UPSC civil services examination is one of the toughest competitive exams of all times. A UPSC aspirant has to spend several gone hours preparing for the examination.

UPSC preparation demands discipline, an aspirant has to be in thorough touch with studying every single day up until the examination.

Now many of the aspirants join coaching classes to prepare well for this examination. However, if you are a self-study student, you need to formulate a study plan to be consistent.

Start small- UPSC has a vast syllabus and it is obvious to feel lost during your preparation. Start with small but regular study sessions.

Initially, you can dedicate 4-5hours to NCERT books and then spend an hour on newspaper reading. In the beginning, it will be tough for you to grasp the important news, you can refer to the online portals to know better.

Set daily targets– To achieve your long term goal, you have to set daily targets. As time passes by, you have to increase your study hours with predetermined targets.

You have to set your daily timetable in such a way that you are able to finish the portion before time.

Mugging up- Do not mug up the facts and figures, you are bound to forget it. You need to study the concepts and understand the actual meaning.

Often aspirants have a misconception that UPSC CSE prelim preparation demands only facts and figures. A candidate is judged on his analytical skills as well. So while you are preparing re-read and understand the concepts thoroughly.

Practice mock test- Your daily preparation must include mock tests. To know that if your preparation is in the right direction keep giving mock test papers. UPSC examination has negative marking, and since no one can know all the answers.

You have to formulate an elimination technique to score sufficient marks with negative marking. At first mark only those answers that you are 100% sure of. Then go ahead with the second batch of questions that holds a 50-50% chance.

Make sure you take a wise decision as with every wrong answer you will be losing 0.66 marks extra. And finally, leave the questions that you are not at all sure about.

Interconnection – UPSC has a vast syllabus, however, if you notice, every subject is inter connected. It is more like connecting the dots.

Indian culture with Indian history which impacted the Indian constitution and so on our economy. If you plan well and study regularly, you can not only complete the portion on time but also memorize it easily.

Breaks are a must! – UPSC as vast as it is also has other effects on an aspirant. With every passing day, you may want to quit.

But hold on to that feeling, it is just anxiety before the examination. Take breaks, remember, all work and no play will make you dull! Small breaks during preparation will help you feel rejuvenated and improve your brain’s grasping power as well.

Last minute preparation – Often aspirants try to cover as much as they can before the final examination. However, this will not be beneficial.

UPSC demands constant revision. One has to avoid last minute studying of any new topic under anyone’s influence. Allocate time to revision and mock tests in the last 3 months of your preparation.

CSAT II– Often aspirants take the CSAT II examination lightly. You must know that it does require preparation even though it is a qualifying exam.

To clear the examination an aspirant has to score 66/200 marks. And let us tell you, often aspirants fail to score it. Spend one hour a day preparing for CSAT II, go through comprehension and passages and practice analytical mathematical problems.

Stay connected with fellow students on PaGaLGuY for UPSC CSE Exam 2019

Final getaway

UPSC preparation is a mixture of hard work and smart study. Every aspirant has to be consistent. Even if you are a working professional, you will have to dedicate a certain number of hours in your day.

Even an average student can clear UPSC with flying colours, if they were fairly regular during the preparation time.

Learn, Practice and Revise has been the mantra of every UPSC topper so far. You just need to buckle and stay positive.

Thank you.