Strategies for Aceing the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination

As an experienced participant in the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination, securing a passing mark can be a daunting task. With a total of 100 questions, candidates often wonder how many questions need to be answered correctly to pass. This article delves into the specifics of question attempting strategies and the varying cutoff marks over the years.

Understanding the Cutoff Marks

The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination presents a challenge with its fluctuating cutoff marks. Historically, the cutoff for the General Category has been around 90-100 out of 200, with each question carrying 2 marks. However, this can vary significantly based on the overall performance of the candidates. For instance, in recent years, the cutoff has ranged from 87.5 to 116.00 out of 200. Therefore, it is crucial for candidates to stay updated with official UPSC notifications for precise and accurate cutoff information.

Question Attempting Strategy

Efficient time management and strategic answering are key to success in the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. It is essential to answer as many questions as possible with high accuracy. Given the negative marking, candidates are advised to attempt questions where they are reasonably confident. Aiming to answer 70-80 questions with high accuracy can be a sound strategy, depending on the paper's difficulty level.

Based on my personal experience, success in the Civil Services Preliminary Examination requires a well-thought-out approach. Here are some strategies that have helped me:

Mark Sure Questions First: During the first reading, mark all questions where you are 100% sure of the answer. Keep in mind that even these questions can turn out to be incorrect upon checking the answer key. Eliminate and Guess: During the second reading, mark all questions where you can eliminate at least 2 options, and pray that 60-70% of these answers are correct. Intellectual guesses are essential to clear the prelims. Ponder and Guess: If time permits, revisit all the questions where you hesitated to mark an answer and take your chances. By the end, you would have exhausted your 2-hour time limit. Take Calculated Risks: Don't hesitate to take risks. Even if out of 9 questions, only 3 turn out to be correct, you still get 6 marks, as opposed to none. Expand Your Lateral Knowledge: With the fluctuating complexity of the questions, having a broad knowledge base is crucial. Engage with documentaries and read newspapers regularly.

Additionally, solving as many previous question papers as possible and keeping a record of incorrect answers for revision can significantly enhance your performance. It's essential to stay diligent and not get discouraged by lower scores. Improving your guessing skills and being proactive in your learning is key.

Conclusion

While there is no fixed number of questions you must answer to pass, for a general category student, attempting less than 80 questions would be highly risky. Sticking to a structured and thoughtful approach to answering questions is the key to success. Always have a plan B ready, and with consistent effort and the right strategies, clearing the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination is within reach.

Best of luck to all aspiring UPSC candidates!

God Bless!