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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 – 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.
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 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
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.)
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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:
The aforementioned curriculum may be divided into 5 subjects for your convenience:
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
Reasoning
Logical reasoning and analytical ability
English
Comprehension
In order to be eligible for this exam, applicants must receive at least 66 marks, or 33% out of 200.
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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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.
Here are the best books for UPSC CSAT 2025 preparation:
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:
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Each person has a different response to this question. The UPSC CSAT presents challenges for those who:
| 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. |
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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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