CSAT : READINGS

by Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya AIR 5 2008 in his blog
bijayketanupadhyayaias.blogspot.com
Friends, as you are all aware, UPSC has recently announced the new Syllabus for CSAT. Many candidates are in a confused state of mind. I am suggesting here a Tentative Book List to start with. I will update it as and when I receive inputs from my Batchmates. Here the edge will be with people who are smart in English Language, Quick Mathematics & Reasoning Skills & Good Grounding in Current Events & General Knowledge. Both papers are of equal weightage, so EQUAL ATTENTION must be given. Practice of simple maths, verbal & non-verbal reasoning of Bank PO Standard will help as Social Science students are generally poor in these things (me included). Don’t go for CAT standard as they will not help & that kind of brain is not needed in Civil Services. The Approach for CSAT will be different & it will depend on HOW MUCH INTEREST YOU CAN GENERATE TO REPETEDLY PRACTISE PAPER 2 sample questions. Read the text books in both papers & only then solve MCQs. Don’t jump on the MCQs the moment you see them. Basic ground rules must be known before you start practising …
Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) 2011 would consist Paper I and Paper II. Applicants having full knowledge of the English will have better chance to succeed in CSAT 2011.
Paper 1
Pattern:
Total Marks: 200
Duration: 2 Hours
Syllabus:-
• Current events of national and international importance >>>>
1. THE HINDU
2. WIZARD CURRENT EVENTS FOR PRELIMS
3. VAJIRAM CURRENT EVENTS BOOKLETS (OPTIONAL,IF YOU HAVE TIME)
• History of India and Indian national movement
1. SPECTRUM MODERN INDIA
2. MEDIEVAL & ANCIENT – NCERT or WIZARD BOOKLETS (In 20-25 pages)
• Indian and World Geography- physical, social, economic geography of India and the world >>>> NCERT 11TH & 12TH 4 BOOKS
1. FUNDAMENTAL OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
2. INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
3. FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
4. INDIA – PEOPLE & ECONOMY
• Indian Polity and governance – constitution, political system, panchayati raj, public policy, Rights issues, etc. >>>>> NCERT POLITICAL SCIENCE BOOKS 11TH & 12TH
1. INDIAN CONSTITUTION AT WORK (IMPORTANT)
2. OUR CONSTITUTION By SUBHASH KASHYAP or D D BASU (BETTER)
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD NCERT TEXTBOOKS FROM NCERT WEBSITE. http://www.ncert.nic.in/index1.html
• Economic and social development – sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives etc.
1. NCERT INDIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (CLASS XI)
2. ECONOMIC SURVEY 2010-11
3. UMA KAPILA (OPTIONAL)
• General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and climate change-that donot require subject specialization >>>>>
1. YOJANA (will help)
2. THE HINDU (articles on these topics)
3. INDIA YEAR BOOK 2011 & MANORAMA YEAR BOOK 2011 (OCCASSIONAL READING)
• General science
1. NCERT 9TH,10TH
2. TATA McGRAW HILL GUIDE (SCIENCE,MENTAL ABILITY & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE SECTIONS)

Paper 2
Pattern:
Total Marks: 200
Duration : 2 Hours
This paper holds the key as many will not be comfortable with the pattern of questions & the surprise elements. Still, we can hope that UPSC will ask simple questions this year, at least. Be prepared for it. Plan a nice strategy to deal this paper. Read thoroughly all BASIC TEXT BOOKS & then solve MCQs. Be meticulous as you were with the optional paper in earlier Preliminary.
Syllabus :-
• Comprehension
1. Comprehension 1, 2 and 3 Student Books (with Keys) by D'Arcy Adrian-Vallance, Lewis Lansford
Pearson Longman Publication (May be helpful. Not needed for those whose command over English is good.)
See the link for download: - http://www.ebook3000.com/Comprehension-1--2-and-3-Student-Books--with-Keys-_82408.html
2. You can also search Scribd for books on Comprehension & other subjects like Decision Making & Problem Solving.
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills
1. The Seven Challenges Workbook A Guide to Cooperative Communication Skills for Success at Home and at Work by Dennis Rivers. DOWNLOAD LINK - http://www.newconversations.net/communication_skills_workbook_summary_and_toc.htm
THE QUESTIONS MAY NOT COME DIRECTLY FROM THIS BOOK. BUT IT WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA ABOUT WHAT TO READ & SOME THEMES & ISSUES IN COMMUNICATION.
2. YOU CAN ALSO READ “COMMUNICATION” CHAPTER FROM BOOKS LIKE ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR by STEPHEN P. ROBBINS, ESSENTIALS OF MANAGEMENT by KOONTZ & WEIRICH TO GET SOME THEORETICAL CONCEPTS. THEY WILL HELP & QUESTIONS MAY COME FROM THEM.
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
1. VERBAL & NON-VERBAL REASONING by R S AGARWAL
2. ANALYTICAL REASONING by R S AGARWAL
• Decision making and problem solving
1. SEARCH “PROBLEM SOLVING”, “TECHNIQUES OF PROBLEM SOLVING”, “DECISION MAKING”, “TECHNIQUES OF DECISION MAKING” ETC IN GOOGLE & WIKIPEDIA & READ SOME 30-50 PAGES ON THEM.YOU CAN ALSO READ CHAPTERS LIKE DECISION MAKING FROM ROBBINS,KOONTZ WEIRICH TO HAVE THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE.
THEY MAY ASK: -
What is the technique of Problem Solving in which we solve the problem in a model of the system before applying it to the real system?
Ans: - Abstraction (Source: - Wikipedia)
2. VERBAL & NON-VERBAL REASONING by R S AGARWAL
3. ANALYTICAL REASONING by R S AGARWAL
• General mental ability
1. GENERAL MENTAL ABILITY SECTION OF TATA McGRAW HILL GUIDE
2. FOCUS SHOULD BE ON PROBABILITY, PERMUTATIONS & COMBINATIONS & OTHER AREAS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY ASKED BY UPSC IN PRELIMINARY EXAM LAST 3 YEARS 2008,09 & 10.
3. VERBAL & NON-VERBAL REASONING by R S AGARWAL or ANALYTICAL REASONING by R S AGARWAL
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc. (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. –Class X level)
1. Quantitative Aptitude by R S Agarwal(MUST BE READ THOROUGHLY)
2. QUICKER MATHS (MAGICAL BOOK SERIES) by M. Tyra(SHOULD BE READ THOROUGHLY)
• English language comprehension skills (Class X level)
READ ANY TWO BOOKS.OCCASSIONAL READING OF 1-2 CHAPTERS IN FREE TIME WILL HELP.
1. A Practical English Grammar (Thomson & Martinet )
2. A University Grammar of English by Quirk and Greenbaum (Better.But don't know whether it is available with Sood or Jawahar Book Depo.,Ber Sarai)
3. High School English Grammar & Composition by Wren and Martin
YOU NEED NOT READ ALL THESE BOOKS IN DETAIL. BUT, SOME BASIC STUDY OF THESE TEXTS WILL CERTAINLY HELP IN INCREASING YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL TO HANDLE PAPER 2 IN CSAT.YOU CAN READ LIKE THIS :-
ONE CHAPTER FROM THOMSON & MARTINET
ONE CHAPTER FROM QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE BY R S AGARWAL
COMMUNICATIONS CHAPTER FROM ROBBINS
ONE CHAPTER FROM M TYRA
& THEN SOLVE ALL MCQS FROM THE CHAPTERS U HAVE READ.
THE IDEA IS TO GAIN EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE IN A SPAN OF 6-8 MONTHS.DON'T GO TOO DEEP.JUST 1 CM DEEP,BUT 1O KM WIDE ...IN PAPER 2 REMEMBER SOME FORMULAE,WRITE THEM DOWN IN XEROX PAPERS & PASTE NEAR UR STUDY TABLE SO THAT U CAN REVISE THEM MANY TIMES ...
BON VOYAGE!

What is CSAT?

Finally it has been changed! After many years (or even decades) of discussions, meetings, deliberations and many committee reports, the UPSC has finally changed the pattern of the Civil Services Preliminary (Prelims) Exam and according to the information provided by the government this entrance test would be rechristened “Civil Services Aptitude Test” (CSAT) Candidates appearing for the civil services preliminary exam will, from year 2011, have to clear a paper that will test their general aptitude instead of their knowledge in a subject of their choice. The modified pattern of the Prelims means that from year 2011, there will be no optional subject-based paper. However, the other paper on general studies will continue as before. The modified pattern will provide a level-playing field to all candidates as they have to answer the same set of questions. The main complaint about the Prelims pattern was that, “It was a test of memory more than knowledge,” To overcome this allegation, many commissions have given their recommendations, over the years, on improving the process of recruitment to the Civil Services. Some of these were the D.S. Kothari Committee Report of 1976, the Satish Chandra Committee Report of 1989, Professor Yoginder K. Alagh Committee Report of 2001 and the Hota Committee Report, 2004. The newly introduced CSAT was proposed by the Report of the Civil Services Examination Review Committee, 2001, also known as the Professor Yoginder K. Alagh Committee Report. The committee, after its study of the officers selected, concluded that a mismatch exists between the “suitability or aptitude and the service allocated to a candidate.” The Alagh Committee recommended an aptitude test with emphasis on comprehension, logical reasoning, problem solving and data analysis. Based on all these recommendations the UPSC has finally decided to change the pattern of the preliminary examination by introducing CSAT. CSAT will test the candidates’ on their aptitude and analytical abilities rather than their memorising ability.

The New Pattern

The new syllabus, applicable for the 2011 exams, shall now comprise of two compulsory Papers of 200 marks and of two hours duration each.

The Paper-I will be General Studies, which includes Current Events of National and International importance, History of India and Indian National Movement, Indian and World Geography- Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World, Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc, Economic and Social Development– Sustainable Development-Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc, General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity, Climate Change and General Science. There is not much change in the syllabus of paper –I, except inclusion of the topics of General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change. On the other hand Paper II is completely new to the IAS aspirants. Decoding the New Syllabus of Paper-II The Paper-II, which will be the aptitude test, will include aptitude skills including Comprehension, Interpersonal skills and Communication skills, Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability, Decision Making and Problem solving, General Mental Ability, Basic Numeracy, Data Interpretation and English Language

Comprehension skills.

The paper-II looks certainly like that of management tests and banking examinations, but reliable sources confirm that, CSAT will not be a replica of MAT, CAT or Bank Exams. Experts say that, with the CSAT, UPSC will test the candidates’ administrative aptitude, rather than the Management Aptitude and this way it will be different from the Management aptitude exams. As per the new syllabus, the Paper-II has 8 types of tests. And all these sections have been playing a crucial role in the selection of key employees across the globe in government as well as private sectors. With the introduction of these tests in the civil services exam, it is expected that the UPSC’s recruitment process will be nothing less than perfect, and India’s civil service will have the best talents.

What is the paper-II all about?

Here is a quick tour on the different types of tests included in the paper II syllabus:

Comprehension

In this section the candidates’ level of understanding will be tested. Questions can be based on certain real life situations and are trying to find out how well you can find facts, sift through information, interpret text, infer (what has happened) predict (what might happen) and recognize implied meanings.
Interpersonal skills including Communication skills

Inter personal communication means face-to-face communication involving few people (typically two) rather than large groups. It does not simply involve the exchange of messages. It essentially involves the creation and exchange of meaning. This section included in the UPSC exam is aimed to test the candidates’ ability to understand and manage the dynamics of social interaction, which is essential for a civil servant. A successful candidate should have a natural and highly developed ability to read the actual and potential behavior of others around them and to construct their own conduct in accordance with this reading. Fortunately, interpersonal skills can be learned by anybody. All it takes is awareness, patience and practice.
Logical reasoning and analytical ability

Logical reasoning is the ability to analyze and critique argumentation by understanding and assessing relationships among arguments or part of an argument. Logical reasoning measures your ability to understand, analyze, and evaluate arguments. Each question is based on a short passage, graph, table or a set of conditions. Analytical ability questions are aimed at measuring your ability to analyze a given structure of arbitrary relationships and to deduce new information from that structure. Focus will be on testing your ability to think logically on the basis of a set of rules and analyze situations using common sense.

Decision Making and Problem Solving

Decision Making and Problem Solving explains the key principles for developing your thinking skills and applying them creatively and productively to every challenge. This part of the Examination measures your ability to use logic and commonsense in the solving of problems commonly confronted by administrators. The question will generally relate to situations that require you either to take some action, to explain why an action has or would be taken or interpret what the action implies. Questions based on some law and order situations or civil administrative matters also can be expected in this section. General Mental Ability: In the old Exam pattern, General Mental Ability (GMA) Tests were included in the General Studies Paper. Now it is shifted to Paper-II. Aim of GMA Test is to evaluate your cognitive abilities - how proficient will you are at learning and finding solutions, a competency that will impact on job performance irrespective of the cadre you select. Basic Numeracy: The syllabus clearly says that this section includes numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc, which are of Class X level. The questions will tests your ability to use numbers and solve simple numerical problems. The good news is that the numerical knowledge you need to do well in these tests is the math you learnt in school. You need now is a quick refresher course and the application of little logical thinking.

Data Interpretation

Data Interpretation (DI) questions test your ability to interpret data presented in tables, graphs and charts. DI problems usually require two basic steps. First, you have to read a chart, Table or graph in order to obtain certain information. Then you have to apply or manipulate the information in order to obtain an answer. Though the syllabus prescribed is of Standard X, experts believe that UPSC may not stick to it while preparing the question paper. This section includes Data Sufficiency also. Each Data Sufficiency consists of a question followed by two statements—labeled (1) and (2). Your task is to analyze each of the two statements to determine whether it provides sufficient data to answer the question.

English Language Comprehension

The English language comprehension questions test your ability to read and understand written material. Questions in this section will be of Class X level and will be tested through passages. The Reading Comprehension test requires a good grasping skill over the English language and comprehending. Grasping a written Text means extracting the required information from it as efficiently as possible. Passage will be followed by multiple- choice questions to measure your ability to read and comprehend the written material, to reason and evaluate arguments, and to correct written material to conform to standard written English. All questions are to be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage, and no specific prior knowledge of the material is required. Comprehension question favour people who can read fast and have good short term memory. If you have these attributes, great; if not, don’t worry- you can still get a great score if you know how to approach the material in the right way. IAS is for SMART people A close analysis of the new syllabus will say that, “ now its’ the turn of the smartest people to win the IAS exam; goodbye to book worms, memory giants and subject masters.”

Preparing CSAT with Non Mathematical Background

CSAT IAS 2011 has been introduced with new syllabus which includes coverage on numeracy and mathematics.
Here are some easy tips and tricks for non-mathetical background students to prepare for CSAT Examination:

• Start with the basic NCERT books for Class V to VIII
• Go through the basic concepts and understanding
• Keep your motivation level high
• Do not underestimate your potentials
• Try solving very basic questions at first to give it a start
• Now, slowly increase the level of difficulty and go for the basic concepts of NCERT class IX and X books
• Try to follow as many shortcuts as possible beacuse time is a major limiting factor in determining the number of questions you can solve
• Remember that CSAT is not about checking the mathematical abilities but the reasoning and logical power
• So there is always a logic behind a problem which can be solved with the basic concepts and formulas
• Learn the last moment cheat sheet for the formulas
• Display major formulas on a board in the room, so that you can get a chance to revise them off and on
• For learning formulas just go through the basic ones and learn them
• The complex formulas can always be derived from the easy formulas and therefore there is no need to bother about the difficulty level just by looking at the list of formulas
• Expressions like "Oh my God so many formulas", " Trigonometry is not my game", " I cannot solve probability questions" will all lower your self confidence & take you away from studying those topics
• Take maths as a challenge and not as a botheration
• Speak up your heart and say " I can do it", "I will do it", "If others can do it, why I cannot do it"

For more help with CSAT preparation check Examrace CSAT Series