How Many Marks is the CSAT Exam? Complete UPSC Guide (2025 Update)

Every UPSC aspirant asks this question:
CSAT kitne marks ka hota hai?
CSAT me kitne questions aate hain?
CSAT qualifying hai ya scoring?

If you are starting UPSC preparation, understanding the CSAT marks, pattern, syllabus, qualifying criteria, and strategy is extremely important.
Here is a clean, simple, and complete guide.

What is CSAT?

CSAT stands for Civil Services Aptitude Test.
This is Paper-II of UPSC Prelims.

It checks your:

• comprehension

• reasoning

• maths & numeracy

• decision making

• logical thinking

UPSC introduced CSAT in 2011 to test analytical ability, not memory.

How Many Marks is the CSAT Exam? (MOST IMPORTANT)

 UPSC CSAT cutoff is fixed: Only 66 marks required to qualify.

But if you score below 66,
Prelims result = FAIL,
even if GS Paper 1 score is very high.

Is CSAT Qualifying or Merit-Based?

CSAT is qualifying only, meaning:

• CSAT marks do NOT count in the final Prelims merit list.

• You only need 66/200 marks (33%).

But CSAT has become tough in recent years (2021–2024).
Many candidates clear GS paper easily but fail in CSAT.

CSAT Exam Pattern (2025)

CSAT Syllabus (Simple Breakdown)

1. Reading Comprehension

• Long passages

• Short passages

• Inference-based questions

• Vocabulary-based questions

2. Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability

• Blood relations

• Coding-decoding

• Syllogisms

• Direction sense

• Ranking

3. Basic Numeracy (Class X level)

• Profit & loss

• Percentages

• Ratios

• Simple & compound interest

• Averages

• Time & distance

• Time & work

4. Data Interpretation

• Pie charts

• Bar graphs

• Line graphs

• Tables

Why CSAT Has Become Tough in Recent Years?

1. UPSC noticed that many candidates were ignoring CSAT.

2. English reading comprehension level increased.

3. Maths questions became trickier.

4. DI sets have become large & time-consuming.

5. Logical reasoning requires deep analysis.

2023 & 2024 CSAT papers were extremely tough, causing many failures.

Common Mistakes Students Make

• Ignoring CSAT while preparing GS.

• Thinking “I’m from science background, I don’t need CSAT practice.”

• Not solving a full CSAT mock test.

• Getting slow in long comprehension passages.

• Weak maths basics (fractions, ratios, percentages).

Right Time to Start CSAT Preparation

If you are a Beginner (0–1 year)

• Start CSAT side-by-side with GS

• 2 hours per week is enough initially

If you are a Working Professional

• Give weekend time

• 1–2 mock tests per month

If you are weak in maths or English

• Start early

• Practice daily for 15–20 minutes

CSAT Preparation Strategy (Scoring 120+ Easily)

1. Strengthen Basics

• NCERT Class 6–10 Maths

• Focus: Percentages, Ratio, Basic Algebra, Geometry

2. Improve Reading Comprehension

• Read The Hindu / Indian Express

• Practice UPSC previous-year passages

3. Practice Logical Reasoning

• Solve 2–3 sets daily

• Practice blood relations, directions, seating arrangement

4. Give Full-Length Mock Tests

• Solve at least 15–20 CSAT mocks before Prelims

5. Solve PYQs (Past 10 Years)

UPSC repeats concepts even if questions change.

How to Score 66+ Easily? (Pass CSAT for Sure)

• Attempt easy questions first

• Skip difficult maths (risk is high)

• Solve comprehension + reasoning → more marks

• Stay calm during exam

• Avoid negative marking

Conclusion

CSAT is only qualifying, but it is equally important as GS Paper 1.
Even toppers fail CSAT due to overconfidence.
If you understand the pattern (200 marks, 80 questions) and practice basics consistently, clearing CSAT becomes very easy.

CSAT should always be part of your strategy from Day 1.

Other blog - How to Clear CSAT in First Attempt