How is UPSC Prelims score calculated?

UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 has 100 questions × 2 marks each (max 200). Each wrong answer deducts 1/3 of 2 = 0.66 marks. CSAT (Paper 2) has 80 questions × 2.5 marks each (max 200), with the same one-third negative marking and a 33% (66 marks) qualifying cut-off.

What is the total UPSC marks?

UPSC CSE final merit is out of 2025 marks: Mains written (Essay + GS1-4 + 2 Optional papers) = 7 × 250 = 1750 marks, plus Interview / Personality Test = 275 marks. Prelims marks are not added to the final score — Prelims is only a screening test.

Is CSAT qualifying or counted?

CSAT (Paper 2 of Prelims) is qualifying only. You must score at least 33% (66 out of 200) to clear Prelims, but CSAT marks are not added to your Prelims merit. Only GS Paper 1 score is used for Prelims cut-off ranking.

UPSC Marks Calculator — Prelims, Mains & Final Score

UPSC Marks Calculator

Estimate your UPSC CSE score — Prelims with negative marking, Mains across all papers, and the final 2025-mark total including interview.

GS Paper 1 (100 Qs × 2 marks)

Correct answers

Wrong answers

Unattempted = 100

0.00 / 200

Negative marking: −0.66 per wrong answer

CSAT Paper 2 (80 Qs × 2.5 marks)

Correct answers

Wrong answers

Unattempted = 80

0.00 / 200

Qualifying mark: 66 (33%) — Not qualified ✗

Only GS Paper 1 marks count for Prelims cut-off. CSAT is qualifying only. Prelims marks are not added to the final merit.

How UPSC marks are calculated

UPSC CSE has three stages. Prelims (200 + 200 marks) is screening only — GS Paper 1 score determines cut-off, CSAT must clear 33%. Mains is 1750 marks across 7 written papers (Essay + 4 GS + 2 Optional). The Personality Test (Interview) is 275 marks. Final merit is out of 2025 marks.

Negative marking in Prelims is one-third of the marks allotted — so a wrong GS Paper 1 answer deducts 0.66 marks, a wrong CSAT answer deducts 0.83 marks. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.