How many right answers you need
80 questions of 2.5 marks each; a wrong answer costs one-third (0.83); a blank costs nothing. To reach 66:
| Wrong answers | Right answers needed |
|---|---|
| 0 | 27 |
| 5 | 29 |
| 10 | 30 |
| 15 | 32 |
| 20 | 34 |
So accuracy matters more than attempts: a careless attempt costs you more than leaving a question blank. Source for the 33% rule: UPSC Exam Notice 05/2026-CSP тЖЧ
Maths, comprehension and reasoning, year by year
| Year | Maths & data | Comprehension | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 37 | 23 | 20 |
| 2025 | 36 | 29 | 15 |
| 2024 | 38 | 27 | 15 |
| 2023 | 41 | 27 | 12 |
| 2022 | 43 | 27 | 10 |
| 2021 | 36 | 27 | 17 |
| 2020 | 45 | 25 | 10 |
| 2019 | 32 | 30 | 18 |
| 2018 | 33 | 26 | 21 |
| 2017 | 23 | 31 | 26 |
| 2016 | 29 | 27 | 24 |
Our count of all 80 questions in each paper. Maths & data = number system, arithmetic, counting and probability, geometry, data interpretation; reasoning = logical reasoning, puzzles and arrangements, decision making.
Every topic, by weight
| Topic | Per paper | Total 2016тАУ2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Reading comprehension | 27.2 | 299 |
| Number system | 12.7 | 140 |
| Arithmetic: percentage, ratio, averages, time & work | 12.0 | 132 |
| Puzzles, arrangements & general mental ability | 10.3 | 113 |
| Logical & analytical reasoning | 6.3 | 69 |
| Data interpretation & sufficiency | 5.3 | 58 |
| Counting, permutations & probability | 3.9 | 43 |
| Geometry & mensuration | 1.8 | 20 |
| Decision making & interpersonal skills | 0.5 | 6 |
CSAT for students without a maths background
Comprehension alone gives about 27 questions a paper, and reasoning several more, with no formulas at all. Get those right first; they can carry you most of the way to 27 right answers. Then add maths from school level, one topic a week, starting with percentages and ratios, which appear in many question types.
A plan that works for most backgrounds
- Find your level first. Take one full past paper in two hours before you prepare anything. Your score tells you how much time CSAT needs.
- Maths from school basics. Percentages, ratios, averages, number properties and counting carry most of the maths; master those before anything advanced.
- Comprehension daily. Two or three passages a day; answer from the passage, not from what you know, UPSC's options are built to catch outside assumptions.
- Full papers in the last six months. One timed paper every week or two, then review every wrong answer by topic.
- In the hall, start with the section you are surest of, keep a running count of sure answers, and stop guessing once you are comfortably past the mark.
Take the next step
Timed tests ┬╖ UPSC's marking
PYQ Test Pass
Every Prelims and CSAT paper since 2011 as a timed test, sectional sets, a monthly ranked Grand Test and a mistakes bank, in English and Hindi.
One mentor ┬╖ Prelims to interview
Prepare with a mentor who reads your answers
Weekly targets, a weekly one-to-one and every assigned Mains answer evaluated. Start with a free 30-minute strategy call.
Quick answers
How many marks do I need in CSAT?
33% of 200, which is 66 marks. Each right answer is worth 2.5, so with no wrong answers you need at least 27 right; every three wrong answers cost about one more right one.
Are CSAT marks counted in the merit?
No. CSAT is only qualifying. But below 33%, your GS Paper I marks are not counted at all, however good they are.
Which part of CSAT carries the most questions?
From 2016 to 2026, reading comprehension gave 23тАУ31 questions a paper, and since 2020 maths has given 36тАУ45.
When should I start preparing for CSAT?
From day one, a little every day, and full timed papers from at least six months before the exam. Leaving it to the last weeks is the commonest mistake.
How do I clear CSAT without a maths background?
Secure comprehension and reasoning first, since they need no formulas, then build maths from school basics: percentages, ratios, averages and number properties. Daily practice for a few months is usually enough to clear 33%.
Is CSAT harder now than before?
It has more maths than it used to: 36тАУ45 questions a paper since 2020, against 23тАУ33 in 2016тАУ19. That is why steady maths practice matters more than it did.
Question counts are our own classification of UPSC's CSAT papers in the PYQ Vault.
