UPSC CSAT Exam 2024 Date, Syllabus, Full Form, Qualifying Marks
The UPSC CSAT Exam 2024 is all set to be held on June 16, 2024, in the second shift. Read on to learn about the UPSC CSAT Exam 2024 pattern, syllabus, books, and more.
Deeksha Dixit28 May, 2024
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UPSC CSAT Exam 2024: The Union Public Service Commission conducts the CSE exam in three stages, with the IAS prelims being the first. In this stage, candidates need to appear in two papers, namely General Studies Paper 1 (GS) and General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT). Of these, the GS score is considered for announcing the cutoff, while the CSAT is qualifying.
The UPSC CSAT Exam 2024 will be held in the second shift. In this paper, candidates will need to attempt 80 questions to target 66.67 marks that will make them eligible for UPSC Mains if they clear the UPSC Prelims cutoff.CSAT Full Form in UPSC Exam
The full form of the CSAT in UPSC is the Civil Services Aptitude Test . This test was introduced back in 2011 as an integral part of the UPSC Civil Services Prelims examination. CSAT also known as UPSC Prelims GS Paper II consists of mainly reasoning, numerical aptitude, and English comprehension questions. Initially, the score of this paper was also considered for preparing the cutoff. However, in 2014, this paper was made qualifying in nature to make it more inclusive and give all aspirants a fair chance. Now, candidates are simply required to score at least 33% marks out of 200 which is roughly equivalent to 66.67 marks.UPSC CSAT Exam Date 2024
The UPSC CSAT exam is quite significant to clear the prelims stage. Candidates who score below 66.67 marks in this paper are not eligible for the next stage, even if they are clearing the UPSC CSE Prelims cutoff. The UPSC CSAT Exam date 2024 has been announced on the official website. Here is the UPSC CSAT exam date and other important dates:| UPSC CSAT 2024 Important Dates | |
| Events | Dates |
| UPSC CSAT Exam 2024 | 16 June 2024 |
| UPSC CSAT Result 2024 | July 2024 |
| CSAT Answer Key 2024 | May/June 2025 |
| UPSC IAS CSAT 2025 | 25 May 2025. |
| CSAT 2025 Result | To be announced |
UPSC CSAT Exam Pattern 2024
Since its introduction, the CSAT paper has played a crucial role in the screening stage of UPSC Prelims. This exam is common to UPSC CSE Prelims and UPSC IFoS Prelims and is conducted on the same day in the afternoon shift. Candidates are evaluated in the CSAT exam through 80 objective-type questions that must be answered in 2 hours on an OMR sheet. The latest exam pattern along with the UPSC CSAT exam marks distribution is as follows:| UPSC CSAT Exam Pattern 2024 | |
| Particular | Details |
| Shift | Afternoon Shift (2:30 to 4: 30 PM) |
| Language | English and Hindi |
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Time Limit | 2 hours |
| Total Questions | 80 |
| Marks Per Question | 2.5 Marks |
| Negative Marking | 0.83 Marks |
| Cutoff Marks | 66.67 |
UPSC CSAT Exam Syllabus 2024
The UPSC CSAT Exam Syllabus 2024 focuses on evaluating the candidates' aptitude and analytical abilities. The syllabus is designed to test a range of problem-solving and decision-making skills required for a career in the civil service. Candidates must prepare the CSAT syllabus with clarity to clear this paper:- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision making and problem solving
- General mental ability
- Class X level Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.)
- Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. — Class X level)
UPSC CSAT Exam Qualifying Marks 2024
UPSC mandates that candidates appear in both the Papers of Civil Services (Prelim) Examination. This means that a candidate will be disqualified if they appear only in the GS paper and leave the CSAT paper or vice versa. Also, they must obtain minimum qualifying marks in both papers separately. According to the official notification, the UPSC CSAT Exam Qualifying Marks 2024 criteria is 33% out of 200 which roughly translates to 66.67 marks. Candidates must achieve this minimum score to qualify for the next stage of the selection process.UPSC CSAT Question Paper 2024
The UPSC CSAT Question Paper 2024 will be distributed in four sets on the exam day to all candidates. All sets will have the same questions with different sequences to maintain the integrity and fairness of the examination process. The direct link to download the set-wise CSAT Question Paper 2024 PDF will be available here:| UPSC CSAT Question Paper PDF 2024 | |
| Question Paper Set | Download Link |
| Set A | To be updated |
| Set B | To be updated |
| Set C | To be updated |
| Set D | To be updated |
UPSC CSAT Answer Key 2024
The UPSC CSAT Answer Key 2024 will be released after the final result of the Civil Services Examination. The CSAT answer key is crucial for candidates to estimate their scores before the official results are announced to get ready for the next stage as early as possible. PW experts will provide a well-researched and reliable UPSC CSAT Answer Key 2024 for all sets:| UPSC CSAT Answer Key 2024 | |
| Question Paper | Download Link |
| UPSC CSAT 2024 Question Paper | To be updated |
UPSC CSAT Books
To excel in the UPSC CSAT exam, it is crucial to have the right set of books that cover the entire syllabus comprehensively. UPSC CSAT books with in-depth coverage of each section, topic-wise practice questions, and solved examples can significantly enhance your preparation. Here is a list of some of the best CSAT books recommended by experts and toppers for the UPSC exam:- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal
- Class VI to Xth NCERT Mathematics textbooks
- CSAT Manual by Pearson
- Cracking the Civil Services Aptitude Test Paper II by Arihant
- General Studies Paper II for UPSC Preliminary Examination by Tata Mcgraw Hill
- The Mantra of CSAT Paper II by Gautam Puri
UPSC CSAT Exam Preparation Tips
Given the importance of the UPSC CSAT exam, candidates should not underestimate this paper and make a dedicated strategy to ace it. Make a preparation plan for the CSAT paper and dedicate 2 to 3 hours daily to this paper. Here are some tips that can help you prepare for the CSAT exam:- Syllabus : Understand the CSAT syllabus thoroughly to focus on relevant topics and ensure comprehensive coverage.
- Study Material : Refer to quality resources; do not hesitate to take mentorship in this paper since CSAT has become a deciding factor in recent years.
- Make Notes: Cover the syllabus carefully and note down important formulas and tricks for revision.
- Practice: The CSAT paper is more about solving questions with accuracy and managing time. Therefore, practice is highly recommended with PYQs and mock tests.
- Comprehension: Improve reading speed and comprehension by reading the newspaper daily and practicing various passage questions from section-wise mock tests.
- Test Series : Master the fundamentals of basic numeracy, logical reasoning, and DI through an intensive CSAT test series.
- Time Management: Practice time management by solving questions within set time limits. Learn to give sufficient time to each section.
| UPSC Related Articles | ||
| UPSC Prelims Mock Test 2024 | Newspaper for UPSC | UPSC Prelims Admit Card |
| UPSC Study Material | UPSC Scholarship Test 2024 | UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis |
UPSC CSAT Exam 2024 FAQs
Is the UPSC CSAT exam tough?
Yes. Based on previous year trends it can be said that the CSAT exam has become slightly tougher.
How to qualify for the UPSC CSAT exam?
To qualify, candidates must score 33% i.e. 66.67 marks out of 200.
Can I clear UPSC CSAT without maths?
No. candidates must have basic knowledge of maths without which they can not clear UPSC CSAT. Further, this section has become more challenging in the past few years and requires decent preparation.
What happens if I fail in UPSC CSAT?
If any candidates fail the CSAT, they won't qualify for the next stage of the UPSC exam, even if they clear the GS paper cutoff.
How many hours to study for UPSC CSAT?
Dedicate 2 to 3 hours daily to CSAT preparation, focusing on syllabus preparation and strengthening weak areas.
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