By : Neha Dhyani
Updated : Jan 11, 2023, 14:55
Difference between Prelims and Mains is shared in detail here for students who are interested in the UPSC Civil Services Exam. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts Civil Services Exam (IAS Exam) annually to select candidates for various Government posts. The UPSC CSE exam is conducted in 2 stages: Preliminary and Mains.
For aspiring IAS officers, it is vital to know the difference between Prelims and Mains in detail. So, we have shared all the important information regarding the two exams and the difference between Prelims and Mains here.
It is important to understand the difference between Prelims and Mains examination. However, before that, it is important to understand what these respective exams are. Prelims and Mains are the two most important exams conducted by the Union Public Services Examination. People aspiring to work as Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer need to pass both Prelims and Mains examination in order to get selected.
Only those candidates who pass the Prelims exams are allowed to take the Mains examination. To help you understand the difference between Prelims and Mains, we have shared some useful information below.
Candidates are required to clear the cutoff marks score of the Prelims exam to qualify for the Mains examination. Thus, the difference between Prelims and Mains is that the former is a preliminary examination. As per UPSC, only those candidates declared by the Commission to have qualified in the Prelims in the year will be eligible to appear at the Mains exam of that year.
The minimum educational qualification required by the candidate appearing for Prelims must be:
An important difference between Prelims and Mains is that only candidates who have successfully passed the Prelims exam can appear for the Mains exam. The Mains Exam is conducted across 5-7 days. It tests the academic knowledge and comprehensive skills of the candidates and is descriptive in nature. The intention is to understand the candidates' intellectual ability and coherent thought process.
It is important to understand the Difference Between Prelims and Mains so that the candidate is well-prepared for them. The final merit is prepared based on marks obtained in the main examination and Interview. Mentioned below are some of the key difference between Prelims and Mains:
Aspects | Prelims Exam | Mains Exam |
Duration of examination | Candidates get 2 hours or 120 minutes for each paper. | Candidates get 3 hours for each paper. |
Total number of questions | Paper I- 100 questions, Paper II- 80 questions | Candidates usually get 20 questions to solve. |
Total marks | The Prelims paper is for 400 marks. | The Mains paper is for 1750 marks. |
Types of questions | Candidates get Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions. | Candidates have to solve Descriptive questions in this exam. |
Marking scheme | Paper I- 200 marks Paper-II- 200 marks | 250 marks each for Paper I- Paper VII and 275 marks for Interview |
Selection criteria | Marks scored in IAS Prelims are only considered to select candidates for the Mains exam and not for the final merit list. | Those who clear the main examination shall be called for the interview session. This is also considered for merit calculation. |
There is a considerable difference between Prelims and Mains exam structure. Here, we have shared the outline of both the exams, with details about the papers, maximum marks and time allowed. Check out the difference between Prelims and Mains here.
The difference between Prelims and Mains exams can also be understood by analyzing the exam structure of both the exams. Here is an outline of the UPSC Prelims exam:
Name of the Paper | Marks Allotted | Time Allotted |
Paper I: General Studies-I (Objective-type) | 200 | 2 hours |
Paper-II: General Studies-II (Objective-Type) | 200 | 2 hours |
The Mains consists of 9 papers including various General Studies subjects for UPSC. Here is the complete outline of the Mains exam:
Name of the Paper | Marks Allotted | Time Allotted |
Paper A: Compulsory Indian Language | 300 | 3 hours |
Paper B: English | 300 | 3 hours |
Paper I: Essay | 250 | 3 hours |
Paper-II: General Studies I | 250 | 3 hours |
Paper III: General Studies II | 250 | 3 hours |
Paper IV: General Studies III | 250 | 3 hours |
Paper V: General Studies IV | 250 | 3 hours |
Paper VI: Optional I | 250 | 3 hours |
Paper VII: Optional II | 250 | 3 hours |
The main difference between Prelims and Mains is that Prelims are the preliminary level examination. Only those candidates who pass the Prelims will be eligible for the Mains examination. Prelims and Mains exam also differ based on their syllabus, and exam format.
The time difference between Prelims and Mains is usually three months. The Mains exam is usually conducted 120 to 150 days after the Prelims examination. Only those candidates who are successful in the Prelims exams are allowed to take the Mains examination.
The syllabus difference between Prelims and Mains is considerable. The Prelims paper consists of General Studies Paper 1 and 2, which covers subjects such as history, geography, analytical thinking, etc. Mains paper, on the other hand, is much more extensive and consists of 6 papers.
Both Prelims and Mains examinations are considered as some of the most difficult examinations in India. However, since the syllabus for Mains exams is much more vast than Prelims, it is considered tougher. Candidates require logical thinking, analytical thinking and writing skills for these papers.
There is a considerable difference between Prelims and Mains syllabus. However, the candidates require a number of skills such as logical thinking, analytical thinking, writing skills, etc. to appear for both exams. Here is how you can study for both exams together -
GradeStack Learning Pvt. Ltd.Windsor IT Park, Tower - A, 2nd Floor, Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201303 bepstudentsupport@byjus.com