in the CSAT paper of UPSC prelims. There are 4 types of passages that are asked. Level 1 passages consist of only 1 question after the comprehension. Similarly, level 2, level 3, and level 4 passages consist of 2,3 and 4 questions, respectively. 

Important Note: 

• Develop a habit of regularly reading newspapers, magazines, and quality online articles. 
• Focus on diverse topics to improve your overall comprehension skills.
• Practice speed reading to develop speed reading skills, allowing you to read passages more quickly while retaining comprehension.

For more detail, Download the UPSC CSAT Paper Comprehensive Guide.

Important Dates of the CSAT Paper 2024

According to the UPSC 2024 exam calendar, the important dates for UPSC CSAT 2024 are as follows:

Conclusion

In conclusion, you need to score at least 66 marks (33%) out of 200 within 2 hours to qualify the CSAT paper. There is no sectional timing; however, there is a 1/3rd (0.83) negative marking for each wrong answer. Understanding its pattern, syllabus, and important topics can help you create a well-structured study plan. Remember that the CSAT paper, although qualifying in nature, demands focused preparation, regular practice, and a disciplined approach to succeed.

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