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UPSC CSAT 2025 Exam Date, Syllabus, and Exam Pattern

PWOnlyIAS October 19, 2024 11:18 2438 0

UPSC CSAT 2025: Comprehensive guide to syllabus, exam pattern, dates, preparation tips, and top books to excel in the Civil Services Aptitude Test.

UPSC CSAT 2025 Exam Date, Syllabus, and Exam Pattern

UPSC CSAT 2025 – The Union Public Service Commission administers the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) as a component of the Civil Services Exam (CSE). UPSC Prelims General Studies Paper 2 is another name for it. In 2011, it was included in the UPSC examination format. UPSC Prelims paper includes 2 Papers, General Studies 1 and CSAT. Candidates have to score at least 33% marks out of 200 marks to qualify for the CSAT exam. 

The marks from General Studies Paper 1 and Paper 2 (the CSAT paper) were added from the exam’s inception in 2011 till 2014 in order to determine the UPSC Prelims cut-off score. The UPSC changed the CSAT paper’s qualifying characteristics in 2015.

UPSC CSAT 2025 Overview

In India, applicants are chosen for a variety of civil services positions through the very competitive UPSC CSE Exam. Paper 1 and Paper 2 are the two papers of the preliminary exam; Paper 2 is the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). In order to evaluate a candidate’s aptitude, logical thinking, analytical ability, decision-making abilities, and understanding capacity, the Civil Services Aptitude Test, or CSAT, was developed in 2011. 

In order to pass the CSAT, applicants must receive at least 33% of the possible points. We’ll provide you with a brief overview of the UPSC CSAT 2025 Exam in this post, along with information on its requirements, exam format, syllabus, and study guides to help you ace this important test.

UPSC CSAT Exam Pattern 2024
Particular Details
Shift Afternoon Shift (2:30 to 4: 30 PM)
Language English and Hindi
Overall Marks 200
Time Duration 2 hours 
Total Questions 80
Marks Allotted Per Question 2.5 Marks
Negative Marking 0.83 Marks
Cutoff Marks 66.67

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UPSC CSAT 2025 Exam Dates

UPSC CSAT 2025 Exam Date has been released by the authorities in the annual calendar on the official website. Candidates planning to appear for the UPSC CSAT 2025 must check the dates around this to avoid any last-minute hassle. The following are the UPSC CSAT 2025 exam’s important dates:

Event Date
Release of UPSC CSE Notification 22 January 2025
UPSC CSAT (Prelims GS Paper 2) 25 May 2025

UPSC CSAT 2025 Exam Pattern

Prelims GS Paper 1 and the UPSC CSAT Paper (Prelims GS Paper 2) will both be administered on the same day. There will be two objective-style papers. There will be 200 total marks in the CSAT paper. Examine the UPSC CSAT Pattern in the following table:

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

Some important points are

  • Pen and paper is the method of administration for the qualifying CSAT exam.
  • There are multiple-choice, objective-style questions in it.
  • A booklet including question papers and an OMR sheet are given to candidates.
  • The paper may be accessed in Hindi and English.
  • There are no sectional timing requirements, and you have two hours to complete the 80 objective questions.

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UPSC CSAT 2025 Syllabus

It is crucial for candidates to understand the syllabus and prepare well for the exam. The syllabus for the CSAT paper is as follows, according to the UPSC Civil Services Examination official notification:

  • 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)

The aforementioned curriculum may be divided into 5 subjects for your convenience:

  • English
  • Reasoning
  • Maths
  • Decisions  Making and Solving Problems
  • Communication Skills

Since 2014, there hasn’t been a question from the Decision Making and Communication Skills section. So, you should prepare for three subjects: English, maths, and reasoning.

Subject Syllabus as per UPSC notification
Maths
  • 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)
Reasoning Logical reasoning and analytical ability
English Comprehension

UPSC CSAT Exam Marking Scheme

In order to be eligible for this exam, applicants must receive at least 66 marks, or 33% out of 200.

  • The CSAT General Studies Paper 2 carries 200 total points.
  • Eighty objective questions total, with a mark value of 2.5 each.

UPSC CSAT Negative Marking

  • For every wrong response, 0.83 marks are subtracted, or one-third of the total possible score.
  • If an applicant leaves a question unanswered on the OMR form, no points are subtracted.

UPSC CSAT Previous Year Analysis

The Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) is a crucial part of the UPSC Civil Services Prelims examination, serving as Paper II. A thorough analysis of past CSAT papers can help identify key areas, question types, and the weightage of various sections like comprehension, logical reasoning, and quantitative aptitude. The table below shows a 10-year study of UPSC CSAT papers.

UPSC CSAT Previous Year Analysis
Subject Number of Questions Asked
2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Maths 38 43 38 36 45 32 35 25 30 28
Reasoning 15 11 15 17 10 18 20 25 22 22
English 27 26 27 27 25 30 25 30 28 30
Total 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80

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UPSC CSAT Preparation Tips   

To ensure you’re well-prepared for the UPSC CSAT, follow these procedures.

Recognize the UPSC CSAT Course Content

Comprehending the UPSC CSAT curriculum offers insight into the courses and issues that applicants must concentrate on.  

Examine Your Position

The next stage is to review at least two recent years’ papers to see where you now stand in this paper. A proficiency score of more than 80 points in both is shown. If you get a score lower than 70, set aside time and adjust your preparation.

Determine Your Areas of Strength and Weakness

Examine how well you performed on the CSAT. Determine your English, maths, and reasoning strong and weak points. The foundation of your unique UPSC CSAT preparation plan is this analysis.

Be Consistent But Start Slow

If you received less than 70 in the prior year’s papers, do not wait until the final two to three months before the preliminary exams. Start immediately, dedicating only one to one and a half to your CSAT preparation.

Make a Study Material Shortlist

Make a smart selection from your UPSC CSAT study resources. Make sure the resources you select are relevant to the UPSC CSAT curriculum and current trends.

Select Between Coaching and Self-Study

Self-study may be sufficient if you can sustain self-discipline, comprehend subjects utilising free resources, and analyze previous papers. On the other hand, coaching provides advantages like professional advice, PYQ analysis, a personalized preparation plan, assistance with doubts, and more. It can assist you in passing the UPSC CSAT with a score of at least 70.

Best Books for CSAT 2025

Here are the best books for UPSC CSAT 2025 preparation:

  1. UPSC CSAT Wallah – 10 Previous Years Solved Questions (2014-23) with 4 Mock Tests and Quick Revision Formulas
    This book offers a comprehensive collection of solved questions from the last 10 years, along with 4 mock tests and quick revision formulas to help you prepare effectively for the exam.
    Publisher: PWONLYIAS
  2. UPSC CSAT Wallah – PWONLYIAS UPSC Wallah CSAT Combo Set of 3
    A combo set specifically designed for the Civil Services Exam, this resource covers key topics with extensive practice questions and detailed explanations.
    Publisher: PWONLYIAS

UPSC CSAT 2025 Importance

Applicants taking the UPSC IAS CSAT need to understand the significance of the test as well as its purpose. The UPSC CSAT Exam may be significant for the applicants taking the test for the reasons listed below:

  • The total marks of both UPSC Prelims Paper-1 (General Studies Paper) and Paper-2 (CSAT Paper) were considered for establishing the ultimate order of merit (IAS prelims ranking) of the applicant to qualify for the UPSC mains examination.
  • The UPSC responded to criticism from some members of the applicant community by slightly changing the appearance, even though the CSAT was still included in the ranking order. In 2015, the CSAT was designated as a qualifying exam.
  • According to the current UPSC examination format, candidates must score at least 33 percent, or 66 out of 200, on the CSAT paper to pass the Civil Services Preliminary Examination.
  • The only candidates who may sit for the civil services mains test are those who clear the UPSC-mandated cut-off marks in GS Paper-1 and have a score of 66 or more in GS Paper-2.

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Is the UPSC CSAT Difficult?

Each person has a different response to this question. The UPSC CSAT presents challenges for those who:

  • Disregard the significance of CSAT paper 2, believing that their foundational understanding of maths and English suffices.
  • Frequently undervalue the significance of reviewing past CSAT question papers in order to gain insight into the anticipated level of difficulty and the kinds of problems that are asked.
  • Don’t forget to account for the time required for each query. They wind up forgetting it’s a qualifying test and wasting too much time attempting to answer complex questions.
  • Forget that this is a qualifying test and wind up spending too much time trying to answer challenging questions since you neglected to account for the amount of time required for each question.
PW (Physics Wallah) can assist candidates in passing the UPSC CSAT 2025 exam by providing comprehensive study materials, expert guidance, and tailored mock tests that align with the latest exam trends, ensuring effective preparation and boosting the chances of success.

The following candidates can pass the UPSC CSAT Paper 2:

  • Possess a comprehensive comprehension of the CSAT Paper 2 syllabus and are conscious of their advantages and disadvantages.
  • Having completed a thorough PYQ coverage and have regularly allotted enough time to practise time-bound questions.
  • have completed enough full-length tests, as well as topic- and subject-specific mock exams, to assess and monitor progress during preparation.
  • Recognise that even if the CSAT Paper 2 is only a qualifying test, students still need to play to their strengths and accurately answer questions that are simple to moderately tough, leaving the harder problems alone.
  • Recognize that it might take time to read comprehension passages.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes

We have covered all you need to know about the UPSC CSAT paper, including its definition, date, structure, curriculum, practice questions, test analysis, and more. With this knowledge, we hope you will have a clear understanding of the UPSC CSAT paper and be able to confidently prepare.

Want expert guidance to prepare well for UPSC 2025? Enroll today in PW UPSC Online courses.

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FAQs on UPSC CSAT 2025

In essence, the UPSC CSAT paper is qualifying. Candidates must receive at least 33% of the 200 total points in order to advance to the next round. This is a score of around 66 out of 200.

It is important for candidates to know that the UPSC 2025 preliminary test is set for May 25, 2025, and the exam notice will be distributed on January 22, 2025.

The qualifying exam is the CSAT, and to be eligible, a candidate must receive at least 33 percent of the possible points, or 66 out of 200. It is imperative that candidates pass the CSAT since those who don't aren't eligible to proceed to the UPSC Prelims examination.

No, applicants are not permitted to use a calculator on the UPSC CSAT question paper in accordance with the UPSC Prelims Exam calculator usage guidelines. If applicants have practiced enough, they should be able to manually calculate the answers to the numerical problems on the UPSC CSAT.

All of the questions are on the school standard level, general, and basic in nature. You don't need to perform any extra maths study or have any prior maths knowledge to complete CSAT maths problems.
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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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