Most UPSC Civil Service exam (UPSC CSE) aspirants wonder how to crack the exam on the first attempt. It is a massive myth that no one can succeed on the first attempt. You can take the help of the UPSC preparation course to prepare for the exam.
Following are some practical tips to crack the exam on the first attempt:
- Begin At The Right Time
In case you aim to succeed at the CSE on the first attempt, it is good to begin at least one year in advance. One year is enough time to formulate and implement a practical and convenient study plan for carrying out in 12 months.
As for the daily study, former toppers of the exam recommend a period of 8 hours daily as sufficient for success on the first attempt.
- Clearly Understand The Syllabus
The Prelims exam of the CSE is objective in type, and the Mains have a descriptive quality. The CSE exam as a whole is a melting pot of various subjects, especially for the prelims and the general studies paper of the Mains. One must be thorough in the basics of all major subjects like Current Affairs, Polity, History, etc.
For covering the syllabus, one can use NCERT textbooks as a ready reference. For current affairs, there is no escaping reading newspapers and magazines, both offline and online.
- Understand The Pattern of Paper
It is good to review questions asked in CSE question papers of the last few years. You will be able to notice the clear nature of repeated question styles and recurring topics. By observing such patterns, you can focus on preparing for the exam on the basis of such trends in previous exams.
- Stick To Minimum Books
As mentioned above, it is good to study the subject books strictly by NCERT. This is useful for both the Prelims and General Studies paper of the Mains. For the Optional subject for the Mains, it is good to focus on a few chosen textbooks. Your mentors and coaching centres can guide you on what books to pick. Avoid getting entangled in multiple books on the same subject.
- Focus On Current Affairs
Current Affairs is the single most important subject for the CSE. To prepare well for it, make a habit of regularly reading newspapers and current affairs magazines. One can stay abreast of international affairs through online sources. You can peruse news websites for the most current topics about global and national politics, developments in science and technology, and socio-economic issues.
- Stick To Your Plan
Preparing for the CSE involves careful planning. It is vital that you stick to the plan through the complete year of preparation, as in the first few days. Many candidates fizzle out and cheat on their preparation mid-way through the planned period. By this, they lose out on motivation and determination.
Whatever the situation, you must stick strictly to the plan you drew out for tackling the exam. Avoid all distractions and disruptions. Studying for fixed hours per day while focusing on quality rather than quantity is a great way to prepare for this highly challenging exam.
- Stress On Revision
One useful habit in exam preparation is the making of personal notes. Such notes will help you revise crucial concepts and data before the actual exam. Prelims is an exam that is based on facts. When you read up extensively on the topics covered in this exam, it is easy to get lost among the various topics studied.
Hence, after daily study, devote some time to making notes and revising notes prepared in the previous days. The revision will stand you in good stead for cracking both Prelims and Mains. Always revise from the notes you prepared rather than the sourcebooks.
- Practice for C-SAT (Aptitude Test)
You need in-depth practice for tackling aptitude test subjects like mental ability, comprehension, logical reasoning, etc. So, apart from wide reading for Paper 1 of the Prelims, one must also prepare well for the second paper of the Prelims- that of C-SAT.
- Take up Mock Tests
A good way to judge the level of your preparation and to gain insight into the kind of questions asked in the exam is good to attempt previous years’ question papers. Another alternative is to take up maximum mock tests prepared by coaching centres based on the trend of actual questions asked in previous exams. Take up mock tests for both the Prelims and the Mains.
Mock tests from offline and online sources are highly useful. By taking up such tests, especially for short essays for the Mains exam, you can also get your answers checked by mentors in coaching institutes and gain valuable feedback. This is why it is good to seek the help of coaching from an institution for UPSC preparation.
- Practice Answer Writing
You can hone your skills in answer writing by making notes on topics that you have studied. Practising the writing of answers will help you in tackling the Mains exam. You should time yourself while writing answers as time is a decisive factor in cracking the Mains.
Without practising writing, you may not be able to complete your Mains paper. Regular practice will help you think conceptually within time deadlines and build up your speed.
- Master Essay Writing
To crack the CSE on the first attempt, you should master the art of composing essays. The word limit of the Essay portion of the Mains is 2500 words. Essay writing for this exam is different from other exams; time is tight, and the syllabus is vast. For an optional paper, you must be ready with powerful content.
- Select The Right Optional
To stay motivated during the long period of preparing for the CSE exam, you must choose an optional subject that you are genuinely interested in. This way, you will stay motivated throughout the period and will enjoy the process of preparation rather than feeling it as a burden.
- Stay Healthy
An active mind is empowered by a healthy body. Besides intense preparation for the exam, you must sleep well, eat right and get plenty of exercises to keep yourself healthy and fit enough for the exam.
Conclusion
In sum, these are all the valuable tips you need to follow to help you crack the UPSC CSE exam on the first attempt. You should not wander away from your goal. Many have achieved their goals by staying determined to it. Do not be swayed by distractions that dilute your aim to crack the CSE on the very first attempt. Finally, you must have an attitude of never saying die.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the UPSC CSE Examination?
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is prestigious and highly competitive in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). It is a nationwide examination conducted annually to recruit candidates for various administrative positions in the Indian Civil Services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others.
- What are the various stages of the UPSC examination?
The CSE examination consists of three stages: the Preliminary Examination (also known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test or CSAT), the Main Examination, and the Personality Test (Interview). The examination is designed to test the candidate’s ability to analyse and interpret complex issues, understand social and economic problems, and develop sound solutions and strategies to address these issues.
- Why are online mock test series important for UPSC preparation?
Online mock tests provide a simulation of the actual UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), allowing candidates to experience the test-taking environment and get a feel for the types of questions they will encounter on the exam. The online mock test series give candidates an idea of the time they should allocate to each question in the examination.
- When is the right time to join the online Mains test series for the UPSC?
The correct time to join an online Mains test series for the UPSC examination depends on your preparation strategy and stage in your preparation journey. Here are a few general guidelines:
- After the Preliminary Examination
- During the Main Examination Preparation
- Before the Main Examination