UPSC Exam Pattern

What is the UPSC Civil Services Examination Pattern?

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) follows a three-stage process: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personality Test. Candidates must clear the Prelims to qualify for the Mains. Those who clear the Mains then appear for the Personality Test. Each stage tests different skills, knowledge, analytical ability, and suitability for a career in the Indian civil services.

How Many Stages Are There in the UPSC Civil Services Examination?

The UPSC Civil Services Examination has three stages: Preliminary Examination (Prelims), Main Examination (Mains), and Personality Test (Interview). Candidates must qualify at each stage to move to the next stage of the selection process.

Stage One or UPSC Prelims Exam

The UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern consists of two papers:

• Both papers contain multiple-choice, objective-type questions.
• Each paper has a duration of two hours.
• Both papers are conducted on the same day.
• Each paper carries 200 marks.
• UPSC applies negative marking of one-third of the marks assigned to a question for each incorrect answer.
• General Studies Paper I determine the Prelims cutoff for qualification for the Mains examination.
• CSAT (General Studies Paper II) is qualifying in nature. Candidates must score at least 33% marks to qualify.
• Candidates must qualify in both papers to become eligible for the second stage, the UPSC Mains Examination.

One important point: Prelims marks are not counted in the final merit list. They only determine whether a candidate qualifies for the Mains Examination.

Second Stage or UPSC Mains Examination

The UPSC Mains Examination consists of nine papers in total. Each paper has a duration of three hours. Two papers are qualifying in nature, while the marks of the remaining seven papers count toward the final merit.

UPSC Mains Paper-Wise Pattern

Third Stage – UPSC Personality Test (Interview)

• The Personality Test is the final stage of the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
• It carries 275 marks.
• Unlike the written examinations, the Personality Test does not have a fixed syllabus.
• The board assesses the candidate's personality, communication skills, judgment, awareness, and suitability for a career in civil services.
• The marks obtained in the Mains written examination and Personality Test are counted for the final merit list.

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