UPSC Preparation For Beginners: How to Start Preparing for the IAS Exam?

How to Start Preparing for UPSC?

Even though deciding to take the UPSC Civil Services Exam may be simple, what happens next is intimidating and humbling. For a newbie, the first few months are devoted to comprehending the UPSC Exam‘s nature and choosing the best course of action to take to succeed.

Before beginning your UPSC Preparation Strategy, consider some of the following points.

• Mark the D-Day: It is crucial to mark the UPSC calendar with the exam date so it will constantly remind you of the IAS Exam. Having a precise sense of how much time is remaining is also helpful.

• Memorize the Syllabus: Before you begin the preparation, you should have the UPSC Syllabus in your possession. You should carefully review the UPSC Prelims Syllabus and Mains Syllabus and make every effort to remember them.
• Robust Study Plan: You should start writing down your daily IAS Study Time Table. This will make it easier for you to remember the material you have studied during the past week or month.
• Strong Mindset: You should mentally prepare yourself for the ups and downs and all the future trials over the next few years until you succeed.

UPSC Preparation For Beginners: Tips and Tricks

From the best practice and UPSC Topper’s viewpoint, it is always suggested to have an integrated preparation strategy for UPSC Prelims and Mains.

Many candidates begin their study for the UPSC Prelims first and wait to focus on the UPSC Mains until they have passed the prelims. The only thing that differs between the two curricula is the test preparation.

• Read the syllabus carefully: Students who ignore the UPSC Syllabus get lost midway when studying for UPSC Exam. You will be able to focus your preparation on the things that matter if you follow the syllabus and know exactly what they expect.
• Time plan: Beginners should begin their preparations at least a year before the IAS Prelims exam.
• Have a time planner: Planning should be your strong suit as an IAS official. Create a plan of action for the remaining year. Don’t rely on coaching organizations for this work; you are the one who knows yourself the best. Plan your coursework so that you can produce the best result.
• Division of months for Prelims and Mains: You should dedicate the first six months to Prelims and Mains (General Studies) in an integrated manner. Give yourself three months to finish your UPSC Optional Subject at least once before the preliminary examination.
• Integrated Prelims and Mains Preparation: You should strive to cover the essentials, primarily the NCERT Books for UPSC, in the first month of your preparations. You will also benefit from knowing some fundamental facts in these areas. After a month, you should begin practicing writing answers as soon as you have finished reading the first NCERTs. You should not worry about the answer quality now; instead, concentrate on producing daily answers.
• Divide the day: You should aim to study for at least 10 to 12 hours per day according to your IAS study timetable. Those employed can dedicate 6-7 hours of quality time to the preparation. You should resolve to study the following topics each day:
  • Reading the newspaper for 1-2 hours
  • Current Affairs: 2 to 3 hours
  • Static topics: 2 to 3 hours
  • Practice writing answers: 1-2 hours
  • Revision: 2 hours
• Zero down on sources: There is a tonne of reading materials for this coveted exam and a tonne of publications for UPSC Beginners. Finding the most trustworthy, genuine, and comprehensive source becomes a challenge. Here, it is advised to skim the UPSC Books people have recommended and then select the ones you believe are most appropriate.
• Save notes for last: Don’t take NCERT notes as soon as you start a particular subject. Consult at least two sources besides the NCERT, underline the key ideas as you read, and then organize your notes. Spend as much time as possible taking notes because you’ll be using them to refer to in the final few months of your preparation. Additionally, create a separate section after your notes for the trivia.
• Revision: When you start studying, you’ll see that even the most straightforward subjects have a wealth of knowledge. The secret to success is revision. You have a tendency to forget the past as you read more. Make it a point to review your previous day’s notes before learning anything new about a subject.
• Practice CSAT: CSAT is now qualifying in nature. You should practice CSAT tests if you have a science background and are confident in your abilities. However, if your background differs, you should start practicing CSAT Syllabus at least two months before the UPSC Prelims.

UPSC Preparation Strategy for Beginners – Topper’s Guide

A minimum of 10 to 12 months prior to the UPSC Prelims exam, beginners should start with their preparation strategy. Without a proper UPSC Preparation Strategy, you won’t be able to complete the curriculum and prepare adequately for the exams. The standard GS papers must be completed first, then you can move on to the optional ones.

Beginners should go through the below-mentioned strategy to ace the UPSC IAS Exam.

Never miss on the Newspaper Reading Habit

• Reading the news and keeping up with current affairs is essential and contributes to personality development.
• When you decide to participate in the UPSC Exam, download the PIB app and subscribe to The Hindu/Indian Express. The newspaper is and ought to be a daily mainstay until the interview stage; however, you may set aside separate days for other themes.
• This behavior will also help you perform well in the UPSC Interview and produce better Mains responses, regardless of the topic.

Curtailing the Use of Social Media and Television

• Not without cause, the UPSC Civil Services Exam is referred to as the ‘mother of all exams’ or the Toughest Exam in India! Along with perseverance and hard effort, changing your way of life is also necessary for preparation.
• Limiting your use of social media and your relationships with others would be a significant change.
• Social media can be challenging to maintain track of time, which might cause you to miss deadlines. You may set aside some time for these activities, but remember that you have a time constraint.

Have Realistic Deadlines

• Setting daily and monthly goals for yourself is a great strategy to finish the UPSC syllabus on time and make the most of each day. It was incredibly helpful and advantageous for IAS Toppers as they prepared.
• Create a schedule for yourself, and you’ll notice a difference in your studies’ number and quality.

Use Online Resources

• There may be instances when you struggle to comprehend a concept or grow bored when self-studying.
• Watch videos for a variety of topics to get around this. They’ll not only make it easier for you to understand a subject, but they’ll also save you time.

Don’t Miss Current Affairs

• The UPSC exam’s current events part may be the most challenging. This is because the examiner may pose any question under this heading.
• Despite the chaos, there is a method to the UPSC’s surprising ways. You should connect the news you read each day to the UPSC syllabus.
• As you read the newspapers, you should stay up with Current Affairs.

Always remember that the race is won by the slow and steady. Work diligently and continuously until you succeed. You will succeed if you diligently and honestly adhere to the advice in this article on UPSC Preparation for Beginners.

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