What is CSAT?

The CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) is General Studies Paper‑II in the UPSC Prelims. It is qualifying (need 33% / 66 marks out of 200), but don’t underestimate it—many aspirants who ace GS‑I falter here due to speed/accuracy issues.


Paper Snapshot

  • Time: 2 hours
  • Questions: 80 (MCQ)
  • Marks: 200 (2.5 marks each)
  • Negative marking: –1/3rd (–0.83 per wrong answer)
  • Medium: English & Hindi



Official Syllabus (Organized for Practice)

  1. Reading Comprehension (RC) – inference, tone, assumption, main idea, true/false.
  2. Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability – syllogism, statement‑assumption/ conclusion, cause‑effect, course of action, ranking, direction, blood relations, coding‑decoding.
  3. Data Interpretation (DI) – tables, bar/line/pie, data comparison, percentage change, averages, ratio/proportion.
  4. Basic Numeracy (Class X level) – number system, LCM/HCF, percentages, profit‑loss, simple/compound interest, averages, time‑speed‑distance, time‑work, ratio, permutations‑combinations, probability.
  5. Decision Making – ethical/logical choice questions (no negative marking when asked as standalone section in some years).

Treat CSAT as a skill test: accuracy + time management + calm thinking.

 

 What Usually Carries the Weight? (Typical Mix)

  • RC: 25–30 Q
  • LR/Analytical: 18–22 Q
  • Numeracy + DI: 20–25 Q
  • Decision‑Making: 0–8 Q (year dependent)

(Use this only to set priorities; do not predict.)


Benchmarks & Targets

  • Target 90–110 raw marks in practice to build buffer above 66.
  • Accuracy goal: ≥75% on attempted questions.
  • Attempt strategy: Two‑pass (sure → solvable with work → leave).
  • Time split: RC ~55–60 min, LR/DI ~40–45 min, Numeracy ~20–25 min (flex based on strengths).


60‑Day CSAT Plan (75–90 min/day)

Weeks 1–2: Foundation

  • RC: daily 3 short + 1 long passage; build vocab via context.
  • Numeracy refresh: %–Ratio–Average–TSD–TW; formula sheet.
  • LR basics: syllogism, arrangements (linear/circular lite), coding, directions.
  • 2 sectional tests (Day 7 & 14).

Weeks 3–4: Consolidation

  • RC: inference & tone drills; practice elimination.
  • DI sets: table + bar/line mix; calc shortcuts.
  • Numeracy: interest, profit‑loss, mixtures, probability, PnC.
  • LR: statement–assumption/conclusion, cause–effect, ranking.
  • 3 sectional tests + 1 full test.

Weeks 5–6: Exam Mode

  • 4 full CSAT tests (alternate days) under 2‑hour timer.
  • Post‑test error log and redo weak chapters.
  • RC stamina sets (40–45 Q in one sitting).
  • Light touch on exam eve: formulas + reasoning patterns.

Daily Micro‑Drill (75–90 min)

  • 20–25 RC Q (30–35 min)
  • 10 LR Q (15–20 min)
  • 8–10 Numeracy/DI Q (20–25 min)
  • 10–15 min error log + flash review


Topic‑Wise Strategy & Shortcuts

Reading Comprehension

  • Read the question first for detail‑based items; for tone/inference, read the passage first.
  • Eliminate options that introduce new claims not in passage.
  • Distinguish author’s view vs. example; beware of quantifiers (always/never/only).
  • For tone: pick concise labels (analytical, cautionary, critical, optimistic, skeptical).
  • For inference: “Must be true given the passage?” If not certain, drop.

Logical Reasoning

  • Syllogism: Venn mental models; note qualifiers (some, all, none).
  • Assumption/Conclusion: If removing a statement breaks the argument, it’s an assumption.
  • Cause–Effect: Look for alternate causes/common effects/temporal order.
  • Arrangements/Rankings: Draw minimal tables; fix anchors first; mark impossible.

Data Interpretation

  • Master % change: (new−old)/old ×100.
  • Prefer ratio methods to avoid decimals.
  • For line graphs with multiple series, bracket the nearest values instead of exact calc when options are well spaced.
  • Convert pies to fractions quickly (e.g., 18% ≈ 9/50).

Numeracy (Class X)

  • Percentages ↔ Fractions (e.g., 12.5% = 1/8; 6.25% = 1/16).
  • Averages: sum = avg × n; weighted avg = (Σwᵢxᵢ)/(Σwᵢ).
  • TSD: d = st; relative speed trains/boats; meeting/overtaking.
  • Time‑Work: Work ∝ men×days×hours; LCM trick for unit work.
  • Simple/Compound Interest: CI shortcuts for 2 years: P(1+r)^2 − P.



Exam‑Hall Playbook

  1. Start with your strongest section to build momentum.
  2. Two‑pass scan: (i) sure shots, (ii) solvable with time, (iii) leave.
  3. Park hard RC passages for the second pass; do not sink >4 min on one Q.
  4. Keep an eye on units and options scale (orders of magnitude).
  5. If you can’t eliminate two options, skip and protect accuracy.
  6. Mark guesses last 5 minutes only if you’re near the qualifying threshold.



Common Mistakes (and Fixes)

  • Over‑reliance on GS‑I prep → CSAT needs separate drills.
  • Ignoring RC stamina → Do long sets frequently.
  • Calculator mindset → Learn mental math & ratio shortcuts.
  • Panicking on one puzzle → Move on; return later.
  • No error log → Maintain a tracker of traps and repeated slips.


Practice Sets (Use with Timer)

Set‑A (RC): 3 short passages (150–200 words) + 1 long (450–550 words), 15 Q total.
Set‑B (LR): 10 Q mixed (syllogism, direction, assumption).
Set‑C (DI): 2 tables + 1 line graph, 10 Q.
Set‑D (Numeracy): 12 Q (ratio, %age, TSD,


Minimal Formula & Rules Sheet (Print‑Ready)

  • Fractions ↔ %: 1/3=33.33%, 1/6≈16.67%, 1/8=12.5%, 1/9≈11.11%.
  • Compound %: net change a + b + (ab/100) for successive % changes.
  • Mixture: Alligation cross method for two‑component mixes.
  • PnC: nPr = n!/(n−r)!, nCr = n!/(r!(n−r)!).
  • Probability: Favourable/Total; independent events multiply.
  • Syllogism quantifiers: some, some not, all, none → draw quick Venns.



Resources (Build from PYQs Outward)

  • Official PYQs (last 10 years) – emulate format & difficulty.
  • NCERT IX–X (Math basics) – for numeracy refresh.
  • 6–8 full‑length CSAT mock tests with strict timing.
  • One error log (spreadsheet or notebook) you revise every weekend.



FAQs

Q1. I’m from a non‑Maths background. Can I clear CSAT?
Yes. Focus on RC + LR to secure ~70–80 marks, and build numeracy basics for buffer.

Q2. How many full tests are enough?
4–8 quality tests under a timer + thorough post‑analysis.

Q3. What is a safe target score?
Aim for 90–110 in practice to comfortably exceed the 66 threshold.

Q4. Should I attempt all 80 questions?
No. Attempt what you can solve with accuracy. 60–70 well‑chosen attempts can be enough.

Q5. My RC accuracy is low. What do I do?
Slow down initial reading, underline pivots (however, although, therefore), and eliminate options that add new info.



Download CSAT PYQs:

Download UPSC CSE 2025 CSAT paper CLICK HERE
Download UPSC CSE 2024 CSAT paper CLICK HERE
Download UPSC CSE 2023 CSAT paper CLICK HERE
Download UPSC CSE 2022 CSAT paper CLICK HERE
Download UPSC CSE 2021 CSAT paper CLICK HERE
Download UPSC CSE 2020 CSAT paper CLICK HERE
Download UPSC CSE 2019 CSAT paper CLICK HERE
Download UPSC CSE 2018 CSAT paper CLICK HERE
Download UPSC CSE 2017 CSAT paper CLICK HERE
Download UPSC CSE 2016 CSAT paper CLICK HERE
Download UPSC CSE 2015 CSAT paper CLICK HERE