The Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) is part of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. It tests candidates’ analytical abilities, comprehension skills, and problem-solving aptitude. Here are examples of the types of questions you might encounter in the CSAT exam:
Comprehension
- Passage-Based Question:
- Passage: Read the following passage and answer the questions below: “The importance of learning languages cannot be overstated. It not only helps in understanding different cultures but also enhances cognitive abilities. Studies have shown that bilingualism can improve attention and task-switching capacities.”
- Question: What is the primary benefit of learning languages according to the passage?
- It enhances job prospects.
- It helps in understanding different cultures.
- It improves cognitive abilities.
- Both 2 and 3.
- Answer: 4. Both 2 and 3.
Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability
- Syllogism:
- Question: Consider the following statements:
- All cats are animals.
- Some animals are birds.
- No bird is a cat. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the above statements?
- Some animals are cats.
- No cat is a bird.
- Some birds are animals.
- All animals are cats.
- Answer: 2. No cat is a bird.
- Question: Consider the following statements:
- Statement and Assumption:
- Question: Statement: “If you study hard, you will pass the exam.” Assumptions:
- Studying hard is necessary to pass the exam.
- Passing the exam is desirable. Which of the assumptions is/are implicit in the statement?
- Only 1
- Only 2
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
- Answer: 3. Both 1 and 2.
- Question: Statement: “If you study hard, you will pass the exam.” Assumptions:
Quantitative Aptitude
- Numerical Ability:
- Question: If the sum of three consecutive even numbers is 84, what is the middle number?
- 26
- 28
- 30
- 32
- Answer: 2. 28.
- Question: If the sum of three consecutive even numbers is 84, what is the middle number?
- Data Interpretation:
- Question: A company’s sales in thousands for four consecutive years are as follows: 2017: 45, 2018: 55, 2019: 50, 2020: 60. What is the average sales over these four years?
- 52.5
- 53.75
- 54.5
- 55
- Answer: 2. 53.75.
- Question: A company’s sales in thousands for four consecutive years are as follows: 2017: 45, 2018: 55, 2019: 50, 2020: 60. What is the average sales over these four years?
Decision Making and Problem-Solving
- Decision-Making:
- Question: You are a manager of a team and two of your team members have a conflict affecting their productivity. What will you do?
- Ignore the conflict and hope it resolves itself.
- Talk to each team member separately to understand their perspectives.
- Call a meeting and address the issue directly.
- Transfer one of the team members to another team.
- Answer: 2. Talk to each team member separately to understand their perspectives.
- Question: You are a manager of a team and two of your team members have a conflict affecting their productivity. What will you do?
General Mental Ability
- Puzzle:
- Question: A man is facing north. He turns 45 degrees clockwise, then 180 degrees counterclockwise, and finally 270 degrees clockwise. Which direction is he facing now?
- North-East
- South-East
- South-West
- North-West
- Answer: 4. North-West.
- Question: A man is facing north. He turns 45 degrees clockwise, then 180 degrees counterclockwise, and finally 270 degrees clockwise. Which direction is he facing now?
Tips for Preparation
- Practice Regularly: Solve previous years’ question papers and take mock tests.
- Time Management: Work on managing your time effectively during the exam.
- Strengthen Weak Areas: Focus on improving areas where you are less confident.
- Read and Analyze: Regularly read newspapers and practice comprehension and reasoning questions.
By practicing these types of questions, you can enhance your readiness for the CSAT exam.