The Civil Services Examination is held once a year in three stages: a preliminary objective test, a written main examination and a personality test. Only the marks from the main examination and the interview count towards the final rank; the preliminary stage is a screening round.
The preliminary stage is where most candidates are eliminated, and it is the stage mock tests prepare you for best: two objective papers on one day, both with negative marking, where time management decides as much as knowledge.
How it works
Stages
- 1
Preliminary examination
Two objective papers on the same day. General Studies Paper I decides who qualifies for the mains; Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying at 33 percent.
- 2
Main examination
Nine descriptive papers over several days, including an essay, four General Studies papers, two optional-subject papers and two qualifying language papers.
- 3
Personality test
An interview with a UPSC board carrying 275 marks, added to the 1750 marks of the main examination.
At a glance
Paper pattern
| Stage / paper | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims · GS Paper I | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | One-third of the marks per wrong answer |
| Prelims · Paper II (CSAT) | 80 | 200 (qualifying, 33%) | 2 hours | One-third of the marks per wrong answer |
| Mains · 9 papers | Descriptive | 1750 counted + 2 qualifying papers | 3 hours each | Not applicable |
Figures reflect the pattern used in recent cycles. Always confirm the current year against the official notification on upsc.gov.in.
What is tested
Subjects
- Indian polity and governance
- Modern and ancient Indian history
- Indian and world geography
- Indian economy
- Environment and ecology
- Science and technology
- Current affairs
- CSAT: comprehension, logical reasoning, basic numeracy
Strategy
How to prepare with mock tests
- Sit full-length prelims mocks with both papers on the same day; stamina on paper two is a real factor.
- Treat negative marking as a strategy problem: track your accuracy by subject and learn where guessing costs you.
- Revise from your own mock-test error log rather than reading new material in the final month.
- Practise CSAT separately even if it is qualifying; a surprising number of candidates lose the exam there.
Questions