UPSC CSAT Syllabus – Civil Services Exam Prelims Paper II

A detailed breakdown of UPSC CSE Prelims Paper II i.e., CSAT syllabus is provided in this article below.

The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Civil Services Examination is conducted by UPSC every year. It is one of the most challenging exams in India.

The exam comprises three stages: the Preliminary Examination, the Main Examination, and the Interview/Personality Test.

The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers: General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II, commonly known as the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test).

Let’s understand a detailed UPSC CSE CSAT syllabus here.

About UPSC CSAT Paper

The CSAT, or Civil Services Aptitude Test, is the second paper of the UPSC Preliminary Examination. This exam is qualifying in nature. An aspirant has to secure a minimum of 33% in order to clear this exam.

CSAT paper comprises a total of 80 questions with 200 marks. The time duration of this exam is 2 hours, the same as prelims Paper 1.

The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type and the candidate must appear in both the Papers of Civil Services (Prelim) Examination.

Unlike General Studies Paper I, which tests your knowledge of various subjects, the CSAT evaluates your aptitude, reasoning, and comprehension skills. Think of it as a test of your problem-solving abilities and logical thinking.

UPSC Preliminary Examination Paper II (CSAT) Syllabus

UPSC preliminary syllabus for CSAT, as mentioned in the official document, is mentioned below:

• 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).

How to study CSAT effectively for UPSC CSE Prelims?

We recommend the below sources to learn to master CSAT.

1. Join the ClearIAS CSAT Course – This will help you learn faster.
2. Join ClearIAS Prelims Test Series – This will help you practice effectively.
3. Join ClearIAS Prelims cum Mains Course – This course will help you if you are looking for coaching in multiple subjects.
4. Go through ClearIAS YouTube Classes on CSAT – This will help you get an idea of ClearIAS CSAT classes.
5. Read books on CSAT – This will help you go through more questions.

UPSC Prelims CSAT Syllabus: Explained

The UPSC has provided just the major areas of topics from where questions can be asked in the examination. The breakdown of the syllabus is provided here.

Basic Numeracy

As per the syllabus, the level of questions is expected to be of class 10th level but a higher and deeper understanding of the topics is necessary to tackle those questions in the exam.

• Introduction to Numbers
• Number Systems
• Fractions and Decimals
• Exponents and Powers
• Square Roots and Cube Roots
• Ratio and Proportion
• Percentage
• Algebraic Expressions
• Linear Equations
• Quadratic Equations
• Arithmetic and Geometric Progressions
• Basic Geometry
• Mensuration
• Data Handling
• Probability

Know more about Basic Numeracy…

Data Interpretation

Similar to basic numeracy, the exam comprises questions related to data interpretation. The sub-topics of the exam are mentioned below:

• Types of Data
• Tabular Data
• Vein Diagram
• Bar Graphs and Histograms
• Pie Charts
• Line Graphs
• Data Sufficiency
• Frequency Distributions
• Measures of Central Tendency
• Measures of Dispersion
• Probability and Statistics
• Case Study Analysis
• Data Presentation

Know more about Data Interpretation…

Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability

Logical reasoning involves the ability to analyze information, identify patterns, and make logical connections between ideas or concepts.

Analytical ability includes the skill to break down complex problems into manageable components and arrive at systematic solutions.

• Introduction to Logical Reasoning
• Statement and Argument Analysis
• Statement and Assumption Analysis
• Statement and Conclusion Analysis
• Syllogism
• Coding-Decoding
• Blood Relations
• Seating Arrangements
• Puzzles
• Direction Sense
• Critical Reasoning
• Analogies
• Number Series
• Letter and Symbol Series
• Logical Deduction
• Logical Connectives
• Data Sufficiency
• Cause and Effect
• Decision-Making Problems
• Analytical Puzzles

Know more about Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability…

Comprehension

Questions from this section assess a candidate’s ability to understand and interpret written information effectively.

It involves reading passages or text and answering questions to evaluate your understanding of the content, context, and inference-making skills.

Know more about Comprehension…

Interpersonal Skills Including Communication Skills

Interpersonal skills refer to the ability to interact and communicate effectively.

This part of the syllabus assesses your capability to engage in express ideas clearly and understand the perspectives of others.

Know more about Interpersonal Skills Including Communication Skills…

Decision-Making and Problem-Solving

Questions from this section in the exam evaluate your capacity to make sound decisions.

Candidates may encounter scenarios or case studies-related questions where they have to choose informed solutions.

Know more about Decision-Making and Problem-Solving…

General Mental Ability

General mental ability assesses cognitive capabilities such as memory, reasoning, and problem-solving.

It encompasses a wide range of mental skills and is crucial for handling various tasks and challenges effectively.

Know more about General mental ability…

CSAT Marking Scheme and Exam Pattern

UPSC CSAT i.e., GS Paper II marking scheme and exam pattern is described below:

• The CSAT paper comprises a total of 80 questions with 200 marks.
• Candidates will be given a total of 2 hours to complete that paper.
• Each correct answer will be awarded 2.5 marks in the CSAT paper.
• Each wrong answer in the paper will attract a penalty of 1/3rd mark i.e., 0.83 marks.
• If a question is not attempted, i.e., the candidate leaves it blank on the OMR sheet, no marks will be deducted for that question.

Also read: Don’t Underestimate the Importance of CSAT (GS Paper 2) for Prelims

UPSC CSE CSAT Questions Trend Analysis

The weightage of questions in UPSC Prelims GS paper II is provided here.

Also read: IAS Books For Civil Services Preliminary Exam Paper 2 ( CSAT)

Conclusion

The CSAT is an important part of the UPSC exam. This exam is mostly about critical and logical thinking. But it is important to focus on this paper and to make sure that you are confident to qualify this paper.

Nowadays, UPSC is changing the type of questions asked in the examination. But with practice and understanding of the syllabus, you can succeed in this paper.

Article Written By: Priti Raj