{"id":252,"date":"2025-07-15T14:10:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T08:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/?p=252"},"modified":"2025-10-15T13:30:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T08:00:08","slug":"upsc-prelims-total-marks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-prelims-total-marks\/","title":{"rendered":"UPSC Prelims Total Marks 2026 \u2013 Marking Scheme, Paper-Wise Weightage, Cut-Off"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-flat ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<label class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/label>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #127abf;color:#127abf\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #127abf;color:#127abf\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-prelims-total-marks\/#What_is_the_UPSC_Prelims_Exam\" >What is the UPSC Prelims Exam?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-prelims-total-marks\/#UPSC_Prelims_Total_Marks_Overview\" >UPSC Prelims Total Marks Overview<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-prelims-total-marks\/#Marking_Scheme_in_UPSC_Prelims\" >Marking Scheme in UPSC Prelims<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-prelims-total-marks\/#Qualifying_Marks_out_of_UPSC_Prelims_Total_Marks\" >Qualifying Marks out of UPSC Prelims Total Marks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-prelims-total-marks\/#Do_UPSC_Prelims_total_Marks_count_in_Final_Marks\" >Do UPSC Prelims total Marks count in Final Marks?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-prelims-total-marks\/#How_to_Calculate_Marks_in_UPSC_Prelims\" >How to Calculate Marks in UPSC Prelims<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-prelims-total-marks\/#How_to_Prepare_Effectively_for_UPSC_Prelims\" >How to Prepare Effectively for UPSC Prelims<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-prelims-total-marks\/#UPSC_Prelims_Total_Marks_FAQs\" >UPSC Prelims Total Marks FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-exam-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Preliminary Examination<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, popularly known as UPSC Prelims, is the first step in the Civil Services Examination. Understanding the UPSC Prelims total marks and its marking scheme is important for aspirants to prepare effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UPSC Prelims total marks system is straightforward but demands careful planning and focused preparation. With 400 marks at stake, a clear understanding of the marking scheme, syllabus, and strategy is essential.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_UPSC_Prelims_Exam\"><\/span><b>What is the UPSC Prelims Exam?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UPSC Prelim total marks consist of a combination of total marks of <a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-prelims-gs-paper-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UPSC General Studies Paper 1<\/a> and General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT) both are two objective-type papers.\u00a0 It tests candidates on diverse topics and skills, ensuring only the best progress to the next stage of the Civil Services Examination.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><b>Key Details of the UPSC Prelims Exam<\/b><\/h3>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UPSC Prelims Exam, with UPSC Prelims total marks of 400, consists of two papers i.e. General Studies Paper I (GS Paper I) which assesses knowledge across various subjects. General Studies Paper II (CSAT which evaluates aptitude, comprehension, and reasoning abilities. Candidates must qualify in the Prelims, which has UPSC Prelims total marks of 400, to advance to the Mains stage.<\/span><\/h4>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UPSC_Prelims_Total_Marks_Overview\"><\/span><b>UPSC Prelims Total Marks Overview<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding the UPSC Prelims total marks is vital for proper preparation and targeting the UPSC Prelims Examination.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><b>Breakdown of UPSC Prelims Total Marks:<\/b><\/h3>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UPSC Prelims consist of 400 marks.<\/span><\/h4>\n<table style=\"height: 238px;\" width=\"736\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><b>UPSC Prelims Total Marks Breakdown<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"2\"><b>Paper-wise Distribution<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>General Studies Paper I:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 200 marks<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>General Studies Paper II (CSAT):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 200 marks (qualifying paper)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Duration<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each paper is conducted for 2 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Question Count<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>GS Paper I:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 100 questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>CSAT:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 80 questions<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Marking_Scheme_in_UPSC_Prelims\"><\/span><b>Marking Scheme in UPSC Prelims<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The marking scheme plays a vital role in determining a candidate&#8217;s success, to do that candidates have to understand the UPSC Prelims total marks.<\/span><\/h3>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>General Studies Paper I (GS Paper I)<\/b><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Total Marks: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">200.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Marks Per Question:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 2 marks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Negative Marking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1\/3rd of marks (0.67 marks) are deducted for each wrong answer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No penalty for unattempted questions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>General Studies Paper II (CSAT)<\/b><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Total Marks: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">200.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Marks Per Question: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2.5 marks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Negative Marking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1\/3rd of marks (0.83 marks) are deducted for each wrong answer.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No penalty for unattempted questions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Qualifying_Marks_out_of_UPSC_Prelims_Total_Marks\"><\/span><b>Qualifying Marks out of UPSC Prelims Total Marks<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To advance to the next stage, candidates must meet specific qualifying criteria:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>General Studies Paper I: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cut-off marks are decided by UPSC each year based on various factors like the number of vacancies and the difficulty level of the paper.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>CSAT: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A minimum of 33% (66 out of 200 marks) is required to qualify.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>UPSC Prelims Cut-Off Trends:<\/b><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding past cut-off marks helps in setting realistic goals. Here\u2019s a look at recent trends for General Studies Paper I:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Prelims Cut off 2023: <\/span><b>75.41<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Prelims Cut off 2022: <\/span><b>88.22<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Prelims Cut off 2021: <\/span><b>87.54<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Prelims Cut off 2020: <\/span><b>92.51<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These figures indicate the competitive nature of the exam.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"metaslider-id-5575\" style=\"width: 100%;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-107-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-5575 ml-slider has-dots-nav ms-theme-default-base\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"New Slideshow\" data-height=\"300\" data-width=\"700\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_5575\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_5575\">\n            <ul aria-live='off' class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-5579 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-10-11 11:47:58\" data-filename=\"400-X-180cdr-scaled-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/courses\/mains\/upsc-qep-2026-batch-5-english\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/400-X-180cdr-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-5575 slide-5579 msDefaultImage\" title=\"400 X 180cdr\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-5580 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-10-11 11:47:58\" data-filename=\"pocket-notes-website-400x180-1-scaled-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/courses\/upsc-cse-books\/qep-pocket-notes-2.0\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pocket-notes-website-400x180-1-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-5575 slide-5580 msDefaultImage\" title=\"pocket-notes-website-400x180\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-5581 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-10-11 11:47:58\" data-filename=\"web-site-banner-toppers-book.-400x180-1-scaled-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/courses\/upsc-cse-books\/toppers-handwritten-upsc-pyq-4-books\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/web-site-banner-toppers-book.-400x180-1-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-5575 slide-5581 msDefaultImage\" title=\"web site banner toppers book. 400x180\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_UPSC_Prelims_total_Marks_count_in_Final_Marks\"><\/span><b>Do UPSC Prelims total Marks count in Final Marks?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The marks of the candidates scored out of UPSC Prelims total marks are considered for evaluation for determining the cut-off marks and clearing the prelims and these marks further will not be considered in the main examination.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Topics which are attributed to UPSC Prelims Total Marks (GS Paper I)<\/b><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The GS Paper I of UPSC Prelims covers a wide range of topics to assess the candidate\u2019s knowledge and these topics are:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>History:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ancient, Medieval, and Modern India.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Geography:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Polity:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Constitution, Political System, and Governance.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Economy:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Indian Economy, Budget, and Economic Development.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Environment:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Conservation.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Science &amp; Technology:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Current developments and basic concepts.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Current Affairs:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Events of national and international importance.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Topics that are attributed to UPSC Prelims Total Marks (CSAT)<\/b><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The GS Paper II of UPSC Prelims covers a wide range of topics to assess the candidate\u2019s knowledge and these topics are:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Comprehension:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reading and understanding passages.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability.<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Quantitative Aptitude:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Basic numeracy up to Class 10 level.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Decision-Making and Problem-Solving.<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Calculate_Marks_in_UPSC_Prelims\"><\/span><b>How to Calculate Marks in UPSC Prelims<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To evaluate performance, candidates must understand how to calculate their marks accurately:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>For Correct Answers:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>For Wrong Answers:<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Final Score: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Correct Answer &#8211; Wrong answer (negative marking) = Final Score out of UPSC Prelims total marks<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Key Points to Remember About UPSC Prelims Total Marks:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Only GS Paper I is used to determine merit: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CSAT is a qualifying paper and is not counted in the cut-off.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Negative marking can significantly impact your score: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid guesswork if unsure of the answer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Equal weightage for all questions: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prioritize accuracy over attempting more questions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Prepare_Effectively_for_UPSC_Prelims\"><\/span><b>How to Prepare Effectively for UPSC Prelims<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preparing strategically ensures success in the UPSC Prelims and can fetch good marks out of UPSC Prelims total marks.<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Focus on Syllabus and Previous Papers:<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understand the syllabus thoroughly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Solve past question papers to get a sense of the pattern.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Time Management:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allocate time wisely to cover all topics.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practice mock tests under timed conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthen Basics:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NCERT books are a must for foundational knowledge.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Refer to standard books for advanced concepts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Current Affairs:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read newspapers like <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Hindu<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indian Express.<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow monthly current affairs compilations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Practice for CSAT:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Solve basic mathematics and reasoning questions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practice reading comprehension for accuracy and speed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Why Understanding UPSC Prelims Total Marks is Important<\/b><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A clear understanding of the UPSC Prelims total marks provides several benefits:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Strategic Preparation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Knowing the total marks helps allocate preparation time effectively.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Focus Areas:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Concentrating on high-weightage topics can boost scores.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Avoid Pitfalls:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Awareness of negative marking reduces careless mistakes.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Realistic Goals:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Past cut-off trends guide aspirants to set achievable targets.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UPSC_Prelims_Total_Marks_FAQs\"><\/span><b>UPSC Prelims Total Marks FAQs<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<style>#sp-ea-253 .spcollapsing { height: 0; overflow: hidden; transition-property: height;transition-duration: 300ms;}#sp-ea-253{ position: relative; }#sp-ea-253 .ea-card{ opacity: 0;}#eap-preloader-253{ position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; height: 100%;width: 100%; text-align: center;display: flex; align-items: center;justify-content: center;}#sp-ea-253.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #e2e2e2; }#sp-ea-253.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a {color: #444;}#sp-ea-253.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.sp-collapse>.ea-body {background: #fff; color: #444;}#sp-ea-253.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {background: #eee;}#sp-ea-253.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a .ea-expand-icon { float: left; color: #444;font-size: 16px;}.sp-ea-one.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a {\r\n  padding: 7px;\r\n  background: #fff;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a {\r\n  font-size: 1rem;\r\n}\r\n.sp-ea-one.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a .ea-expand-icon {\r\n  font-size: 1rem;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a .ea-expand-icon {\r\n  margin-right: 0px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single{\r\n background: #fff;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.ea-expand a{\r\n  background: #cfe2ff !important;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.sp-easy-accordion{\r\n  margin-bottom: 1rem;\r\n  margin-top: 1rem;\r\n}<\/style><div id=\"sp_easy_accordion-1734934793\"><div id=\"sp-ea-253\" class=\"sp-ea-one sp-easy-accordion\" data-ea-active=\"ea-click\" data-ea-mode=\"vertical\" data-preloader=\"1\" data-scroll-active-item=\"1\" data-offset-to-scroll=\"0\"><div id=\"eap-preloader-253\" class=\"accordion-preloader\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-content\/plugins\/easy-accordion-free\/public\/assets\/ea_loader.svg\" alt=\"Loader image\"\/><\/div><div class=\"ea-card ea-expand sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-2530\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse2530\" aria-controls=\"collapse2530\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"true\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-minus\"><\/i> What are the total marks of the UPSC prelims exam?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse collapsed show\" id=\"collapse2530\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-253\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-2530\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0The Prelims include two objective-type papers i.e. General Studies and CSAT. Each paper carries 200 marks, resulting in a combined total of 400 marks. Candidates are given 120 minutes (2 hours) to complete each paper.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-2531\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse2531\" aria-controls=\"collapse2531\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> What are the passing marks in UPSC prelims?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse2531\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-253\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-2531\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Out of UPSC Prelims total Marks candidates have to score the cut-off marks decided by UPSC.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-2532\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse2532\" aria-controls=\"collapse2532\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> What is the total score of prelims?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse2532\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-253\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-2532\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><b>T<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">he two papers in the UPSC Prelims include negative markings. Each paper is worth 200 marks, making the UPSC Prelims total marks 400. It is important to note that negative marking is applicable in the IAS Prelims.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-2533\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse2533\" aria-controls=\"collapse2533\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> How many marks for 1 question in UPSC Prelims?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse2533\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-253\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-2533\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><b>\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The General Studies Paper-I in the UPSC Prelims is assigned 200 marks, consisting of 100 questions. Each question is worth 2 marks, and candidates are given two hours to complete the paper.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-2534\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse2534\" aria-controls=\"collapse2534\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Do marks in the prelims examination determine the rank of candidates?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse2534\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-253\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-2534\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No, Marks scored in UPSC Prelims are not considered for final evaluation to determine the rank of candidates.<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Know the UPSC Prelims Total Marks 2026 including GS Paper I and CSAT. Check marking scheme, cut-off trends, syllabus coverage, and how to calculate marks in the UPSC Preliminary Exam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4551,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[135,165,170,168,169,171,172,164,167,166],"class_list":["post-252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-upsc-prelims-cut-off-marks","tag-upsc-prelims-exam-marks-distribution","tag-upsc-prelims-exam-scoring-criteria","tag-upsc-prelims-exam-total-score","tag-upsc-prelims-marks-system","tag-upsc-prelims-paper-marks","tag-upsc-prelims-qualifying-marks","tag-upsc-prelims-total-marks-2025","tag-upsc-prelims-total-marks-for-csat","tag-upsc-prelims-total-marks-for-gs"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=252"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5932,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252\/revisions\/5932"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4551"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}