UPSC Prelims 2025 exam analysis: 2nd shift paper review, difficulty level, answer key & students' reactions
UPSC Prelims 2025 exam analysis: The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025 was conducted on May 25, 2025, in two shifts. The second shift, starting at 2:30 PM, saw candidates tackling the General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT).
UPSC Prelims 2025 2nd Shift Exam
The UPSC Prelims 2025 exam is an important step for those aiming for top civil services posts. The second shift focused on Paper 2, also known as CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test). This paper tests aptitude, reasoning, and comprehension skills. Candidates had to carry their admit cards. They were required to report 30 minutes before the exam started.
UPSC Prelims 2025 2nd Shift Paper Analysis & Difficulty Level
The CSAT Paper 2 is expected to be of moderate difficulty, just like previous years. Candidates can expect questions mainly from comprehension, logical reasoning, and basic quantitative aptitude. The reading comprehension passages are likely to be straightforward but will need careful reading.
Some questions may take more time, so managing time will be important. Overall, the paper is expected to test understanding, accuracy, and speed in a balanced way.
Subject-Wise Analysis of UPSC Prelims 2025 2nd Shift
Below is the Subject-Wise Analysis of UPSC Prelims 2025 2nd Shift listed:
Types of Questions in CSAT Paper 2
The question types included:
Reading comprehension
Logical reasoning puzzles
Basic numeracy and data interpretation
Decision-making and problem-solving scenarios
UPSC Prelims 2025 Paper 1 vs Paper 2 Difficulty Level
Paper 1 was known for its conceptual depth. Questions from Geography and Science were more detailed. Paper 2 had moderate difficulty level. It was similar to the pattern seen in previous years.
Below is the required UPSC Prelims 2025 Paper 1 vs Paper 2 Difficulty Level listed:
Official UPSC Prelims 2025 Answer Key (out soon)
The official UPSC Prelims 2025 answer key will be released after the full exam cycle is over. This includes the Mains and Interview stages. UPSC will upload the answer keys on its official website. Candidates can download the keys for both General Studies Paper 1 and CSAT (Paper 2) from there.
Download UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 (Unofficial)
Here we will share the unofficial answer key 2025 soon after today's exam conclusion.
Students' Reactions on UPSC Prelims 2025 Paper 2
Students are expected to respond tensed yet relaxed after the UPSC Prelims 2025 first shift. Many may find the paper challenging but still manageable. Reactions are likely to reflect balanced difficulty. We will soon share student responses for the 1st shift once the exam ends at 2:00 PM.
UPSC 2025 Expected Cutoff
The UPSC Prelims 2025 cutoff will depend on a few key factors. These include the difficulty level of the paper and the number of vacancies.
As the vacancies are expected to be around 1000, like previous years, the cutoff will mostly depend on how tough the paper is.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Meet woman who cracked UPSC four times, secured AIR 31 but refused IAS service due to..., she is now...
IFS Shreya Tyagi (File) IFS Shreya Tyagi UPSC Success Story: The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is arguably one of the toughest recruitment exams in India, and millions of aspirants work tirelessly to crack the formidable test even once and fulfill their dream of joining Civil Services. However, there a few genius-level individuals who clear the UPSC CSE multiple times, for various reasons like bettering their previous rank or pursuing their favored cadre. One such individual is IFS Shreya Tyagi, a brilliant young woman who cracked the UPSC CSE as many as four times, each time bettering her previous rank, and ultimately emerging as a topper with an All India Rank (AIR) of 31, but turned down the coveted IAS cadre because her goal was to join Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Who is IFS Shreya Tyagi? Born in Delhi, Shreya Tyagi spent her childhood in various cities due to the nature of her father's job, and later completed her last few school years in Bahrain where she also completed her Class 12th. After her schooling, Shreya studied Political Science and International Relations at top universities in Delhi, and started preparing for the UPSC CSE examination. Owing to her hard work and dedication, Shreya Tyagi cleared the UPSC CSE as many as four times, and was selected for Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), Indian Trade Service (ITS), and Indian Revenue Service (IRS). However, she chose not to join these services as her singular goal was to become an IFS officer. Ultimately, Shreya Tyagi attempted the UPSC CSE for the sixth and final time, and secured an AIR of 31 in UPSC-CSE 2024 to achieve her lifelong dream of joining the prestigious Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Shreya was reportedly offered the coveted IAS service but chose the IFS instead. IFS Shreya Tyagi UPSC strategy In a interview IFS Shreya Tyagi revealed that she studied for nearly 8-9 hours daily, but also took time to relax as it helped her concentrate better. Shreya also indulged in hobbies like cooking and traveling to reduce the stress, and used a focused strategy to cover the syllabus. Additionally, Shreya relied on mock test to assess her preparation level for UPSC CSE, and help identify weak spots which she could then work on.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
27-year-old IIM student pens 'smart study' book for exam aspirants
Yugantar Gupta, a 27-year-old IIM Ahmedabad student, recently created a stir by declaring he earned a top grade for an assignment he prepared using ChatGPT at the country's top management school. The young man has always believed in working smarter than harder, a strategy he shares in his book for aspirants. Gupta, a qualified chartered accountant and a company secretary (all-India rank 12), scored a 99.58 percentile in the CAT exam held in 2023 and is pursuing MBA from the prestigious institute. His book-- 'STUDY SMART- The Ultimate Exam Guide'-- came out in 2024 to provide a "complete clarity" to students who are vying for their deserved place in the world by succeeding through a variety of competitive exams conducted in the country like JEE, CLAT, NEET, CUET, UPSC, CA, CS and even the school boards. The volume runs into 50 chapters with just over 200 pages. Also read: Rhodes scholarship for studying at University of Oxford to be available to more Indians from 2028 It talks about a host of topics ranging from 'how to study specifically for exams', 'managing distractions' to guiding students on diet, sleep, physical, emotional and mental health, preparing and sticking to the timetable with certain segments that guide them to deal with people's comments and also their own thoughts. Gupta says he spoke to "hundreds of people" across the exam spectrum--those who are currently studying, those who have succeeded, those who failed, those who succeeded after failing etc.-- before penning his thoughts. Also read: Study abroad: University of Strathclyde opens applications for MSc Artificial Intelligence & Applications course "Through this process, I've come across insights that can transform your exam journey completely. This research covered almost every exam in India. The strategies given here are a compilation of the exam preparation strategies of rank holders in UPSC, CA, CS, JEE, NEET, CLAT, CAT, CUET, 10th and 12th," he writes. The book, according to the author, tries to cover "every possible mistake" students can make in their exam journeys and it gives specific, practical and actionable advice. How to maintain concentration, improve memory, manage time and score higher are discussed across the headers. A full chapter is dedicated to creating an 'Accountability Partner' who can be any person close to a student-- someone who can motivate them, give them rewards and punishments, and can be handed over their mobile phone in order "to keep all distraction away". Also read: Study abroad: Pursue MA International Development at University of Sheffield, applications open; check course details His suggestions to the aspirants and students are straight: Keep things simple. Trust your knowledge. Trust your preparation. Trust your hard work. "Trust is the sole important thing today. You won't even remember what you got in a couple of years," he says in the book. The book also goes in detail to discuss the otherwise mundane-looking subjects like choosing an appropriate table and chair for studying and ensuring proper lighting in the study room apart from the pros and cons of joining a coaching class. The young achiever created news about a month back when he posted on his LinkedIn that he used the ChatGPT AI tool while preparing his project on cosmetics and got an A in assessment by his professors. Plagiarism is completely prohibited but AI (Artificial Intelligence) use is allowed (at IIM Ahmedabad), he posted on the social networking platform while explaining why he did what he did during the assignment. While AI tools are there to help a researcher, he said, no one is going to pay you anything anymore for researching or writing reports off the internet. "One can only add value if you can get something that's not available on the internet - personal experiences, expert interviews, original surveys, observational studies and talking to stakeholders," he posted on the social networking platform. Gupta concluded that post by quoting American entrepreneur Steve Blank, who said 'Get out of the building'.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
UPSC CSE Prelims News Result 2025 Live: Steps to download prelims result when released at upsc.gov.in
UPSC CSE Prelims News Result 2025 Live: Check steps to download CSE Prelims results 2025 when released UPSC CSE Prelims News Result 2025 Live: The Union Public Service Commission is expected to release Civil Services Examination (CSE) Preliminary Results 2025 soon on its official website, So far, the commission has not confirmed the date and time for the declaration of the CSE Prelims Results 2025. Candidates must note that the prelims exam is only a screening test, and marks obtained here will not be counted for determining the final merit list. ...Read More CSE Prelims 2025 exam date and pattern The UPSC conducted the CSE Prelims Exam 2025 on May 25, 2025. The examination comprised two objective-type papers (MCQs), each of two hours' duration and carrying a maximum of 200 marks. For every wrong answer, one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as a penalty. Number of vacancies The commission aims to fill 979 vacancies through this recruitment exam. This includes: 38 vacancies for candidates under the Benchmark Disability category 12 for candidates with blindness or low vision 7 for those who are deaf or hard of hearing 10 for candidates with locomotor disabilities 9 for those with multiple disabilities, including deaf-blindness The recruitment includes services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS). UPSC CSE Prelims Result 2025: Steps to check results Candidates will be able to check their CSE Prelims Results 2025 when released by following the steps mentioned below: Visit the official website at On the home page, click on the link to download the UPSC CSE Prelims Results 2025. Enter your credentials to log in and submit. Check your CSE Prelims result displayed on the screen. Download and keep a printout of the same for future reference . Follow the blog for UPSC CSE Prelims Results 2025 date and time, direct link, and more. Follow all the updates here: June 8, 2025 12:00 PM IST UPSC CSE Prelims News Result 2025 Live: The UPSC CSE Prelims Results 2025 are expected to be released soon.
