A Comprehensive List of the Best CSAT Books for UPSC Prelims 2024

Although the CSAT is only a qualifying paper, you still need the right books for its preparation. The right books will help you cover the important topics and score at least 70 marks to qualify this paper comfortably.

In this blog, we’ll explain some highly recommended list of books by experts and UPSC toppers to help you excel in the CSAT paper.

Best CSAT Books for UPSC Prelims 2024

Books are one of the most important sources to prepare for the UPSC CSAT paper. However, you need to understand the exam syllabus before identifying the right books for preparation. The official notification of the UPSC Civil Services Examination specifies the syllabus of the CSAT paper as follows:

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc. (Class X level)
• Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. (Class X level)

For easy understanding, the above syllabus can be divided into 3 subjects:

1. Maths
2. Reasoning
3. English

Important Note:

We have deliberately not listed “Decision Making and Problem Solving” and Interpersonal skills, including communication skills, in the above table, as no question on these topics have been asked since 2014.

Now that you have understood the syllabus, here are the best books for CSAT preparation. 

Best Maths Books for UPSC CSAT

1. Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Agarwal

Book Highlights:

• This is one of the top-rated books in India to prepare for the CSAT and other competitive exams.
• The book covers important topics and provides step-by-step solutions, helping students develop problem-solving techniques.
• It is suitable for beginners and advanced learners, as it explains basic concepts in detail and gradually progresses to more complex topics.
• This book’s practice questions allow students to practise and reinforce their learning.

2. Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma

Book Highlights:

• This book explains fundamental concepts in detail and provides short tricks to solve various problems.
• It includes various questions (categorised by difficulty level) at the end of each chapter for practice, allowing aspirants to develop their skills progressively from a basic level to an advanced one.
• It also includes previous years’ questions. Practising these questions will help you gain insight into the types and difficulty levels of questions usually asked in CSAT.

Other Recommended Sources

• Other Important Books: NCERT Mathematics Textbooks (Class 8th, 9th, and 10th). These books can help you understand the basic concepts and strengthen your foundational knowledge of mathematics.
• Free Videos: YouTube Videos (These are free video tutorials on maths topics, providing visual explanations and additional practice.)
• Practice Questions: Previous years’ questions
• Online Course: EduTap Comprehensive Course

Most Important Topics for CSAT Maths

We have carefully analysed the number of questions asked from each topic of maths in the past years. Based on our analysis, here are the most important topics for CSAT maths:

• Number System
• HCF and LCM
• Percentage
• Profit and Loss
• Ratio and Proportion
• Age and Partnership
• Time and Work
• Time, Speed, and Distance
• Average
• Mensuration 2D and 3D
• Permutation and Combination
• Probability
• Number Series

Important Note: 

• When preparing for the maths section of the CSAT paper, remember to practise regularly and solve various problems to cover different types and difficulty levels. 
• Consider taking mock tests to simulate the exam environment and improve your time management skills.

Best Reasoning Books for UPSC CSAT

1. A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Agarwal

Book Highlights:

• The book comprehensively covers verbal and non-verbal reasoning topics, explaining various reasoning concepts and problem-solving techniques.
• Problems in the book are organised by difficulty level, with questions gradually progressing from easy to challenging.
• It contains multiple practice exercises and solutions for each topic, allowing you to learn the concepts and improve your reasoning skills.

2. A New Approach to REASONING Verbal, Non-Verbal & Analytical By B.S. Sijwalii and Indu Sijwali 

Book Highlights:

• The book emphasises clarity of concepts, ensuring that you understand the logic and principles of each type of verbal and non-verbal reasoning problems. 
• It offers step-by-step solutions, making it easier to improve your problem-solving techniques.
• It provides practical tips and strategies to approach different reasoning questions efficiently.
  

Other Recommended Sources

• Free Videos: YouTube Videos (These are free video tutorials on reasoning topics, providing visual explanations and additional practice.)
• Practice Questions: Previous years’ questions
• Online Course: EduTap Comprehensive Course

Most Important Topics for CSAT Reasoning

Like maths, we have also analysed the reasoning questions from the previous years, and based on our analysis, here are the most important topics for CSAT reasoning:

• Syllogism
• Blood Relation
• Direction Sense
• Alphabetical and Alphanumeric Series
• Coding and Decoding
• Calendar
• Clock
• Continuous Letter Series
• Ranking and Order

Important Note: 

• While preparing for the reasoning section, focus on understanding basic concepts to develop a strong logical and analytical thinking foundation.
• Solve multiple problems from different topics and gradually increase the complexity. 
• Remember, reasoning is a skill that needs practice, critical thinking, and a systematic approach.

Best English Books for UPSC CSAT

1. CSAT Paper II: Reading Comprehension 6th Edition by Ashok Kumar Singh & Nagendra Pratap

Book Highlights:

• The book thoroughly explains the various types of passages and question formats commonly asked in the CSAT paper. 
• It has a user-friendly format with easy-to-follow instructions and clear explanations.
• Effective strategies and techniques followed by abundant practice exercises in this book, allow you to improve your reading comprehension skills.
• The level of passages in the book is similar to the actual examination.

Other Recommended Sources

• Other Books: 
  • Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis for Vocabulary
  • High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin for Vocabulary
• Free Videos: YouTube Videos (These are free video tutorials on reading comprehension, providing visual explanations and additional practice.)
• Revision: Newspaper articles/Online articles (reading these will help you increase your reading speed and Vocabulary)
  • PBS
  • LiveMint
  • The Hindu
• Practice Questions: Previous years’ questions
• Online Course: EduTap Comprehensive Course

Most Important Topics for CSAT English

Reading comprehension is the only topic from which questions are asked in the CSAT paper of UPSC prelims. There are 4 types of passages that are asked. Level 1 passages consist of only 1 question after the comprehension. Similarly, level 2, level 3, and level 4 passages consist of 2,3 and 4 questions, respectively. 

Important Note: 

• Develop a habit of regularly reading newspapers, magazines, and quality online articles. 
• Focus on diverse topics to improve your overall comprehension skills.
• Practice speed reading to develop speed reading skills, allowing you to read passages more quickly while retaining comprehension.

Combined Maths, Reasoning, and English Books for UPSC CSAT Preparation

1. Cracking The CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) Paper-2 by Arihant 

Book Highlights:

• The book provides comprehensive coverage of important topics from all the subjects according to the UPSC CSAT Paper-2 syllabus.
• The book includes a wide range of practice questions designed to mimic the questions asked in the actual exam.
• It explains solutions in detail for every practice question, helping you understand the logic and approach required to answer them correctly.
• 5 crack sets with exam-level questions have been given at the end of the book for practice. 

2. Crack UPSC CSAT Civil Services Aptitude Test IAS Prelims Paper 2 by Disha 

Book Highlights:

• This book also covers all the important CSAT topics from each subject, such as maths, reading, comprehension, data interpretation, and decision-making.
• This book contains 3000+ MCQs with detailed solutions, allowing you to practise exam-level questions. 

Other Recommended Sources

• Free Videos: YouTube Videos
• Practice Questions: Previous years’ questions
• Online Course: EduTap Comprehensive Course  

Now that you have understood the important topics and books to read, you might wonder whether these books are sufficient to prepare for the CSAT paper. 

Are the Books Sufficient to Prepare for the CSAT Paper?

Here are some factors to consider that can help you decide:

1. Foundation

Books may be sufficient for a candidate with a strong foundation in the subjects covered in the CSAT syllabus. However, you might need additional resources and guidance if you are new to the topics. Moreover, supplementary resources and guidance might benefit you if you find specific topics challenging.

2. Self-Discipline

Using books for self-study requires discipline and a structured study routine. Books are sufficient if you are highly self-disciplined and can stick to your study plan.

3. Review and Analysis

Books alone may be sufficient if you can identify your weak areas and work on improving them through self-review and analysis. However, seeking guidance is advisable if you struggle to progress in weak areas.

Books can be your best friends for your CSAT preparation, but their sufficiency depends on your existing knowledge and study habits. Many successful UPSC aspirants recommended combining books with online courses, mock tests, and guidance to ensure a well-rounded CSAT preparation.

Now that you have understood the best books for the UPSC CSAT, it’s time to learn how to prepare for the paper.

How to Prepare for UPSC CSAT?

Preparing for the CSAT paper requires a strategic approach. Here’s a step-by-step strategy on how to prepare for the exam:

1. Understand the Syllabus

Start by thoroughly understanding the CSAT syllabus and familiarise yourself with the exam pattern.

2. Collect Study Materials

Gather quality study materials, including CSAT-specific books, practice papers, and other resources covering the syllabus.

3. Evaluate Yourself

Attempt at least two previous years’ question papers. Analyse your performance to understand where you stand.

4. Develop a Practical Study Plan

Create a well-structured study plan with realistic goals that allocate enough time for each subject.

5. Learn Basics

The first step of preparation is to understand the basics, whether maths, reasoning, or English.

• Maths: Start with the basics, such as the number system, and gradually progress to more advanced topics.
• Reasoning: Clear your basic concepts of logical reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical reasoning.
• English: Improving your reading skills by reading newspapers and online articles regularly. Practice summarising and understanding the main ideas of passages.

6. Practice Regularly

Practise different types of questions from each subject (maths, reasoning, and English) to develop a broad skill set. 

7. Take Mock Tests

Attempt multiple mock tests with time restrictions to simulate the actual CSAT paper environment.

8. Review and Analyse

Review your mock test answers to identify your mistakes. Work on your mistakes to avoid them in the actual paper.

9. Seek Guidance

Don’t be afraid to seek guidance from experienced mentors for specific challenging topics.

Remember that the UPSC CSAT difficulty level can vary from aspirant to aspirant, but a strategic approach, consistent practice, and proper guidance can help you tackle the challenges effectively.

Conclusion

Choosing the right books is vital for your UPSC CSAT preparation journey. Your selected books must align with your strengths and weaknesses and offer valuable insights and strategies to excel in maths, reasoning, and English. While books are necessary, you must include online resources and mock tests for an all-round preparation. Moreover, your consistency in following your study plan, combined with the guidance from study material, will pave the way for a successful performance in CSAT.

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