What Are the Minimum Marks Required to Crack the UPSC Exam?

Posted on By samanvya

In May of 2023, the UPSC Prelims test is expected to take place. If you are a candidate for the IAS, you must be busy at this time of year getting ready for the IAS prelims. 

The first hurdle you must clear to become an IAS officer is the UPSC prelims. Even though this exam might not be as difficult as the UPSC mains that will come after it, it would be wise to treat it seriously.

If you don’t study carefully, the IAS prelims can be difficult to pass despite having a limited syllabus. This is due to the fact that you must not only pass it but also obtain the minimum score required, which changes from year to year.

The cut-off mark is another name for this point. You must therefore surpass your rivals. Many people are puzzled by the UPSC’s process for determining the cut-off mark. Is there a recipe for it? Discover how the UPSC determines the cut-off for the UPSC preliminary test by reading on.

The phrase “cut-off” is not used by the UPSC. The phrase “minimum qualifying mark” is preferred. Simply said, this score corresponds to the final applicant on the UPSC’s merit list. The list is presented in descending order according to the marks earned.

According to the number of openings in each category for a given year, the merit list is created. The mark of the final applicant on the OBC list (out of 300) would be the cut-off for that category, for instance, if there were 300 openings in the OBC category in a given year.

Typically, the UPSC coaching fees call more applicants who pass the IAS prelims exam than the number of openings for the relevant year for the UPSC mains exam. 

Additionally, you would be aware that in the modified format, you must obtain a CSAT paper score of at least 33%. (qualifying paper). The General Studies Paper I score, however, is only displayed for the cut-off.

What Are the Factors Determining the UPSC IAS Cut-Off?

The cut-off mark will never remain constant from year to year because of a variety of circumstances. It differs for different categories, and the following are the criteria that influence the cut-off:

  • Number of Vacancies – The number of openings is a key factor in determining the annual cut.
  • Aspirants Showing Up for the Exam – The Cut-off is also determined by the number of applicants who show up for the exam. There is a fierce rivalry as more candidates seek to take the test.
  • Difficulty- The difficulty level of the test also has a significant impact; the harder the test, the lower the passing score.
  • The fundamental and most important factor is the candidate’s category because there are many variations in the cut-off scores for each category.

Preparation for UPSC Exam

How to prepare for IAS is among the most commonly posed queries. For the purpose of selecting qualified applicants for the IAS, IPS, IFS, and other affiliated services, the UPSC administers the Civil Services Examination (CSE). Only a select few of the applicants who apply for the exam are successful.

You might be wondering what causes the difference. The UPSC preparation plan that is! The majority of aspirants are interested in learning “How to prepare for UPSC,” “How to pass the UPSC test on the first try,” or “How to prepare for IAS.” 

We have attempted to provide a very thorough response to your question in this article. For your convenience, we’ve also given the UPSC preparation plan broken down by subject.

Stages of the UPSC Exam

 The UPSC Civil Services examination consists of three phases, namely the Preliminary, Main, and Interview phases, as you may already be aware.

General Studies-I and General Studies-II are the two tests that make up the UPSC Civil Services Preliminaries (CSAT).

The UPSC Personality Test, often known as an interview, is the last phase of the UPSC coaching online. On the basis of the combined score from the UPSC Main Exam and Interview, the final result is announced following the interview.

The UPSC Personality Test, often known as an interview, is the last phase of the UPSC courses after 12th. On the basis of the combined score from the UPSC Main Exam and Interview, the final result is announced following the interview.

The majority of UPSC candidates experience confusion while developing a thorough UPSC preparation approach. To help you, we have created this UPSC preparation guide. It has all the details you need to know about -How to Prepare for the IAS Exam. 

It includes a 12-month UPSC preparation plan in addition to extensive instructions on how to choose the UPSC optionally and prepare for the Main Examination by writing practice questions.

Conclusion

The best option for UPSC preparation is to enroll in online classes for UPSC. The following are some of the main advantages of UPSC Online Coaching:

Saving time: Since you can study at home and don’t have to drive far for your IAS mains online coaching, you may make the most of the time you have available.

Expert faculty: A light at the end of the tunnel always eases the way. You can do this by using UPSC preparation coaching to connect with knowledgeable faculty members who can assist you in passing the UPSC Exams.

Recorded Lectures: Since all of your live sessions will be recorded, you no longer have to worry about missing UPSC courses details.

FAQs

  • How is the UPSC cut-off determined?

The UPSC cut-off for the Civil Services Examination is determined based on the number of applicants, the difficulty level of the examination, and the number of vacancies. The cut-off marks are the minimum marks required to qualify for the next stage of the examination and are calculated based on the total marks obtained by the last candidate who is declared qualified. The cut-off changes every year, depending on the number of applicants and the difficulty level of the examination. The number of vacancies for each category is also considered while determining the cut-off.

  • Can I challenge the UPSC cut-off marks?

No, the UPSC cut-off marks are final and cannot be challenged.  It is important to understand that the cut-off marks are set to ensure that only the best-qualified candidates are selected for the next stage of the examination, and any challenge to the cut-off marks would compromise the integrity of the selection process.

  • What is the minimum qualifying mark for the preliminary examination?

The minimum qualifying mark for the preliminary examination of the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is fixed at a minimum of 33% marks. This means that a candidate needs to secure a minimum of 33 marks out of 100 in each of the two papers of the preliminary examination in order to be considered eligible for the next stage of the examination, which is the Main Examination.

  • What happens if I don’t meet the cut-off marks?

If you do not meet the cut-off marks for the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), you will not be eligible to move on to the next stage of the examination.