The UPSC preliminary examination consists of two objective type papers: General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). Paper I assesses a candidate's knowledge of current events, history, geography, polity, economics, environment, and general science. Paper II (CSAT) focuses on comprehension, interpersonal skills, logical reasoning, and analytical ability. Both papers are designed to test candidates' understanding and analytical skills, with Paper I being more content-focused while Paper II evaluates reasoning and comprehension. Each paper is scored out of 200 marks, and candidates must qualify Paper II with a minimum score to proceed to the Mains examination.