What are UPSC exams Pattern ?

What are the UPSC Exam Patterns ??  

Beginning your journey towards one of the most sought after occupations in the country? Start by familiarizing yourself with the UPSC exams pattern; any candidate has to know what they are facing before jumping into the deep end of the pool and ploughing through the syllabus.

The UPSC exams pattern is conducted in two distinct stages – one civil services preliminary exam and a second main exam – which are then followed by an interview. 

The Preliminary Examination

The civil service preliminary examination has two segments –

• General Studies (GS) IMaximum Marks: 200Duration: 2 hoursType: Objective
  
  
  Dealing broadly with current affairs, history, geography, politics, economics, environmental and general sciences, this paper has been marked as the ranking part of the prelims, where in the marks obtained in this paper will determine the candidates merit rank, as of the pattern change in 2015
  
  
• Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT) II
  Maximum Marks: 200
  Duration: 2 hours
  Type: Objective
  
  
  Dealing with the candidates aptitude for logical reasoning and problem solving, communicational and interpersonal skills, language and general presence of mind, the CSAT paper as of 2015 UPSC exams pattern has been marked only as a qualifying paper with a minimum requirement of 33% - meaning that to qualify, the candidate is required to get a minimum of 33% on this part of the preliminary examination and the marks will not determine his or her merit rank.

Both papers are provided in both Hindi and English as per the applicants comfort level, but the questions pertaining to the English language will be written only in English. 

The Main Examination    

The civil service main written examination has nine segments, of which the first two are qualifying and the next seven are counted for merit ranking –

QUALIFYING PAPERS

1.    Paper A – Indian Language
Marks: 300
The candidate is to attempt a paper dealing with an Indian language listed in the Eight Schedule to the constitution.

2.    Paper B – English Language
Marks: 300
The candidate is to attempt a paper dealing with a basic knowledge of the English language, as per the 10^th class syllabus of the countries education system.

MERIT RANKING PAPERS

1.    Paper I
Essay, where in a topic is to be chosen from the four to five given options and written about in simple and exact terms

2.    Paper II
General Studies Paper 1 – dealing with Indian heritage and culture, world history and geography, and aspects of society

3.    Paper III
General Studies Paper 2 – dealing with Indian governance, the constitution, polity, social justice and International relations

4.    Paper IV
General Studies Paper 3 – dealing with technology, economic development, bio‐diversity, environmental issues, national security and disaster management

5.    Paper V
General Studies Paper 4 – dealing with a wider base of ethics, aptitude and integrity

6.    Paper VI
Optional Subject Paper 1

7.    Paper VII
Optional Subject Paper 2

* In the UPSC exam pattern, for Papers VI and VII, the optional subject papers, the candidate can choose to attempt any from a list of more than 25 subject choices.

Each segment of the UPSC exams pattern carries 250 marks, making the total marks of the main paper 1750

The UPSC exams pattern is topped off with a Personality test – and interview which accounts for 275 marks, which makes the total merit ranking marks a maximum or 2025.

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