Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
org -
CSAT 2013
reduced to 32 MCQs.
17 MCQs = = ~1/5th of
paper.
only THREE questions from Maths in 2012! Will those Acche din come
again?
Ok so why did the Achhe din end? Why didnt UPSC ask just three Maths
MCQs in 2013, like they did in 2012? You can unravel this mystery by looking
at Behind the curtains timeline and joining the dots
20 May 2012
CSAT-2013 exam held. Only 3 maths and 40 comprehension.
30 August 2012 Prof. Nigvekar submits report & recommends following
26th May 2013: CSAT 2013 exam. Comprehension reduced from 50% to 40%,
consequently, maths questions increased from 3 to 17, to fillup the total 80
questions quota. Even in mains-2013, compulsory English paper was
lengthier than previous exams, and hence tougher.
In other words, Maths is here to stay. 2012 scene unlikely to repeat. UPSC
unlikely to ask only 3 maths MCQs in 2014.
**based on 2011 and 2013 trend, if UPSC asks 15-17 maths questions, then
at least 12 of them will be solvable even with moderate preparation. 12 x 2.5 =
30 marks.
Data Interpretation
(DI)
oddballs
2011
1
1
1
3
2
1
2
3
3
3
1
12
2012
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2013
1
4
1
6
4
0
5
0
1
0
0
6
1
1
0
0
0
1
Maths Total
% out of 80 MCQs
5
0
1
23
3
17
28.75 3.75 21.25
UPSCs official syllabus doesnt specifically say well not ask this, this and
this. It only says:
This etc. word is dangerous. Because upto class X level NCERT textbooks
include statistics, probability, trigonometry, parallelograms and even
coordinate geometry. Should we prepare such topics or not?
CSAT system is just three years old. So far ~43 total maths questions asked
in 2011, 12 and 13. This sample size too small to make projections that x
topic will always be asked and y topic will never be asked.
2011: UPSC introduces CSAT system, public believed that UPSC will
completely revamp its Aptitude Question bank in its secret computer
database. But UPSC is still asking stuff they used to ask way back in the 90s.
Observe:
CSAT paper II q. (maths / DI upto class X level)
similar asked in pre-CSAT era
2011 they gave a graph of A,B,C running and
1996- with four athletes A,B,C,D
asked who won the race, who was very slow etc.
2011: water contamination, various phases
1999: fertilizer input vs yield
1995: comparing temperature of two
2011: comparing speed of two trains
liquids
Regularly asked between 1995-2012,
time speed distance Questions
with almost identical difficultly level.
linear equations, HCF-LCM questions
same as above
This is just tip of an iceberg- even reasoning, syllogism, assumptioninference, Venn diagram, sitting arrangement- if you look at all the
aptitude questions from 1995 to 2013- history is repeating itself from
pre-CSAT era to CSAT era.
Many questions are mirroring themselves only names, numbers and
wording changed. if previously they gave time-distance & asked you to
find speed; this time they give speed and time and ask you to find
distance and so on
..meaning
1. UPSC hasnt completely revamped its question bank.
2. Just because xyz topic is not asked in last three CSAT = it doesnt
mean UPSC will never ask it in future exams. If something is taught
upto class10, AND it has been asked in previous prelims (Even before
Pre-CSAT era), then we should prepare.
Taught up Prepare
to NCERT
for
std.10?
CSAT?
Statistics (Cumulative
frequency, median, mode
etc.)
YES
YES
Arithmetic progression
YES
YES
Geometric progression
NO
NO
Irrational numbers
Coordinate Geometry
YES
YES
No
YES
Non-AVP Geometry
Theory
YES
YES
why?
Yes, because in 1999 they asked Data
interpretation (DI) about cumulative
frequency and average for grouped data
with class interval.
asked in CSAT 2011 itself.
GP starts from Class11. They did ask
water doubles every five minute
question in 2001, but it could be solved
without formulas. At max, mugup the
ball rebounding formula.
its not asked from 1995 till 2013.
Asked in 1995 and 1999 prelims.
Non-AVP Geometry theory=
interior angle, parallelogram
sides, cyclic quadrilaterals etc.
topics beyond simple areavolume-perimeter (AVP).
YES should be prepared,
because asked in 1995, 96, 97,
98, 99, 2000, 2001.
Trigonometry
YES
YES
Clock Angles
Divisibility
indirectly
YES
YES
YES
Probability
YES
Yes
Permutation
&Combination (Pnc)
NO
YES
Polynomials,Quadratic
Equations
YES
YES
Logarithms
NO
NO
Venn Diagram
NO
YES
a question on fundamental
counting- that topic is the mother
of PnC, and starts only from
class11 NCERT.
in same CSAT 2011, they even
asked image based PnC e.g. how
many routes possible in 22
square diagram to reach from
point A to B.
Polynomial factorization related
problems asked in 1995,96, 99,
2001
Pure mathematical questions
related to Quadratic equation
(e.g. nature of roots, find k etc.
not asked so far)
dangthese are way too many odd topics, cant we just focus on time speed
distance, linear equation, HCF-LCM? Hardly two months left before exam!!
Ans. No. Youve to be prepared for all possible topics. UPSC examiner has no
moral obligations to follow last years topic trend. 2011 he asks arithmetic
progression, then ignores this topic for 2012 and 2013. If you aim to tick 10+
MCQs for a given subject, youve to be thoroughly prepared- whether its
polity, geography, economy or aptitude.
Nonetheless, it may not be feasible to give justice to all the maths topic within
~2 months, so study-priority order should be following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Linear Equation
Number System
%, profit loss, SI-CI
Ratio Proportion Variation
Speed Time Distance Work
Averages, Alligiations
Data Interpretation
Geometry: Area Volume Perimeter
Medium priority
Following topics not frequently asked, but takes barely 2 hours to master.
because You just have to mugup 3-5 formulas and variety of questions is very
less. Therefore cost: benefit good, You should make room in your schedule to
prepare them.
9. Arithmetic Progression => only have to do one chapter in NCERT.
10.
11.
Polynomials factorization => only have to do two chapters in
NCERT.
Low Priority
Low priority doesnt mean UPSC will *NOT* ask them. Low priority means,
within your study time table, do them at last depending on how much free time
left after allotting time for other high priority topics such as history, polity,
science, economy, environment (for Paper I) and those reasoningcomprehension & other high priority topics under Maths (for Paper II).
Reason: following topics not frequently asked. Theyre not difficult but have
many variety of questions and formulas=> each of them take more than 4
hours to master. Therefore, put under low priority in terms of study time
allotment.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Statistics
Even the remaining questions, most of them are just slightly difficult than the
concepts taught at NCERT level. Meaning, you dont have to be an IIT/CAT
rankerIf you can understand even upto NCERT level mathematics, you
can tick good number of MCQs.
ESSENTIAL
OPTIONAL
2. Theyre Useless for CSAT and higher level exams. Because they dont
cover all variety of tricky MCQs asked in such exams.
3. Even banking & insurance exams Rajesh Vermas techniques are
faster & easy to understand.
Therefore, dont waste time in Vedic maths tricks for speed maths, addition,
multiplication, subtraction, division, cube roots, square roots etc.
If you already know such tricks then good, but now is not the right time to
learn them fresh.
(1998) in a family, age of father is three times that of his daughter, and
age of son is half of his mother. If wife is nine years younger than
husband, and brother is 7 years older than sister, what is the age of
mother? (Ans.60)
(2009) A gave half of his coins to B and 4 more besides. B gave half of
his coins to C and 4 more besides. C gave half of his coins to D and 4
more besides. Both B and D end up with same number of coins. How
many coins did A have originally? (Ans.72 coins)
(2011) a person has only Rs. 1 and Rs. 2 coins with her. If the total
number of coins that she has is 50 and the amount of money with her is
Rs. 75, then find the number of Rs. 1 and Rs. 2 coins with him? (Ans.
25 and 25)
Linear equations are very important for aptitude exams, from two angles
1. direct MCQs about age, coins, salary, expenditure related problems
2. Indirect applications in time-speed-distance-work; profit-loss-SI-CI;
Geometry problems etc.
Wrong
B-20=12A or
B=12(A-20)
2B=A
Right
B-20=12(A20)
B=2A
Many candidates make wrong equations as shown above, then get wrong
answer. Examiner would have even listed wrong answer in option. So junta
happily ticks such option, my paper went so good, then they fail & blame
nepotism, corruption and DP Agrawal for everything.
How to avoid silly mistake?
In age problems, always prepare a table beginning with present age. Observe
At present, Bhootnath is twice as old as Abdul
present age
A and B
Eq1. B=2A
Then make second equation: 20 years ago, Bhootnath was 12 times the age
of Abdul
age 20 years ago (-20) present age
A-20
B-20
A and B
Eq2. B-20=12(A-20)
Eq1. B=2A
Now plug the value of B from Eq1. into Eq2 and youll solve this effortlessly.
x+y=5
y+z=6
Here youve two equations but three variables (x, y and z). You can never find
out the unique value of x, y, z in such situation. Hence answer = Cannot be
determined. But sometimes, even two variable-two equation set can be
impossible to solve. For example
No solution
I.
x+ 2y=4
II.
2x+ 4y= 12
infinite solution
2x+ 3y=94x+ 6y=18
To learn more about ^this, refer to NCERT Maths Class 10, Chapter3,
table given on the page #9.
Examiner will test this by offering you both choice Cannot be
determined; sometimes even data sufficiency (DS) question. Make
sure you pick the right answer in right situation.
12
Sarvesh Kumar
Ch13. Elements of Algebra
GOOD IN MATHS
No need for NCERT.
Directly use your Quant book. Refer to appendix
of this article, for what to prepare and what to skip
in the quant books.
Chapter
2.Fractions and
Decimals
1.
2.
3.
4.
7
9. rational
numbers
8
9
1.Rational
numbers
16. Playing with
numbers.
1.Number
system
10
1.Real numbers
Chapter
13.Exponents &
powers
table in 6.2
Numbers between square numbers- the lines given
in italics.
6.4.2 Pythagorean triplets
6.7 estimating square root.
Percentages-NCERT
As such UPSCs percentage related questions are complicated than the
exercises given in NCERT, but still solve NCERT as warm-up exercise for
multiplication and division.
Class 7 Ch8
Class 8 Ch8
After this is done, you have to solve all questions from your quant book. Even
solve the already solved sums given in the illustrations. Refer to bottom of
this article, for what to prepare what to skip from Rajesh / Sarvesh.
PS: Even those good at Maths MUST do the sums from Class8 Chapter 13.
Class Ch.
7
What To Focus
Basics of Ratios. Although most of the chapter is focused on percentages. too
8 rudimentary stuff, use it just for warm up exercise for multiplication and
division.
Basics of variation.
page 207 example5 interesting
Page 208 exercise 13.1 Question 5 to 10
Page 212 example 7, 8 and 9. Question 8. MOST IMPORTANT- how
13
long the food will last. This type of questions asked in CSAT. Understand
the concept well.
Exercise 13.2 Q4 to 11. Notice Q5, its identical to the food lasting
problem.
Then solve your Quant book. Refer appendix for what to prepare, what to skip.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
days. How many days would it take for A alone to complete his job? Ans
10 days
(2010) Three men start together to travel the same way around a
circular track of 11km. Their speeds are 4, 5.5 and 8 kmph respectively.
When will they meet at the starting point for the first time? Ans 22 hours
(2012) Mr. Kumar drives to work at an average speed of 48km/hr. The
time taken to cover the first 60% of the distance is 10 minutes more
than the time taken to cover the remaining distance. How far is his
office? Ans. 40 km
(2013) A person can walk a certain distance and drive back in six hours.
He can also walk both ways in 10 hours. How much time will he take to
drive both ways? Ans. 2 hrs
(2013) A thief running at 8 km/hr is chased by a policeman whose
speed is 10 km/hr. If the thief is 100 m ahead of the policeman, then the
time required for the policeman to catch the thief will be what? Ans. 3
min
(2013) A train travels at a certain average speed for a distance of 63 km
and then travels a distance of 72 km at an average speed of 6 km/hr
more than its original speed. If it takes 3 hours to complete the total
journey, what is the original speed of the train in km/hr? Ans.42 kmph
NCERT not much useful here, because it runs on the LCM method and
doesnt dwell on all varieties of questions.
STDW is made up of two topics
1. Speed time distance
2. Speed time work
All of these can be solved through just one formula: STD (speed x time
=distance). Go through following articles:
Time-speed-Distance
1. Trains, Platforms TSD (Time,
Speed, Distance) made easy
2. Boats and Streams made-easy
using our STD-Table Method
3. Average Speed made easy
without Formulas
4. STD table : Application in train
man bridge, time and work
problems
5. Time n Distance: Early and late
to office (shortcut using product
consistency method)
6. Product Consistency: Time-
Time-speed-work
1. [Speed Time Work] Two Men can finish a
work, A is 3x more efficient than B, B leaves
before completion & variety of cases
2. [Speed Time Work] Three men can finish a
work in x days, A & B start work, C joins
after x day, share in wages & other special
cases
3. Time n Work: 4 men and 6 women can
complete a work in 8 Days then
Speed-Distance problems
Once youve understood this STD table concept, then apply it while solving
the illustrations and exercises given in your quant book.
Then solve all the illustrations and examples from your Quant book.
if you really want to learn the basics, consult following NCERT chapter
(although quite unnecessary because everyone knows this much basic.)
class
7
8
9
10
ch
3
5, 15 (These are useful for data interpretation though)
14
14
TEXTUAL
1. Venn diagrams
2. Tabulation
1,2 and 4
3 and 4
2 and 3
1,3 and 4
ANSWER.(b)
[Prelim 2000]The following figure represents time vs learning curves of
two students,Q and R for learning a Mathematics lesson:
Hint: add numbers on both axis, then youll see who is learning to what pace.
Youll also find odd graphs in last three CSAT papers (attached at bottom of
this article). Im not copying them here because more images=slower loading
webpage.
I call them odd graphs because usually unseen in other aptitude exams, even
CAT. But these graphs are not falling from sky, topic is given in NCERT. First
understand following concepts from NCERT Class8, Chapter 15 Graphs
In the real CSAT, usually they dont give numbers on the axis. But if you want
to solve them with NCERT technique, then youve to write numbers on your
own understanding. Observe following image
Once you add numbers like this, it becomes very easy to compare P vs Q and
eliminate options accordingly.
Where to get additional practice?
Youre unlikely to find such odd graphs practice questions easily. Theyre
usually not asked in Bank and CAT. Although theyre sporadically asked in
CDS, CAPF and SCRA exams (For all four major exams of UPSC, the
Examiner seems to be utilizing the same DI Question bank from the secret
server in the basement of UPSC Headquarter). But again cost:benefit not that
great IF you start digging through all previous papers of CDS, CAPF and
SCRA = too time consuming exercise. Anyways, you will find a few such
question under
1. aptitude manuals
2. CST magazines mock tests.
You dont have to specifically buy them only for the ODD graphs. Borrow
whatever you can from library / friend circle.
UPSC CSAT
Usually calculations are easy
Often require lengthy calculation and long divisions,
youve to do 10%, 20%, 25% of
even prime numbers (17,19, 23,37 etc.).
something and youll get the
answer.
Usually give you 3-4 text
statements and ask which
one of them are correct as
requires you to find exact mathematical answer.
per the given chart.
often the four options are very close
Meaning they dont usually
(16.5,16.7,16.55,16.67) so you cant eliminate
require you to find exact
wrong choices by logic or guestimation, youve
mathematical answer.
to do exact calculation without any mistakes.
Although youve to do
maths /apply logic to
eliminate the wrong
statements.
To get a basic overview of Pie charts, bar graphs etc you can consult NCERT
class8 chapter 5. But as such it doesnt contain any street smart tricks OR
sums relevant to CSAT. Therefore, to gain command youve to get practice.
Where to get practice DI sets?
1. SSC sets far easier than CSAT. so avoid
Right Approach
Total people in society =+ only tea drinkers+
Only coffee drinkers+ (Those who drink both
tea & coffee)
+ Those who drink neither tea nor coffee
(n)
Read the question description carefully. If
and when required take n=0.
As such Venn diagram is class11 topic but UPSC has repeatedly asked it both
in pre-CSAT and CSAT era. Perhaps, examiner considers it Reasoning and
not maths. Nonetheless, Venn diagram is a very easy NO EXCUSE topic.
At max it should take ~3 hours to finish this topic at home.
Start preparation with Class11 NCERT Mathematics chapter1.
page
16
17
21
2226
27
After this, solve all the sums in your Quant book (+ whatever sums you get in
Pratiyogita, CST etc.)
Based on this table, it can be said that the Indian economy is in poor shape
because the Central government continues to be under pressure to :
a.
b.
c.
d.
ANSWER.(b)
3. (2000) A club has 108 members. Two-thirds of them are men and the
rest are women. All members are married except for 9 women
members. How many married women are there in there in the club?
Ans.27
4. (2001) A city has a population of 3,00,000 out of which 1,80,000 are
males. 50% of the population is literate. If 70% of the males are literate,
the number of literate females is __.? Ans 24,000
You can solve Q3 and Q4 by directly framing linear equations. but table = less
changes of error.
Sometimes, question descriptions of tabular vs Venn diagram sound very
similar, but the main difference: the players in a tabular questions will not have
overlapping. Observe
Tabular question
Venn diagram question
1. In a company ** male, out of them **
1. In a society 10 people drink tea, 4
union members. Total female are **, blah
people drink both coffee and
blah blah..then find __.
tea..blah blah blah..find total
2. in a company ** people work in HR, **
people in the society.
people work in R&D, ** people work in
2. in a society ** people own car, **
marketing blah blah blah.then find
own bike.blah blah blah
___.
This is not difficult, but juntaa doesnt practice at home so in the exam
they cannot decide which way to proceed- Should I make table OR
Venn diagram? So, they simply start scribbling data either in table or in
Venn diagram, until they get nowhere after 10-15 minutes of calculation.
Then they try second approach, but make silly mistakes in addition /
multiplication so finally after wasting 20 minutes they leave the sum.
This is one of the main reasons why people cannot finish paper on time
and fail in the CSAT.
DONOT start scribbling numbers, UNLESS you know exactly how
youre going to reach the answer.
Keep an eye on the wrist watch. DONOT spend so much time on a
single question, even if its Data interpretation.
Herons formula
example 2
all questions
Q.3 to 6; Example 4
ex.6
all questions and summary
Class10 Chapter 12
225
226
227
230
231
231238
Class10 Chapter 13
This chapter deals with volume of combo figures. Semi-sphere above a cube
& so on. Solve all the illustration and exercises given here.
next article, we see how to approach the medium and low priority topics
under mathematics for CSAT.