UPSC CSAT Practice Paper 2 with Solutions: Paper 2 Practice Test

This UPSC CSAT Practice Paper 2 has 15 carefully selected questions from comprehension, basic numeracy, logical reasoning and data handling, with full solutions. CSAT is a qualifying paper, so the goal is to reach the 33 per cent mark safely. Each answer comes with a simple explanation, so you can learn the method while you practise.

Why CSAT Matters

CSAT is the paper that can end the dream of a student who is very good in General Studies. It is only a qualifying paper, but a score below 33 per cent means the GS marks are not counted. The questions are of a moderate level, and the key is practice, accuracy and time. A small daily dose of CSAT is the safest way to qualify.

Instructions

• Total questions: 15. Suggested time: 23 minutes.
• Each correct answer gives 2.5 marks and each wrong answer deducts 0.83 marks, as in the real CSAT. You need 33 per cent (66 marks out of 200) in the actual paper to qualify.
• Attempt the questions first and check the answer key only after you finish.

Practice Questions

Q1. Read the passage and answer Questions 1 and 2.
"A city does not become sustainable simply because it plants trees or builds a few cycle tracks. Sustainability needs the planning of transport, housing, water and waste together. When a city treats these as separate tasks, a gain in one area often becomes a loss in another. For example, a new housing project built far from the places of work increases the use of private vehicles, which raises pollution."
Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?
(a) Planting trees is useless
(b) Sustainability needs integrated planning of the different urban systems
(c) Private vehicles should be banned
(d) New housing projects should not be built

Q2. Based on the passage in Question 1, which of the following can be inferred?
(a) Cycle tracks cause pollution
(b) Separate planning of sectors can reduce the benefit of a policy
(c) All cities are sustainable
(d) Waste is not a problem for cities

Q3. Read the passage and answer Questions 3 and 4.
"Statistics can describe a population but cannot, by themselves, explain it. A rise in school enrolment tells us that more children are in school, but it does not tell us whether they are learning. To understand learning, we need to look at what the children can actually do."
The passage suggests that:
(a) Enrolment data is false
(b) Enrolment data alone is not enough to judge learning
(c) Children do not learn in schools
(d) Statistics are of no use

Q4. Which of the following is an assumption underlying the passage in Question 3?
(a) Learning outcomes can be observed and assessed
(b) All children learn equally
(c) School enrolment never rises
(d) Statistics are always wrong

Q5. A train 150 m long passes a pole in 15 seconds. Its speed is:
(a) 30 km/h
(b) 36 km/h
(c) 40 km/h
(d) 54 km/h

Q6. The average of five numbers is 24. If one number, 30, is removed, the average of the remaining numbers is:
(a) 21
(b) 22
(c) 22.5
(d) 23

Q7. The ratio of the ages of A and B is 3 : 5, and the sum of their ages is 48 years. The age of B is:
(a) 18 years
(b) 24 years
(c) 30 years
(d) 32 years

Q8. After a discount of 20 per cent, the price of an article is Rs. 800. The marked price is:
(a) Rs. 960
(b) Rs. 1,000
(c) Rs. 1,040
(d) Rs. 1,200

Q9. The simple interest on Rs. 5,000 at 8 per cent per annum for 3 years is:
(a) Rs. 1,000
(b) Rs. 1,200
(c) Rs. 1,500
(d) Rs. 1,600

Q10. What is the next number in the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ... ?
(a) 40
(b) 42
(c) 44
(d) 46

Q11. In a certain code, CAT is written as 3120 (using the position of the letters in the alphabet). How will DOG be written in that code?
(a) 4157
(b) 4167
(c) 4147
(d) 41507

Q12. Statements: All books are pens. Some pens are pencils.
Conclusions: I. Some books are pencils. II. Some pens are books.
(a) Only conclusion I follows
(b) Only conclusion II follows
(c) Both follow
(d) Neither follows

Q13. Ram walks 5 km north, then 3 km east and then 5 km south. How far is he from the starting point?
(a) 3 km
(b) 5 km
(c) 8 km
(d) 13 km

Q14. A shopkeeper sold 40 units on Monday and 60 units on Tuesday. The percentage increase in sales from Monday to Tuesday is:
(a) 20 per cent
(b) 33 per cent
(c) 50 per cent
(d) 60 per cent

Q15. If 6 workers can complete a job in 10 days, in how many days will 15 workers complete the same job at the same rate?
(a) 3 days
(b) 4 days
(c) 5 days
(d) 6 days

Answer Key with Explanations

1. Q1: (b) The passage says that transport, housing, water and waste must be planned together. It does not say that trees are useless or that vehicles must be banned.
2. Q2: (b) The passage says that a gain in one area can become a loss in another when tasks are treated separately, which supports option (b).
3. Q3: (b) The passage says that enrolment shows presence in school but not learning. It does not call the data false or useless.
4. Q4: (a) The passage suggests that we can look at what children can do, which assumes that learning can be observed and assessed.
5. Q5: (b) Speed = 150 / 15 = 10 m/s. To convert to km/h, multiply by 18/5: 10 x 3.6 = 36 km/h.
6. Q6: (c) The total of the five numbers is 24 x 5 = 120. After removing 30, the total is 90, and the average of four numbers = 90 / 4 = 22.5.
7. Q7: (c) B's age = (5 / 8) x 48 = 30 years, and A's age is 18 years.
8. Q8: (b) The selling price is 80 per cent of the marked price. So the marked price = 800 / 0.8 = Rs. 1,000.
9. Q9: (b) Simple interest = (P x R x T) / 100 = (5,000 x 8 x 3) / 100 = Rs. 1,200.
10. Q10: (b) The differences are 4, 6, 8, 10, so the next difference is 12. Hence the next number is 30 + 12 = 42.
11. Q11: (a) C = 3, A = 1 and T = 20 give 3120. In the same way, D = 4, O = 15 and G = 7 give 4157.
12. Q12: (b) Since all books are pens, some pens are certainly books, so II follows. Nothing definite can be said about books and pencils, so I does not follow.
13. Q13: (a) The north and south movements cancel each other. He is only 3 km east of the starting point.
14. Q14: (c) Increase = 20 units. Percentage increase = (20 / 40) x 100 = 50 per cent.
15. Q15: (b) The total work = 6 x 10 = 60 worker-days. With 15 workers, the time = 60 / 15 = 4 days.

Key Concepts to Revise After This Test

Quick Fact Sheet

• The CSAT has 80 questions of 2.5 marks each, with a negative marking of one-third.
• You need around 27 correct answers to reach 66 marks.
• Comprehension passages give the most reliable marks for most students.
• Convert km/h to m/s by multiplying by 5/18, and m/s to km/h by 18/5.
• Percentage increase = (increase / original) x 100.
• Always check the units in the question before choosing the answer.

How to Prepare for CSAT

Spend 45 minutes daily on CSAT. Start with comprehension passages, then do the basic arithmetic topics, and then reasoning. Solve at least one full previous year paper every week in the last two months. Keep a list of formulas and the questions you got wrong. You can also read our free CSAT notes for simple revision, and use our other practice papers on the site for mixed practice.

Tricks for Solving CSAT Questions

• Solve comprehension first. It is the most scoring part for most students.
• Use the options. Substituting the options is often faster than solving by equations.
• Skip the lengthy ones. Leave a question that takes more than two minutes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring CSAT until the last month.
• Doing too many hard questions and no basic ones.
• Not reading the passage carefully and choosing an extreme option.
• Making calculation errors due to haste.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the qualifying mark in CSAT?

You need 33 per cent, which is 66 marks out of 200.

How many questions are there in the CSAT?

There are 80 questions of 2.5 marks each, to be solved in 2 hours.

What is the negative marking in CSAT?

One-third of the marks of the question, which is about 0.83 marks, for each wrong answer.

Is CSAT counted in the Prelims cut-off?

No. It is qualifying only, but you must pass it to be considered.

How can I improve my CSAT score?

Practise comprehension daily, learn the basic maths topics and take timed tests.

Which topics are most important in CSAT?

Comprehension, basic numeracy, logical reasoning and data interpretation are the main areas.

Where can I get more CSAT practice?

Our site has CSAT notes and practice papers for more questions.