Education and Career Forum

Hello Friends,
Can anyone of you tell me about the paper pattern of Prelims and Mains of UPSC Civil Services? I want to apply for UPSC Civil Services exams. So, please let me know about the paper pattern. Thank you in advance!

Civil Services examination has three stages. The first stage is called Preliminary examination. Paper pattern of preliminary examination is that it contains two papers of two hundred marks each. The first paper is of General studies paper and it contains 100 questions of 200 marks. Second paper is of Civil Services Aptitude Test which is also qualifying and candidates need to score only 33% marks. Negative marking of 1/3 for wrong answers in both papers.

Those who qualify in preliminary exam write mains exam. First two papers of Mains exam is compulsory language paper in which candidate must qualify. Third paper is of Essay of 250 marks. After that there are four General studies papers of 250 marks each and two 300 marks optional papers.

Last stage is interview and is of 275 marks.

Paper Pattern of Civil Service Examination:

Preliminary Test:

1. Paper I: General Studies Paper of objective type of 200 marks.

2. Paper II: Civil Services Aptitude Test. It is qualifying, you need to score 33% marks out of 200 marks.

Mains examination for prelims qualified candidate:

Paper I and II: Languages papers of qualifying type.

Paper III: Essay of 250 marks.

Paper IV, V, VI, VII: General Studies papers of 250 marks each.

Paper VIII and IX: Optional papers of 300 marks each.

Interview is last stage and is of 275 marks.

For the UPSC Civil Service Exam a candidate has to face Preliminary Test if clear then Written Exam. At last have to face interview but should be scored good marks in both as there is cut off marks. Preliminary test is having objective type questions & main exam having question which you have to write the way you had written in School & College. Below I have attached the UPSC Civil Service Exam notification for your reference which will give you all the details.

Paper pattern of Preliminary exam:

*There are two papers, one of General Studies and other of Aptitude test. Both are 200 marks each and contains 100 questions. Aptitude paper is qualifying, you need to score only 66 marks out of 200. Selection for Mains is done on marks in Paper I.

Mains exam pattern:

*There are total nine papers. First two papers are language papers in which candidate needs to qualify and third paper is of Essay paper of 250 marks. After that there are four General studies papers of 250 marks each. For optional subject, there are two papers of 300 marks each.

Mains qualified candidates appear for interview and is of 275 marks.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hello Friends,
Can anyone of you tell me about the paper pattern of Prelims and Mains of UPSC Civil Services? I want to apply for UPSC Civil Services exams. So, please let me know about the paper pattern. Thank you in advance!

I have attached a document where you can find out the pattern for Civil Service exam. So please check it out.

Civil service preliminary has two paper:--

Paper 1
General studies ( duration- 2 hours)
200 marks

Paper 2
Civil services aptitude test ( 2 hours)
200 marks

Qualifying marks for paper 2 is 33% .


Mains- this is subjective or descriptive.
1). Essay
2). English
3). GS paper 1
4). GS paper 2
5). GS paper 3
6). GS paper 4
7). Optional Paper 1
8). Optional paper 2
9). Language paper

Civil service preliminary has two paper:--

Paper 1
General studies ( duration- 2 hours)
200 marks

Paper 2
Civil services aptitude test ( 2 hours)
200 marks

Qualifying marks for paper 2 is 33% .


Mains- this is subjective or descriptive.
1). Essay
2). English
3). GS paper 1
4). GS paper 2
5). GS paper 3
6). GS paper 4
7). Optional Paper 1
8). Optional paper 2
9). Language paper