📝 UPSC CSAT (Paper 2) Overview
Feature Details
Total Questions : 80
Total Marks : 200
Negative Marking : 1/3rd (-0.83 per wrong answer)
Time Duration : 2 Hours
Qualifying Marks : 33% (66 out of 200)
Nature : Qualifying only
⚠ Warning: Many toppers have been disqualified due to underestimating CSAT. Treat it seriously.
🧩 CSAT Syllabus Areas
- Comprehension (Reading Passages)
- Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability
- Decision-Making and Interpersonal Skills (rarely asked now)
- Basic Numeracy (Class X Level)
- Data Interpretation (Graphs, Charts, Tables)
🧠 Strategy by Section
📘 1. Comprehension (30–35 questions):
🔹 Topics:
- Short & long passages
- Direct/inference-based questions
- Vocabulary & tone questions
🧠 Strategy:
- Read questions before the passage to know what to focus on.
- Practice eliminating wrong options smartly.
- Focus on critical reasoning, not just facts.
📚 Resources:
- Previous year CSAT papers
- GMAT RC or Verbal Ability for CAT by Arun Sharma
- Daily Hindu/Indian Express editorials
🔢 2. Basic Numeracy & Quant (25–30 questions):
🔹 Topics:
- Number system, LCM/HCF
- Ratio & proportion, Percentage
- Profit & loss, SI/CI, Time & work, Time-speed-distance
- Averages, Mixtures, Mensuration
- Probability, Permutation & Combination
- Master shortcuts and mental math.
- Learn basic formulas and apply them.
- Use option elimination and estimation tricks.
- RS Aggarwal Quantitative Aptitude (selected topics)
- Magical Book on Quicker Maths by M. Tyra (for speed)
- YouTube: Takshzila Shikshak, Unacademy, Abhijeet Sir (CSAT)
🔍 3. Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability (15–20 questions):
🔹 Topics:
- Blood relations
- Syllogisms
- Puzzles, Seating arrangements
- Direction sense
- Statement & conclusion, Assumption, Cause-effect
- Coding-Decoding, Odd One Out
- Practice with a timer – avoid overthinking puzzles.
- Diagram-based approach helps with puzzles & directions.
- Eliminate absurd options quickly.
- MK Pandey – Analytical Reasoning
- A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning – RS Aggarwal
- Previous UPSC papers
📊 4. Data Interpretation (5–10 questions):
🔹 Topics:
- Pie charts
- Bar graphs
- Line charts
- Table-based analysis
- Focus on approximation techniques.
- Understand % change, growth rate, ratios.
- Skip lengthy DI sets if time is short.
- Any CAT/Bank PO-level DI practice sets
- Free online PDFs and mock CSAT series
⏱ Time Management Strategy
Section - Recommended Time
- Comprehension : 50–60 minutes
- Quant & Reasoning : 50–60 minutes
- Final Review/Marking : 10–20 minutes
🧮 Target to solve at least 60–65 questions with 80%+ accuracy.
🧰 Tips to Qualify CSAT
✅ Don’t underestimate it — one silly mistake can fail Prelims
✅ Solve at least 15 previous year papers
✅ Join 1 good CSAT mock test series
✅ Build speed with accuracy — both matter
✅ Practice with a timer every session
✅ Use elimination + intelligent guessing
📦 Must-Have Resources
Area - Source
- PYQs : UPSC Official Website / Compilation PDFs
- Quant : RS Aggarwal, M. Tyra, Arun Sharma (select topics)
- Reasoning : MK Pandey, RS Aggarwal
- RC : GMAT RCs / Editorials / CAT-level comprehension
- Mocks : Vision IAS, ForumIAS, BYJU’s, PracticeMock
- Free Videos : Abhijeet Sir CSAT (YouTube), Takshzila Shikshak
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