UPSC CSAT Syllabus – UPSC CSAT Maths & Reasoning Syllabus
By Balaji
Updated on: March 23rd, 2023
UPSC CSAT Syllabus is released officially along with the IAS Notification. It was introduced in 2011 as part of the UPSC exam. The IAS Prelims exam includes two papers, one for General Studies Paper 1 and the other for CSAT. (GS Paper 2) CSAT stands for Civil Services Aptitude Test. The UPSC CSAT Syllabus is designed to analyze the aptitude and analytical skills of the candidates. A total of 200 marks questions are asked from CSAT Syllabus in the UPSC Preliminary exam. UPSC CSAT Paper 2 is a qualifying paper; candidates need to score at least 33% to qualify for this paper.
Even though this paper is qualifying in nature, the candidates must have an in-depth understanding of the UPSC CSAT Syllabus to qualify for this paper by fetching good marks. Get a complete understanding of the UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2023 and download PDF using the direct link mentioned below.
Table of content
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1. UPSC CSAT Syllabus
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2. UPSC CSAT Syllabus PDF
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3. UPSC CSAT Maths Syllabus
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4. CSAT Reasoning Syllabus
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5. How to Prepare for UPSC CSAT Syllabus?
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6. Best Books for UPSC CSAT Syllabus
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7. UPSC CSAT Syllabus Analysis
UPSC CSAT Syllabus
UPSC CSAT Syllabus was released along with the UPSC 2023 notification. The IAS Exam will begin with the UPSC Prelims exam, which is scheduled for the month of June 2023. It is recommended to download the CSAT Syllabus for UPSC and start preparation. The Paper 2 Syllabus of the IAS Exam comprises the following topics
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision-making and problem-solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level)
UPSC CSAT Syllabus PDF
Candidates must download the complete UPSC CSAT Syllabus to ensure that the Civil Service Exam preparation is well-planned and comprehensive. Candidates can download the syllabus by visiting the official website of UPSC or using the direct download link of the CSAT Syllabus PDF below to make this process easier.
UPSC CSAT Maths Syllabus
IAS aspirants face trouble while covering the UPSC CSAT Maths Syllabus, and it has been a common problem among aspirants for years. However, to make things easier for the candidates, we have created a list of important topics by analyzing UPSC’s previous year’s Question Papers. You can cover most of your UPSC CSAT Syllabus if you cover the topics mentioned below.
| CSAT Maths Syllabus | Topics |
| Basic Numeracy | Number System, L.C.M & H.C.F, Rational Numbers & Ordering, Decimal Fractions, Simplification, Square Roots & Cube Roots, Surds & Indices, Ratio & proportion, Percentages, Averages, Set theory, Divisibility Rules, Remainder Theorem |
| General Mental Ability | Partnership, Profit & Loss, Time and Distance, Trains, Time & work, Work & Wages, Boats & Streams, Pipes & Cisterns, Simple Interest & Compound Interest, Allegation & Mixtures, Mensuration & Area, Permutations & Combinations, Probability, Geometry |
CSAT Reasoning Syllabus
CSAT Reasoning Syllabus is not separately defined by UPSC. However, as per the CSAT previous year question papers, we can divide the UPSC CSAT Syllabus for reasoning into two parts. Check the topics to be covered mentioned below.
| CSAT Reasoning Syllabus | Topics |
| Logical Reasoning And Analytical Ability (LR & AA) | Analogy, Classification, Series, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relation, Direction Sense Test, Logical Venn Diagram, Alphabet Test, Seating Arrangement, Mathematical Operations |
| Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency (DI & DS) | Table Chart, Pie Chart, Bar Chart, Arithmetical Reasoning, Inserting the missing character, Eligibility Test, Number, Ranking and Time Sequence Test, Clock, Calendar, Problems on Ages, Cubes & Dice, Syllogism, Statement & Arguments, Statement & Assumptions, Statement & Course of Action, Statement & Conclusions, Deriving Conclusion, Assertion & Reason, Punch Lines, Situation Reaction Test, Cause & Effect, Analytical Reasoning, Mathematical puzzles & patterns |
How to Prepare for UPSC CSAT Syllabus?
Covering the whole UPSC CSAT Syllabus is easier with an effective preparation strategy. It is essential for the candidates to score above 33% marks in CSAT to ensure their selection in UPSC Prelims.
English and Decision Making
- To score well in this section of the UPSC CSAT Syllabus, you need to read basic English books for Grammar.
- Work on your vocabulary so that you won’t face problems while reading passages.
- Make sure you read the best newspapers for UPSC daily, and if you have time then you can also read simple Novels to Enhance your comprehension skills.
Maths and Logical Reasoning
- CSAT Maths Syllabus includes topics like numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc. These topics are of class x level, so make sure you glance at previous year’s papers and cover these topics.
- Build a basic understanding of each topic from the CSAT reasoning syllabus. Candidates need to practice as much as possible to get a good score in these subjects.
Know your level before the preparation
Before you cover the UPSC CSAT syllabus, you need to know your strengths and weakness. To analyze your weak areas you can solve previous year’s questions and give UPSC mock tests as well. Give more time to your weak areas and build a solid understanding of the basics.
Solve Mock Tests
As we have mentioned above, solving questions from the UPSC CSAT syllabus would be highly beneficial. It will surely help you to revise the topics you have covered and also manage your time to perfection. Additionally, Mock tests will help you with your accuracy and speed.
Best Books for UPSC CSAT Syllabus
If you match hard work with a smart approach then you will be able to cover CSAT Syllabus for UPSC easily. Books from Arihant publication, and TMH publication would be enough for the preparation of CSAT. With consistent practice, the candidate would be able to qualify for this round with good marks. So practice as much as questions from these books, attempt mock tests, and follow the best CSAT Study Material as well. The best Books to cover the CSAT Syllabus are:
- Analytical Reasoning- by M K Pandey
- A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggrawal
- Cracking the Civil Services Aptitude Test Paper-II by Arihant
- The Mantra of CSAT Paper II by Gautam Puri
- General Studies Paper-II for UPSC Preliminary Examination by Tata McGraw Hill
UPSC CSAT Syllabus Analysis
Below we have covered the subject-wise trend analysis for the CSAT exam from 2015 to 2020. We have mentioned the number of questions asked from the topics covered in the UPSC CSAT Syllabus.
| Year | Reading comprehension | Logical & Analytical reasoning | Data Interpretation | Decision making | Math & Basic numeracy |
| 2015 | 30 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 30 |
| 2016 | 28 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| 2017 | 30 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| 2018 | 26 | 22 | 14 | 0 | 18 |
| 2019 | 30 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| 2020 | 26 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 42 |
