How To Score 200 marks In UPSC CSAT Exam 2024: All those UPSC aspirants who dream of joining Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), and Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS), can fulfill their dream by clearing the UPSC CSE (Civil Services) Exam. UPSC CSAT Exam is the Paper II of the Exam, which is the UPSC Prelims GS Paper I Exam. GS Paper I exam is conducted on the same day but in the morning shift. After clearing the Prelims exam, candidates can participate in the UPSC Mains Exam. UPCS usually announces the exact dates of the UPSC Mains exam after the declaration of the Prelims results. Therefore, this exam decides whether a UPSC aspirant will make it to the UPSC Mains exam or not. The aspirants must score 33% or 66 marks in the UPSC CSAT Exam to qualify for the Mains exam. In this blog, we’ll talk about the best subject-wise strategies to score 200 marks in the UPSC CSAT Exam 2024.
The UPSC CSAT Exam will test the UPSC aspirants’ knowledge with three subjects: Reading Comprehension, Quant or Maths, and Reasoning. Therefore, all the UPSC aspirants must know all about the UPSC CSAT Exam to craft the best and most realistic study schedule for the exam. They should be well aware of the UPSC CSAT exam marking scheme and its exam Pattern. The CSAT paper checks the aspirants with a total of 80 questions carrying 200 marks. They get a total of 2 hours to complete the exam Paper. Each correct answer is awarded 2.5 marks and each wrong answer in the paper attracts a negative marking of 1/3rd mark. That comes to 0.83 marks. If an aspirant leaves the question attempted or leaves it blank on the OMR sheet, there is no deduction for that question. Here are the top tips that CSAT aspirants can follow to score 200 marks in the upcoming CSAT exam:
The CSAT paper includes topics like Comprehension, Interpersonal skills/communication skills, Logical reasoning and analytical ability, Decision-making, and problem-solving. It also includes General mental ability, Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, and Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, and more. The difficulty level of basic numeracy-based and Data interpretation-based questions is of high school level. In short, the syllabus is divided into three parts Maths, Reasoning, and English. It is to be noted that no question on decision-making and Problem-Solving and Interpersonal skills, including communication skills, has not been asked since 2014. So, there is very little probability that questions on them can appear in the upcoming exam.
| Subject | Syllabus |
| Maths | -General mental ability -Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc. (High-School level) -Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. (High-School level) |
| Reasoning | Logical reasoning and analytical ability |
| English | Comprehension |
UPSC CSE CSAT Questions Trend Analysis: The weightage of questions in UPSC Prelims GS paper II is provided here.
| Exam Year | Reading Comprehension | Logical & Analytical Reasoning | Data Interpretation | Decision Making & Problem Solving | Math & Basic Numeracy |
| 2011 | 39 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 11 |
| 2012 | 40 | 28 | 0 | 9 | 3 |
| 2013 | 33 | 21 | 9 | 6 | 11 |
| 2014 | 31 | 23 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
| 2015 | 30 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 30 |
| 2016 | 28 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| 2017 | 30 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| 2018 | 26 | 22 | 14 | 0 | 18 |
| 2019 | 30 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| 2020 | 26 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 42 |
| 2021 | 27 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 35 |
| 2022 | 27 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| 2023 | 27 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 39 |
A good start for the preparation of UPSC CSAT Maths demands a good understanding of the basics. So, the aspirants must first master the basics. They should understand the fundamentals and concepts of all the related topics/subjects well to proceed smoothly. A strong foundation will help them successfully deal with complicated topics from the syllabus. After that, they should learn all the mathematical tricks and short cuts to make their calculations faster and easy. They can save their precious time in the exam offering limited time. Also, they should pay heed to all important topics. These topics not only save time but also guarantee a good score, as with the limited time they have, they will also have to prepare for the general studies, the optional subject, and current affairs. So, you can save time by focusing on the most important topics only. They should also solve previous years’ question papers questions of UPSC CSAT Paper 2 maths from previous years’ papers. maths This will help them know all about the exam pattern and the type of questions asked in the exam. And this should not forget every study session should have regular practice sessions as well, where revision is compulsory. Revision should always be followed by taking as many mock tests as they can. And, if they are in doubt related to any topics, they must consult a tutor or coach. They should also join a coaching for expert training. Aspirants, by following these proven tips dedicatedly, can have a firm grip on maths even if they are not good at it.
Aspirates should be informed about the most important topics for Maths, before starting their UPSC CSAT Maths preparation. They should take a look at the table below to learn about the most important CSAT maths topics and analyze the year-by-year trend of the number of questions asked from each topic for the last ten years.
| Weightage of CSAT Maths Questions | ||||||||||
| Topic | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Percentage | 1 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Ratio and Proportion | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| Profit and Loss | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Compound Interest | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Data Interpretation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Ages & Partnership | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Time & Work | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Time, Speed, and Distance | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Pipes & Cistern | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Boats & Stream | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Probability | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| P&C | 11 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Alligation Mixture | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Number System | 22 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Average | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mensuration 2D, 3D | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| HCF & LCM | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Number Series | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 43 | 38 | 36 | 45 | 32 | 35 | 25 | 30 | 28 | 24 |
NOTE: The table above would have informed the candidates that there has been a steady growth in the weightage of Maths topics over the past 10 years. In the year, 2014, there were 24 questions out of a total of 80 questions. But in 2013, it came up to 43 questions. By this, you can learn that the paper has more than 50% of the weightage in the CSAT exam.
Most Important Topics for CSAT Maths: Given below are the most important topics from the CSAT CSAT Maths section:
UPSC CSAT Reasoning section is very important just like the Maths section. UPSC Aspirants should go through previous years’ trends before starting their preparation for the Reasoning section. This will help them identify all the most important topics that can boost their overall score. They should begin their preparation by learning the basics of Reasoning. This includes a good understanding of concepts like coding-decoding, direction sense, alphabetical & alphanumeric series, syllogism, and blood relations. They should make sure they possess a strong foundation in these important topics to further smoothly. Practice like in maths, also plays a pivotal role in mastering Reasoning topics. So, aspirants should practice every day. Reasoning practices sharpen the mind to solve every type of Reasoning question. They should practice solving every type of question, whether it be easy or the toughest one. They should also manage their time well, as it is an essential part of the CSAT paper. Therefore, they should with a stopwatch in a fixed time frame. Here also, they should go through previous years’ papers and solve every type of Reasoning question from it. They should take mock tests and simulate the real exam scheme. Attempt as many mock tests as you can by setting a timer to polish your speed with accuracy. Lastly, they should keep reviewing the answers to their mock tests, analyze their mistakes, and try to improve. Take a look at the table below to learn about the most important CSAT Reasoning topics and analyze the year-by-year trend of the number of questions asked from each topic for the last ten years.
| Weightage of CSAT Reasoning Questions | ||||||||||
| Topic | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Alphanumeric Series | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Coding & Decoding | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Continues Letter Series | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Analogy | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Direction Sense | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Blood Relation | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Ranking & Order | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Syllogism | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sitting Arrangement + Puzzle | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| Clock | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Calendar | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dice | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Counting Figure | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cube & Cuboid | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Images | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Analytical Reasoning | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Total | 11 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 18 | 20 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 24 |
NOTE: The table above would have informed you that there has been a decrease in the weightage of Maths topics over the past 10 years. In the year, 2014, there were 24 questions out of a total of 80 questions. But in 2013, it came down to a total of 11 questions.
Most Important Topics for CSAT Reasoning: Given below are the most important topics from the CSAT Reasoning section:
The English section of the UPSC CSAT exam is very important, as well as scoring. It can be scoring for the candidates who master the fundamentals of Grammar, build a good vocabulary, and read every day. It is also important to understand the previous years’ questions and trends before crafting a good preparation strategy for it. Aspirants should know that Grammar and Vocabulary are two very essential parts of the English section. Here, the one who will master these two parts will increase the chances of scoring full marks in the English section. To master the vocabulary and Grammar part, aspirants dedicatedly refer to two books: Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, and Grammar by Wren and Martin. Then, they need to regularly work on improving their reading and comprehension skills by reading the Editorials of Newspapers like The Hindu or The Indian Express. To master the art of dealing with reading comprehension, they should solve previous years’ questions. This will give them an idea about the type of passages asked in the exam. They must not forget that reading regularly will fill their heart with confidence and help them overcome the fear of English. Lastly, practice, as in other sections, is essential for mastering this section as well.
Most Important Topics for CSAT English: Given below is a table featuring the analysis of the previous year’s trend of the number of questions asked from each level of the passage of English Comprehension from the year 2014 to 2023. The level 1 passages have only one question, whereas Level 2, 3, and 4 passages consist of 2,3 and 4 questions, individually.
| Yearly English Question Distribution by Topic | ||||||||||
| Passage level | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Level 1 | 22 | 6 | 25 | 15 | 18 | 14 | 28 | 14 | 19 | 0 |
| Level 2 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Level 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Level 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 20 |
| Total | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 30 | 25 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 32 |
NOTE: The weightage of English comprehension questions is different, from 25 questions to 32 questions. Aspirants who will follow the tips mentioned above dedicatedly can attempt about 100% of these questions with 100% accuracy.
Most Important Topics for CSAT English: The most important topic to master is Reading Comprehension: Assumption, Inference, and Conclusion.
UPSC CSE Aspirants can master all the sections of the exam by following the above-mentioned tips. They should not forget that CSAT is an integral part of the UPSC exam. This exam tests the communication, logical, and critical thinking skills of a candidate. So, they need to be confident of their success to prepare well and qualify for the exam. Although UPSC has been introducing new types of questions to test the candidates differently, with the right preparation, a sufficient amount of practice, serious candidates can develop a good strategy to solve any type of question and succeed.
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