The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is renowned for its tough competition and rigorous selection process. One crucial aspect that aspirants often analyze is the previous year cutoffs. These cutoffs serve as a benchmark, indicating the minimum scores required to qualify for the next stage of the exam. Let’s delve into the detailed cutoff analysis for both the Prelims and Mains stages:
Understanding UPSC CSE Cutoffs
Cutoff marks represent the minimum marks required to qualify for the next stage of the exam. The UPSC releases category-wise cutoffs (General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST) for both Prelims and Mains. These cutoffs depend on various factors like the difficulty level of the exam, the number of vacancies, and the number of candidates appearing.
Analyzing previous year cutoffs offers valuable insights for your UPSC CSE preparation. Here’s how:
- Understanding the Trend: By looking at past cutoffs, you can gauge the general range for each category. This helps you set realistic targets and strategize your preparation accordingly.
- Difficulty Level: If the previous year’s Prelims or Mains exam was considered difficult, the cutoff might be lower. This can be a confidence booster for aspirants who find the syllabus challenging.
- Category-wise Analysis: Analyze cutoffs for your specific category to understand the ballpark figure you need to aim for. Remember, cutoffs for reserved categories are generally lower than the general category.
UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination Cutoffs:
The UPSC CSE Prelims cutoff is determined out of 200 marks for Paper-I (General Studies) and is used to shortlist candidates for the Mains examination. The cutoff marks vary each year based on factors like the number of vacancies, difficulty level of the exam, and the performance of candidates. Here’s a general trend of the Prelims cutoff marks for the past few years:
- 2023: 75.41 marks (General category)
- 2022: 88.22 marks (General category)
- 2021: 87.54 marks (General category)
- 2020: 92.51 marks (General category)
- 2019: 98.00 marks (General category)
- 2018: 98.00 marks (General category)
UPSC CSE Mains Examination Cutoffs:
The Mains examination consists of nine papers, out of which seven papers are considered for ranking purposes. The Mains cutoff is calculated out of 1750 marks (excluding the essay paper of 250 marks, which is evaluated separately). Here’s a glimpse of the Mains cutoff trend over the years:
- 2023: 741 marks (General category)
- 2022: 748 marks (General category)
- 2021: 745 marks (General category)
- 2020: 736 marks (General category)
- 2019: 751 marks (General category)
- 2018: 774 marks (General category)
UPSC CSE Final Cutoff (Mains + Interview):
The final cutoff marks are calculated out of 2025 marks (1750 marks of Mains + 275 marks of Interview). The final cutoff varies based on the category of the candidate. Here are the final cutoff marks for the General category in the last few years:
- 2023: 137.00 marks
- 2022: 123.78 marks
- 2021: 120.46 marks
- 2020: 115.49 marks
- 2019: 112.00 marks
- 2018: 110.00 marks
Conclusion:
Analyzing the previous year cutoffs can provide valuable insights into the exam’s competitiveness and help aspirants gauge their preparation level. While cutoffs can vary each year, maintaining a consistent and focused preparation strategy is key to cracking the UPSC CSE exam. With dedication and perseverance, achieving success in this prestigious exam is certainly within reach!
