Cracking the civil services examination is the dream of every student. Many candidates are in a dilemma about civil services preparation like how to start the preparation and how to crack the exam without any coaching and many more questions. As UPSC Civil Services Exam is being so difficult, but it can be cleared in the first attempt even by not getting any coaching.
Let’s look at a strategy step by step to crack UPSC Civil Services Examination in first attempt without coaching:
- GO THROUGH THE SYLLABUS AND PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION PAPERS
The first thing students should have to do is print out the UPSC syllabus. Every student must have a copy of the syllabus handy through every stage of the exam. Before an aspirant starts their preparation journey, one should spend some time going through the syllabus and previous year question papers. This will allow you to fine-tune the preparation and readjust that part which is relevant. Going through the syllabus and Previous Year Questions will help aspirants in mastering the art of relevant studying. So, when aspirants actually start preparing for the exam from books, they will know which part to study and what they can just skip. There could be a chance that some questions from the previous year could be repeated. Comparing the syllabus and investing in books accordingly will save you time and money going forward.
- SELF DISCIPLINE AND SELF DETERMINATION
During the preparation of the civil services exam the first step is to prepare your mind to face the toughest exam psychologically. Aspirants should try to develop the attitude of self-control, self-discipline and self-determination. This will make the aspirant strong and confident.
- MAKE YOUR FOUNDATION STRONG
It is very important to have a strong foundation for each of the subjects. It will help you in building up your preparation strategy to cover the entire syllabus extensively. To do that, start with something as basic as reading NCERT books of History, Polity, Economy, Geography, and General Science. Practice through Maps to understand the Indian and world demographic better. Study Notes from BestCurrentAffairs.com will make your work easier.
- PREPARE A ROBUST STUDY PLAN
Many aspirants study for prelims and mains separately, not following a comprehensive study for both the levels. However both are considered as one examination, students must make a plan in that manner they cover the entire syllabus before appearing in the preliminary examination. Make monthly, weekly and daily targets to efficiently cover the entire UPSC syllabus. Make small targets that are achievable. It’s better to keep the weekends for revision so that you don’t forget what you’ve read. Stick to that plan because consistency plays a very important role in the preparation of the civil services exam. Doing so will help you in concept building and concept retention.
Revision is very important. No matter how easy the topic is, one must revise once in a day. Aspirants must go through the books and read in a thorough manner and cover each book at least thrice. This method has to be followed for each and every course book from NCERT books to standard books. This process is tiresome but this way of reading books is always fruitful.
- USE THE RELEVANT ONLINE SOURCES
Identify a good, relevant and trusted online source and stick to it. It helps in keeping updated with whatever is happening around. It is an effective means to stay updated. Most important thing is stick to one ‘trusted’ source like BestCurrentAffairs.com. Instead of referring to 10 different sources at a time, it’s better to refer one 10 times. For mock tests students can go through various coaching sites where they provide it in various revision packages.
- CHOOSE THE OPTIONAL CAREFULLY
Always choose an optional in which the candidate feels confident about and on which one he/she is also able to find enough reading material, as well as guidance. Largely, candidates should take up such an optional in which they have more than a passing interest, and which has the maximum syllabus overlap with that of General Studies, or in which they have some previous background (graduation/post graduation) subjects.
- FOCUS ON READING NEWSPAPER AND BE UPDATED WITH CURRENT AFAIRS
Students must develop a practice of reading newspapers regularly and listening to day to day national news. At least go through the important editorials which are relevant to the exam. Students can also read daily newspaper analysis and daily editorial analysis online from any source which they trusted. On YouTube students can easily find the videos related to daily news analysis and editorial analysis.
- DEVELOP WRITING SKILLS
Generally there will be a 3 month time gap between preliminary examination and mains examination. Aspirants have to study for nine papers with a total of 1750 marks. It will be an intelligent move if aspirants practice writing on a daily basis. Writing skills cannot be developed overnight, it can be developed over a period of time. Students can pick any editorial from the newspaper and rewrite it in your own words.
- DEVELOP A HABIT OF THINKING
It helps the aspirants in terms of forming linkages of a given subject or topic with other issues. During an interview, a lot of cross questioning happens and this method helps the aspirants with being thoroughly prepared on any given topic.
For example: if you read any article related to Fundamental Rights it must remind you of Fundamental Rights and its related aspects already covered in the textbooks.
- TALK OUT LOUD
Talk to your parents, friends, room-mates or whosoever is nearby. In the worst case, you can talk to yourself. Ask questions related to issues that come across and talk on how they can be resolved. This will help adding innovation to your thinking capabilities, while also helping tighten grip on the topic. Believe it this activity works wonders.
At last don’t indulge in unnecessary information gathering. Have an exam orientation and do smart work. Study smartly and selectively. Remember, “No one is 100% perfect, nor do you need to be a perfectionist”. If you are thorough with your studies and revision, have faith in yourself and go ahead crack the exam in a very first attempt.
“Soldiers on a battlefield, they don’t have many “attempts” to survive and that is what makes them push their limits & emerge victorious…”
Wish you all the best for your preparation.