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UPSC CSAT 2023 PYQs

The UPSC CSAT 2023 paper, mixing comprehension passages on environment, health, farming and governance with number system, counting and reasoning questions.

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Questions, answer key and solutions.

Questions
77
Duration
120 min
Marks
192.50

Negative marking

Attempts
100
Access
Free
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Normal practice, or a Simulated test

Both use the same questions. Normal practice is untimed and needs no account: choose an option and the answer and solution appear at once. The Simulated test is the real computer-based format, with one 120-minute clock, a question palette and full screen, and your score, the key and the solutions arrive when you submit.

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Untimed

Every question on one page, loading as you scroll. Choose an option and see straight away whether it was right.

  • No timer. Nothing to start and nothing to submit. Stop whenever you like.
  • Answered as you choose. Tap an option and it is marked at once, with the correct answer shown.
  • Solutions in place. The explanation, and the video where one has been added, sit under the question.
  • Open to guests. Normal practice needs no sign-in.
Real exam conditions

Simulated

Timed CBT

The computer-based test format: one clock, a question palette, and a score the moment you submit.

  • A clock that does not pause. 120 minutes from the moment you begin, and the paper is submitted for you when it reaches zero.
  • Question palette. Answered, not answered and marked for review, section by section, as the real interface has it.
  • Full screen, proctored. The test takes over the screen; leaving it three times submits the paper.
  • Answers hidden until you submit. The key, the explanations and your score all arrive together at the end.

About this test

UPSC CSAT 2023 Question Paper: Comprehension, Numeracy and Reasoning PYQ

UPSC CSAT 2023 PYQs tests reading comprehension on water sharing, health, farming and governance, along with number system, counting, arithmetic and logical reasoning from the Civil Services Preliminary Paper II of 2023. Aptitude360 offers this paper free, with a written solution for every included question.

Topics tested in the CSAT 2023 question paper

  • Reading comprehension: water sharing among states, anaemia and productivity, small farmers and climate adaptation, unhealthy diets, corporate governance, elephants as landscape architects, municipal waste, organic farming and millets
  • Number system: remainders of products, unit digits of large powers, divisibility of repeating-digit numbers, parity of odd and even integers, primes and composites
  • Digit puzzles: missing digits in sums and products of three-digit numbers, digit sums over a range of integers
  • Counting: ways of scoring runs with fixed shots, letters in wrong envelopes, digit rearrangements and triangles from chosen points
  • Arithmetic and reasoning: work done on rotating days, worst-case selection of shoes and balls, symbol operations and cube counting

Key concepts to revise for UPSC CSAT

  • Finding the main idea, assumption and logical inference of a short passage
  • Cyclicity of unit digits and remainder rules for large products and powers
  • Basic permutations and combinations, including arrangements with repeated digits
  • Pigeonhole reasoning for worst-case picking problems
  • Counting the cubes surrounded on all sides in a cubical block made of smaller cubes

Revision tips for CSAT comprehension and maths

  • Answer comprehension items strictly from the passage, not from your own views on the subject
  • Check a statement-based option against each statement separately before choosing a combination
  • Write out small cases on paper for counting and digit puzzles instead of guessing a formula

Who should practise this CSAT 2023 paper

UPSC Civil Services Prelims aspirants who want a real Paper II to check their readiness for the qualifying CSAT.

FAQs about UPSC CSAT 2023 PYQs

What is the UPSC CSAT paper?
CSAT is Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. It tests comprehension, logical reasoning, decision making, basic numeracy and data interpretation.
Is CSAT qualifying in UPSC prelims?
Yes. CSAT is qualifying in nature, so candidates only need to clear the qualifying standard. The prelims merit list is based on General Studies Paper I.
What topics came in the CSAT 2023 maths section?
The 2023 paper had many questions on number system, remainders, unit digits, digit puzzles and counting. It also included work, worst-case selection and cube-based reasoning problems.
How to answer CSAT reading comprehension questions?
Base every answer only on what the passage says or clearly implies. Avoid options that bring in outside knowledge or go beyond the author's argument.

Test structure

How the paper is split, and how long each part runs. A section you have finished cannot be returned to.

SectionQuestionsTime
UPSC - CSAT 202377120 min

Marking & rules

Total marks
192.5 across 77 questions.
Negative marking
A wrong answer costs marks. Leaving a question unanswered costs nothing.
Attempts
100 in total. An attempt is spent the moment you begin one.

What you get when you submit

The analysis is ready the moment you submit the paper.

Score and accuracy

Marks, percentage, right, wrong and skipped, and the time you took.

Section by section

The same figures for each section, so a weak one cannot hide in an average.

The full answer key

Every question with your answer, the right one, the working, and the video where there is one.

Where you stand

Your score against the spread of everyone else who has sat this test.

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