Is it tough to clear UPSC CSE exam?
Known as one of the toughest exams in India, UPSC Civil service examination is perceived as hard to crack. But it is a well-known fact that every year 700+ candidates manage to Clear UPSC. Is it really tough? How hard it is to clear an IAS Exam? Let's find answers to these questions in this article.
Here, we will discuss more aspects of UPSC CSE ranging from the vacancies to the cutoff. For better understanding, you can watch my short 6-minute video on the same.
Stages of UPSC Civil services Exam
The Civil services exam conducted by Union Public Service Commission is held in 3 stages: Prelims > Mains > Personality test. The number of aspirants clearing each stage is decided by the Cutoff marks. If an aspirant fails to pass through any of the stages, he must sit down for the next Prelims. A successful aspirant is one who clears all 3 stages in a single go.
Number of Applicants
"On average, 900,000 to 1,000,000 candidates apply every year and the number of candidates sitting in the preliminary examination is approximately 550,000", says Wikipedia. Out of them, only 700+ find their names in the Final merit list of UPSC, which puts the pass percentage at ~0.2%. This makes the Civils exam to be known as the toughest one in India.
Number of Vacancies
Around the month of February, the UPSC publishes the notification for Civil service exams, which mentions the last date for submission as well as vacancies. In the recent past, the Vacancies have been decelerating. From 1291 in 2014, the vacancies had fallen to 712 for 2021.
Cutoff Marks in UPSC Prelims
Based on the UPSC Prelims cutoff, from 5.5Lakh aspirants around 10,000 would get selected to the next stage - i.e., Mains. Clearing Prelims depends on many factors like the number of questions to attempt, focusing on the specific mark-scorer topics, practicing more mocks, figuring out the right way of attempting Prelims paper, having the right set of books, etc. The cutoff differs every year depending on the paper and it is hovering close to 100 for the past 2 years.
Cutoff Marks in UPSC Mains
As with Prelims, the results of the mains are also decided by cutoff marks. There are 9 papers in total and 7 are taken up for final calculation. One can improve the mains marks by focusing on the so-called EOE triangle - i.e., Ethics-Optional-Essay, as it adds up to 1000 marks out of 1750 allotted for Mains. The next stage - the UPSC Personality test is for 275 marks and it usually happens in the month of March. A handful of mock interviews and a perfect preparation of DAF will play as one's advantage.
Comparison with toppers
The toppers of the Civil services exam have managed to score around 50% of the marks. The graph provided above mentions the details. It is said that, among the last 2 stages, "Mains" has a greater role to play in deciding the final ranks. You can read the post on "Maximising mains marks" for better understanding. Almost all toppers have stressed the importance of practicing mains answer writing. It will streamline the thought process and also strengthen one's writing speed. After all, It is a practice that makes a man Perfect.
The Summary
In short, though the UPSC Civil services examination is perceived to be a tough one, it's not undoable. With clear guidance and a strong will coupled with consistency, clearing UPSC CSE is possible. Remember that every year, if 700+ aspirants can make it happen, why can't we? As I always say, "Do your best and the rest will automatically fall in place."
Explanatory video:
To hold a firm grasp on the matter, watch a simplified video (6 minutes).
Other Related guidance
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I would consider myself fortunate if I am able to push your UPSC journey a notch, towards the goal. Feel free to leave me a word in the comments section.
- Priyanga R Annadurai.
The Disclaimer!
This article is 100% based on personal experiences and experiments with the UPSC Civil services exams at all 3 stages. Please test them and apply only if it suits you! There is no single foolproof path to clear the UPSC examination. Each UPSC aspirant has their own strengths and weaknesses, and only after careful analysis of the same, we could arrive at any conclusions. I let this burden on you and it's your responsibility to identify whether the strategies mentioned here suit you. 👈👉
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