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UPSC Prelims Analysis 2023 – UPSC Prelims Paper 1 Analysis, Difficulty Level

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: November 14th, 2023

UPSC Prelims 2023 Analysis has been released for GS Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 was of moderate to difficult level. Maximum questions were asked from Environment and Geography in GS Paper 1. The candidates could not apply the elimination method to rule out the options in Paper 1. Paper 2 comprised questions of Moderate to Difficult level. Quantitative Aptitude was considered difficult by some candidates in the CSAT paper.

Checking the UPSC Prelims analysis will help candidates understand the paper’s difficulty level, the number of questions asked in each section, good attempts, the type of questions, etc. These factors will eventually determine the cut-off and the chances of the selection of candidates. We have provided the detailed subject-wise UPSC exam analysis 2023 for Prelims below which is based on the experts’ feedback and students’ responses. The UPSC Prelims 2023 analysis will also benefit aspirants preparing for the UPSC 2024 exam.

UPSC Prelims 2023 Analysis

The UPSC Prelims 2023 Analysis has been released by our subject matter experts for GS Paper 1 and GS Paper 2. The detailed UPSC Prelims analysis consists of the topic-wise difficulty level, and questions asked in the exam. Both papers have been conducted according to the shifts as mentioned below-

  • UPSC Prelims Paper 1: 09:30 AM to 11:30 AM
  • UPSC Prelims Paper 2: 02:30 PM to 04:30 PM

UPSC Prelims 2023 Paper 1 is the GS Paper while Paper 2 is the CSAT exam. To better comprehend the Civil Services exam, candidates should look over the UPSC Prelims 2023 analysis. The applicants can also check the UPSC Prelims Analysis from previous years to see the trends.

UPSC Prelims Analysis 2023 Highlights

The UPSC Prelims Paper 1 has been conducted by the Union Public Service Commission at various centers across the country. As per the student’s feedback and our subject matter experts, the exam was of a moderate level of difficulty. The IAS Exam Prelims is an MCQ pen and paper test. The Prelims Paper 1 exam is a 200 marks paper with a negative marking for every incorrect answer. UPSC Prelims CSAT is a qualifying paper. Check the highlights for GS paper 1 and CSAT paper.

  • In GS paper 1 the majority of the questions were from History and Economics.
  • Some candidates found Paper 1 lengthy. The questions were straightforward and memory-based.
  • The candidates could not apply the elimination technique in the questions of GS paper 1. A slight change in the exam pattern was reported in the GS 1 paper.
  • The GS 2 paper was in the range of moderate to difficult. The Reading Comprehension segment was lengthy.

UPSC Prelims Analysis for GS Paper 1

Candidates can check the detailed UPSC Prelims 2023 analysis along with section-wise weightage. By going through the UPSC Prelims analysis, aspirants can know about the difficulty level of the exam, the number of questions asked in each section, and more. Check here the detailed UPSC Paper analysis to get an idea about the topic-wise weightage of GS Paper 1:

UPSC Prelims Subject-wise Analysis Number of Questions (2023)
Environment, Ecology, and Agriculture 17
Indian Polity and Governance 14
India and World Geography 17
Economics 15
History 13
International Relations 6
Science and Technology 9
Current Affairs/Miscellaneous 9
Total Questions 100

UPSC Prelims 2023 Analysis for GS Paper 2

Candidates will be able to examine the detailed UPSC Prelims 2023 analysis for GS Paper 2 after the exam has been completed. Those who participated in the CSAT paper and the UPSC Prelims analysis evaluated the paper as moderately difficult level and time-consuming. The UPSC Paper analysis will assist the candidates in gaining an understanding of the topic-wise weightage of GS Paper 2.

Subjects Number of Questions
Reasoning Ability 13-14
Reading Comprehension 27
Basic Numeracy and Maths (Including Data Sufficiency) 39-40
Total 80

UPSC Paper Analysis: Difficulty Level

Here you can find a full breakdown of the exam’s difficulty levels by subject, based on UPSC Prelims analysis. Candidates can review the tabulated data below to check the UPSC Prelims difficulty level per subject for the last session:

Difficulty Level of GS Paper 1 as per UPSC Paper Analysis
Sections Difficulty Level
Current Affairs Moderate
Geography Moderate
Ancient History Difficult
Medieval History Difficult
Modern History Moderate
Environment and Ecology Moderate
Polity Easy
Science and Technology Moderate
Economy Moderate-Difficult
Overall Moderate-Difficult
Difficulty Level of CSAT as per UPSC Prelims Analysis
Sections Difficulty Level
Reasoning Moderate
English Comprehension Moderate-Difficult [Lengthy]
Quantitative Aptitude Moderate-Difficult
Overall Moderate-Difficult

UPSC Prelims Analysis 2023 – Good Attempts

Good Attempts are the number of questions that must be rightly answered by the candidates to gauge the probability of clearing the exam. This is highly determined by the factors such as the level of difficulty of the exam, the performance of the candidates in the exam, and the preparation of the candidates. Check here the subject-wise estimated good attempts for Paper 1.

Subjects Number of Good Attempts
Geography 13-17
Economics 9-12
History 7-9
Polity 7-8
Science and Technology 2-3
Environment 5-6
Current Affairs 12-13

UPSC Prelims Questions Analysis

Some of the questions from the paper have been illustrated here. The candidates can check the questions and analyze the level of the exam. Mostly the questions have been categorized as tough by the candidates. Check the detailed prelims question analysis here.

Question: Consider the following statements: 1. Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake. [2] Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake. [3] The meandering of the Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None

Question: Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of the following? (a) Aluminum (b) Copper (c) Iron (d) Titanium

Question: Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin? (a) Cameroon (b) Nigeria (c) South Sudan (d) Uganda

Question: Which one of the following makes a tool a stick to scrape insects from a hole in a tree or a log of wood? (a) Fishing cat (b) Orangutan (c) Otter (d) Sloth bear

Important Topics as per UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis

The UPSC prelims exam analysis will help the candidates in identifying the essential sectors of the exam. You can check the question paper PDFs and analyze the important questions, and jot down the important topic. A methodical approach to preparing for the exam will help the candidates in laying out an effective strategy for the exam. Check out the list of the important topics:

  • Yadava Dynasty
  • Article 335
  • Community Reserve
  • Sambar Deer
  • Marsupials in India
  • Standard Size of National Flag of India
  • Trade and Technology Council

Previous Year UPSC Prelims Analysis

UPSC Paper analysis from previous years will allow you to evaluate your performance and plan your preparation strategy for next year accordingly. After receiving feedback from the applicants who took the exam, our BYJU’s Exam Prep experts published the comprehensive UPSC Prelims analysis. Candidates can review the analysis, which includes the topics covered in each part as well as the number of questions, level of difficulty, number of correct answers, etc.

UPSC Prelims Analysis 2022

The analysis of the previous year papers will help the candidates in highlighting the important topics and structuring their preparation in the same direction. This will also provide the candidates with a complete idea of the section from where the maximum questions were asked. The analysis of the papers is based on the feedback received from the candidates taking the exam.

UPSC Prelims Analysis 2022 for GS Paper 1

In the General Science Paper 1 maximum questions were asked from the Environment and Ecology and Current Affairs. The candidates can check the comprehensive data on the subject-wise prelims analysis and mark the important topics of the syllabus.

Subject Number of Questions (2022)
Environment & Ecology (Including respective Current Affairs) 17
Indian Polity and Governance 13
India and World Geography 12
General Science and S&T (Including Current Development) 14
Economics 17
Ancient History 1
Art & Culture 7
Medieval History 4
Modern History 4
International Relations 11
Total Questions 100

GS Paper 2 Analysis 2022

The analysis of the GS 2 paper will help you identify the level of the exam. You can take note of the most essential segments from where the maximum questions have been asked. The detailed knowledge of the GS paper 2 analysis will help the candidates in preparing efficiently for the exam. The majority of the questions were asked from the Reasoning Ability.

Subjects Number of Questions
Reasoning Ability 22
Reading Comprehension 27
Basic Numeracy and Maths (Including Data Sufficiency) 31
Total 80

UPSC Paper Analysis 2022- Difficulty Level

The paper analysis of the GS paper 2022 suggests that the overall difficulty level of the question paper was between moderate to high. Check here the subject-wise difficulty level analysis according to the feedback received from the candidates.

Difficulty Level of GS Paper 1 as per UPSC Paper Analysis
Sections Difficulty Level
Current Affairs Moderate to Difficult
Geography Difficult
History Moderate to Difficult
Polity Difficult
Science & Technology Moderate to Difficult
Economy Difficult
Difficulty Level of CSAT as per UPSC Prelims Analysis
Sections Difficulty Level
Reasoning Difficult
English Comprehension Moderate
Quantitative Aptitude Difficult
Overall Moderate to Difficult

UPSC Prelims Analysis 2021

The weightage of the UPSC Prelims 2021 Question Paper was almost equal for all the subjects. As per the UPSC Prelims analysis, Paper 1 saw a good number of questions from Polity and Economics, and Ancient History had 3 questions. Candidates can check the subject-wise UPSC exam analysis below.

UPSC Exam Analysis 2021 for GS Paper 1

According to the UPSC Prelims analysis, candidates can check the distribution of questions for GS Paper 1 tabulated below.

Subject Number of Questions
History 20
Geography 10
Economics 15
Polity 14
Environment and Ecology 15
Science and Technology 12
Current Affairs / Art and Culture 14
Total 100

UPSC Prelims Analysis 2021 for GS Paper 2

As per the UPSC Prelims analysis, the CSAT 2021 paper was of moderate difficulty level.

Topics Number of Questions
Data Sufficiency 6
Number System 9
Algebra 5
Average 4
Profit, Loss, and Discount 1
Percentage 1
Ratio 2
Time, Speed, and Distance 1
Time and Work 1
Data Interpretation 2
Selection / Combination 2
Geometry / Mensuration 2
Directions 2
Statement/ Conclusion 3
Series 3
Ranking – DS 2
Row arrangement 1
Logical Puzzle 2
Clocks and Calendar 4
Single/Two Question RCs (Critical Reasoning Based) 27
Total 80

UPSC Prelims Analysis 2020

As per the UPSC Prelims analysis, a good amount of questions were asked from the Ancient History section in the UPSC Prelims 2020 Question Paper. The UPSC Prelims 2020 Paper had a good tilt toward the Current Affairs section, along with the History and Polity section.

UPSC Prelims Analysis for GS Paper 1

Check the distribution of questions in GS Paper 1 for 2020. According to the UPSC Prelims analysis, the paper had a major inclination toward Current Affairs.

Subject Number of Questions
Economy 14
Current Affairs- National and International Important Events 19
Science & Technology 10
Indian Polity 14
History & Art and Culture 19
Environment & Ecology 11
Science & Technology 10
Geography 13
Total 100

UPSC Prelims Analysis for GS Paper 2

As per the UPSC Prelims analysis, the difficulty level of the 2020 question paper was moderate. According to the feedback of the aspirants and UPSC paper analysis, they struggled with questions on the number system.

Topics Number of Questions
Data Sufficiency 5
Number System 15
Algebra 7
Average 4
Profit Loss Discount 3
Percentage 1
Ratio 1
Time Speed Distance 2
Time and Work 1
Mixture 1
Data Interpretation 1
Geometry 2
Directions 1
Statement Conclusion 2
Blood Relations 1
Sequence 2
Analogy 1
Word formation 1
Row arrangement 1
Logical puzzle 2
Calendar 1
Single/Two Question RCs (Critical Reasoning Based) 25
Total 80

UPSC Prelims Analysis 2019

The weightage of the UPSC Prelims 2019 Question Paper laid more emphasis on subjects like Geography, Economy, and Polity. As per the UPSC Prelims analysis, the difficulty level was the highest for the History section.

UPSC Exam Analysis for GS Paper 1

Check the distribution of questions in the Prelims Question Paper for GS Paper 1.

Subject Number of Questions
History 15
Geography 19
Economics 17
Polity 14
Environment and Ecology 13
Science and Tech 12
Art and Culture 1
Current Affair 9
Total 100

UPSC Paper Analysis – GS Paper 2

According to the UPSC Prelims analysis, the CSAT paper for 2019 had a moderately difficult level as compared to the other papers.

Topics Number of Questions
Analytical Reasoning 14
Coding-Decoding, Cubes 3
Syllogism 1
Sequence and Series 4
Directions & Blood Relations 2
Numbers/Fractions 10
Profit-Loss-Discount, S.I-C.I 1
Average/ Percentage 6
Time, Speed, Distance & Work 1
Algebra 2
P&C, Prob, Sets 3
Miscellaneous 3
Single/Two Question RC (Inference Based) 30
Total 80

UPSC Paper Review with Answer Keys

UPSC Prelims analysis involves the breakdown of complex topics into simpler and smaller parts. Hence, an aspirant is exposed to the UPSC Exam Pattern and the areas they need to emphasize more. We will provide the most authentic UPSC Answer Key for Prelims for all four sets.

Kindly note, that we have tried our best to avoid any error, nonetheless, it is suggested that the candidate should also refer to the official answer key mentioned on the official website.

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