UPSC Exam Paper Pattern: UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam Pattern
In the last five years, there have been many major and minor changes in the UPSC exam paper pattern and syllabus. So, in all those changes, only the CSE Mains exam has been affected. Hence, there has been no change in the number of attempts. Also, age limit and exam pattern for the preliminary exam.
Putting up this article on UPSC exam paper pattern in the most simplified way possible for avoiding any further doubts.
The UPSC civil services exam comprises three parts.
- Preliminary examination
- Main Examination
- Interview
The Preliminary Examination Pattern of UPSC (400 Marks)
The UPSC prelims pattern consists of two objective type papers of two hours each.
Paper I – is a paper on General Studies – 200 marks
Paper-II – is a paper on civil service aptitude test- 200 marks
- Know one thing here, the preliminary exam is a qualifying exam. The marks obtained in the preliminary examination by the candidates will not be counted.
- The question will be set in both Hindi and English language papers. However, multiple-choice questions related to English Language Comprehension skills would be provided only in English.
UPSC Mains Pattern ( 2075 Marks)
Here, the total marks of the Main exam and interview sum up to produce the final result.
The main examination will have the 2 qualifying papers and 7 papers to be counted for merit. So, All the 9 papers will have essay-type questions. Let us look at these papers and their patterns.
IAS Mains Exam Pattern
Paper A and B are qualifying papers and the other 7 papers are ranking papers.
Paper A
One of the Indian Languages to be selected by the candidate. ( the languages included in the 8th schedule to the constitution.)
300 Marks
Paper B
English
300 Marks
Paper I
Essay
250 Marks
Paper-II
General Studies I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)
250 Marks
Paper III
General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity. Social Justice and International relations)
250 Marks
Paper IV
General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity. Environment, Security and Disaster Management)
250 Marks
Paper V
General Studies IV ( Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)
250 Marks
Paper VI
Optional Subject- Paper 1
250 Marks
Paper VII
Optional Subject- Paper 2
250 Marks
For the optional paper, UPSC has a list of about twenty-six subjects. So, anyone subject has to be selected by the candidate.
- Written exam total – 1750 Marks
- Interview total – 275 Marks
- Subtotal- 2025 Marks
Marks obtained in Paper 1 to Paper 7 of service aptitude test will be counted for merit ranking.
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