UPSC Prelims 2026 marks revised
UPSC has cancelled some questions in the 2026 Prelims paper and redistributed those marks proportionally. Each correct answer is now worth +2.020 (was +2.00) and each wrong answer deducts −0.673 (was −0.667 = −2/3). Our calculator applies the revised scheme automatically. Learn more →
How did
you really do
in Prelims?
The UPSC Prelims Score Calculator 2026 is a free online tool from UnderStand UPSC that calculates your projected score for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026. Mark the options you picked, and it returns your GS Paper 1 score with one-third negative marking applied (UPSC's standard one-third negative marking; for 2026 each remaining question is worth +2.020 per correct, −0.673 per wrong, 0 for skipped after UPSC cancelled some questions and redistributed those marks) — compared against answer keys from 9 coaching institutes.
Mark the options you picked in the exam. Get your GS & CSAT scores in 60 seconds, with negative marking already factored in.
- Predictions
- 16637
- Verified
- 16826
- Time
- ~60s
General Studies · Q. 14
Choose what you marked in the exam:
Your projected score
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3 steps. Done.
No sign-up. Just 3 steps and your scores appear instantly.
Choose your sets
Pick the Set (A/B/C/D) you got in your question paper.
Mark your answers
Tap A/B/C/D for what you chose. Leave blank to skip.
See your score
GS, CSAT, total — with negative marking applied. Compare across multiple institute keys too.
About the UPSC Prelims Marks Calculator
The UnderStand UPSC Prelims Marks Predictor is a free online UPSC marks calculator built for aspirants of the Civil Services Examination 2026. It estimates your General Studies Paper 1 (GS) and CSAT Paper 2 scores in under a minute, with one-third negative marking already factored in. Unlike a generic Prelims score calculator, our tool compares your answers against keys uploaded by multiple coaching institutes so you can see a full range — not just one institute's view — before the official UPSC answer key is released.
UPSC Prelims marking scheme
| Paper | Questions | Max marks | Correct answer | Wrong answer | Unattempted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS Paper 1 | 100 | 200 | +2 * | −2/3 * | 0 |
| CSAT Paper 2 | 80 | 200 | +2.50 | −2.5/3 (−0.833) | 0 |
* UPSC's standing GS scheme is +2 per correct, −2/3 (−0.667) per wrong. For the 2026 cycle only, UPSC cancelled some questions and redistributed those marks across the remaining questions — making each remaining GS question effectively worth +2.020 / −0.673. The calculator applies the 2026 adjustment automatically.
CSAT is a qualifying paper — you need at least 66.67 marks (33% of 200) to clear it. Your Prelims cutoff and rank are determined by your GS Paper 1 score alone; CSAT marks do not add to merit.
Frequently asked questions
How is the UPSC Prelims marks calculator scored?
UPSC's standing scheme is +2 per correct and one-third negative marking (−2/3 ≈ −0.667) per wrong answer in GS Paper 1. For the 2026 cycle, UPSC cancelled some questions and redistributed those marks across the remaining ones, making each remaining question effectively worth +2.020 / −0.673 (a one-off adjustment, not a new scheme). For CSAT Paper 2 (unchanged), each correct answer earns +2.5 marks and each wrong answer deducts 2.5/3 marks. Unattempted questions score zero. Our calculator counts correct, wrong and skipped questions first, then applies the formula exactly, and rounds the final total to two decimal places.
What is the CSAT qualifying mark in UPSC Prelims?
CSAT (Paper 2) is a qualifying paper — you need to score at least 66.67 marks (33% of 200) to clear it. The CSAT score itself is not added to your merit; only GS Paper 1 marks are used to determine the Prelims cutoff and your rank.
Is this UPSC marks calculator free?
Yes — the UPSC Prelims Marks Predictor is completely free. You only need to verify your mobile number once with an OTP so we can save your score and compare it with answer keys uploaded by different coaching institutes.
How many questions are in UPSC Prelims GS and CSAT?
UPSC Prelims has two papers. GS Paper 1 contains 100 multiple-choice questions worth 200 marks total. CSAT Paper 2 contains 80 multiple-choice questions worth 200 marks total. Both papers carry one-third negative marking for wrong answers.
Can I take this Prelims marks predictor more than once?
Each mobile number can submit the predictor once — please mark your answers carefully. After submitting you can sign back in any time to revisit your score, and your score will automatically update as new institute answer keys are uploaded.
UPSC Prelims glossary
- Negative marking
- In UPSC Prelims, every wrong answer deducts one-third of the marks assigned to that question. For UPSC Prelims 2026 GS Paper 1, that's −0.673 per wrong answer (correct = +2.020, after UPSC redistributed cancelled-question marks). Unattempted questions score zero, so skipping is safer than guessing blindly.
- CSAT qualifying mark
- CSAT Paper 2 is a qualifying paper. A candidate must score at least 66.67 marks (33% of 200) to clear it. CSAT marks do not add to the Prelims merit list — only GS Paper 1 marks decide your rank.
- Question paper set
- UPSC distributes four versions of the same paper — Set A, Set B, Set C, Set D — with the same 100 questions in different orders, to prevent cheating. The set code appears on the cover of the question booklet.
- UPSC CSE
- Civil Services Examination — the nationwide selection test conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for officer-grade posts including IAS, IPS and IFS. The exam has three stages: Prelims, Mains, Personality Test (Interview).
- Scrapped question
- A question that UPSC or the institute declares invalid (e.g., ambiguous wording or no correct option). On our calculator, every student who attempted a scrapped question gets full marks; students who skipped get zero, no negative.
How is this UPSC Prelims Score Calculator different?
Most online UPSC Prelims predictors compare your answers against just one institute's key. The UnderStand UPSC Prelims Score Calculator is built differently:
| Feature | This calculator | Typical predictor |
|---|---|---|
| Compares across multiple institute keys | 9 institutes | 1 institute |
| Supports multi-correct & scrapped questions | Yes (A,B and WRONG) | No |
| Distribution charts to see where you stand | Yes, by Set | Rarely |
| Time to first score | ~60 seconds | 2–5 minutes |
| Sign-up / paywall | Free, mobile OTP only | Often paid / email signup |
| Auto-rescores when keys are updated | Yes | No (one-shot) |
Built by UnderStand UPSC for the 2026 UPSC Prelims cohort. Free for students — we just need a one-time mobile OTP to save your prediction and update it as institutes upload their answer keys.
More UPSC Prelims resources
Explore further preparation resources from UnderStand UPSC — your trusted partner for Civil Services Examination preparation:
- → UnderStand UPSC home Full library of UPSC Prelims & Mains study material.
- → Start the marks predictor Pick your Set, mark your answers, see your score in 60 seconds.
- → Sign in to view past predictions Returning user? Check your score with just your mobile number.
- → UPSC Prelims PYQ research notes Deep-dive analysis of previous-year questions to boost your score.