Introduction

The saying goes like that, “To conquer a battle, one must understand the battlefield”, and that’s true! Similarly, it goes same for the civil service aspirants. To transform your dream into reality by cracking one of the toughest examination in India, popularly known as the UPSC exam, you must thoroughly understand it’s exam pattern with Previous Years’ Question Papers. And its applicable for both- first time aspirant and the one’s who’s has been in their journey for a while.

You must be thinking why it is important? For that, there is a just a small reason behind it, and that is if you know the exam pattern, it will reduce the surprises and anxiety on the exam day.

However, we know how passionate and determined you are in your endeavor to serve the nation at the highest bureaucratic posts with impeccable integrity. Therefore, to crack the first stage of UPSC, that is Prelims, it is necessary for you to know how Previous Years’ Questions are an authentic source for not just knowing the exam pattern, but also get insight into the typologies of questions from diverse topics, speed required for prelims exams, learn time management techniques, and much more.

Get into brief about importance of Solving UPSC Previous Years’ Questions along with complete 2023 UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers analysis below.

TABLE OF CONTENT:
 

	Introduction
	PYQ’s- A must-have for UPSC Prelims Prep
	Why to Solve UPSC PYQs?
	How to effectively use them?
	How to Analyze PYQs?
	2023 UPSC Prelims Paper Analysis
	Best book of PYQs for UPSC Prelims
	Conclusion

 

PYQ’s- A must-have for UPSC Prelims Prep

For an effective UPSC Preparation, whether it’s for prelims or Mains, Previous Years’ Questions are a cornerstone that enhances the overall readiness for the exam. Also, the importance of solving previous years' UPSC question papers cannot be exaggerated. These papers provide an accurate source for learning the question patterns in the preliminary and main exams. Solving them gives you an insight into the types of questions posed about various topics, the value of specific sections, and the balance of static and dynamic material.

You've probably heard the expression, "Practice makes perfect," but it's important to practice correctly. Previous year's Civil Services Examination question papers are also practical. They help you determine the speed required, allowing you to master time management skills and establish your own best practices.

Additionally, completing these papers reveals typical questions that frequently exist in sample papers, allowing you to determine what you should not neglect. Even these papers help with topic revision. Once you've finished your preparation, answering these questions will allow you to assess your own performance and rectify any areas of weakness.

To know more in-depth why to solve UPSC Prelims Previous Years’ Questions, read out further.

Why to Solve UPSC PYQs?

As mentioned above, PYQs are crucial for effective UPSC Prelims preparation and here are four major reasons of solving UPSC PYQs.

1. Syllabus confinement- If you look at the Prelims syllabus, UPSC simply writes subject name or sometimes few topics of the subject which do not give clear picture of exact syllabus. Here PYQs’ help to draw the boundaries of the syllabus.



From the above picture, you will notice that, from 1990 to 2010, UPSC was continuously including Gandhi-Irwin Pact as an option. In 2020, a question was put from the same topic. However, this shows that UPSC always considered this topic as the most important one. Also do remember that the topics which are put as an options in all the questions, can be asked as a question by UPSC.

2. Weightage-

Out of many subjects, which subject should be given more importance? This question is mostly asked or even searched on internet by many civil service aspirants. The best way to know it is by analyzing the previous years’ question papers in Subjectwise manner that will further help in building strategy to ace the exam.

For better analyzing the weightage, here are pie-charts for you from 2016-2023:




(Source: Testbook.com)

3. Toughness Level-

How to analyse the toughness level?
 
As you all know, UPSC conducts many exams and in every exam general studies section is covered. So, if you are preparing for any of the UPSC exam, have a look on previous years question to get through the difficulty level.
 
4. Confidence Building-

We bet if you have solved last 10-15 years PYQs then there is not a big deal in solving UPSC Prelims Exam 2024. Previous Years’ Question papers also act as a mock tests and by attempting them aspirant can seek improvement in performance and thus build confidence for the actual exam.
 

How to Effectively use UPSC Previous Years’ Questions?

1. In-depth analysis

 
Just skimming through the previous years’ questions won’t help you out. Instead analyze each one, and why the particular option is correct. This will help in the better understanding of the concepts.
 

2. Regular Integration

 
Pick one previous years’ questions at a time and prepare a chart in a Topicwise manner. Then focus one topic at a time. This will organize your preparation and also help in knowing the topics that need more attention.
 

3. Create Mock Test

 
With the questions from previous years, aspirants can create their own mock tests. This exercise will help in simulating exam condition, build stamina, and improve time management skills for the actual exam day.
 

4. Make Notes

 
Want to make notes of important topics but don’t know which topics to be covered? Know all the important topics from the Previous Years’ Questions. After preparing the notes, the topical revision will be easy a day before the exam.
 
Wait, you can even grab Arihant’ Pulse Handwritten Notes series for UPSC Prelims which brings boring textual theories in a notes format that are scientifically color coded along with visual aids for better retention of the concepts. To know more, tap the link.
 

5. Self-Evaluation

 
In the UPSC preparation journey, self-evaluation plays a very crucial role that assess your conceptual understanding for the exam. By Solving Previous Years’ Questions, you can evaluate your preparation level and crack the civil service exam.
 

How to Analyze PYQs?

 
UPSC Prelims Previous Years’ Questions, no doubt, simulates the understanding of question format, important topics that need to be focused, topical weightage, etc. So, to analyze them, here are some tips:
 

1. When you are preparing for UPSC exam, in chronological manner, organize all the Previous Years’ Question papers.
2. Identify the topics and the patterns from the questions that are being asked continuously
3. Understand the frequently asked questions type and format.
4. To identify the important topics, analyze the trends in the questions.
5. Sectionwise take note of the weightage from the PYQ.
6. Allocate your study time after analyzing all of this from Previous Years’ Questions
7. Finally, fine-tune your study plan and ace the UPSC Prelims Exam 2024.

2023 UPSC QUESTION PAPER ANALYSIS

 
The UPSC prelims exam 2023 was conducted in two sessions with an exam duration of 2 hours in each shift. Session 1 was conducted for Paper 1 that is for GS, and Session 2 was conducted for Paper 2, CSAT. Going by the previous year’s analysis, the overall difficulty level of the UPSC Prelims 2023 question paper has been reported to be moderate to difficult.
 

TOPICWISE DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF UPSC PRELIMS:

 
GENERAL STUDIES
 

SUBJECT	NO. OF QUESTIONS	DIFFICULTY LEVEL
Polity	15	Moderate to Difficult
Economy	14	Difficult
Geography	16	Moderate
History	14	Easy to moderate
Science & Technology	12	Moderate to difficult
Environment & Ecology	14	Moderate
International Relations	11	Moderate
Miscellaneous	4	Moderate
Total	100

 
 
CSAT
 

SUBJECT	NO. OF QUESTIONS	DIFFICULTY LEVEL
Reasoning Ability	13-14	Moderate
Reading Comprehension	27	Moderate to Difficult
Basic Numeracy & Maths	39-40	Moderate to Difficult

 
 
UPSC Prelims Question Paper Analysis Subject-wise:
 
Polity: There were 15 questions from Polity, covering topics such as presidential elections, Money Bills, Due process of law, and emergency provisions.
 
Economy: Out of 14 questions, some questions were straightforward, making the question paper for the Economy section difficult. It was because UPSC has deviated from the traditional type of questions asked in the Indian economy and a lot of questions was asked from the banking sector.
 
Science & technology: there were 12 questions from Science & Technology and a lot of questions were asked about current affairs and the static part as well. Also, the questions were bit tricky.
 
Geography & environment: From these 30 questions, environment accounted for 14 questions and geography had 16 questions. Although the questions were simpler, but the options were complicated. Overall both topics were considered moderate.
 
History: There were 14 questions from the history, followed by 3 to 4 questions from Ancient history, 2 questions were from medieval history, 5 questions from art and culture and modern Indian history. The overall difficulty level was easy to moderate for the history section.
 
International relations & miscellaneous: With a total of 11 questions, high priority was given to international relation in 2023 Question paper. There were a lot of map-based questions, important treaties, conventions, and questions on agreements involving India. The overall difficulty level of International Relations was moderate in nature.

Best book of PYQs for UPSC Prelims

 
There are many aspirants who fill the form every year for UPSC Prelims. And when they begin their preparation, they find that in the market, all the Previous Years’ Questions books are purely dedicated for the IAS. There is hardly any one or two book which contains PYQs for State PCS as well.
 
Therefore, to tackle this challenge, Arihant has launched the “PRELIM POSSIBLE SERIES” This is a unique combination of Previous Year Solved Paper, which includes all state PCS and UPSC questions. And unlike other books, this series is found in English and Hindi medium with a good collection of questions.


 
If we talk about the structure, then these books are divided into chapter wise topic wise manner. Before every chapter, Exam Trends are given, which will help you get the idea of ​​Topicwise No of Questions asked in UPSC and State PCS and shows you the importance of topics. Theories are given in mind maps format at the beginning of the chapters Which is very effective in understanding your concept easily rather than regular boring theory. Also, there is a section of Knowledge Plus given for complex UPSC problems which helps you to understand the concept better.
 
At the end of the books you get PYQ Revision Bullets. These Revision Points will help you in revising quickly and increasing your efficiency in Prelims Exam.
 
Last but not the least, it is very important to check how good your preparation is, so with FREE Online chapter test, you can improve your preparation further by making a Topical Level Plan.
 
So, get ready to ace your IAS or State PCS Prelims in your first attempt, with Arihant’s PRELIMS POSSIBLE SERIES.
 
Also, there is also a new launch by Arihant, titled as PULSE Handwritten Notes. Introduced for the first time for UPSC Prelims, this series is completely aligned with the evolving UPSC demands, covering concepts, facts, and analysis and enhanced with scientific color coding, maps, images, and flow chart. It’s an innovation in UPSC Prelims category which is aimed at replacing bulky textbooks equipped with time saving notes. These handwritten notes are concise and compact making it a perfect resource for improving accuracy, and multiple revision. Plus, they are so affordable that you can buy 4 books at a price of 1 bulky textbook.


 
So, if you are looking for Notes, along with Previous Years’ Questions book, that too pocket-friendly, grab Arihant’s PULSE Handwritten Notes Series now.
 

Conclusion

 
In conclusion, aspiring candidates for the UPSC Prelims, especially those gearing up for the 2024 examination, should recognize the paramount importance of solving Previous Year Questions (PYQs) and engaging in meticulous paper analysis. These activities serve as indispensable tools in the arsenal of UPSC preparation for several compelling reasons.
 
Firstly, PYQs provide aspirants with invaluable insights into the exam pattern, question trends, and the UPSC's evolving emphasis on specific topics. Secondly, solving PYQs aids in the development of a strategic approach to time management. Moreover, delving into the nuances of previous papers allows candidates to grasp the UPSC's nuanced question framing style. Aspirants can fine-tune their problem-solving abilities and enhance their critical thinking, which are quintessential for success in the dynamic and unpredictable nature of the UPSC Prelims.
 
Furthermore, consistent engagement with PYQs acts as a self-assessment tool. By gauging their performance against past year questions, aspirants can identify their strengths and weaknesses, subsequently tailoring their study plans to address specific areas that require improvement. This targeted approach facilitates a more effective and efficient preparation strategy.
 
In essence, solving PYQs and conducting thorough paper analysis is not merely a preparatory ritual; it is a strategic imperative for UPSC Prelims success. With Arihant’s Prelims Possible, you will get insights needed to navigate the intricate maze of the examination. As the 2024 UPSC Prelims beckons, let the diligent study of past papers be your guiding light, leading you toward a comprehensive and triumphantly prepared performance on the D-day.