UPSC CSAT Simplified: 3 Myths about CSAT

This nonfiction volition analyse the 3 astir wide circulated myths astir CSAT preparation, which often outgo the aspirants an attempt.

Myth #1 : ‘IF I AM FROM MATHS BACKGROUND, CSAT IS A CAKEWALK FOR ME’

The maths we work successful 11th and 12th modular oregon the Maths of B.SC oregon B.Tech comprised discrete maths, calculus, coordinate geometry, vectors, linear equations, etc. Conversely, the maths asked successful UPSC CSAT is mostly arithmetic, including fig systems, averages, percentages, mixtures, permutations and combinations, etc.

Moreover, maths successful colleges is much astir derivations and conclusions, whereas the request of CSAT is much astir solving the questions accurately successful a minimal span. Given the changing inclination of the UPSC CSAT, you volition request much shortcuts and rigorous signifier to summation accuracy with speed.

For example, fto america see a question asked successful 2024 from the section connected the fig system. The question goes similar this:

421 and 427, erstwhile divided by the aforesaid number, permission the aforesaid remainder 1. How galore numbers tin beryllium utilized arsenic the divisor in bid to get the aforesaid remainder 1?

1) 1

2) 2

3) 3

4) 4

Looking astatine this question, we tin gully a fewer important conclusions:

1. This is conscionable 1 benignant of question asked successful CSAT from the fig system. In the past 3 years, UPSC has asked astatine slightest 8 antithetic types of questions from this chapter.

2. Only if you person a bully bid and signifier of the taxable of HCF tin you lick this question successful minimal time.

3. Such concepts are usually not covered successful maths astatine the graduation level but are being progressively asked successful the UPSC.

On a broadside note, the intent of drafting these conclusions is not to make a consciousness of panic but to alert you to instrumentality the taxable seriously, fixed the capable clip that is inactive near for the 2025/2026 attempt.

Myth #2 : ‘IF I COVER ONLY LOGICAL REASONING AND SKIP MATHS, I’LL CLEAR CSAT’ 

The UPSC CSAT insubstantial consists of 3 wide pillars viz:– Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Reading Comprehension. There is nary fixed weightage of the sections, and it is up to the discretion of the UPSC to demarcate their weightage.

Let america see a script wherein you determine to under-prepare maths and trust much upon logical reasoning to people the requisite 1/3rd marks successful the CSAT paper. We tin deliberation of the pursuing imaginable scenarios:

1. The insubstantial had a sizeable value of logical reasoning, with astir questions good wrong the scope to attempt. In specified a scenario, everything went arsenic per the plan, and you volition beryllium capable to people good supra the 1/3rd mark. However, the 2 conditions to beryllium satisfied present are: UPSC should inquire heavy from logical reasoning, and they should beryllium casual to effort with minimal antagonistic marking.

2. The 2nd plausible script is that UPSC asked much questions from the quantitative aptitude conception and less questions from logical reasoning with the questions from logical reasoning portion being connected the tougher side. In specified a scenario, the aspirant volition find it astir intolerable to sail done the requisite 1/3rd mark.

Data shows that successful the last 4 years, the weightage of English Reading Comprehension and Quantitative Aptitude has outnumbered the Logical Reasoning section.

(About our Expert: Mudit Gupta has been a mentor and module for the UPSC Civil Services exam for 8 years with expertise successful CSAT, Polity, International Relations, and Current Affairs. He is known to interruption analyzable concepts into simpler ones that let UPSC aspirants to make a grip implicit the taxable matter.)

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