UPSC Prelims Score Simulator: Your Score vs Official Cut-offs

How to use the Prelims score simulator

1. Choose your category: General, OBC, EWS, SC or ST.
2. Keep GS Paper 1 selected to compare with cut-offs, or switch to CSAT to check the 66-mark qualifying line.
3. Move the sliders or type how many questions you attempted and how many were incorrect.
4. Or press Enable Manual Score and type a net score you already know, such as a mock result.
5. Read the Qualification History: each year shows whether your score meets that year’s official cut-off for your category.

How the score is worked out

Example: you attempt 75 questions and 20 are wrong, so 55 are correct. 55 × 2 = 110, and 20 × 2/3 = 13.33, so your net score is 96.67. For the General category that clears all six years shown above, including 2025’s 92.66. With 40 correct and 25 wrong, the score is 80 − 16.67 = 63.33, which would have cleared none of them.

For CSAT the simulator uses 2.5 marks per correct answer and a 0.83 deduction per wrong answer, and checks the score against 66.

Reading the result sensibly

• Cut-offs move. Between 2020 and 2025 the General cut-off ranged from 75.41 to 92.66. A score that clears only the easiest years is not safe.
• Mock scores are not exam scores. Test series differ in difficulty, so look at your average over several mocks rather than one result.
• Clear CSAT first. Falling below 66 in CSAT rules you out, whatever your GS Paper I score.
• Category matters. Compare only with the cut-off for the category you are eligible to claim.

Frequently asked questions

What was the UPSC Prelims cut-off for the General category in 2025?

The official General category cut-off for CSE 2025 Prelims was 92.66 out of 200, counted on GS Paper I only. UPSC published it on 9 March 2026, after the final result.

Which recent year had the lowest UPSC Prelims cut-off?

Among 2020 to 2025, CSE 2023 had the lowest General category cut-off at 75.41 out of 200. The highest in that period was 92.66 in 2025.

Is CSAT counted in the Prelims cut-off?

No. The Prelims cut-off is calculated on GS Paper I alone. CSAT (GS Paper II) is qualifying: you must score at least 33%, which is 66 out of 200, but those marks are not added to your merit.

What GS Paper I score would have cleared Prelims in every year from 2020 to 2025?

For the General category, any score of 92.66 or more would have met every official cut-off from 2020 to 2025. This is a historical comparison only; UPSC sets a fresh cut-off each year.

When is UPSC CSE Prelims 2027?

UPSC CSE Prelims 2027 is scheduled for Sunday, 23 May 2027, according to the UPSC annual calendar for 2027. The notification is due on 13 January 2027, and Mains is due to begin on 20 August 2027.

How does this simulator calculate my score?

It gives 2 marks for each correct GS Paper I answer and deducts one-third of 2 marks (0.66) for each wrong answer; for CSAT it uses 2.5 marks and 0.83. You can also type a net score directly with the manual score option.