The Civil Services Examination (CSE), conducted every year by the UPSC, is the gateway to India’s most prestigious jobs such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) etc. The UPSC Exam is one of the most competitive exams in India. It is a long and challenging journey, but it is possible to succeed if you are willing to put in the hard work and dedication.
This section lists 10 important UPSC preparation tips for beginners.
Tip 1: Prepare Yourself
- Before trying to understand how to start preparing for UPSC, you should prepare yourself for the journey.
- Before starting your preparation, prepare mentally and physically for the examination. Set goals and devote time effectively.
Tip 2: Know the UPSC Syllabus
- The syllabus is the soul of any exam. Begin your UPSC Prelims Preparation by analysing the syllabus in detail. UPSC has provided the syllabus for the Civil Services Preliminary and Main examination in an elaborate manner.
- To be able to prepare a topic comprehensively, one needs to understand what all are to be covered under a particular topic. Knowing the syllabus will help you to choose relevant study materials, prioritize the subjects, etc.
Tip 3: Make a Time Table
- You should set a comfortable timetable before your preparation and stick to it.
- Making a timetable will ease your preparation and make weekly as well as monthly plans.
- Keep track of your daily progress in terms of topics covered.
- Ensure a fine and weighted balance between the static topics and current affairs.
Adopting the “Pomodoro Technique”
- Choose a task to be accomplished
- Set the Pomodoro timer (traditionally to 25 minutes)
- Work on the task until the timer rings, then put a checkmark on a piece of paper
- Take a short break (5 minutes is ideal)
- Every four “Pomodoros” take a longer break (15-30 minutes)
- Repeat Steps 1-5 until the task is complete
Tip 4: Newspaper Reading/Current Affairs for IAS
- The newspapers are the most important aspect of the IAS exam.
- Be regular with a good newspaper. The questions asked in the civil services exam are directly or indirectly connected with current affairs. Hence, it is very important to follow the relevant news items in your daily newspaper.
- Categorize the news into different categories such as Government Schemes, Places in News, Acts and policies, etc. Prepare concise notes on a news and place them under their respective categories.
Tip 5: Choosing Optional
- In the mains exam stage, candidates need to choose an optional subject from the list of 38 optional subjects provided by UPSC.
- It is advisable to choose a subject that you are interested in and have some prior knowledge or background. It is also important to choose a subject that is scoring, relevant to the exam, and has good study materials available.
Tip 6: NCERTs
- The NCERT textbooks from classes six to twelve play a very significant role in IAS exam preparation.
- In previous years UPSC has asked questions directly from NCERT textbooks.
- So, NCERTs are undoubtedly the best books to begin your IAS preparation with.
Tip 7: Making Notes
- It is helpful to make short notes during UPSC preparation.
- Since the UPSC syllabus is very vast, it helps to keep track of the portions covered and also serves as a ready-reckoner for revision.
Tip 8: Answer Writing Practice
- The IAS main exam papers are descriptive in nature.
- Before starting to write the UPSC mains answer, it is important to understand a few things.
- Focus on Building Basics: In the initial phase of your preparation, Read basic books to hold command on the fundamental concepts.
- Daily Newspaper Reading: Stay updated with current affairs by reading the newspaper every day. This habit will help you connect theoretical knowledge with real-world events.
- Start Attempting Questions: After 2-3 months of dedicated study, begin attempting questions related to the topics you have covered.
- Answer writing for the UPSC exam is no less than an art. It is important to understand the essence of the question asked. There are multiple benefits of starting answer writing during your preparation journey.
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Tip 9: Solving Previous Years’ UPSC Question Papers
- Previous question papers are the most reliable sources of UPSC pattern, difficulty level and question type.
- You can judge the trends in the UPSC exam paper easily.
- It will also help you understand which areas are the most important in a particular subject.
- Lastly, it is a good source of self-assessment in your IAS preparation.
Tip 10: Don’t Neglect the CSAT Paper
Many aspirants tend to ignore CSAT preparation as it is just a qualifying paper. However, with the increasing difficulty level of the CSAT paper in recent years, this negligence may turn disastrous. Thus, a candidate shouldn’t neglect the CSAT Paper.
Bonus Tips
- Join a good Study Group and discuss concepts with peers. This will help you enhance your understanding of a topic and clear doubts therein.
- Along with one’s study, one must pay attention to maintaining physical and mental well-being. Eat healthy and get enough rest.
- Believe in yourself and stay positive. Keep reminding yourself that the reward coming after the challenging journey is worth it.
- There is no one-size-fits-all approach to crack the UPSC Prelims Exam. So, tailor the strategy to your individual strengths and weaknesses.
Frequently Asked Questions on IAS Preparation
- When to Start Preparing for UPSC?
It’s advisable to start preparing for UPSC at least one to two years before the Preliminary Examination. This allows ample time for comprehensive coverage of the syllabus, regular practice, and revision. However, individual timelines may vary based on prior knowledge and experience, so flexibility is key in planning your preparation.
- Can I prepare for UPSC at home?
You can, if you take the right steps towards IAS preparation. With online sources and strategy available, you can easily prepare for the IAS exam at home.
- Is 1 year enough for IAS preparation?
1 year is sufficient for IAS preparation if you prepare diligently.
- How can I start my IAS preparation during graduation?
You can start your IAS preparation during graduation itself. All you must do is go through the syllabus and chart out a study plan for IAS. Starting early has many advantages. You will have age on your side since the IAS age limit will be far away. Also, being young and still a student, you would be in touch with academics, giving you an edge over older competitors.
- How to prepare for IAS exam after 12th?
If you are starting your preparation after 12th, you have the advantage of choosing a subject for graduation that will suit your IAS preparation. You can opt for graduation in subjects like political science, history or sociology – subjects that will help you cover the UPSC syllabus in a better way. This way, you can easily combine your graduation studies and IAS preparation
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