
CSAT-UPSC stands for Civil Services Aptitude Test Union Public Service Commission.
The UPSC Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT) is a preliminary exam for the civil service. It is sometimes also referred to as "General Studies Paper 2" in the preliminary round; that is not the case for the main exam.
The CSAT paper was introduced in 2011 to test the analytical skills of the candidates applying for the exam. As stated earlier, it is the second paper in the prelims and is also known as the "General Studies Paper 2" or GS Paper 2.
| Particular | Detail |
| Number of Questions Asked | 80 questions |
| Negative Marking | ⅓ marks |
| Duration of the paper | 2 hours |
| Maximum marks | 200 marks |
| Minimum qualifying marks | At least 33% |
| Exam type | Offline |
The topics covered in the CSAT paper 1 are listed below:
| Subject | Topic |
| Geography |
|
| History |
|
| Art and culture |
|
| Economy |
|
| General Science |
|
| Polity |
|
The syllabus for Paper 2 is as follows;
Basic math/numeracy: numbers and their relations, order of magnitude, data interpretation, and so on. The level of basic math and numeracy is based on 10th-class math.
To prepare for the CSAT 2023 exam, candidates will need to do the following:
A study plan is important because it allows you to divide your time among subjects that you feel need more time and attention.
The syllabus is a vital resource to base your preparation. Many candidates merely refer to books and resources and forget to take a look at the syllabus to know which topics to cover and which are safe to skip. You can find the syllabus on the UPSC website.
Generally, the best thing to do is cover the easier subjects and topics first, then move on to the ones that are time-consuming or difficult.
Past papers help you understand the exam pattern and the difficulty of the questions. Sometimes, certain questions also repeat, therefore, always refer to at least five past papers to stay abreast of changes in question patterns and difficulty levels.
By joining an online learning platform such as Physics Wallah you can get the latest updates, study materials, and tips and tricks to clear the CSAT paper. Moreover, the qualified trainers make learning so much easier and even share their resources to aid your preparation.
What’s more? They even share past papers and mock tests with you so you learn and improve along the way.
Many candidates refer to books by authors who are not credible. These authors cover a wide range of topics that result in time waste and poor planning. Therefore, always refer to credible authors that use easy language to explain topics.
This goes without saying! Revision is important to remember facts and figures, and it will help you build confidence before and during the paper.
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