By Owais Ali Bhat
Director, Chanakya IAS Academy Jammu | Founder, Exceptional Academy Srinagar
Every year, I meet aspirants who clear GS Paper I with flying colours but falter at the CSAT hurdle. And every year, I remind them of one truth: CSAT may be qualifying, but it isn’t optional. After 15 years in this field, I’ve seen bright futures hang in the balance because of the assumption that CSAT is “easy” or “just basic maths and English.” Let me break that myth and offer a humanised, practical approach to cracking it.
- Accept That It’s a Real Paper
Many aspirants fall into the trap of underestimating CSAT. The first step is mental: respect the paper. It’s not just about aptitude—it’s about application under pressure. Even the best can blank out if they aren’t prepared for the nature of the questions.
- Diagnose Yourself Early
Within the first month of your preparation, take a full-length CSAT paper. Not to ace it—but to assess your comfort level with three major areas:
Quantitative Aptitude
Logical Reasoning
Comprehension
Most students discover that they’re rusty in at least one. And that’s fine—what matters is identifying it early and targeting it systematically.
- If You Fear Maths, Don’t Avoid It—Tame It
I’ve seen Humanities and Arts background students shy away from the Quant section. But here’s what I tell them: UPSC isn’t testing your calculation speed; it’s testing your clarity. You don’t need to be a maths wizard. You need to:
Master basic arithmetic
Practice mental calculation techniques
Learn how to eliminate options intelligently
Sometimes, all it takes is solving 25-30 quality questions weekly to build comfort and confidence.
- Reading Comprehension Is a Skill, Not a Habit
Aspirants often say, “I read newspapers daily, my English is fine.” But CSAT comprehension is a different beast. It tests analytical reading, not just language fluency.
Practice passages that:
Have dense ideas
Require inference rather than facts
Contain confusing answer choices
The trick is to slow down, map the structure of the passage, and eliminate extreme options.
- Learn the Art of Smart Guessing
Unlike GS, CSAT often requires you to take calculated risks. Elimination becomes your best friend, especially when options are closely worded.
With good practice, you’ll develop what I call “exam intuition”—knowing which options can be logically ruled out even if you’re not 100% sure.
- Set a Personal Cut-Off Above UPSC’s
If the qualifying mark is 66, aim for 80–85. This buffer absorbs the unpredictability of the paper. I always tell my students: Don’t aim to survive—aim to be comfortable.
- Give CSAT Its Own Slot in Your Weekly Plan
Even when GS feels endless, dedicate:
2–3 hours/week for CSAT (initially)
1 mock test/month (then 1 every 15 days as Prelims nears)
This consistent exposure builds familiarity, reduces anxiety, and conditions your brain to approach the paper with clarity.
In Conclusion
CSAT is not the enemy. It’s a paper that rewards calm thinking, consistent practice, and a balanced approach. Over the years, I’ve seen aspirants turn their weakest sections into their strengths—simply by treating CSAT with the seriousness it deserves.
So, to every future officer reading this:
Respect CSAT. Practice smart. And remember—you’re not alone.
I’m always here to guide you on this journey.
Warm regards,
Owais Ali Bhat
Director, Chanakya IAS Academy Jammu
Founder, Exceptional Academy Srinagar