After graduation, the main objective of most youth is to secure a good job that pays well. Some apply for placements to work for private companies, and others pursue their higher studies or prepare for State and Central Government exams.
There are a number of important government exams conducted at the State and Central levels. These include UPSC Civil Services Examination, KAS or Karnataka Administrative Service examination, NABARD Grade A and Grade B exams, etc. These are highly competitive exams, which necessitate rigorous preparation and continuous dedication.
The Karnataka Administrative Service exam, conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), is one such exam that is the dream of many aspirants. Individuals who wish to appear in the forthcoming Karnataka Administrative Examination can go through the exam pattern and preparation tips given in the following sections.
Exam Pattern for the KPSC Karnataka Administrative Service Examination
The KPSC Karnataka Administrative Service exam is divided into 2 stages, namely:
- Preliminary examination
- Main examination and Interview
The details of each of the stages of the exam are given below.
Preliminary examination
The preliminary examination is a screening test. It is of objective type and comprises two papers, i.e. Paper 1 and Paper 2. Both the papers consist of 100 questions each. Each question is allotted 2 marks, and there is a negative marking for every incorrect answer. The details regarding the Preliminary exam, marks allotted to Paper 1 and Paper 2, the number of questions, etc., are given in the table below.
| Karnataka Administrative Service Preliminary Exam Pattern | ||||
| S.No. | Paper 1 | No of questions | Total Marks | Exam Duration |
| 1 | General Studies | 40 | 80 | 2 hours |
| Humanities | 60 | 120 | ||
| 2 | General Studies related to state | 40 | 80 | 2 hours |
| Science and Technology, Environment and Ecology | 30 | 60 | ||
| General Mental Ability | 30 | 60 | ||
Main examination
Candidates who pass the Preliminary test can take the Main examination. The Main exam comprises 2 qualifying papers and 5 other papers, which determine the final marks scored in the examination. The questions are of descriptive type, and there is no negative marking in the Main exam. The total marks allotted for the Main exam is 1250 marks. The tables given below comprise information about the papers that are part of the KPSC Karnataka Administrative Service Main examination.
| KPSC Karnataka Administrative Service Main Exam Qualifying Papers | |||
| S.No. | Qualifying Papers | Duration | Marks |
| 1 | English | 2 hours | 150 (35% qualifying criteria) |
| 2 | Kannada | 2 hours | 150 (35% qualifying criteria) |
| KPSC Karnataka Administrative Service Main Exam (Merit-Ranking) Papers | |||
| S. No. | Name of Papers | Marks | Duration |
| 1 | Paper 1 – Essay | 250 | 3 hours |
| 2 | Paper 2 – General Studies I | 250 | 3 hours |
| 3 | Paper 3 – General Studies II | 250 | 3 hours |
| 4 | Paper 4 – General Studies III | 250 | 3 hours |
| 5 | Paper 5 – General Studies IV | 250 | 3 hours |
| Overview of the KPSC Karnataka Administrative Service GS Exam Papers | ||
| S.No. | Name of the Paper | Sections in GS Papers |
| 1 | GS 1 |
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| 2 | GS 2 |
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| 3 | GS 3 |
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| 4 | GS 4 |
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Interview
Aspirants who pass the Main examination qualify for the Personality Test. 50 marks are allotted for KPSC Karnataka Administrative Service Interview. Candidates are interviewed by a Board of members. The final results are announced after the completion of the Personality Test. The marks scored in the Interview, and the Main exam are added to calculate the overall marks of the candidates. The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) releases the KAS result on its website. Candidates can download the marksheets after the declaration of the final results.
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Preparation Tips for the KPSC Karnataka Administrative Service Examination
Candidates who aspire to get through the Karnataka Administrative Service exam conducted by the KPSC should keep the following in mind while preparing for it:
- The Preliminary examination should be taken seriously as it determines whether a candidate is eligible for the Main exam or not. Candidates should prepare well for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 and focus on accuracy as there is negative marking for every wrong answer.
- Candidates must get a good score in the Main exam as it plays a crucial role in determining their rank on the merit list. Therefore, aspirants should prepare intensively for the Main examination keeping the syllabus in mind.
- Before starting the preparation for the Karnataka Administrative Service exam, aspirants should make it a point to go through the previous years’ question papers and syllabus. This will help the aspirant in getting a broad overview of the exam pattern and the nature of questions asked in the exam.
- Aspirants should make it a habit to revise every week. Revision is the key to acing any competitive examination.
- Candidates should take mock tests to learn from their mistakes and improve themselves. They can initially start with sectional mock tests and then move to full-length mock tests.
- There should be no room for complacency when it comes to the essay paper. Candidates’ overall scores can be increased by adequately preparing for this paper.
- Although Kannada and English are qualifying papers, they should not be taken lightly. There have been instances where candidates have passed all of the exams other than the qualifying papers.
- A robust study plan and meticulous implementation are very important to get through the Karnataka Administrative Service examination. Aspirants should set achievable goals and put in efforts to meet those targets.
The Karnataka Administrative Service exam is one of the most competitive examinations. Aspirants should work hard and stay committed to their preparation to ace this exam. Along with PSC exams, aspirants should also appear for various bank tests and exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
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