BharatNotes Interactive Tool
UPSC Prelims Score Calculator
Calculate your GS Paper I and CSAT score with accurate negative marking. Compare against last 5 years' cut-offs and see your chances of clearing Prelims.
Your Prelims score appears here
Enter your answers in the form and click "Calculate" to see your score, qualifying status, and cut-off probability.
GS Paper I Cut-offs — Last 5 Years
Official UPSC cutoffs. CSE 2025 cutoffs expected April 2026 onward. Source: upsc.gov.in
| Category | CSE 2020 | CSE 2021 | CSE 2022 | CSE 2023 | CSE 2024 | 5-yr Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 92.51 | 87.54 | 88.22 | 75.41 | 87.98 | 86.33 |
| EWS | 77.55 | 80.14 | 82.83 | 68.02 | 85.92 | 78.89 |
| OBC | 89.12 | 84.85 | 87.54 | 74.75 | 87.28 | 84.71 |
| SC | 74.84 | 75.41 | 74.08 | 59.25 | 79.03 | 72.52 |
| ST | 68.71 | 70.71 | 69.35 | 47.82 | 74.23 | 66.16 |
| PwBD-1 | 70.06 | 68.02 | 49.84 | 40.40 | 69.42 | 59.55 |
| PwBD-2 | 63.94 | 67.33 | 58.59 | 47.13 | 65.30 | 60.46 |
| PwBD-3 | 40.82 | 43.09 | 40.40 | 40.40 | 40.56 | 41.05 |
| PwBD-5 | 42.86 | 45.80 | 41.76 | 33.68 | 40.56 | 40.93 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How is negative marking calculated in UPSC Prelims?
For each wrong answer, 1/3rd of the marks allotted to that question is deducted.
GS Paper I: Each question = 2 marks → wrong answer = −0.6667 marks.
CSAT (Paper II): Each question = 2.5 marks → wrong answer = −0.8333 marks.
Un-attempted questions: 0 marks deducted.
Is CSAT counted in the Prelims merit list?
No. CSAT is qualifying only. You need to score at least 33% (66.67 out of 200) in CSAT, but only your GS Paper I score determines whether you clear Prelims. If you fail CSAT, your GS-I sheet won't even be evaluated.
Do decision-making questions in CSAT have negative marking?
No. Questions under the "Decision Making and Problem Solving" section in CSAT carry no negative marking. Typically 5–8 questions per paper fall under this category. UPSC marks them explicitly in the question paper.
What if a question is dropped or has multiple correct answers?
If UPSC drops a question or finds multiple correct options in its review, full marks (+2 or +2.5) are awarded to every candidate who attempted it. Candidates who left it blank get 0 (no compensation).
What's the safe score to clear Prelims?
Aim for 100+ in GS-I for General category — comfortably above all 5-year cutoffs (avg ~86). OBC: aim for 95+. SC: aim for 85+. ST: aim for 80+. Always plan above the cut-off, never to it.
Why was CSE 2023's cut-off so low?
CSE 2023 saw a tougher-than-usual GS-I paper, particularly in Economy and Environment. Cutoffs dropped to historical lows (General: 75.41 vs avg 86+). This was an outlier — don't bank on similar paper difficulty for future attempts.
What's the optimal attempt strategy?
Mathematical break-even: attempting a 50-50 guess gives you 0.5×2 − 0.5×0.667 = +0.67 expected marks → favourable. So attempt if you can eliminate at least 1 of 4 options. Pure random guessing without elimination yields 0.25×2 − 0.75×0.667 = 0 marks. Skip the question.
