Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Exam Pattern is given below go, through the topics, to have an idea of the difficult subjects. Then candidates can plan a schedule for your preparation as per the syllabus. Here is the Exam Pattern for UPSC Exam 2021.
The Preliminary Examination Pattern of UPSC (400 Marks)
The UPSC prelims pattern consists of two objective type papers of two hours each.
Paper I – is a paper on General Studies – 200 marks
Paper-II – is a paper on civil service aptitude test- 200 marks
- Know one thing here, the preliminary exam is a qualifying exam. The marks obtained in the preliminary examination by the candidates will not be counted.
- The question will be set in both Hindi and English language papers. However, multiple-choice questions related to English Language Comprehension skills would be provided only in English.
UPSC Mains Exam Pattern ( 2075 Marks)
Here, the total marks of the Main exam and interview sum up to produce the final result.
The main examination will have the 2 qualifying papers and 7 papers to be counted for merit. So, All the 9 papers will have essay-type questions. Let us look at these papers and their patterns.
UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2021
Paper A and B are qualifying papers and the other 7 papers are ranking papers.
Paper A | One of the Indian Languages to be selected by the candidate. ( the languages included in the 8th schedule to the constitution.) | 300 Marks |
Paper B | English | 300 Marks |
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Paper I | Essay | 250 Marks |
Paper-II | General Studies I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) | 250 Marks |
Paper III | General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity. Social Justice and International relations) | 250 Marks |
Paper IV | General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity. Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 250 Marks |
Paper V | General Studies IV ( Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) | 250 Marks |
Paper VI | Optional Subject- Paper 1 | 250 Marks |
Paper VII | Optional Subject- Paper 2 | 250 Marks |
For the optional paper, UPSC has a list of about twenty-six subjects. So, anyone subject has to be selected by the candidate.
- Written exam total – 1750 Marks
- Interview total – 275 Marks
- Subtotal- 2025 Marks
Marks obtained in Paper 1 to Paper 7 of service aptitude test will be counted for merit ranking.
The question paper for each of the seven papers will be of the conventional (essay) type. Also, it will have three hours allotted.
Interview Test- 275 Marks
- Here, the interview or personality round is also included as a part of the “Main Examination” and is worth 275 marks.
- So, Candidates will be allotted keeping in view their ranks in the UPSC IAS exam. Also, the preferences expressed by them for the various services and posts.
Tips for UPSC Exam Preparation
- Understand the syllabus. Pick out the important topics from each paper.
- Main a proper study schedule.
- Find out your weak and strong points and focus on them.
- Try to solve as many as possible practice sets.
- Go through previous year papers and observe the question patterns.
- Search for video tutorials. Those will help you to prepare better for the civil services examination.
- Try to get a personal mentor who will be there to solve your doubts and help you in learning different things.
- Make a habit of daily newspaper reading.
- Apps that will keep you updated with regular current affairs that were relevant to the exam.
- Along with the study, keep a focus on your presentation skills as well. Remember, no matter how hard you work for the written examination, your fate will finally be decided on the basis of your interview.
