The Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025 on its official website, upsc.gov.in. The exam was held on 30th August 2025 in the second shift as part of the Civil Services Mains Examination. Candidates who appeared can download the official question paper PDF to review the type of questions asked and prepare for upcoming attempts. The direct PDF download link is provided in the article below for easy access.
UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025
The UPSC Mains includes the English Compulsory Paper (Paper B) as one of its qualifying language papers. This exam was conducted on 30th August 2025 in the second shift. It carries a total of 300 marks and is of 3 hours duration. The paper is only qualifying in nature, meaning marks obtained here are not counted towards the merit list but candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks to move forward in the selection process.
UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025 Overview
The English Compulsory Paper in UPSC Mains 2025 is a qualifying exam of 300 marks conducted to assess candidates’ basic language skills. It was held on 30th August 2025 in the second shift with a duration of 3 hours.
UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025 Overview | |
Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Mains 2025 |
Paper | Compulsory English (Paper B) |
Exam Date | 30th August 2025 (2nd Shift) |
Duration | 3 Hours |
Total Marks | 300 |
Nature of Paper | Qualifying |
Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025 Download PDF
The UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025 Download PDF has been released by UPSC on its website as the examination cycle is completed. Candidates can download the paper in PDF format to analyse the type of questions asked and practice for future attempts.
Steps to Download UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025
Candidates can follow these steps to download the UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025 PDF on the official portal by UPSC:
- Visit the official UPSC website (upsc.gov.in).
- Go to the Examination section and click on Previous Question Papers.
- Select Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025.
- Look for Compulsory English Paper (Paper B).
- Download and save the PDF and practice it for the upcoming exam.
UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025: Passing Marks
The UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025 is qualifying in nature, and candidates need to secure at least 25% of the total marks, which comes to 75 marks out of 300, to clear this paper. Even though the marks do not contribute to the final merit, failure to achieve the minimum score can disqualify a candidate regardless of performance in other papers. This makes it essential to treat the paper seriously and prepare well.
UPSC English Compulsory Exam Pattern 2025
The English Compulsory Exam 2025 checks a candidate’s basic language skills, such as comprehension, writing ability, grammar, and vocabulary. The paper consists of sections like essay writing, precis writing, comprehension passages, translation, and grammar usage.
UPSC English Compulsory Exam Pattern 2025 | ||
Component | Marks | Description |
Essay Writing | 100 | Long essay on a given topic |
Reading Comprehension | 60 | Questions based on a passage |
Precis Writing | 60 | Summarizing a given passage |
Translation | 40 | Translation to and from English |
Grammar & Vocabulary | 40 | Correct usage, synonyms, antonyms, and sentences |
Total | 300 | Qualifying: 75 marks required |
UPSC English Compulsory Syllabus 2025
The UPSC English Compulsory Syllabus 2025 is designed to test a candidate’s basic command over the language. It covers areas such as essay writing, comprehension, precis writing, translation, and grammar, ensuring candidates can express ideas clearly, read with understanding, and use correct language.
UPSC English Compulsory Syllabus 2025 | |
Section | Description |
Essay Writing | Writing an essay on current or abstract topics |
Comprehension | Understanding and answering questions from a passage |
Precis Writing | Summarizing given text into concise form |
Translation | From English to regional language and vice-versa |
Grammar & Vocabulary | Synonyms, antonyms, sentence correction, usage |
Preparation Tips for UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025
The preparation tips for UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025 have been shared below based on the expert guidance and candidates who have qualified UPSC Mains Exam.
- Practice essay writing on both abstract and current topics to improve clarity and coherence.
- Solve previous year papers to understand the difficulty level and recurring question types.
- Focus on grammar basics such as tenses, sentence correction, and vocabulary building.
- Work on precision and comprehension by regularly reading newspapers and summarizing articles.
- Time management is key; practice answering within 3 hours to build writing speed and accuracy.
UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025 FAQs
Q1. When was the UPSC English Compulsory Paper 2025 conducted?+
Q2. How many marks are required to pass this paper?+
Q3. Do the marks of this paper count in the final merit list?+
Q4. What is the duration of the exam?+
Q5. What type of questions are asked in the exam?+
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