For IAS aspirants · Civil Services Prelims · 60 seconds
IAS Prelims Score Calculator 2026
The IAS Prelims Score Calculator 2026 is a free online tool for Indian Administrative Service (IAS) aspirants taking the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. The Prelims is the first filter for IAS selection — your GS Paper 1 score alone decides whether you progress to Mains. This calculator applies the UPSC 2026 marking scheme (+2.020 correct, −0.673 wrong, 0 unattempted — after UPSC cancelled questions and redistributed marks) and shows your projected score across nine coaching institutes' answer keys.
IAS-focused
Built for Indian Administrative Service aspirants.
Civil Services 1st stage
Prelims is the entry gate to IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS.
9-institute comparison
Vision IAS, Vajiram, Next IAS and 6 more.
UPSC 2026 negative marking
−0.673 per wrong (after UPSC redistribution); +2.020 correct.
Why the IAS Prelims score matters
To be allocated the Indian Administrative Service, you must:
- Clear UPSC Prelims (GS Paper 1 cutoff — typically 75-105 marks/200).
- Clear Mains (9 papers, ~700-800 marks needed).
- Clear the Personality Test (Interview).
- Score high enough in the combined Mains+Interview total to be ranked among the top selections (~120-180 IAS posts per year).
The Prelims score is the first numerical signal of whether IAS is realistic for you this cycle. A score solidly above the General cutoff (historically 75-100 marks) means you should begin serious Mains preparation immediately.
IAS Prelims vs Civil Services Prelims — same exam, different framing
Important clarification: there is no separate 'IAS Prelims' — IAS aspirants take the same UPSC Civil Services Examination Preliminary as IPS, IFS, IRS, and 20+ other Group A service aspirants. Your Prelims score determines whether you progress; the service you're allocated (IAS vs IPS vs IFS) depends on your final CSE rank (after Mains + Interview) and your service preference.
Frequently asked questions
Is this calculator only for IAS aspirants?
It's optimized for the Civil Services Examination Prelims, which IAS aspirants take. IPS, IFS, IRS aspirants also take the same exam — the calculator works identically for them.
How many marks do I need in Prelims for IAS?
Historically, General Category aspirants needed 75-105 marks (out of 200) in GS Paper 1 to clear Prelims. The exact 2026 cutoff depends on paper difficulty and is decided by UPSC after the final result.
Does this calculator predict my IAS final rank?
No — this is a Prelims calculator. IAS allocation depends on your final CSE rank (Mains + Interview combined), which can't be auto-computed. Use this to confirm whether your Prelims candidacy is alive.
Is the IAS coaching answer key used here?
We aggregate keys from 9 major IAS coaching institutes — Vision IAS, Vajiram & Ravi, Next IAS, Forum IAS, Sleepy Classes, StudyIQ IAS, PWOnlyIAS, SuperKalam, and UnderStand UPSC. You can compare your score against any of them.
Ready to see your score?
Open the calculator, mark the options you picked in the exam, and get your projected UPSC Prelims 2026 score in 60 seconds — with negative marking already applied.
Start now — it's free