UPSC CSAT Maths is a subject that most aspirants fear. To excel in UPSC CSAT Maths, a solid understanding of concepts, an understanding of the types of questions asked in previous years and an extensive practice of questions is essential.
Below, we’ll provide valuable insights to help you prepare effectively for UPSC CSAT maths.
But first, let’s briefly review the UPSC CSAT exam pattern to understand the weightage of the maths section.
UPSC CSAT Pattern
Here is the UPSC CSAT pattern:
UPSC CSAT Pattern | |
Number of Questions | 80 |
Total Marks | 200 |
Per Question Marks | 2.5 |
Time | 2 Hours |
Negative Marking | 1/3rd, i.e. 0.83 marks |
Qualifying Marks | 33%, i.e. 66 marks |
Sectional Timing | No |
Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen and Paper) |
Paper Type | Objective |
Paper Language | English and Hindi |
Maths for UPSC CSAT
- Questions
- UPSC CSAT consists of 80 questions, out of which 25 to 45 questions are asked from Maths.
- Total Marks
- Each question is worth 2.5 marks, so 25-45 questions mean 62.5 to 112.5 marks out of 200.
- Time Allotment
- You have 2 hours to complete the UPSC CSAT paper. There is no sectional timing for the Maths section.
- Negative Marking
- There’s a 1/3th (0.83 marks) penalty for each incorrect answer.
- Syllabus
- Important Topics
- Trend Analysis
- Strategy
UPSC CSAT Maths Syllabus
As per the official notification of UPSC Civil Services, UPSC CSAT maths syllabus is:
- 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)
We have analysed the UPSC CSAT Maths previous year’s questions to list down the detailed syllabus.
UPSC CSAT Maths Distribution of Questions | ||||||||||
Topic | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Percentage | 5 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
Ratio and Proportion | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
Profit and Loss | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Compound Interest | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Data Interpretation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Ages & Partnership | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Time & Work | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Time, Speed, and Distance | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Pipes & Cistern | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Boats & Stream | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probability | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Permutation and Combination | 0 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
Alligation Mixture | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Number System | 19 | 22 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
Average | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Mensuration 2D, 3D | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
HCF & LCM | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Number Series | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Total | 38 | 43 | 38 | 36 | 45 | 32 | 35 | 25 | 30 | 28 |
Based on the above PYQ analysis, here is the UPSC CSAT maths syllabus:
- Percentage
- Ratio and Proportion
- Profit and Loss
- Compound Interest
- Data Interpretation
- Ages & Partnership
- Time & Work
- Time, Speed, and Distance
- Pipes & Cistern
- Boats & Stream
- Probability
- Permutation and Combination
- Alligation Mixture
- Number System
- Average
- Mensuration 2D, 3D
- HCF & LCM
- Number Series
- Syllabus
- Important Topics
- Trend Analysis
- Strategy
Important Topics of UPSC CSAT Maths
The most important topics for UPSC CSAT maths are:
- 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
Maths Books for UPSC CSAT
Here are the best books and resources to prepare for the maths section of the UPSC CSAT exam.
UPSC CSAT Maths Recommended Books | ||
Book | Author | Publisher |
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R.S. Agarwal | Oswal Publishers |
Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma | Rajesh Verma | Arihant Publications |
UPSC CSAT Maths Previous Year Questions
Here are the topic-wise UPSC CSAT maths PYQs:
UPSC CSAT Maths Previous Year Questions | |||
Number System | HCF and LCM | Percentage | Profit and Loss |
Ratio and Proportion | Age and Partnership | Time and Work | Time, Speed & Distance |
Average | Mensuration 2D and 3D | Permutation and Combination | Probability |
Number Series |
- Syllabus
- Important Topics
- Trend Analysis
- Strategy
Free Material of UPSC CSAT Maths
Here are the topic-wise UPSC CSAT maths concepts:
UPSC CSAT Maths Free Material | |||
Number System | HCF and LCM | Percentage | Profit and Loss |
Ratio and Proportion | Age and Partnership | Time and Work | Time, Speed & Distance |
Average | Mensuration 2D and 3D | Permutation and Combination | Probability |
Number Series |
Practice Questions of Maths for UPSC CSAT
After understanding the concepts of each maths topic, it’s crucial to practice a wide range of exam-level questions to:
- Reinforce your conceptual understanding.
- Gain exposure to diverse question types and problem-solving techniques.
- Identify areas for improvement.
- Develop effective time management strategies.
- Enhance your problem-solving skills.
- Boost your confidence for the actual exam.
Here are the topic-wise UPSC CSAT maths practice questions:
UPSC CSAT Maths Practice Questions | |||
Number System | HCF and LCM | Percentage | Profit and Loss |
Ratio and Proportion | Age and Partnership | Time and Work | Time, Speed & Distance |
Average | Mensuration 2D and 3D | Permutation and Combination | Probability |
Number Series |
- Syllabus
- Important Topics
- Trend Analysis
- Strategy
Conclusion
We hope this information will help you get a complete picture of the maths section of the UPSC CSAT exam. By understanding the exam pattern, identifying key maths topics, learning concepts, and practicing exam-level questions, you can effectively prepare for this crucial section. Once you’ve mastered maths, it’s time to move on to the other UPSC CSAT exam subjects—English and Reasoning.