CSAT: Civil Service Aptitude Test

UPSC CSE Exam is one of India’s most difficult and competitive exams. This exam enables the selection of candidates for numerous civil service exams. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) divides the Civil Services Examination into three rounds: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Interviews. In the first,the preliminary round into two papers: GS Paper-1 and GS Paper-2, also known as CSAT.This paper is qualifying in nature, requiring candidates to secure a minimum of 33% to proceed to the next stage of the examination. 

• Analytical Ability: Evaluates understanding and analysis of complex information.
• Comprehension: Tests reading and understanding skills through passages and related questions.
• Interpersonal Skills: Assesses communication abilities and social skills.
• Logical Reasoning: Measures capacity for logical thinking and problem-solving.

About CSAT

The Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT) is part of the preliminary round of the Civil Services Exam. Union Public Service Commission or UPSC refers to it as General Studies(GS) Paper-II. UPSC introduced this exam in 2011. This exam tests the candidate’s aptitude, logical reasoning, decision-making skills, and comprehension ability. To qualify for this exam the aspirant must obtain 33% ( minimum).

Exam Pattern

The authorities conduct GS Paper 1 and UPSC CSAT Paper (GS Paper 2) on the same day.

• Both papers are objective-type
• The CSAT paper in total is 200 marks.

UPSC CSAT – Exam Pattern
Paper Type	Objective
Number of questions	80
Negative Marking	Yes (1/3rd of the max marks for the question)
Time Allotted	2 Hours
Language of CSAT Paper	English or Hindi
Total Marks	200
Nature Of Paper	Qualifying (min 33% ie. UPSC CSAT Passing Marks are 66.)

Points To Remember:

• 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.

CSAT Syllabus – GS Paper-II

The CSAT ( GS Paper- 2) syllabus for UPSC 20204 comprises the following broad categories: 

• Interpersonal skills including communication skills
• Comprehension
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• 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)

Marking Scheme

In total CSAT paper consists of 80 questions with a time limit of 2 hours only and the candidate has to finish the complete paper within the time limit. According to the CSAT paper, each question receives an allotment of 2.5 marks, resulting in a total of 200 marks. One important time that candidates must remember is that the paper there is a negative marking too in the paper. For every incorrect answer, the candidate will receive a penalty of 0.83 marks and 1/3 of the total marks allotted to that question will be deducted. Regardless, if the candidate leaves the OMR sheet blank, we will not deduct any marks for that question.

Strategy for the CSAT Exam

• Understanding the examination structure: Before going for a thorough study for the exam a candidate must have a complete understanding of the exam. The preliminary exam is divided into 2 sets of papers- GS Paper-1 and the CSAT. It is important to remember that GS Paper-2 is a qualifying paper where a candidate must secure 33% marks.
• Right Study Material: The candidate must make a list of reliable CSAT books, previous year papers, and trusted online resources for your reference.
• Regular Practice: As always said practicing makes a person perfect, so every UPSC exam aspirant must solve mock test papers. This practice can help candidates prepare for the final exam day.
• Time Management: Efficiently managing your time can make or break your chance of clearing the Paper. Assign time slots to each topic according to your comfort level and understanding. While practicing, always keep track of the time it takes for you to solve different sections.

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