How to prepare for India’s most prestigious exam—the UPSC? We are here to answer this most-asked question in India. Union Public Service Commission examination happens in three phases.
The first phase is the Preliminary which consists of two papers of 400 marks in total. It is a qualifier round after which, candidates become eligible for the next round. The second phase of the UPSC examination is Mains. It has subjective questions, unlike the Prelims which has objective questions. And the final phase of the UPSC examination is the Personal Interview.
UPSC is a tough nut to crack because of a lot of competition and less than a thousand seats. Despite, such extreme challenges many candidates clear the exam every year. So, what toppers do which other IAS aspirants miss out?
Well, toppers are not born on mars. They read from the same books and take the same classes; the only difference is that they train themselves better.
Smart preparation is essential to succeed in the IAS exam. Elite IAS Academy in Delhi prepares its students for the UPSC exam and gives them excellent training. They provide the best study material, teaching faculty, and a great ambiance for education.
Here we have shared some quick tips to crack the UPSC exam. If you want to become an IAS officer follow the essential tips given below.
# Study Plan:
For the preparation of any competitive exam, a study plan is essential. The first step for IAS preparation is to make a proper strategy for the study. You need to divide equal time for all the subjects. Apart from coaching lectures, you need to devote at least 6 hours for the self-study.
How to make a study plan?
- Don’t copy the routines or strategies of IAS toppers or your friends. You can take an idea from their study plans but don’t copy them because things that worked for them may or may not work for you. So, prepare your strategy by keeping in mind the coaching timings and the rest hours.
- Take at least 5-10 minutes break after every one hour of study.
- Ensure that you have included 7 hours of sleep in your routine.
- Don’t pressurize yourself by trying to complete maximum chapters in a single day. Your mind needs to reenergize so it’s always good to study daily for the limited hours.
# Make notes:
Every IAS aspirant is advised to make notes while they are reading the chapters for the reference books. Don’t over-rely on the study material, read reference books and NCERTs to make notes from them. Make short and bullet points notes for each subject.
Notes play a vital role during revision. So, keep them arranged and in order.
How to make notes?
- Keep sticky notes to paste on the walls near your study table. Write important dates and facts on them.
- For GS and GK, write only important topics or events in your notebooks. Don’t elaborate on it much.
- Leave a few blank spaces after every point for additional comments and updates.
# Revise daily:
Revision is important. You can’t remember everything you have read until you revise the topics every day. Keep your notes handy and keep revising them whenever you get time.
Why revision is important?
- No preparation is complete without revision. You would have completed all topics but unless you revise them all, you can’t recall important things on time.
- After revising all the subjects you will feel confident and ready for the UPSC examination.
- Take online mock tests and do as many test samples you can during revision. This will give you exposure to the types of questions asked in the UPSC exam as well as help you to find your flaws.
# Read newspapers daily:
Newspapers are the best way to keep updated about the latest events and happenings around the world. You have to read newspapers, most of the IAS aspirants prefer, the Hindu newspaper but it’s totally up to you. Newspapers are the best resource for both the Prelims and the Mains.
How to prepare from the newspapers?
- For Prelims, you can extract multiple choice questions from the events, and government schemes and plans.
- You can read editorial pages for the subjective- type questions in the Mains exam.
- Don’t read everything in the newspaper. Avoid unnecessary articles.
- Stay away from the gossip sections of the newspaper.
- Focus on the national, international, sports, and political sections of the newspaper.
# Online Test Series:
Enroll yourself in online IAS test series and prepare from them. You have to challenge yourself with a variety of questions before you appear for the UPSC exam. So, a few months before the IAS exam start your preparation by using online sources.
Online test samples and mock test papers are the best way to know the progress of your preparation. It will help you to rectify your mistakes before sitting for the UPSC exam.
How to prepare from the Online Test series?
- Take admission in the Elite IAS coaching center, which provides the best online IAS coaching in India. Online IAS coaching has become a trend in India as it is affordable, less time consuming, and gives good results.
- Solve as many test series and mock papers to ensure success in the UPSC exam. Make sure you have covered questions form all topics and levels.
- Also, prepare for the subjective questions. Online Elite IAS center evaluates subjective questions and provides expert feedback.
To sum up
Success in the UPSC heavily depends on your dedication, hard work, and focus. If you master these features then nothing is impossible for you. The above tips are important and effective during IAS preparation. So, follow these tips and achieve your dreams.
The sky is the limit for those people who dare to dream big. Your choice to crack India’s toughest examination, the UPSC, is in itself a challenging task. It takes courage to apply for UPSC and devote a year or more in its preparation. Wish you all the best for future glory and success.
