UPSC Cut-off Marks 2018 for Civil Services Examination is now available in the public domain. The minimum qualifying marks for Prelims, Mains and Interview stages of UPSC IAS Exam 2018 is released.
UPSC Prelims Cut Off Marks 2018 (Out of 200)
About 10 months before, aspirants who wrote Prelims 2018 were busy predicting the possible cut-off score for preliminary exam. This official declaration now ends the predictions and speculations regarding the UPSC cut off marks.
- General – 98.00
- OBC – 96.66
- SC – 84.00
- ST – 83.34
- PwBD‐1 – 73.34
- PwBD‐2 – 53.34
- PwBD‐3 – 40.00
- PwBD‐5 – 45.34
* PwBD means – Candidates belonging to Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD)
Note: Cut off marks for UPSC Prelims is on the basis of GS Paper‐I only. However, GS Paper‐II was of qualifying nature with 33% marks as per Rule 15 of Civil Services Examination, 2018.
UPSC Mains Cut Off Marks 2018 (Out of 1750)
- General – 774
- OBC – 732
- SC – 719
- ST – 719
- PwBD‐1 – 711
- PwBD‐2 – 696
- PwBD‐3 – 520
- PwBD‐5 – 460
Note: Subject to 10% marks in each of the seven competitive papers i.e. Essay, GS‐I, GS‐II, GS‐III, GS‐IV, Optional‐I and Optional‐II.
UPSC Final Cut Off Marks 2018 (Out of 2025)
- General – 982
- OBC – 938
- SC – 912
- ST – 912
- PwBD‐1 – 899
- PwBD‐2 – 908
- PwBD‐3 – 754
- PwBD‐5 – 718
UPSC Cut off Marks Analysis
The cut-off marks has fallen for all stages – Prelims, Mains, and Interview – in UPSC CSE 2018. This is contrary to the perspective that cut-offs will rise as vacancies were reduced, compared to previous years.
It is the first time in 4 years that the general cut-off came below 100. A candidate just needed 98 marks out of 200 as per official UPSC Key to clear UPSC CSE Prelims 2018 (49%). The General Cut off for Prelims was 105.34 in 2017, 116.00 in 2016 and 107.34 in 2015.
Also, to be selected into the prestigious Civil Services, in 2018 a general category candidate had to score just 982 marks out of 2025. In percentage terms, this would be 48.49%. This means if you had just scored 49% marks in the last year UPSC Exam, you were safely in!
Of-course, this is not easy considering the strict valuation standards of UPSC, but we just wanted aspirants to know that UPSC is always a low scoring game!
PS: To check the previous year cut-off mark trends, check this link.
How close were you to the Minimum Qualifying Marks, last year?
Looking at the cut-off score, many of you who missed it by a narrow margin can now realise how close were you. A few marks could have changed your career, life, and destiny.
The ideal thing to do now is not to repeat the past-mistakes.
To get the extra-edge you badly need to clear Prelims, join ClearIAS Prelims Online Mock Test Series 2019.
It’s not yet late! But don’t delay it further!
Conclusion
The cut-off marks for UPSC Civil Services Exam depends on many factors like number of candidates in the competition, number of vacancies, exam difficulty, and valuation standards.
In general, UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) is a low scoring exam – and is widely considered as one of the toughest exams to crack, considering the fact that the vacancies are only less than 1000, while the number of applicants are around 10,00,000.
However, any serious aspirant who prepare strategically, combining knowledge with the right techniques, can easily clear UPSC Civil Services Exam. Testimonials of ClearIAS online students proves this.
All you need to do is to work hard (and smart) to ensure that you score at-least above 49 percent!
Notes kumar says
April 8, 2019 at 10:06 pmI wana prepare the upsc exam ..
plzz give me guidelines and your knowledge
ClearIAS.com says
April 9, 2019 at 8:34 am@ Notes Kumar – We suggest you to start from ClearIAS guidance/strategies page.
Abhijeet says
April 9, 2019 at 1:34 amPlz do not use word “just”…
It really takes hard to reach that word
ClearIAS.com says
April 9, 2019 at 8:33 am@ Abhijeet – We do understand your emotions. Of-course, scoring 49% marks is not easy considering the strict valuation standards of UPSC, however, in one sense it also gives a positive signal that you don’t need to score 99% + marks to be a topper unlike in some other exams.
Many beginners and veterans are not aware of the percentage requirements, so we just wanted aspirants to know that UPSC is always a low scoring game!
We wish you clear the UPSC CSE with a high score soon. All the best!
Abhishek Kumar Chaubey says
April 9, 2019 at 7:09 amGood
ClearIAS.com says
April 9, 2019 at 8:52 am@ Abhishek – Thanks!
Thangminlun Neihsial says
April 9, 2019 at 12:00 pmHow to check our prelim score 8n upsc
pramod says
April 9, 2019 at 1:18 pmWhat is pwbd 1,2,3 categories
Mahadir Mohamed says
April 11, 2019 at 8:39 amI’m yet not completed my degree. I’m studying in B.E 2nd year. Is there any strategy and skills from now i can develop ?
Bhushan Bhad says
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JANAKIRAMAN S says
April 16, 2019 at 8:13 pmPlease provide me information with clearias 2020 integrated program- schedule ,fee structure and strategy.
Ankit kumar says
May 6, 2019 at 1:33 pmI am presently working as sub inspector at Jharkhand police and I want to prepare for upsc have already attempted once and have cleared preliminary and appeared for mains of JPSC and Bpsc and need guidance to re-energize and start while in tough police duty
Soyab Khan says
May 13, 2019 at 9:41 amSir , I am studying in B.Tech 2nd year and I want to prepare for UPSC . Plz give me guidelines and when I should start my preparation.
Jack robe says
May 21, 2019 at 9:47 pmWhat is ment by pand 1 2 3 and 5 ?
vivek pandey says
May 25, 2019 at 11:42 pmJust!! Ofcourse, the hardwork needed for that 49% can be understood by the one who is preparing & by the way most of the competitive exams are low scoring-CDS,CAPF, etc, that doesn’t mean it is easy but the opposite, that it is so tough that even if u score 49% it is enough to pass. So pls don’t say “just”, it disregarding & btw no emotion attached. Peace
ClearIAS.com says
May 26, 2019 at 9:35 am@ Vivek – We do understand your emotions. Of-course, scoring 49% marks is not easy considering the strict valuation standards of UPSC, however, in one sense it also gives a positive signal that you don’t need to score 99% + marks to be a topper unlike in some other exams.
Many beginners and veterans are not aware of the percentage requirements, so we just wanted aspirants to know that UPSC is always a low scoring game!
We wish you clear the UPSC CSE with a high score soon. All the best!