Prelims test is the first hurdle on your way to becoming a civil servant. In 2023, nearly 14 thousand aspirants cleared Prelims out of 11 lakhs who appeared. And this year, the exam will take place on May 26th, 2024. How is your preparation for GS-I and GS-II? How many times have you taken the UPSC Prelims test series?
This article discusses the last minute preparation tips that you can expect only in the best CSAT coaching for UPSC. Stay with us.
Why should preparation for GS-I and GS-II differ?
UPSC Prelims examination comprises two papers–General Studies 1 and General Studies 2. The duration of both the papers is 2 hours each.
GS 1 paper tests an aspirant’s hold over different subjects of studies, like history, geography, polity, economy, science and other current affairs.
The second paper, or GS2, is the Civil Service Aptitude Test or CSAT. It primarily tests analytical abilities, reasoning, decision-making skills and other natural traits of a civil services aspirant. It is a qualifying paper for the UPSC Civil Service Examination, which means if you do not qualify in GS2, your GS1 performance does not matter.
And, last year, the qualifying mark for GS 2 was 33%–60 marks out of the total of 200.
So, the approach to the last preparation for CSAT requires a different technique.
How to Prepare for Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT)
Here we have shortlisted 5 strategies to brush up your preparation for GS 2 effectively:
- Familiarize with Exam Pattern and Syllabus
CSAT checks your inherent skills in analytics, logical reasoning, quick decision making and other traits that are essential to succeed in a civil service job.
So, you should thoroughly understand the exam pattern, marking scheme, and scopes of the test. Also familiarize with the weightage given to different sections and topics.
- Develop a Study Plan specific to CSAT
CSAT is not a merit-based exam. So, your CSAT study plan must include as many UPSC Prelims test series as possible. These tests will help you identify gaps in logical reasoning and question patterns. Allocate extra time to areas where you need attention.
- Sound foundation is the key to success
Students with strong foundational knowledge in mathematics, logical reasoning, and language comprehension perform better in CSAT. So, get back to any standard school books for areas that require improvements.
- Practice, practice and practice daily
General mock aptitude tests, UPSC prelims test series and previous years’ questions are the only ways to practice for CSAT. Take stock of your improvements in these practice tests and work on weaknesses.
- Work on your language comprehension and interpretation skills
Read newspaper editorials, complex passages in English daily, under a fixed time limit. Immediately after, note down the key points on a paper. Re-read the passage and check whether you have extracted all the key information correctly or not.
Finally
It is less of a concern for aspirants who are consistently scoring above 60% in the UPSC prelims test series. For others, scoring the minimum qualifying marks in CSAT should be the priority. You can check Daily Mini Prelims Tests at https://www.iasgyan.in/. These are great ways to brush up CSAT scores.
