How Many Questions to Attempt in UPSC Prelims

Introduction

The Union Public Service Commission Prelims is a crucial examination for anyone looking to enter the Indian Civil Services. It is the first stage of the three-part examination process, and successful performance in the Prelims is necessary for moving on to the next stages. One of the key decisions that candidates need to make before appearing for the UPSC Prelims is how many questions to attempt in the examination. This can be a difficult decision, as there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. In this article, we will discuss some of the factors that you should consider when deciding how many questions to attempt in the UPSC Prelims.

Structure of UPSC Prelims

First and foremost, one must understand the structure of the UPSC Prelims. There are two papers in the exam, Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 is known as the General Studies Paper and it covers a wide range of subjects including history, geography, economics, and general science. Paper 2 is known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) and it tests the candidate’s aptitude in areas such as logical reasoning, decision-making, and comprehension.

The General Studies Paper consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and the total score is 200. Each question is worth 2 marks, and for each wrong answer, there is a negative marking of 0.33 marks. This means that for every three incorrect answers, one mark will be deducted from the candidate’s score.

The CSAT has 80 multiple-choice questions and a total score of 200. The marking scheme for this paper is the same as the General Studies Paper.

Factors to Consider

There are some factors to consider while deciding how many questions to attempt in a UPSC Prelims examination.

One of the key factors to consider while deciding the number of questions to answer is your level of preparation. If you have thoroughly studied for the examination and feel confident about your ability to answer most of the questions, you can attempt a higher number of questions. On the other hand, if you are not very well prepared or feel unsure about your ability to answer the questions, it may be better to attempt fewer questions. This is because attempting too many questions without proper preparation can lead to a high number of incorrect answers, which will result in a lower score.

Another factor to consider is the difficulty level of the examination. The UPSC Prelims is known to be a challenging examination, and the level of difficulty can vary from year to year. If the examination is particularly difficult, it may be better to attempt fewer questions. This is because attempting a large number of questions in a difficult examination can lead to a higher number of incorrect answers and a lower score.

It is also important to consider the cut-off marks for the UPSC Prelims. The cut-off marks are the minimum marks that a candidate needs to score in order to pass the examination and move on to the next stage. The cut-off marks vary from year to year, and they are determined by the number of vacancies, the level of difficulty of the examination, and the performance of the candidates. If the cut-off marks are particularly high, it may be better to attempt fewer questions in order to ensure that you score the minimum marks necessary to pass the examination.

How Many Questions to Attempt in CSAT Paper?

To qualify for the CSAT paper, you need to score 33%. Currently, CSAT is only the qualifying paper for General Studies Paper I.

To be on the safe side, candidates must answer at least 30 questions out of the 80 questions correctly. It is better to answer the easy questions first and move to the more difficult ones as the difficulty of the CSAT exam increases year by year. Since there is negative marking, the focus of candidates must be on answering the right questions and not more questions.

How Many Questions to Attempt in Prelims Paper I?

Paper I, unlike Paper II, is not a qualifying exam and hence the candidates must clear the competitive cut-off to be able to enter the mains exam. The cut-off varies year by year with respect to the difficulty level and is different for different categories.

Usually, the cutoff marks range from 90 to 120 out of 200 for the general category. Hence, to be on the safer side, it is advised to attempt 70-85 questions rather than all 100 of them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, deciding how many questions to attempt in the UPSC Prelims is a crucial decision that can impact your chances of success in the examination. The number of questions that you should attempt will depend on factors such as your level of preparation, the difficulty level of the examination, and the cut-off marks. It is important to carefully consider these factors and make an informed decision about how many questions to attempt in the UPSC Prelims.