Prep strategy for UPSC prelims 2017

It still lures many a youth to take up the challenge. If successful, they may not see it as a road filled with bumps. Here are a few useful tips to overcome the examinations and taste success.

First, one has to systematically plan and get acquainted with different aspects of the exam. It is crucial that aspirants should plan right from the choice of optional subject to the scrutiny of UPSC syllabus, previous year exam pattern, time available at one’s disposal, sources to be read etc. Draw up a monthly, weekly and daily plan based on well-defined targets and try to achieve the targets on time. 

The next step is to cover your basics and not to juggle between books. The questions are mostly based on fundamentals. The choice of the sources to study such as standard books and e-learning resources are important. The key is to go through the last 10 years of GS papers and the interviews toppers from last year and one can carefully delineate the common sources which are recommended by all. Time is an important factor. Prepare a schedule and stick to it. 

Remember regularity and consistency matters. Stick to your schedule according to the topics to be covered and also according to time available at your disposal and try to follow the schedule religiously and update it on daily basis. As usual, practice is important. Practice last year exam papers and take as may mock tests as possible with a detailed self-analysis. Try to view these tests as learning tools and avoid the mistakes in the prelims exam. Also, try to take mock tests of institutes or websites whose questions you find on same toughness parameter with UPSC. Above all, maintain a positive attitude through the preparation period. Considering the long  preparation of one year needed for the exam, you must have perseverance along with patience to reap the fruits of hard work. The UPSC has notified 980 vacancies for Civil Services 2017. 

The exam consists of three stages: Prelims (qualifying exam), mains and interview (score of mains and interview are taken for final selection). Prelims consists of two papers: General studies (GS) and CSAT (aptitude) each consisting of 200 marks though only marks obtained in general studies are accounted for the merit list while CSAT is a qualifying exam as one needs to get only 33 per cent passing marks i.e. 66 passing marks in CSAT to clear prelims. The qualified candidates then appear for main exams which consists of papers in English, language paper (Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi etc. depending on one’s choice, 300 marks each although they are just qualifying exam as only 25 per cent marks are required), essay paper of 250 marks, GS (mains) paper 1, 2, 3, 4 (250 marks each), one optional subject having two papers (250 marks each) and out of this grand total of 1,750 marks, the merit list is prepared and the toppers are called for interview (275 marks) and the final recommended list of candidates is prepared based on the marks obtained in the mains and interview (i.e. out of 2,025 Marks).