UPSC CSE · Prelims tools

CSAT Marks Calculator

CSAT only asks one question of you: did you cross 66 marks? Enter your attempts from a mock or the real paper and get your score with a clear verdict against the 33 percent qualifying line.

Questions attempted

Wrong answers

Paper pattern: 80 questions · 200 marks
Marks per question: 2.5
Negative per wrong answer: 0.83 (one third of 2.5)
Qualifying line (33 percent): 66 marks

Enter your attempted and wrong counts to see your CSAT score and whether it clears the 33 percent qualifying line.

The 66 mark line, explained

Since 2015, CSAT has been a qualifying paper in the Civil Services Preliminary Examination. The Commission fixed the qualifying threshold at 33 percent of the total marks. With 80 questions of 2.5 marks each, the paper carries 200 marks, so the line sits at exactly 66. Score 66 or more and your General Studies Paper I is read; score less and the attempt ends there, whatever Paper I held.

The one third negative marking makes the margin thinner than it looks. Every wrong answer takes back 0.83 marks, so twelve wrong answers quietly erase the value of four correct ones. The verdict in the calculator tells you not just your score but your distance from the line, which is the number that should drive your attempt strategy.

Frequently asked questions

What is the qualifying mark for CSAT?

CSAT, the General Studies Paper II of the Prelims, is a qualifying paper. You need at least 33 percent of the 200 marks, which is 66 marks, for your General Studies Paper I to be evaluated at all. The line is fixed; it does not move with the difficulty of the paper or the number of candidates.

How is the CSAT score calculated?

The paper has 80 questions carrying 2.5 marks each. Every correct answer earns 2.5 marks, and every wrong answer deducts one third of 2.5, which is about 0.83 marks. Unattempted questions cost nothing. Your score is the raw total from correct answers minus the total deduction.

Does my CSAT score count towards the Prelims result?

No. CSAT marks are not added to your merit score. The Prelims merit list is drawn from General Studies Paper I alone, but only for candidates who first clear the 66 mark qualifying line in CSAT. A very high Paper I score cannot rescue a CSAT score below 66.

How many questions should I attempt in CSAT?

Enough to cross 66 with a safety margin, without gambling. At perfect accuracy, 27 correct answers would just cross the line, but real papers involve errors. Most candidates aim to attempt 45 to 55 questions at good accuracy, which builds a cushion above the line while keeping the negative marking damage small. Use the calculator with your mock numbers to find your comfort zone.

I am scoring below 66 in mocks. What should I change?

First check whether the gap comes from accuracy or from attempts. If your wrong answers are eating more than a fifth of your raw score, slow down and attempt less. If accuracy is fine but attempts are low, practise the high-yield areas (comprehension, basic numeracy, reasoning) under a timer. The verdict above shows exactly how many marks you are short, so you can measure progress mock by mock.