UPSC CSAT Simplified: How to approach CSAT Test Series for UPSC Prelims 2025

To finish one test of CSAT, you would need 2 hours. Once you are done with the test, you will analyse the score and your mistakes and check out the solution to the questions where you either skipped the question or made a mistake. This entire exercise of checking the score and the solution would take about 1-1.5 hours more. Once you are done with this entire exercise, you will need a break of about 30 minutes to refresh and start your self-study. Cumulatively, one test of CSAT would cost you around 4 hours each day. Attempting 20 such tests would take away your 80 hours cumulatively.

During the last phase of the preparation, it is not advisable to invest 80 hours solely in the test series. Rather, you can invest some portion of this time to further revise and strengthen the formulas and the concepts of CSAT or divert some time towards the GS paper.

Optimally, 12-13 tests, i.e. approximately 960-1000 questions, are more than sufficient to test your preparation level and check if you have skipped any topics or to identify the weak areas.

#2 SCORE OF UPSC TEST SERIES

The sole purpose of the test series is to help an aspirant identify weak areas of preparation and fix them in a reasonable amount of time before the exam. Though it is important to score well in the test series, that acts as a confidence booster; however, over-focusing on the score of the test series should be avoided. Throughout my teaching experience, I have seen numerous cases wherein an aspirant scored reasonably well in the test series but couldn’t score the 1/3rd marks in the actual exam and vice versa. It is always advisable to have a primary focus on the mistakes made in the test series and learn from them, and the test score should command only the secondary focus.  

#3 TIMING OF THE TEST SERIES

A big question is when to join the test series. The timing of the test series should leave sufficient space to correct the mistakes a candidate might encounter.

A rough timetable for the test series might look like this:

The UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 will be held on 25th May. The above tentative timetable leaves a candidate with sufficient time and scope to analyze and fix the mistakes encountered in the test series. Starting with the test series too late might create a sense of panic in the minds of the aspirants, thus nullifying the objective of the test series.

A large number of coaching institutes, while setting up the test series, make the test series intentionally hard. However, that may not be the best way to test a candidate. UPSC CSAT doesn’t comprise of difficult questions only. Usually, the CSAT paper is a mixed bag comprising easy, medium and hard questions in different proportions. In the CSAT paper, some questions are such that they can be solved within 45 seconds, while on the other hand, some questions might take upwards of 3 minutes to get the correct answer. So, it is always prudent to pick up a test series that has a mixed bag of questions and not just hard questions.

For example, if the candidate has read the chapter on Clocks properly, the question given below won’t take more than 60 seconds to solve:

How many times the hour hand and the minute hand coincide in a clock between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. (same day)?

(a) 3 times

(b) 4 times

(c) 5 times

(d) 6 times

However, another question asked by UPSC in CSAT 2024 might take more than 90 seconds to solve:

A person walks 100 m straight from his house, turns left and walks 100 m, again turns left and walks 300 m, then turns right and walks 100 m to reach his office. In which direction does he walk initially from his house if his office is exactly in the North-East direction?

(a) North-West

(b) West

(c) South

(d) South-West

So, a candidate should try and attempt a test series that has a balanced proportion of all the types of questions.

Apart from the difficulty level, the types of questions also matter. Off lately, UPSC has incorporated multiple types of questions, including the Statement-Conclusion type, Inference type, Data Sufficiency, etc. Such questions usually don’t work on the traditional elimination method and require considerable practice.

Hence, it is advisable to pick up a balanced test series, both in terms of difficulty and the types of chapters covered.

#5 OFFLINE VS ONLINE TEST SERIES

Often, a point of contention is whether the test series should be attempted offline or in online mode. A bird’s eye view of the picture tells us that the core objective and the end goal is to try as many questions as possible and identify our weak areas well within time. Whether the aspirant is attempting the test series online or offline is mostly immaterial. However, the online test series offers flexibility of time and no hassle to travel, thus saving time and effort.

However, if the offline test centre is near the place of residence of the candidate, a balance can be struck by attempting some tests offline and the remaining tests online. But the core focus remains the same: identification of weak areas.

(About our Expert: Mudit Gupta has been a mentor and faculty for the UPSC Civil Services exam for 8 years with expertise in CSAT, Polity, International Relations, and Current Affairs. He is known to break complex concepts into simpler ones that allow UPSC aspirants to develop a grip over the subject matter.)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.

The UPSC articles of Indian Express is now on Telegram. Join our Telegram channel- Indian Express UPSC Hub and stay updated with the latest Updates.

Let us know what topics you want us to cover as part of this new series. Please write to us at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com.