by Vajiram & Ravi
17-08-2024
05:41 AM
CSAT, or General Studies Paper 2, is a component of the Civil Services Prelims examination conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission in India. The UPSC Civil Services exam is a highly competitive and prestigious examination used to recruit candidates for various positions in the Indian government, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and other central services.
CSAT 2024 took place on 16th June 2024 in the afternoon shift. It is a 200 marks paper in which candidates need to score at least 33% to qualify for the Mains exam.
The CSAT was introduced in 2011 as a part of the Preliminary examination, which is the first stage of the three-stage selection process. UPSC Prelims consists of two papers: Paper I and Paper II. Paper I tests a candidate's knowledge and understanding of general studies topics, including subjects like history, geography, economics, polity, and current affairs. Paper II, the CSAT, assesses the candidate's aptitude in areas like logical reasoning, analytical ability, comprehension, decision-making, and problem-solving.
CSAT stands for "Civil Services Aptitude Test." The introduction of CSAT was a significant change in the pattern of the Civil Services Preliminary examination. It aimed to assess candidates not only on their knowledge of subjects but also on their aptitude and reasoning abilities.
The minimum qualifying marks to successfully clear the UPSC CSAT paper is fixed at 33% by the Union Public Service Commission. It is a 200 marks paper in which candidates need to score at least 66 marks to qualify.
Check the following table to know about the UPSC CSAT paper in brief.
Parameters | Details |
CSAT Full Form | Civil Services Aptitude Test |
Also Known as | UPSC Prelims GS Paper 2 |
Total Marks | 200 |
Number of Questions | 80 |
Minimum Qualifying Marks | 66 Marks |
Negative Marking in CSAT | 1/3rd |
The CSAT syllabus covers a range of topics from Maths, Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. Candidates are advised to prepare thoroughly across all the areas mentioned in the UPSC CSAT syllabus presented below to ensure a well-rounded preparation for this paper.
Check out the postal courses available at Vajiram and Ravi to study for CSAT 2025 exam. It includes workbooks on Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning.
CSAT is a time-bound exam. Practising CSAT questions with previous year's papers helps you develop effective time management skills, ensuring that you allocate the right amount of time to each section and question. UPSC CSAT question papers provide insight into the actual exam pattern, format, and types of questions asked. This familiarity helps reduce exam anxiety and boosts your confidence on the day of the exam.
By going through the CSAT answer key, you can understand the pattern of questions asked and the level of difficulty. This information helps you tailor your preparation strategy to match the actual exam requirements.
CSAT 2023 Answer Key (Set-Wise)
Some of the recommended books to prepare for the UPSC CSAT paper are listed here:
Preparing for the UPSC CSAT exam requires a focused and strategic approach. Here are some steps you can follow to prepare effectively:
For Paper II (CSAT), candidates need to score a minimum of 33% to qualify for the evaluation of Paper I. This means that if you score below 33% in Paper II, your Paper I will not be evaluated, and you won't move on to the next stage of the examination.
There is no fixed number of questions one should attempt to clear the CSAT paper as it depends on the accuracy level and the mark assigned to each question. Make sure to attempt enough questions to cross the minimum qualifying score of 33% in Paper II (CSAT).
CSAT was introduced as part of the UPSC Civil Services Examination in the year 2011. Before the introduction of CSAT, the Preliminary examination consisted of a single paper that primarily tested candidates' knowledge of General Studies.
Follow these steps to calculate the CSAT marks:
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