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How to Calculate UPSC Prelims Marks
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination consists of two papers: General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). Understanding the marking scheme is crucial for accurate score prediction and strategic preparation.
UPSC Prelims Marking Scheme Explained
General Studies Paper I carries 200 marks with 100 questions, each worth 2 marks. For every incorrect answer, there's a negative marking of 1/3rd of the marks assigned to that question, which equals 0.66 marks deducted per wrong answer. General Studies Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature with a minimum requirement of 33% marks, but these marks don't count towards the merit list.
Our UPSC marks calculator focuses on Paper I since it determines your qualification for the Mains examination. The formula used is: Total Marks = (Number of Correct Answers × 2) - (Number of Incorrect Answers × 0.66). This precise calculation helps you understand your actual performance and plan your preparation strategy accordingly.
Why Use Our UPSC Mark Calculator?
Our free UPSC prelims marks calculator provides instant and accurate results without any complex calculations. Whether you're taking mock tests or analyzing your performance after the actual examination, this tool eliminates manual calculation errors and saves valuable time. The calculator is optimized for all devices, ensuring you can access it anytime, anywhere during your UPSC preparation journey.
Understanding your approximate score helps in setting realistic targets, identifying weak areas, and improving your accuracy in subsequent attempts. Many aspirants struggle with negative marking strategy, and our calculator helps you visualize the impact of guessing versus leaving questions unanswered.
Frequently Asked Questions
UPSC Prelims Paper I has 100 questions worth 200 marks total. Each correct answer gives 2 marks, while each incorrect answer deducts 0.66 marks (1/3rd of 2 marks). Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
To calculate manually: Multiply correct answers by 2, then subtract (incorrect answers × 0.66) from the total. For example: 70 correct × 2 = 140, 20 incorrect × 0.66 = 13.2, so final score = 140 - 13.2 = 126.8 marks.
No, CSAT (Paper II) is only qualifying in nature. You need to score at least 33% (66 marks out of 200) to qualify, but these marks don't contribute to your merit ranking for Mains selection.
The minimum qualifying marks for General Studies Paper I varies each year based on the exam's difficulty level and candidate performance. Typically, it ranges between 90-110 marks out of 200 for general category candidates.
Our calculator uses the exact UPSC marking scheme with precise negative marking calculations. It provides 100% accurate results based on the official UPSC guidelines for Preliminary Examination evaluation.