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How to Prepare for IAS Prelims Exam in 3 Months – Tips and Strategy

By Balaji

Updated on: February 27th, 2023

With UPSC Prelims approaching, a 3 Months Strategy for UPSC Prelims 2023 is necessary to be followed. UPSC Prelims is the first and toughest hurdle to clear in the entire UPSC Exam process. As we know, the UPSC Civil Services Examination comprises three stages: Prelim, Mains, and Interview. UPSC Prelims is more of an elimination round and should never be taken lightly.

UPSC Prelims 2023 Examination is scheduled for 28th May 2023. In this article, let’s briefly discuss how and what to do in order to enhance the UPSC Prelims score in the last three months, and how to utilize the 3 Months Preparation Strategy for UPSC Prelims.

Table of content

(more)
  • 1. How to Prepare for IAS Prelims in 3 Months? (more)
  • 2. 3 Months Strategy for UPSC Prelims 2023 (more)
  • 3. UPSC Prelims in 3 Months – Subject-Wise Tips (more)

How to Prepare for IAS Prelims in 3 Months?

The UPSC Exam requires the right kind of action plan along with hard and smart work. It inculcates the habit of time management besides diligence and endurance for the exam. The UPSC Prelims is different from its approach from UPSC Mains.

The UPSC Prelims is an MCQ typed-based exam, whereas the UPSC Mains is descriptive. Though the preparation of both exams is done in an integrated manner, the way to approach and tackle them is completely different.

The Union Public Service Commission‘s Civil Service exams provide your ticket to some of the most sought-after government positions, including the IAS, IFS, and IPS. The various battles that will follow the initial phase of the exam are just getting started.

3 Months Strategy for UPSC Prelims 2023

The UPSC aspirants are at a critical point with less than three months until the UPSC Prelims 2023. One should ensure a laser-like focus to ensure success over the following three months.

The tips to ensure success in the upcoming UPSC Prelims lie in having solid preparation strategies. Let us focus on focus on the main question and answer it – How to prepare for UPSC Prelims in 3 months?

Define the Priorities

  • When it comes to clearing up the UPSC Exam in the first attempt, having a strategy is a must. The candidate should make a UPSC Preparation Strategy best suited for him/her.
  • Before starting, it is a must to go through the detailed UPSC Syllabus, which covers both the UPSC Prelims Syllabus and the UPSC Mains Syllabus.
  • It is important to remember that clearing the UPSC Prelims is not only a matter of hard work, it is also a matter of smart work.
  • The candidate also must make sure that they are fully aware of the CSAT Syllabus, so the preparation should be done accordingly.
  • If possible, enroll for Online UPSC Coaching.

Make a Schedule

  • In the three months (last 90 days) of the UPSC IAS Prelim Exam, follow your daily schedule religiously and sync your mind and body according to the time of the UPSC Prelims.
  • Make sure one studies and revise all the subjects. Give extra time to those areas which require an extra push.
  • Practice UPSC Previous Year Questions and solve mock tests to ace and access your preparation.
  • Prepare for CSAT according to an individual’s grasp of the subject. Don’t miss out on CSAT Books for UPSC as the paper demands practice and a good amount of attention.

Stick to Limited Study Material

  • It is crucial not to get distracted by any new study material or book in the final step of the UPSC Prelim preparation in the last 3 months.
  • Stick to the recommended UPSC Books and NCERT Books for UPSC to cover the entire UPSC Syllabus.
  • Do not lose focus on the UPSC Prelims in these last three months. Aspirants must complete their preparation in such a way that they are accustomed to the UPSC Exam Pattern.

Emphasizing Current Affairs

  • Current Affairs are a really important part of UPSC Prelims. Aspirants should prepare for Current Affairs regularly and update them with Daily Current Affairs Video.
  • It can prove to be a game-changer in clearing IAS prelims. Prepare the current affairs for at least 18 months and revise them thoroughly.
  • Subscribe to the best newspapers and reader to good UPSC Magazines.

Attempt and Analyze Mock Tests

  • Mock tests help to evaluate the level of preparation. Attempt mocks and test series to know the weak and strong areas and work accordingly.
  • Start attempting full-length sectional tests as per convenience every day or when one completes the subject revision.
  • Analyze the reason for the wrong attempt, after every test that was attended.

Revise, Revise, and Revise

  • Revision is the most important step in the last 3 months of prelims preparation. It is difficult to remember what has been read before, therefore revision must be done for a diligent attempt.
  • In the last month before the UPSC Prelims, try revising the whole UPSC Syllabus, at least two to three times.
  • The revision will strengthen the weak areas and help you develop confidence.

UPSC Prelims in 3 Months – Subject-Wise Tips

Follow the strategy given below to complete the entire UPSC Syllabus timely before the UPSC IAS Prelims.

For History and Art & Culture

  • Cover the entire NCERT Notes for History along with the notes from the CCRT website and standard books.
  • Divide the time slot accordingly to cover ancient, medieval, and modern simultaneously.

Environment and Ecology with Geography Exam Tips

  • Geography, Environment & Ecology are interrelated at various points and topics. To cover both, always rely on Geography Books for UPSC along with NCERTs.
  • Revise the NCERT notes and relate them to Current Affairs.
  • Whenever revising, sit with a map and locate places in the news. It will help in memorizing the places better and interrelating topics.

UPSC Exam Tips for Covering the Economy

  • Direct concept-based questions are asked from the Economy. An aspirant should consolidate the Economic Survey and Union Budget in such a way that it’s handy for last-minute revision.
  • Refer to the Economy Notes for UPSC for a one-stop complete revision.
  • It is seen that direct questions are asked from India Year Book, Economic Survey, and Union Budget, so it should not miss.

Polity Prelims Exam Tips

  • Polity is an essential section of the UPSC Exam. A major portion of the questions is directly or indirectly asked in this section.
  • Students must refer to the Polity Books for UPSC to cover this subject.
  • To revise polity, consider only the NCERTs along with Indian Polity by M. Laximanth. Revision of notes from these resources is essential, coupled with a selective reading of cases from D.D. Basu’s Constitution of India.

UPSC Prelims Exam Tips for Current Affairs 

  • Current Affairs are the backbone of the UPSC Exam. Indirect or indirect, static or dynamic, anything can be asked from this section.
  • To cover this section, along with the revision of subjects, dedicate an hour daily to complete the monthly compilations of Current affairs.
UPSC Topics
Ancient History Questions in UPSC Prelims Modern History Questions for IAS Prelims
Do’s and Dont’s for UPSC Prelims Medieval History Questions in IAS Prelims
Economy Questions for UPSC Prelims Topic Wise UPSC Prelims Questions
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