How Many MCQs Are There in UPSC Prelims?

The UPSC Prelims is the first part of the Civil Services Examination, which is run by the Union Public Service Commission. One of the most common questions people ask is:

How many MCQs are there in UPSC Prelims? 

There are 100 MCQs in UPSC Prelims.

The UPSC Prelims has only multiple choice questions. There are two papers in the prelims – General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). Each paper has around 100 to 80 MCQs, so in total there are 180 MCQs in the preliminary stage.

Here’s a quick overview in tabular form:

Are all MCQs in UPSC Prelims compulsory?

Yes, all MCQs in both papers must be answered. There is negative marking of 1/3rd marks for every wrong answer you give. Therefore, using a good UPSC mcq book regularly helps you answer questions more accurately and get a better score.

Read More: Final 5 Days Before UPSC Prelims – What Toppers Recommend

Why is practicing from an MCQ book for UPSC important? 

Because it helps you get used to the style of questions asked in the exam, and it lets you check your understanding of the topics.

Solving questions from a good UPSC MCQ book makes it easier to understand the topics.

• Question patterns and difficulty levels

• Important topics frequently asked

• Time management during the exam

• Common traps and tricks people use to try and confuse you.

Many toppers say that it helps to answer questions every day and go through a good UPSC book of multiple-choice questions to feel more confident before the real test.

How to pick the right books for UPSC MCQ practice?

When selecting the best books for UPSC, especially for prelims, always check if they cover all important topics and are easy to understand.

• Books that have questions grouped by topics and MCQs from last year

• Detailed explanations for answers

• Regularly updated editions

• Based on the latest UPSC exam pattern, the most important topics to study are general studies, current affairs, and Indian history.

The best books for UPSC exams will be full of MCQs covering various topics like polity, economy, history, geography, and current affairs.

How are MCQs framed in the UPSC CSE prelims book?

Most UPSC CSE prelims books include MCQs that check your knowledge and your understanding of concepts. These books offer:

• Questions that ask you to compare two statements

• Match the following types of MCQs

• Assertion and reasoning questions

• Questions that provide options that are very similar to test detailed understanding

The book should ask questions in a way that matches the style of UPSC questions, so that aspirants can practice under similar exam conditions.

For UPSC Online Mock Test Sample Papers and Latest Courses for Latest Exam

For UPSC Online Previous Year Question Papers for the Latest Exam 

Final Thoughts

For the prelims, you should practice 180 MCQs daily from a proper UPSC MCQ book and also use the best UPSC books. Familiarizing yourself with the exam pattern and working through many practice papers from a reliable UPSC CSE prelims book can help you perform better.

Regularly learning and improving how you answer objectives will help you move forward in the UPSC process.