UPSC Civil Services Exam is conducted in three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between each:
Prelims (Preliminary Examination)
Purpose:The UPSC Prelims is more of a ‘Scrutiny Test’, where UPSC intends to screen out the majority of non-serious candidates in the first stage itself. The success ratio as lowly as 3 out of 100 demonstrates that you cannot take the prelims stage lightly and has to give a focused approach to clear the stage.
- Test: This stage consists of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) designed to assess a candidate’s basic understanding of various subjects and analytical skills.
Subjects:It usually includes general studies (current events, geography, history, polity, economy etc.) and an aptitude test (like reasoning, basic mathematics, and English Comprehension).
Negative Marking: There’s typically negative marking of one-third for wrong answers.
Paper-II i.e. CSAT is a qualifying test and its score is not counted in Prelims score. Only marks in Paper-I decides whether you are eligible to write mains or not.
Also remember that your marks in prelims do not add to the final score.
Mains (Main Examination)
Purpose: The Mains exam tests a candidate’s in-depth knowledge and understanding of various subjects and presentation skills.
Format of the exam:
Descriptive Type: Unlike the objective Prelims, the Mains exam consists of written, descriptive-type papers.
Subjects: There are several papers, including General Studies (divided into multiple papers), an Essay paper, and optional subject papers (where candidates choose one subject from a list of options).
Total Number of Papers:Typically, 9 papers which include both compulsory and optional papers.
Duration: 3 hours.
Grading: The marks in the Mains exam directly contribute to your final ranking, and it tests your ability to write detailed, well-structured answers and analyze complex issues.
Selection Process: The Mains marks are crucial for determining whether you’ll qualify for the Interview round.
Interview (Personality Test)
This is the final stage of UPSC exam.
The objective of the Interview process is to evaluate the candidate’s personality, decision-making skills, and ability to act in real-life situations. It is designed in a such way that qualities like confidence, clarity of thought, ethical reasoning, and overall suitability for a career in the civil services are evaluated.
The interview is generally an oral test and may last around 20-30 minutes.It is conducted by a board of interviewers who are experts from various fields.
The questions may cover a broad range of topics, such as current affairs, your academic as well as personal background, your understanding of issues, views on policies and politics etc.
Selection Process: Marks from the Interview contribute to your final score, which, combined with the Mains score, determines your rank.
Key Differences:
– Prelims: Objective, screening test, general knowledge and basic aptitude-focused.
– Mains: Descriptive, in-depth knowledge assessment of subjects, essays, and optional papers.
– Interview: Personal assessment, focusing on your personality, judgment, and overall suitability for the role of a civil servant.
Final Rank:
Your final rank is determined by your combined score in the Mains (written) and Interview stages. Prelims only serve as a gateway, but don’t impact the final ranking directly.
Which Should I give priority first?
This question comes into your mind every now and then. The best way to prepare for UPSC is through an ‘Integrated Approach’. There is no separation between Prelims, Mains and Interview. For example, a question in prelims comes from Fundamental Rights. That question analyses your in-depth understanding of the topic. In mains also, you need to generate an answer using the same content. But the strategies you adopt are different. How well you convince the examiner and Interview Board fetch you marks.
La Excellence understood this major dilemma of the students and devised free courses like ‘Daily Answer writing’ and ‘Daily prelims practice Questions on same topics under the guidance of a mentor, so that students enrich their concepts and clear their doubts in real time.
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
▶️ FOLLOW US ON:
◉ Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
▶️ GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
▶️ OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar : 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040
