Master Strategy: How to Clear UPSC IAS Exam in 1 Year - myupsc.com

MYUPSC – GRASP IAS
Strategy to Crack UPSC
Civil Services Examination
The Master Plan to Crack IAS Exam in 1 Year

UPSC Civil Services Exams Preparation
Table of Contents
1. Strategy to Crack Civil Services Examination in 1 Year
i. The Basics - Get Them Right
ii. The Syllabus
iii. Previous Years’ Question Papers
iv. Focus on Current Affairs
v. Make Notes
vi. Coaching for the Civils
vii. Stick to NCERT
viii. Introspect
ix. Talk Out Loud
x. The Optional Dilemma
xi. The Role of Internet
xii. Current Affairs
xiii. Schedule
xiv. Notes are Important
xv. Reading Time
2. The Prelims Strategy
i. Management

ii. Do and Don’t
iii. All Subjects are important
iv. The Exam
v. toppers advise
3. The Mains Strategy
i. The Strategy
ii. Do and Don’t
iii. Look for Keywords
iv. Develop Writing Skills
v. Practice Tests
vi. Word Limit
vii. Read & Read Again
viii. Writing the Exam – The Mains
ix. Attempt All Questions
x. The Answers
xi. Paragraphs Vs. Points
xii. Name Dropping Technique
xiii. Presentation
xiv. Expert / Toppers advise
4. Personal Interview
i. Preparing for the Interview
ii. Work on Communication Skills
iii. Mock Interviews
iv. General advise

5. The First Attempt – This is it
i. Give in your Best
ii. Don’t Overdo
iii. Revise..... & Revise
iv. Do and Don’t
v. Connect the Dots
vi. Some FAQs about UPSC
vii. Syllabus is the Key
viii. Prelims & Mains – Syllabus
ix. Myth about UPSC

Preface
The Civil Services Examination is a nationwide competitive examination in India
conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to various
Civil Services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative
Service, Indian Foreign Service and Indian Police Service. The Civil Services Exam
conducted by the UPSC is one of the most prestigious exams of the country.
Every year, thousands of candidates work hard to clear the exam, but only a
few lucky ones get through. The first attempt that any candidate makes towards
qualifying this exam is the most crucial of all, as this is the one which is given with
full enthusiasm. Any candidate appearing for the first time must thus not aim at
just clearing the Prelims, but should aim to make it through in the first attempt.
The Candidates who have successfully cleared the exam in past are a good
resource when it comes to obtaining tips for successfully clearing the exam;
"Be truthful, gentle, honest and fearless"

1.1 The Syllabus
1. Strategy to Crack CSE in One Year
The Basics – Get Them Right!! – First understand the UPSC exam structure
Selection in UPSC Civil Services requires not more than a year’s preparation, if
the basics are well in place. The graduation period could be broadly described
as the best time to begin one’s preparation for the Civils. This section briefly lists
down the basic strategies that one must adapt to gear up for the journey -
preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
IAS Preparation requires an integral approach for IAS prelims and main exam.
IAS prelims exam is evolving towards a more analytical orientation and the
candidates need to understand the demand of the exam. IAS syllabus and
previous year question papers of IAS are the only two authentic sources which
can guide the candidates in a better way. IAS preparation heavily depends on
the books, study material and nowadays the online study material. The best
books provide right information which forms the basis of analysis. IAS preparation
for prelims requires more practice of the mock tests and revision after each test.
Current Events of national and international importance are very important for
IAS preparation.
A good understanding and hold on the syllabus is the most primary requirement
of Civils preparation. The UPSC Civil Services are known for their comprehensive
and vast syllabus, however, many aspirants falter at this stage itself. An accurate

1.2 Previous Year’s Question Papers
understanding of the nature, clarity and scope of the syllabus is crucial for a
good preparation. It helps in understanding what to read and what not to read.
It is highly recommended that every aspirant must have a copy of the syllabus
handy through every stage of exam. This will help the candidate in identifying if
a particular topic needs to be covered or not, while also enabling the
candidate not to leave any section or topic unattended.
The Complete Syllabus for Both Prelims and Mains exam will be provide at the
end of this book.
Also, aspirants must go through previous years’ question papers. It helps in
determining the type of questions and also in identifying the best source of
reading material. An analysis of previous years’ papers helps in putting the
syllabus in a better perspective, by highlighting the area from which more
questions have been asked. Also, it might be helpful in identifying trends in the
paper, if any. It is advisable to divide the topics mentioned in syllabus into sub-
topics and again take a re-look at the question papers. Also a look at previous
years’ question papers, after completing the syllabus, helps in getting a grip of
the orientation of questions being asked. And on a positive note, there could be
chances that some questions from previous years get repeated.
Previous Year Question Papers help students practice well and manage their
time well as well as accuracy for the civil services exam. Solving IAS Mains Exam
Papers also helps aspirants inculcate writing habit and skills necessary to crack
the test.

As a UPSC candidate, one must have a strategy to prepare for it. UPSC
examinations are the toughest exam and it needs rigorous practice and
commitment. No matter how well you study, keep dwelling the books but
referring to previous year question papers will give you aspects of preparation
which may be new. Believe it or not, UPSC repeats questions. Aspirants should
know to take advantage of that by referring to the previous year’s question
papers.
You may never realize the challenges to face until you refer to the previous
year's question papers no matter how hard you study and prepare yourself.
Practicing previous year question papers will help you know the nature and
patterns of the questions being asked. Thus you need to solve previous years
question papers’.
1. Success Mantra: Mantra to success is to know the road ahead and the
challenges to be faced. Solving the previous year question paper will give
an idea about the kind of question asked, which areas are important,
whether questions are more from static part or dynamic part etc. In this
article, we will discuss the importance of solving previous years question
papers.
2. What is the Exam Pattern: Understanding the exam pattern makes the
process easy for the aspirants. Understanding of exam patterns is one of
the key ways of cracking it. Information about syllabus and topics can be
gathered by referring to the previous year's question paper. A few things
like the weight of marks can also be determined which helps aspirants to
draft their preparation strategy.
3. Know the question paper pattern: Detailed understanding of type, nature,
and format of the questions being asked in the examination can be
known by solving the previous year question paper. And in prelims,
objective type questions are asked then it’s become very important. Also,

the level of complexity is also understood particularly for different sections.
Once you know the question format and nature it will take less time to
finish the question paper in the actual exam.
4. Latest important topics: This becomes very important for general studies
papers, which has a vast syllabus and topics from current affairs of both
national and international importance. Solving last year’s question paper
will give an idea about the trending topics in the last few years. This will
help aspirants to focus on those topics during the preparation phase.
5. Solved Question Papers: one of the best tools for an IAS aspirant is
previous years solved question papers (at least last five year). Include
solved paper sets in your study routine with a detailed explanation. This will
help understand the conceptual aspect which will help to answer many
similar questions. This becomes important for mains exams.
6. Best Practice: Practice, practice, and practice. As hard you practice as
perfect you become as we all know” practice makes a man perfect”. It is
absolutely true for IAS aspirants. The more you practice more you
understand the nature of questions asked and better are the chances you
attempt more and more questions. Solving previous question papers lets
you manage your time during the exam and improve accuracy for CSE.
7. Master Preparation Strategy: Solving previous years question paper will
help you in preparation strategy. Aspirants can assess their preparation
and track the progress. Weak areas are pointed out and can make you
realize the changes required in the preparation process.
8. Revision of the topics: Solving previous years' question papers helps in
revising topics. Solve these question papers as soon as you are done with
the preparations. Evaluate your performance and work on the weak
areas. Many questions are repeated by molding or rephrasing. Read the
questions carefully and you will answer it in less time.

9. Self-Assessment: Self-assessment is an important part of UPSC preparation.
You will get an idea of your level of preparation when you solve previous
years question papers. You do mistakes and you learn from them. Analyze
the mistake and redefine your strategy. This will definitely help you perform
better in exams.
1.3 Focus on Current Affairs
Current Affairs play an important role in UPSC Civil Services Exam preparation as the
questions from this section appear in all the stages of the examination- Prelims, Mains
and in the Interview also. The Questions can be direct or even indirectly linked to the
static or basic part of a particular topic.
Though current affairs are important and holds a significant portion of syllabus but
there is no defined syllabus of current affairs for both prelims and mains examination.
The UPSC syllabus for prelims just mentions, “Current events of national and
international importance". Therefore, it completely depends on the candidate how
he approaches his preparation towards the current affairs. Before we jump to the
strategy to prepare for current affairs one must analyse the previous year question
papers and try to get a basic understanding on the type and number of questions
which are being asked from current affairs in the recent past.
Stay upto date with what is going around in the world. Current Affairs is not a
separate subject area to be covered, but is an integral part of the UPSC syllabus.
Current affairs and contemporary issues are, in fact, the dynamic areas in all the
syllabus topics, which are most important from the examination’s point of view. Read
one newspaper and one magazine regularly.

IMPORTANCE OF CURRENT AFFAIRS:
Number of Questions from Current Affairs in GS Paper I of prelims in last 5 years:
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
27 (54
Marks)
31 (62
Marks)
28 (58
Marks)
27 (54
Marks)
34 (68
Marks)
Apart from prelims exam, if we analyse the UPSC mains examination, current affairs
based or linked topics are more prone to come up in the question paper and
preparing current affairs would not only help a candidate in attempting these
answers but would also help them in writing better answers and fetch more marks
in the exam.
There is a fact to keep in mind that UPSC has been asking questions by linking
current affairs part with the traditional subjects like History, Polity, Geography,
Economy, Science & Technology, Environment, etc. It shows that current affairs are
of utmost importance for all the three stages of UPSC CSE (IAS) examination.
Further, for the UPSC-CSE main examination, the newspaper will help you in
understanding the current issues and developing your Opinion and language for
answer writing practice. The social issues part of GS paper 1, complete GS paper 2
and General Studies Paper III are based on current affairs. In this context, the daily
newspaper reading becomes incredibly important for the UPSC mains
examination.
The process of UPSC Interview is an assessment of not only a candidate's
intellectual qualities but also social traits and his interest in current affairs.
Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their
special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening

around them both within and outside their own State or Country as well as in
modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity
of well-educated youth. Therefore, a comprehensive preparation of Current affairs
/ General awareness is what a UPSC IAS aspirant requires to successfully get him-
self a place in final ranking.
In the absence of a detailed syllabus of Current Affairs, most of the candidate get
confused and remain in doubts on various questions such as:
 What are the important sources to refer for current affairs?
 How to read newspapers?
 What are the important topics to cover? And
 What to avoid reading?
Let’s answer all the related queries in a simplistic manner:
HOW TO READ CURRENT AFFAIRS OR NEWSPAPERS FOR UPSC?
A general understanding of Current Affairs is central to prepare for the other
subjects as well, a candidate should first make list of important subjects such as
Economics, Science and Technology, Environment, etc and then try to read and
make notes from current affairs that makes national or international news related
to the shortlisted subjects.
Current Affairs is a vast area comprising of current events of national and
international importance, government policies and schemes, Indian Economy,
latest technologies, bilateral relations between countries, etc. Being familiar with
the civil services examination pattern, i.e. demand of exam in all stages prelims
(facts), mains (analysis, opinion, interlinkages, written communication, etc.) and
interview (overall personality, verbal communication) would help a candidate to a

greater extent.
Not everything which comes up or mentioned in news papers is important for UPSC
exam, a candidate should always avoid news on issues such as, political parties
and their conferences, in dept details on share market, entertainment columns,
sports news unless it's your hobby and regional news unless the candidate is also
preparing for State Public Service examination.
Just reading current affairs is not adequate enough, it is recommended that a
candidate also makes notes out of what he is reading which would help him in
revising important topics in less time just right before the examination.
What are the important topics a candidate should focus on in Current Affairs?
1. Polity: Anything related to the constitution of India, parliament of India, Bills and
Acts, governance, fundamental rights, social issues, centre-state relations etc.
2. Economics: News related to Indian economy, International reports and indices,
banking and finance, external sector, inflation, Unemployment and poverty,
sectors of Indian economy, India and its trade agreement, international
economic agencies and multilateral platforms for trade, etc.
3. Environment: Biodiversity at Global, National, and regional level, Wildlife-
threatened species, major Biodiversity hotspots , Conservation of Biodiversity,
climate change, etc.
4. Art & Culture: Anything on news National heritage sites and monuments,
national festivals, regional festivals, dance forms, paintings, etc.
5. Science and Technology: Latest scientific developments, Indian Space
Program, Contribution of Indians to science, biotechnology, communication
technologies, etc.

6. Latest Government Schemes (Minimum 18 Months), policies and Initiatives
7. Annual Budget and Economic Survey
8. International Affairs: Indian visits- bilateral and multilateral, international
organizations, major political events, etc.
SOURCES TO BE COVERED FOR DAILY IMPORTANT NEWS FOR UPSC IAS
It is preferable that a candidate follows a particular newspaper daily and makes
notes out of it, preferably- The Hindu or Indian Express. It is important for the
candidate not to waste time on reading the same news from multiple sources;
instead the candidate should focus on reading multiple things from the same
sources and try to cover most of the topics.
The study sources for current affairs:
Primary Sources:
 National newspaper like The Hindu or Indian Express
 Government Monthly Magazines like Yojana and Kurukshetra
Secondary Sources:
 https://pib.gov.in/indexd.aspx
 http://newsonair.com/
 https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/
 Rajya Sabha TV Debates
 India Year Book by publication division, Government of India (Yearly)
 https://www.prsindia.org/

 https://vikaspedia.in/InDG
The Step-by-Step approach for preparing Current Affairs for UPSC Exam:
1. Be familiar with civil services examination pattern, i.e. demand of exam in all
stages prelims (facts), mains (analysis, opinion, interlinkages, written
communication etc.) and interview (overall personality, verbal
communication)
2. Read syllabus of civil service examination both of Prelims & Mains thoroughly
(especially Mains as it is well defined compared to Prelims) with related
instructions.
3. Follow reliable news sources mentioned above and read only UPSC CSE IAS
relevance news and articles
4. While Reading Newspaper be selective-for any NEWS to be read relate the
news article with syllabus, then study the article carefully.
5. Try to make notes out of what you read subject wise, use pointers, flowcharts
and mind maps in your notes.
6. Always revise your notes periodically to maximize your chances to score
more in the examination.
1.4 Make Your Notes
It is always recommended to make notes of whatever one reads – be it
newspapers or current affairs magazines, or the basics of various subjects being

covered in Books/Notes/Coaching etc. Making notes is a useful tip to learn and
memorize. Also theme-based and structured notes are helpful and handy during
last- minute revision of the vast UPSC syllabus that one has covered over a
period of time. Using mind-maps, flow charts, short-cut techniques, etc. to make
notes helps in quick revision and better retention.
"WE THE HUMANS tend to lose almost 35-40% of new information within the first 24
hours of first reading or hearing it. If we take notes effectively, however, we can
retain and retrieve almost 100% of the information we receive"
Notes making plays a crucial role in UPSC CSE preparation. One cannot expect
to clear the UPSC examination without preparing his notes and revising it
regularly. Take any UPSC topper of any year and you will find almost all of them
had notes making as part of their strategy to crack this toughest examination.
1. When a person is taking notes, the processing that occurs improves our
"learning and retention capacity."
2. A person learns by being able to look back at his notes, or even the notes
of other people.
The very exact meaning of notes making is to write down things, which you can
forget and things which can be revised in quick succession of time.
While note making is crucial, it is important not to waste much of our time and to
make such notes that one can look back at and understand in one reading.
1. Learning is the first step of notes Making
 Notes making is quite often confused with writing everything down on pen
and paper or digital software.
 Quite often you will see students go for notes making in one go and
without understanding the exact meaning of notes making and
importance of notes making.

 Notes making is an art where you read things and use that information
smartly in pinning down that information in a crispy and precise manner so
that you can remember those things.
Before note making you should collect information, information is the key in
note-making. When you will know the topics, even in lightest of the manner it will
help you in note-making.
2. Reading less analyzing more
 Visualize things to remember the studied matter.
 One of the common problems that are found in students is that they
forgot, what they have read after some time.
 You don't have to worry about these things much, as although it is quite
natural that you will forget the studied things but revising time and again
holds the key in this examination.
Civil service examination is not about bookish knowledge and it goes beyond
your limited knowledge of the book. So, keep on expanding your knowledge,
not by book alone but analyzing the things in practicality that is understanding
the concept in a more natural way.
3. Making notes in own words
4. Confining notes as Small as Possible
5. Make precise and crisp points
6. Linear Notes and Pattern notes

Making notes from voluminous study material is nothing but a gigantic task.
There are different methods of making notes and one should decide which
method suits you the best. There are two types of making notes; one is the
'Linear Notes' the other is 'Pattern Notes'.
1. Linear Notes:
In Linear notes method, you condense the material you have read and jotted
down the most important points using headings and subheadings. This is the best
method to make notes after reading a book newspaper or a magazine. Here
one has to avoid copying a lot of material and a lot of care has to be taken
while condensing the contents. The right way is to use loose sheets of paper to
make notes on a given topic as it is easier to keep adding information through
additional sheets.
Notes can be made by using colours, block letters, boxes and highlighters. This
will help you in arranging the notes in sequence and grabbing the attention to
the actual contents and they would make it much easier for quick recall of the
important points of a topic.
2. Pattern Notes:
In pattern notes making each topic at the centre of the page and each line
radiating from it should represent a branch of the main idea. Each point is
written as briefly as possible using a keyword or a phrase. This is an appropriate
method to adopt because it is more flexible and one can add extra information
at any point of time.
Pattern notes making is beneficial as you can see the entire pattern at one go
without actually turning the pages. You can indicate the links between different

topics more easily. It is useful from one's memory point of view as one can keep
jotting down the points as and when they crop in the mind.
Pattern notes are much easier to remember the content of the notes. This
pattern helps in revision much faster as only brief keywords are being used to
make notes.
The disadvantage of pattern notes making is that if there are too many facts
and too much information, your notes become messy and overcrowded. Using
keywords can remind of basic ideas but when it comes to remembering details,
this method cannot be sufficient alone.
So the best method of making good notes is to use a combination of both
Linear and Pattern methods and evolves your unique pattern of making notes
that may help you in your last-minute revisions before the exam.
Some FAQs:
1. is it necessary for note-making?
Not really, it varies from person to person. This is not something mandatory for
clearing the examination. You can still clear this examination without making
notes, however, notes making eases the preparation hard work.
If you don't want to make notes, you can choose another way of highlighting
text; make an important word bold if you are making notes online.
2. Is it necessary to make notes for the static portion?
For longer subjects, it is mandatory to make notes. E.g. History, Geography and
current affairs, as these subjects are voluminous and you need to revise it again
and again. The only you can revise them when you have collected the
information in one place.

Choose what you want, whether you want to make notes or not, even if you
want the later one it will not have any major impact on your success. It depends
upon you that what suits you; it is you who will decide your success or failure.
3. What should note consists of?
Your notes should ask the questions:
 What is this?
 Why it is in news or important?
 How?
 When?
 Where?
 Examples of it?
 Benefits / Advantages?
 Disadvantages / Cons?
 Suggestions by expert?
 Data provided by government / authentic sources?
 Committees?
 Schemes?
Your notes consist of information that you have read and the information that
you have collected in a more precise manner and crispy manner. It means that
your notes should be in your words and the pattern of your notes should be like
asking questions from yourself (Previous years paper analyse).
Your notes should also consist of a diagram and flow chart wherever it is
necessary and it should in linear form which should follow the pattern.
4. Should I make notes online or offline?
Again, like I have said earlier above it is your call to decide whether you want to
make notes online or go for offline. The most convenient you feel in which you

should adopt that method. No matter where you make notes but you should
remember that you have to revise multiple times. So, keeping that thing in the
mind you should decide the things which are more suitable for you.
5. How to make notes from NCERT?
NCERT Is basic book, yet it is the foundation stone for your civil services
preparation so, don't take NCERT lightly and read it as for just fun. Take NCERT
with sincerity and understand every concept of NCERT and utilize your reading
in your example by understanding the crux of the material.
Understand this through an example suppose you have read; the difference
between GDP and NDP SO, here write down what GDP includes .e.g. Goods
services produced within boundary of the territory of a country within a limited
period, In NDP You can write in your notebook NDP=GDP-Depreciation.
1.5 Coaching for the Civils
You can clear it without coaching (many did it) but the guidance and right
path you can get by join any good coaching institute.
Keeping in mind, let me clarify that for the rest of the opinion, by coaching I
mean the generic sense of the word: the act of going to an institute and
attending their classes. Test series, coaching notes and mock interviews at
coaching institutes are clearly distinct. So when I say coaching isn’t really
necessary for GS, it implies that there isn’t any need to attend classes. I don’t
mean to say that you should not take any test series, or read any coaching
material.
Coaching is the important part towards cracking the Civils exam. One must be
careful with selecting the right coaching partner, as it will help in building the
foundation towards the Civils dream. Focus on the lectures being delivered and

make a habit of noting down everything. Coaching institutes also conduct tests
which could be helpful in determining the current stage of preparation one is in.
Is coaching necessary?
Think of an elite sportsman like Virat Kohli. Does he have a personal coach? Yes,
he does. But would you say his career success is purely down to his coach? Of
course not. Kohli trains and suffers day in day out, practices consistently to learn
and improve his game. His self discipline, hard work and the burning
determination to excel at the game is what makes him the elite player he is.
Same goes with success in the UPSC civil services exam. Coaching merely helps
you; it does not ensure you a rank. Yourself study, consistency and the hard work
you put in sitting at your study table matters far more than what you do in
coaching classes.
Suppose you know what standard books to study, what coaching notes to refer
to, and by reading them you are able to understand the subject, that’s brilliant
and you don’t need coaching.
On the other hand, if you are absolutely clueless about the exam process or the
books you need to study, coaching institutes will definitely help you get a broad
idea. But as I said, you still have to read standard books, make required notes
and put in the work to outshine your competition.
Suppose you know what standard books to study, what coaching notes to refer
to, and by reading them you are able to understand the subject, that’s brilliant
and you don’t need coaching.
On the other hand, if you are absolutely clueless about the exam process or the
books you need to study, coaching institutes will definitely help you get a broad

idea. But as I said, you still have to read standard books, make required notes
and put in the work to outshine your competition.
Should I take coaching for GS?
General Studies is not quantum physics. UPSC only expects candidates to have
a generalist understanding of a wide range of topics. So if you have the material
with you and can study on your own, you will be able to understand the subject
and hence GS coaching isn’t really necessary. You only need to go the market,
buy the relevant GS material or coaching notes and study on your own.
Should I take coaching for optional subject?
Optional requires in-depth specific knowledge and coaching definitely helps
you in covering the syllabus systematically. Also, many engineering and medical
graduates find themselves clueless about arts subjects like philosophy, sociology
etc. Coaching will definitely be beneficial to those people.
But as always, the caveat is that just like GS, you can prepare for optional
yourself as well.
How helpful are Test Series at coaching institutes?
Many aspirants commit one fundamental mistake: they read and revise, over
and over, but never practise. Remember that the examiner checking your copy
will have no idea about the number of books you’ve read or the number of
hours you’ve slogged. Your answers what you have write there are all that he
has to judge you. So it makes sense to learn it, practise it and perfect it.

Test series definitely helps in that sense because it trains your brain to get the
hang of how the actual exam feels like. You write tests so that in the final exam
you are not taken in by surprise.
1.6 Stick to NCERT
UPSC has asked many questions directly from the NCERT books.
It is always a good idea to begin preparation by getting subject fundamentals in
place. The best source to get clarity and a good hold on various subjects is
NCERT books (Class 9 - Class 12). The UPSC does not aim to check for any
specialized knowledge, but mainly tests for basic knowledge across a wide
spectrum and more importantly analytical ability in the Prelims, and writing and
presentation skills in the Mains. Often Civil Services aspirants get bogged down
with content by referring to multiple books at a time. It is recommended to focus
on a few books at a time – the NCERTs’ plus one or two books per subject that
the professors / toppers recommend. More than the number of books, it is
important to be thorough with the content. Read the same book multiple times
to get a good grip.
First of all the NCERT is the basic reading book which extensively covers the civil
services examination syllabus pattern in a very simple and lucid manner. The
NCERT books are written in simple language. It helps everyone to grasp the
ideas easily. It eases the learning process in the initial stage and boosts the self-
confidence of the civil service aspirants.
One cannot build a great building on a weak foundation. A solid foundation is a
necessary to build a super strong infrastructure. This is applicable to aspirants
those who are preparing for civil services. The NCERT books are considered as

the basic reading books to build the base of the Civil Services Examination. It
covers all topics which are important and gives us a crystal clear conceptual
clarity. It guarantees that aspirants are no longer a beginner once you go
through them thoroughly. Thus, NCERT Books additionally serve as a measure of
performance evaluation and improvement.
The NCERT books are considered as the genuine source of information. These
books are meticulously designed by experts and government officials after
thorough research. As old NCERT is suggested for the civil service examination,
the candidate should try to update the current data accordingly. NCERT books
are the best source for the Civil Services Examination to develop a strong base
in any subject.
1.7 Introspect
Develop a habit of thinking:
Introspection is the examination of one's own conscious thoughts and feelings. In
psychology, the process of introspection relies on the observation of one's
mental state, while in a spiritual context it may refer to the examination of one's
soul.
In terms of forming linkages of a given topic or subject with other issues, current
affairs with static. A lot of cross-questioning happens during the interviews and
this method helps one with being thoroughly prepared on any given topic. For
instance, if a news article / trending topic talks of the Public Accounts
Committee, it must remind the candidate of Public Accounts Committee and its
related aspects already covered in the textbooks – such as its role and
functions. Also the candidate should be able to relate the two aspects together.

This method also leaves a lasting impression of the topic and thus makes it easy
to recall during the examination as well as during interview.
1.8 Talk Out Loud
It's Totally Normal (and Healthy) to Talk to Yourself. Do you talk to yourself? We
mean out loud, not just under your breath or in your head — pretty much
everyone does that. This habit often begins in childhood, and it can become
second nature pretty easily.
This activity works wonders. Talk to parents, friends, relatives, room-mates or
whosoever is nearby. In the worst case, 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 one’s thinking capabilities, while also helping tighten grip
on the topic.
1.9 The Optional Dilemma
The decision of selection of the IAS Mains Optional is an age-old dilemma for
Civil Services aspirants. As per the latest syllabus, the number of optional subjects
to be selected is reduced to one, but aspirants are still confused if they make
the right choice or not.
Many aspirants are not sure on the optional subject they want to choose. Many
seek suggestions from others when deciding on the optional subject. Instead,
the optional subject must be with what one is comfortable and also confident
about. Also, while deciding on the optional, do not focus on how candidates
scored in the subject in previous years. Choose an optional which one feels
confident about and on which one 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 subject.
In the civil services exam, some subjects are more popular than others.
How do you choose the one that suits you best?
Choosing the right optional subject in the civil services exam has been a major
concern for aspirants for long, especially those who attempt it for the first time.
Although the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) decision to scrap the
second optional subject with effect from 2013 has reduced aspirants’ stress
levels, choosing one optional subject is an important decision as it comprises
two papers of 250 marks each. Choosing the right optional subject can step up
your chances of getting selected. Therefore, aspirants should carefully consider
several factors before picking one.
Here are some factors that are usually looked at:
 If a subject has scope for scoring, students tend to select it.
 If a candidate has good command over a subject, naturally it becomes
the first preference.
 If a candidate has already mastered a subject in school or in graduation,
it becomes easier to understand and it is natural to select it.
Geography, history, political science, public administration or psychology is the
most popular choices for first-time aspirants. Statistics reveal that majority of
students select geography and public administration as optional subjects. More
than 80 per cent of aspirants opt for them as the subjects overlap with general
studies, which students usually study while preparing for the preliminary and
mains exam. In the past few years, candidates have been scoring above 350

marks in public administration and more than 400 marks in geography, which is
pretty good and explains why students go for these subjects.
Why are these subjects popular?
Some apparent reasons are:
 Public administration is more about having knowledge of administrative
traits and involves self-study and self-understanding rather than personal
coaching.
 Most of the students have a good hold on history, especially students from
the arts stream.
 Most of the students are interested in map-based questions that are asked
in the geography paper, especially the students from engineering or
medical background.
When we talk about which paper has more scope for scoring, there is no
distinction between any of the optional subjects as it largely depends upon the
personal interest of the candidate and their academic background. If a
candidate is exceptionally good at a subject, he/she will obviously score more
in it. So if geography is your forte, it’s not prudent to pick up history just because
it is considered to be a scoring subject.
Most of the students are good at geography, history and sociology as they have
studied these subjects at their schools and may have graduated in them. Many
students opt for Hindi literature which is not surprising as a large number of
candidates from Hindi-speaking States appear for the exam. Pali is also gaining
currency and many students are opting for it. But again, it completely depends
on one’s interest, academic and geographical background and knowledge.
Tamil literature is being opted by many candidates from Tamil Nadu, and so on.

However, most of the candidates still prefer to opt for subjects such as history,
geography, public administration, sociology or psychology rather than
language papers.
1.10 TheRoleofInternet
Traditionally IAS preparation was concentrated in the coaching hubs of Delhi
and few capital cities. Aspirants from far corners of the country flocked to these
places to achieve their dream of becoming an IAS officer.
However, in recent years the trend is changing, and online medium is gaining
popularity. Aspirants are increasingly using online medium, which gives them
liberty to stay at their hometown or remains committed to their job and still
prepares for the exam.
Internet helps in keeping updated with whatever is happening around. It is an
effective means to stay updated, especially with the optional subject. Also it is
imperative to identify a good and “trusted” source and stick to it, as referring to
10 different sources at a time is not as good as referring to one 10 times.
The Internet is an ocean of information, and there are various sources, which
can confuse you and can hamper your preparation. So a judicious use of the
online medium is necessary, moreover internet is only supplementary to your
preparation and so lets us see how online medium can be used to the best of
your advantage.
Essentials of IAS preparation where online medium can help
Newspaper reading
The Internet allows you to read from various sources, but an IAS aspirant should
restrict to a few important sites for newspaper reading, these are:

 The Hindu
 The Indian Express
 PIB
Current affair analysis
Debates in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha channels are the most important source
of current affairs analysis, which gives you, varied dimensions of the issues going
in the country. These can be easily accessed using YouTube and can be viewed
as per your convenience. Other important sources are PRS
(www.prsindia.org) for legislative analysis.
Study material
The Internet is flooded with study material for IAS preparation. You should just
restrict yourself to one such site that is comprehensive and provides multiple
ways to learn, including notes, videos, pdf's.
Online Coaching
The online medium has also made it possible to Study from the best teachers of
Delhi and other coaching hubs from your home using online classes. So those
who want to remain in their hometown or stick to their job can also prepare with
the same advantage as a candidate preparing from these coaching hubs.
Discussion and doubt resolution
Online forums can be used to discuss any doubts regarding subject matters, but
you have to be careful. Make small groups of like-minded people with the same
level of commitment so that each one can help others to achieve the collective
goal.
Answer writing

Answer writing is an important aspect of cracking IAS exam. Many students join
test centres to improve their writing skills, but now you can also improve writing
practice using online writing forums and can also get peer review which
improves your writing skills.
Things that become challenging while using online medium
Distraction
Some drawbacks of using the excessive online resource are distraction,
confusion and wastage of time in fruitless discussion. Use of social media again is
a source where we kill lots of time, so self-discipline on your part is necessary to
use the online resources in a better way. Of course, social media has its own
benefits as well. It helps you establish a social connect in the online world that
could get isolating. Relevant groups and pages can actually help enhance your
prep.
Other areas where internet can be useful while IAS preparation
Motivation
IAS preparation is a long journey, and at times, we may feel low and depressed.
The Internet can be effectively used to overcome this aspect. You can watch
motivational videos, Topper's talks, TED talks etc. to re-energise, and continue
with your preparation.
Entertainment
NO doubt an IAS aspirant should devote maximum time for study, but one
cannot study continuously. You can and should take out sufficient time to keep
yourself entertained and happy. You can listen to music, watch TV series or
anything that entertains you.

Your hard work, discipline and perseverance are the key to your success, and
nothing could replace it. The internet is a tool to add value to your preparation,
and its use should be limited to only that extent. It's a nutrient and should be
employed as the supplement but not to replace your food (Hard work,
Commitment, Dedication).
1.11 Current Affairs
The biggest dilemma around current affairs is what to read for current affairs
and how many newspapers to read –
Is it enough to read just one?
How many hours must be devoted towards this exercise?
Whether to make notes out of it or not?
(We have discussed it earlier in detail)
1.11.1 Schedule
So, the simplest strategy is to select 1 (or maximum 2 good newspapers), say The
Hindu or The Indian Express. Focus on one newspaper until the Mains – ensuring
that one is thorough with the reading as well as making notes of the same. After
the Mains, two newspapers can be referred to, Civils aspirants must make it a
habit to wake up early, and reading newspaper should be the first task they
must undertake every day. Do not postpone the task to a later time of the day,
and even if initially one faces difficulty in understanding the content, everything
shall fall through in place with the passage of time. There are many who do not
understand the language or the content initially, however, on repetitive
attempts, results start showing up.

1.11.2 Notes are Important
During the initial stages of preparation, aspirants are not clear with what to read
in a newspaper and what might be avoided. Take down notes of all that seems
important. Notes will be of great help during the revision as it is difficult to go
back to everything in detail at the last minute.
When there is more clarity - make notes of very, very important topics – just to
say 2 to 3 pages’ notes of current affairs in a week should be good enough. It
would be a good idea to make notes of the reading newspapers helps in
understanding the overall context of the issue being discussed. Thus, both go
hand-in-hand. While the magazine is a collection of notes prepared by
professional faculty, taking down notes from newspapers will give added
advantage for the preparation.
1.11.3 Reading Time
Around 40 minutes to one hour is the normal time that must be given to reading
a newspaper. If somebody is giving three hours, that is a bit more and if
someone is finishing it in 15 minutes, that is too less for appropriate level of
preparation. There could be days when the newspaper is light and might just
take 30 minutes, so stick to 40 minutes on an average. Depending on an
individual’s choice, Sunday could be an off-day for newspapers. Instead Sunday
could be reserved as a revision day for all the current issues one came across
during the past week. Revision is as important as learning something new.
Lastly, cover the entire syllabus – for both the Prelims and Mains, before
appearing for the Prelims. This is because later there is no time to learn anything
new, but just good to go back to those notes that you have made, or revise
what you already know. The main challenge of a civil services exam is its vast

syllabus. Focus on covering the syllabus with a good understanding, as also
holding tight onto the contemporary issues or current affairs.
The four key factors that shall make a positive impact on Civils preparation are:
 Professional guidance
 Patience, coupled with a calm and positive attitude Determination and
hard work
 Methodical study – routine and time-table
2.1 Time Management and Revision
With so many aspects to take control of – the current affairs, the class notes, the
NCERTs, the subjects, the coaching – UPSC puts one’s management skills at test
too. The first management mantra is – REVISE!!! No matter how simple and easy
the topic is, one must revise all that he / she have read through the day. It takes
two-three hours to revise on the same day, while postponing it may make the
exercise endless. Also it is recommended that after an advanced session on a
topic, go back to the NCERTs again and relook at the basics as well.
Civil Services exams are the longest competitive exam in the country. Its actual
time period extends to almost a year. The preparation for this exam begins even
a few years in advance. As a result, there are often quires from the Civil Services
aspirants as to how many hours one needs to put in to qualify these exams. How
much time is needed in the lean time active time of the exam and how to
schedule the time table of study etc.?
Well time management is very important in the Civil Services exam. The most
crucial phase of time management is during the early preparation of the exam.
Equally, time management is important during the period when you are actually

writing the exam. Finally time management is also required when you are
answering the question within the allotted time.
The preparation phase requires reading a lot of study material and in this phase
you have make achievable target like; so many number of pages has to be
read to cover certain portion of the syllabus and how much time can be
allocated for doing that.
Similarly after reading, you also have to fix a schedule for making your own
notes of the topics you have read. This in the beginning may look bit difficult, but
once you fix your cock for the specific job and if you follow the time schedule
very religiously, then things will become smooth gradually.
Try to make the study plan for four weeks. Review after that plan of action. How
much you have been able to cover from the syllabus within the time frame you
have allocated for that particular purpose. If you have not been able to
achieve your target, make changes and adjustments to your study plan and
bring it to more realistic and achievable target.
You can allocate a consistent reading time slot each day. Simultaneously,
allocate a consistent time slot for making notes of the reading that you have
done in the day. The ideal time allocation could be devoting three hours for
reading and two hours for making notes each day.
No matter what happens, you have to spend five hours each day when you
start your preparation and you must do this without fail each day. Focus on
optimum time utilization, instead of maximum time consumption. How to read
and how to take notes is a separate subject, go through it first, before you start
your preparation for Civil Service exam.
Try to keep a check your progress and slowly increase the time of your
preparation to give an extra push to achieve the target. Maybe the extra time

can be utilized for revising all that you have read and made the notes.
Remember unless you do not revise the day's preparation, all efforts will go
waste. Keep this in mind and make a study plan with time allotment for reading,
making notes and revisions on a daily basis.
Giving mock tests is a great add-on to the ongoing preparation. It makes one
familiar with the examination pattern, mistakes to avoid, strategies to score
good etc. Also the mock tests serve as a good practice session, before one
finally sits for the final exam. Also, instead of focusing on writing practice at this
stage, it is important that candidates focus more on the MCQ’s.
Secondly, do not attempt the exam if not well prepared. Poor preparation will
only waste an attempt. Instead wait - get back in gear, focus more and prepare
better for the next year. It is a thing of pride after all to clear the paper in first
attempt.
2.2 All Subjects are important
Every subject or topics that are mentioned in the syllabus are important.
Because you will not be able to clear even prelims; if you prepared any subject
with less concern
Do not fall in love with a particular subject. The syllabus has different parts and
all the parts are important, that is why, they are included in the syllabus. If, for
instance, History was the only important subject, the entire syllabus would be just
History. So, give equal time to all the subjects. If there is a preference or
inclination towards a particular subject, it might be displayed during the Mains-
Optional, but for Prelims or General Studies, all subjects are equal. Prepare a

book list for all the subjects that need to be covered or referred to for each
subject.
Note making is important here as well. Make well structured notes as one might
be referring to multiple books for the same subject. A 100 - page book could be
brought down to 20-25 pages in the form of notes, making it easier to revise in
the later stages of exam preparation.
2.3 The Exam
Generally speaking, it is always recommended to appear for an examination,
only when one is fully prepared. But Civil Services aspirants, even after a
thorough preparation, might not feel 100% prepared. Aspirants must keep in
mind that no preparation may be 100% perfect, still, they should take a plunge,
provided they have covered the syllabus; have gone through all the standard
courses and materials, and revised them at least 2 to 3 times; and have also
gone through, thoroughly, the class notes, a number of times. 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.
The prelim preparation strategy can be summed up as:
 Revise thoroughly all the content – Repeat.
 Solve previous years’ question papers.
 Take a test series to familiarise yourself with test taking and also with
important themes expected in the exam.
UPSC CSE Prelims is the first elimination round of the Civil Service Examination.
After you qualify the first hurdle of this coveted exam, begins the most crucial
phase of your preparation journey. Since UPSC CSE Prelims is qualifying in nature,
your score in that round will not determine your final selection. It is the Mains

exam whose score will be extremely crucial in determining your selection as well
as rank.
Hence, it is imperative you devise a rock-solid UPSC Mains Strategy that will
boost your score and enhance your chances of getting a good rank, the first
step towards it to find a suitable approach on how to prepare for UPSC Mains.
While the experienced aspirants have a fair bit of idea of what should be done
after prelims, many-a-times, the beginners or fresh aspirants are at sea. Hence,
they look for a trusted source to find answers to their questions regarding UPSC
Mains Strategy or how to prepare for UPSC Mains.
Step 1: Be Consistent With Your Preparation
The most significant advantage that the early beginners have is the advantage
of extra time. However, there's also a problem. When the time is sufficient, it's not
the 'time management', rather your 'consistency maintenance over this
prolonged period of time' that requires more attention. Thus, all the days, weeks
and months should be pre-scheduled with respective targets. First and Foremost,
a candidate must imprint the entire syllabus of all the three phases of the exam,
in his mind. This small but significant work would go a long way in keeping your
preparation focussed and relevant.
Step 2: Sufficient Time Allocation
Given the sufficiency of time, it is important to begin with the 'mains first'
strategy'. After prelims, a candidate gets hardly three to four months for the
preparation of mains. The schedule is further tightened by the requirement of
answer writing and essay writing practice. Thus, it will be an intelligent move to
prepare for the mains part first.
Step 3: Choose Your Optional Subject Wisely

The most vital element of the mains syllabus is the optional subject. The choice
of optional subject should be as per your own level of comfort with any degree
of interest in the subject. This decision must not be misguided by any sort of false
speculations of 'which is the most scoring optional'. It's not the optional subject
per se; it's your preparation and presentation (answer writing) that makes it
scoring.
Step 4: Make Proper Study Plan
After having wisely chosen the optional subject, the candidate must start the
preparation right from the beginning. Allocate the months and schedule your
days and weeks well in advance, ensuring that by November - December, you
finish the syllabus for the four General Studies papers and Optional subject. It is
possible to do so smoothly if you plan your time with perfection.
Step 5: Follow Daily Current Affairs To Keep Yourself Updated
One important, in fact, decisive, part of the preparation is to religiously and
consistently follow the newspaper daily. The candidate should always be
updated with all the important national and international events. You can follow
one or two magazines and government sources like Yojana, Kurukshetra, PIB,
PRS, etc. Also, if time permits, you can start with your initial answer writing
practice after you are done with the mains syllabus once. Try to get it evaluated
by some senior or teacher.
One thing that must be kept in mind is that the syllabus of mains and prelims is
not completely compartmentalized. There is, in fact, a significant overlap. Thus,
while preparing for mains, a significant portion of Prelims also gets covered. For
the remaining portion, one can get into 'prelims-focussed' mode from January or
February onwards. From this point onwards, the golden trinity of 'revision,
consolidation and assessment', must become part of the preparation.

How to prepare for UPSC Mains after Prelims
Follow these five steps to effectively revise the syllabus after the Prelims is over.
Step 1: Give Yourself A Break After Prelims
It is very important to give yourself a break after prelims. You might have been
preparing continuously for a year or more, so it’s important to take some time off
of your studies. Take rest both physically and mentally for at least 10 days. Read
newspapers or take a small vacation and prep yourself for another 3-4 months
of exhaustive preparation. Contemplate about how your exam was; there might
be three cases,
1. You are 100% sure you will qualify the prelims. Devise a suitable UPSC
Mains Preparation strategy to ensure your success in Mains as well.
2. You are unsure whether or not you’ll not qualify the Prelims. Don’t get
disheartened by the result. You can still get to start afresh as Prelims is
qualifying in nature.
3. You are 100% sure that you would not qualify the Prelims. Don’t get
discouraged. Reflect on your mistakes, try to learn from them and devise
a year-long strategy to follow for next year.
During this time, also read a lot about preparation strategies that can help you
plan the best one for yourself. Take inspiration from your seniors or peers, toppers
or mentors who can guide you best in the most crucial phase of your UPSC
mains preparation.
Step 2: Make A Detailed Study Plan For UPSC Mains Strategy

Once you’ve relaxed completely, come out of that zone, and devise a detailed
study plan for your mains preparation. As you might already know that UPSC
Mains consist of 9 theory papers of which 2 are language papers that are
qualifying, 2 are your optional subject papers, 1 is essay paper and the other
four are general studies paper. So, you should have a clear cut strategy on how
to go about revising each of the subjects and preparing the ones you’ve not
even started hitherto.
Step 3: Schedule the Time You Need To Invest In Each Paper
Now, most fresh aspirants get confused about how to revise everything in 2-3
months that they get between Prelims and Mains. Here’s what you can do:
Have a monthly goal, weekly goal, and a daily goal. Stick to that and ensure
that you complete each goal. Make small targets so that they seem
achievable.
Even if your preparation get’s disturbed for 1-2 days, don’t wreck the whole
plan, rather, divide the portions you have missed across the week.
Always keep 2 hours for revising what you’ve read daily. Also, keep the
weekends free for answer writing practice revising what you’ve learned in the
week.
Now, mostly the aspirants get confused with the time allocation. How much time
is too much time to allocate for each of the General Studies paper? Let’s find
out what our experts believe:
Paper Name Stipulated Time (Recommended by
toppers)

Optional Subject 30-40 Days
Essay Paper Prepare 4-5 topics each week
General Studies Paper 1 10-15 days
Step 4: Enhance Your Answer Writing Practice
Since the Mains paper is descriptive in nature, it is important that you give due
time to answer writing in your UPSC Mains Preparation strategy. Whatever that
you read, try to summarise in your own words at the end of the day. Dedicate
an hour each day to practice answer writing. Get your answers evaluated by
your mentors or seniors to get a fair bit of idea where you stand. Don’t fret about
writing bad answers in the beginning. Practice does make one perfect, hence
practice answer writing as much as you can.
Step 5: Give Regular Mock Tests.
Now, mock tests are important because it gives you an exam-feel, it prepares
you to write your best answers in a stressful-exam situation. Hence, never take
mocks for granted. Think of it as an opportunity to understand the answer-writing
process, to write brief succinct answers considering the demand of the
questions.
Look for Keywords:

Look for keywords in questions. For example, every question would have a
question tag such as “critically analyse”, “discuss”, “elaborate”, “and
comment”, etc. When it says, “critically analyse”, one should mention positive
and negatives about that topic. When it says, “discuss”, it is required to discuss
the given statement in detail.
Second, read every single line of the question. For example, if a question says,
emotional intelligence is very important for a Civil Servant, and the next
statement says ‘in your opinion, what is the role of Emotional Intelligence in the
course of service of a bureaucrat’ - Emotional Intelligence is the keyword here,
and the first line of the question says emotional intelligence is important for a civil
servant. This question may thus be answered by explaining this statement in the
introduction part of the answer. The second part of the question becomes body
of the answer. It can further be divided say into three parts - again structuring
coming to rescue. The structure could be, for instance – one, at the level of
public dealing; second, when dealing with colleagues; and third, when dealing
with the political masters.
Develop Writing Skills
Writing skills cannot be developed overnight, but over a period of time. practice
writing on a daily basis. Pick up an editorial from a newspaper and rewrite it in
your own words. When professors give writing assignments in class, attempt them
and get them evaluated by the professor.
Skilful Answer Writing for UPSC Mains
The following tips will help improve your writing skills for the UPSC Mains Exam-
1. Increase your reading count

You can improve your writing by reading a lot. Sure, you have to read a lot for
your IAS preparation, but the next time when you read a newspaper or
magazine, do focus on the written content style also. Reading more familiarises
you with good writing practices subconsciously and this will be reflected in your
writing as well. So, reading more is the first step in knowing how to improve
answer writing in UPSC mains exam.
2. Keep your outline consistent
The outline refers to the basic structure of your written piece, in your case,
answers. You should have an introduction, body and conclusion to your piece.
And they must be consistent as much as possible.
3. Do not use unnecessary jargons or technical terms.
While writing answers in the UPSC mains, restrict the use of unnecessarily
technical words and clichés. Don’t write just to fill up the word count.
Remember that quality is better appreciated than quantity. The examiner will
most likely be put off by a paper that comes across as written by a person trying
to show off his knowledge.
4. Avoid generalizations
In any writing, generalizations are best avoided. Always give material that you
can substantiate with basic facts and information.
5. Do not overdo the embellishments
You must definitely give quotes in your answer. They certainly show your
erudition. But avoid giving too many quotes. Also, you can give a few
metaphors and similes in your answers. But only very rarely and when you think
they are absolutely essential to the point being told. Otherwise, save the
embellishments for the English literature optional paper!

6. Be original
This point is self-explanatory. Don’t just reproduce what you read as it is onto the
answer paper. Write in your own words. Don’t invent stuff up. But don’t curtail
your creativity in writing.
7. Practice makes perfect
Nothing can be perfected or at least improved without practice. Practice
answer writing for the UPSC exam as it can make the difference between
winning and losing in this high-competition exam.
8. Make your writing error-free as much as possible
Always make sure that your answers are free from grammatical and spelling
errors.
Inculcate all the above-mentioned tips in your writing practise daily and you will
see yourself becoming more adept at this art. Mere knowledge is not enough to
pass the IAS exam. You need to convince the examiner correcting your answer
booklet that you have good knowledge and ideas to become a first-class civil
servant. This is possible by writing simple yet effective answers that not only give
the required information but also are a pleasure to read as well.
Practice Tests
The Mains exam is lengthy and it is imperative to manage every second
efficiently. There might be candidates who have a very slow writing pace, and
might be looking for ways to tackle the same. Practice tests come in handy for
such candidates. These practice tests not only help all candidates – be they fast
or slow paced, in preparing for the mains, but also help in learning time
management. Initially, even fast paced candidates with good writing speed

might not be able to complete the practice tests within stipulated time, but
eventually they learn to manage time, and thus begin to learn and attempt in
full. Also, many ignore this aspect of mains preparation, while it is really
important and helps in mental preparation for writing the exam.
Just keep this statement in mind! The more you practice, better will be your final
performance. Reading different topics and understanding all the topics clearly is
not the only thing you must do. You should also practice. Spend some quality
time in solving previous years question papers and mock tests. It boosts your
writing practice. Here, you might make mistakes while practicing. Learn from
your mistakes and take care of not repeating them. In this blog post, you will
learn about the benefits of UPSC online test series. Go through them and then
make your final decision.
Benefits of UPSC Online Test Series
Gain Confidence and Overcome Exam Fear
In an IAS aspirant’s journey, fear is a common factor. There is no other option.
You must learn to overcome it by doing the extensive practice. Definitely no! It is
not a bad sign. It will positively impact your career. The fear pushes you to
prepare well. So, it seems to be helpful in one way. If you take it in a negative
direction, it will lead to nervousness. Consequently, you will tend to perform
badly in the exam.
However, you cannot overcome the fears by any shortcut. All you need is a
regular practice. In addition, you need to have a good mentor to guide in a
proper direction. So, UPSC online test series can help you to experience the real
exam in prior. Identify the scope for improvement and work on the weaker
areas.

Boost your preparation for IAS exam
Most importantly, you can easily analyze your mistakes when you take up test
series. As it is the mock tests, you have much time to correct them and prepare
perfectly. When you start answering mock questions, it helps you to recall the
studied topics. Simultaneously, the revision happens! Do you agree? Above all,
you will get the knack of handling the questions during exam time. This method
of learning is considered the fastest. Ultimately, it boosts your confidence and
level of preparation.
Easily Understand Different Question Types
Have you practiced with UPSC online test series? You must have noticed a few
important words in the questions. It includes a comment, critically examine,
discuss, enumerate, and much more question types. These are the qualifying
questions that appear in the UPSC exam. Every type of questions has a specific
set of demands. So, understand the actual requirements and write accordingly.
Ultimately, it helps you to score good marks.
Many students end up answering in their own way. They don’t even try to
understand the exact requirement. So, cultivate the habit of reading and
comprehending the questions in the right manner. Mainly, the examiners check
your ability to comprehend well. By attending mock tests, you will learn to
understand the different perspective of questions.
Learn How To Tackle Uncertainty
You cannot expect anything in the case of UPSC exams. In fact, it will come in
the package of surprises. In the year 2016, the questions appeared were exactly
in the opposite manner. Such a paper was never expected by students. There
was very less number of questions from current affairs. Students who focused on
current affairs had a bad day! Later, the question paper was again analyzed. It

had many questions which could be answered with prepared topics. You
cannot predict the type of questions asked in the exam. In order to be safe,
practice a lot from UPSC online test series. If you own good practice, the
chances of getting panic are least.
Improve the ranking
Have you heard students complaining they knew the answer but couldn’t write
in exam hall? Please do not make such mistakes. It will cost you another year of
preparation and struggle. In case, you practice well before the exam, you will
not miss any known questions like above. So, practice makes a man perfect.
Moreover, the knowledge stays permanently in your brain with regular practice.
In fact, it is possible to recall even in a stressful situation. When perfection is in
your hands, there is no need to worry about getting top rank in civil services
exam. However, UPSC online test series is not the only way to get a good rank.
But, it is definitely one of the best ways to seek top rank. Stop worrying guys! Get
your hands dirty and start practicing.
Maintain Ideal Mind State
Prepare your mind before entering the exam hall. Trust me! Your mind is the best
tool. Put away all your stress, tension, and nervousness. So, you will be able to
better understand the questions. You should have cultivated the habit of
answering all questions in a timely manner. Each student possesses different
answer writing strategies. If you practice from UPSC online mock test series, it is
easy for you to choose the perfect strategy.
In the journey of preparation, you would have developed a good mental state.
Consequently, you will know what to do as soon as you receive the question
paper. You already know how to answer each question type. With consistent

practice, you know what time you need to spend in writing a single answer. In
this way, mock tests help you in developing the perfect frame of mind!
Learn How to Manage Time
If you own a reputed UPSC online test series, it is easy to learn the skill of saving
time. Of course, they are the great source of self-study! Moreover, the questions
in mock appear from the important portion of the syllabus. You just have to
strictly work on it and implement the strategies to save time while writing
answers. By doing so, candidates can save a lot of time.
Final Words
Above all, you must understand the mock test series to help you to learn fast. In
fact, it provides a new and innovative way of learning. Even if you want to
prepare for IAS through self-study, this is the best choice. Compare your ranks
with the fellow candidates and know where you stand. So, this is referred to as
mock ranking provided by only PAN India level test series. Choose the right
resource and then start practicing.
Word Limit / Writing style (Very important)
The civil services main exam consists of descriptive type of questions. It focuses
on testing the candidate on various levels. The time limit for the essay paper is 3
hrs without a word limit, but for the optional paper, there are questions with
specific word limits like 250 words in optional subjects and 250 words, 150 words
and 20 words in general studies. The candidate then has to prepare himself to
answer all types of questions. The most important thing to be kept in mind is the
time constraint. Therefore it becomes necessary to answer these questions
quickly and effectively and in minimum words.

One common doubt that students have is with regard to the style of answering
questions, whether to adopt the paragraph or the point style of answering
questions. Though there is no set rule, it is wise to adopt a style depending on the
question asked. If the question says to discuss, analyse or critically examine, it
would be better to answer the question the paragraph format. On the other
hand, if the question asks you to list the advantages or give reasons for/ against
etc., it is better to go in for the point format of answering.
STYLE OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS:
For this it is very important to understand the question first. Depending on what
the question is, whether one is asked to "discuss", "elucidate", "explain", "critically
appreciate" or "give reasons for and against", the answer should be written
accordingly because it is only through the examinee's style of answering
questions that one can assess his or her originality of thought and analytical
abilities. The question should be read properly, in fact the question paper should
be read thoroughly in the first five or ten minutes of the exam and then one
should decide on the questions which are to be answered first. Time should also
be given to frame the answer so that there is no confusion later on.
A good way to write effective and precise answers is to precise writing out
answers. Our answers should present the facts and concepts in an interesting
way and should never read like a passage from a book. It is best to use simple
English and avoid flowy and decorative langauage which takes our attention
away from the original facts and our opinions about a given topic. Making a
practice of writing out answers is especially useful in managing the time limit set
for the exam and to write the best possible answer in the allotted time It not only
improves one's style of expression, but also one gets used to the time and word
limits.

HOW TO WRITE A GOOD ANSWER:
It is just not enough to know all the facts and information but the most important
thing to be kept in mind is to write an answer which has a clear and a logical
frame, which presents information in a clear and concise manner, which does
not contain any irrelevant or piling up of information, which is interesting and
able to hold one's attention.
So the next logical step is to know how to write a good answer. The first step is to
prepare the framework where one can list all ideas, thoughts and facts and
write them down. It is important to adopt an answering style which is natural,
original and to the point. Emphasis should be given to the kind of language
used, one which is simple and clear without unnecessary use of nouns and
verbs. Use of archaic and fancy words or language should be avoided at all
costs. Care should be taken to avoid grammatical mistakes which will give a
negative opinion however good the answer may be. Last but not the least, it is
very important to have a good and a legible handwriting.
HOW TO ANSWER THE EFFECTIVE PART OF THE QUESTION:
Everyone repeatedly talks about the effective part of the question. This is
different from the Introduction, Body and Conclusion of any answer which is its
structure. The effective part means which angle or perspectives do they wish the
answers to be seen. The facts remain the same but the presentation differs. So
enumerate means represent in numbers and views means your opinion on those
very numbers or facts. For example in enumerate the population ratio you give
data like 93 females per 100 males. But in views you write that - The man woman
ratio needs to be the same for which we need to take care of the girl child etc.

We will explain to you the meaning and application of some of the terms that
appear repeatedly in questions in the IAS mains exam. We are not going by
facts and the sentences may be funny at times. We are simply trying to drive the
point home.
How to write answer when asked to Enumerate:
Simply list the points about the topic and don't give detailed explaination. "The
population ratio of India is 93 females per 100 males".
How to write answer when asked to Narrate:
'Early to late' this is how narration occurs. So, temporal (time related) sequencing
is critical. You can even predict the course in future if asked. "The Sex Ratio in
India was okay till the time of Independence, but has been against women
since then. In ancient times there seemed to be more females than males as
males seemed to have more than one wife each. With growing say of women
more and more women and girl children will be taken care of and so we will
perhaps go back to having more females as compared to men."
How to write answer when asked to Define:
This simply means write the definition. A bit of memory helps here as you should
try to reproduce verbatim and at least include all possible keywords and
phrases which you know are essential parts of that particular definition.
"Population Ratio is the sex ratio or the ratio of males to females in a population.
Sex Ratio is a term used to define the number of females per 1000 males."
How to answer when asked to Evaluate / Assess / Examine:
Detailed explanations are required. Write in details whatever you know, include
one to two lines of introduction followed by three to four lines in favour and
three to four lines against the given topic. One to two lines of implications if any,
and then limitations of the concepts and finally the conclusion in two to three

lines needs to be added. "The human sex ratio is defined in terms of the number
of males per 100 females which varies greatly between countries and regions.
The biological norm is for the sex ratio at birth to be about 105 more or less
everywhere - meaning just over 51% of births are boys and just under 49% are
girls."
Tips to answer when asked for Opinion / Comment / Views:
Whenever your opinion is asked, it should be full of optimism and your answer
should be full of zeal and enthusiasm. Give constructive opinions with optimistic,
future oriented and progressive ideas. However your opinions should be largely
acceptable. "With India's growing economy, gender equality and improving
health facilites we are sure to have a better sex ratio."
Answer writing tips for Purpose / Goal / Objective / Target:
What is to be achieved, what is the purpose, the goal, the objectives or the
targets? "India needs to control its population but at the same time needs to
bring a balance in the population ratio. A balanced ratio reflects the progress
and future of a country."
How to write answer when asked to Analyse:
When it comes to analyse, it is the same as evaluation, assessment or
examination plus your opinion is also needed here. So, once you give your
opinion it means you are interpreting the event according to your knowledge
apart from detailed explanations. "The human sex ratio is defined in terms of the
number of males per 100 females which varies greatly between countries and
regions. The biological norm is for the sex ratio at birth to be about 105 more or
less everywhere - meaning just over 51% of births are boys and just under 49%
are girls……………. and with India's growing economy, gender equality and
improving health facilites we are sure to have a better sex ratio."

How to write answer when asked to Discuss:
A frequently used term, it means you can write whatever you know but the most
important thing is to write as if you are talking to the examiner. A differing
opinion can be used. "Surely India needs to do something to balance the sex
ratio. We should do extra policing and stop clinics from doing sex
determination…...."
How to write answer when asked to Describe:
This is the easiest thing to do and just theoretical knowledge is required here.
You have to write basically its parts, what it is made up of, constituents,
characteristics and attributes. "Population Ratio is the sex ratio or the ratio of
males to females in a population. It is the number of males per 100 females.
Advanced countries have a sex ratio around 100:97 but India has 100:106....."
How to answer when asked to critically examine:
An important term and a favorite of UPSC, whenever it is asking Critically
Examine, Critically Comment or Critically Analyse just remember that you have
to write both pros and cons and give a fair, unbiased or value loaded
judgement. It should always give a feeling of closure.
"Increasing the women population may increase the number of dependants in
a family in rural India and for a while it may be counter productive but as more
girls get educated they will find jobs and support their families. Also educating a
girl will only lead to increased level of education in the next generation of the
family as she will make sure all her children go to school."
Answer writing tips for Elucidate / Elaborate / Expand / Exemplify:
These are more or less similar words but not exactly the same. Elucidate means
make it clear with examples to make it clear. Elaborate and Expand mean
detailed explanations. Exemplify means - give a typical example of that

particular category. Please include contemporary affairs, connections or current
affairs. "Kerala with 1084 females for every 1000 males has the highest sex ratio
because of high levels of education whereas the union territory of Chandigarh
has only 818 females for every 1000 males due to the gender bias in Punjab and
Haryana. Since more states are like Chandigarh the overall India ratio is 940
females/1000 males. "
Answer writing tips for Implications / Consequences / Outcomes / Results:
Write about the possible scenario or impact of the event in question. “Due to
better health facilities and reach of education the Indian sex ratio has shown
major signs of improvement in the last 10 years. From a small number of 933 in
2001, the bar has been raised to 940 in the 2011 Census of India."
How to write answer when asked to Contrast / Distinguish:
It means write differences not similarities. You can write similarities as well as
differences if asked to Compare and Contrast. "Kerala with 1084 females for
every 1000 males has the highest sex ratio because of high levels of education
whereas the union territory of Chandigarh has only 818 females for every 1000
males."
How to answer when asked about Significance / Importance:
What happens because it exists or what happen if it doesn't exist. "Sex Ratio is a
great source to find the equality of males and females in a society at a given
period of time."
How to answer when asked to justify / Advocate:
Here you have to argue in favour of and write favourable comments as far as
reasonably possible. "More men per women is actually a good thing as women
are known to live longer than men and as India develops we are sure to catch

up. We will not have the problem of missing men any time soon like Russia has
with sex ratio of 100:45."
How to write answer when asked to Illustrate:
Use examples; data, diagrams and charts to make it clearer.
The practice tests also enable one to give appropriate consideration to the
word limit i.e. not attempting one question in great length, while falling short of
time for others. Practice with as many answers as possible, or as many practice
tests as possible.
3.2 Read & Read Again
It is not possible for anybody to memorize the book after its first reading. First
reading should be a reading to familiarize with the topics, second reading
should be a recollection, and, third reading will help one to remember the
concept. Also, each one has a different pace when it comes to memorizing,
and thus learning must happen at an individual’s specific pace only. As shared
earlier, since one full preparation for the Mains must be done before the Prelims,
the period after the Prelims must be devoted more towards revising the
concepts. Read the same piece of content again and again, go through the
notes and revise all that one knows already.
3.3 Writing the Exam - The Mains
3.3.1 Attempt All Questions
Attempt all questions in the paper. Do not get de-motivated if a particular
answer is not known in complete. At least attempt all questions– based on
whatever is the best understanding of that particular topic. The secret to being

able to attempt all questions is to focus on each aspect of the syllabus. If the
syllabus is not covered thoroughly, notes not prepared, one might not be able
to attempt all questions with ease.
3.3.2 The Answers
Always structure the answers. Learn from the model answers to the many
questions provided in previous year solved paper or any practice test.
 All toppers would have a common thing is that they structure their
answers: They give an introduction, a body, and a conclusion to their
answers.
 Open the answers with a brief background of the topic or keyword
identified. Always provide a context for the answer in this section. The
answer to the specific question being asked then makes up the body of
the answer.
Also add multiple dimensions to the answer, by dividing the question into parts.
And the conclusion should always be optimistic, a forward-looking conclusion. If
there is a question on women empowerment, one can always quote that the
new initiative of the government that is the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ is the
right step in the right direction.
This depends on the comfort level of each candidate and there is no rule of
thumb, as such.
Try to answer questions in a manner that it is easier for the examiner to check.
Drop in terminologies in the answer and highlight them. For instance, when
solving a case study on leadership, one might drop in terms such as ‘motivation’,
‘empathy’ etc. and highlight for them to be easily discoverable.
Underline - Underline important things. This makes the answer more readable
and understandable for the evaluator, making the task of answer checking

effortless. The Mains do not offer the relaxation of changing pen or to use green
pen, blue pen, etc. or to even hold a pencil. Only the simplest thing which can
be done is to underline the important things, with whatever is in hand.
Flowcharts & Tables – If there is shortage of time, instead of going for text- based
answers, opt for flowcharts. One may easily sum up the entire answer, in a
flowchart. Similarly, tables also come in handy when presenting any kind of
data. Instead of putting data within the text and making it difficult for the
examiner to locate, add-in tables – making the answer more presentable.
Diagrams - Make diagrams, but only where they are necessary. For example, if
there is a question on air mass – it could be well represented using a diagram.
Do not make a repetition of what you have already indicated in the diagram.
Use the text for providing additional information. Diagrams can also be used
when there is less time or when less content in the form of text is available for a
given question.
4.1 Preparing for the Interview
The Detailed Application Form (DAF), that needs to be filled up after the Prelims,
should be done with utmost caution and honesty, as it is the first step towards a
good interview. This form also serves as the basis of preparation for the interview.
For instance, a candidate who mentions a family background of ex-serviceman
must have knowledge about the defence sector – the reforms required, any
current issue related to it and other relevant information. Also, any hobby that is
mentioned in the form, graduation subjects, achievements, anything written on
the form – the candidate must be thorough with every aspect of it. If playing
cricket is a hobby – one must have knowledge about various rules of the game,
India’s performance of late, controversies related to the game and the BCCI,
etc.

An easy way to prepare for the interview is to pick up words from the form every
single word possible – and make a note of questions that could be built around
these words. Brainstorm on the questions that could come up around these
keywords.
4.2 Work on Communication Skills
It is important that a candidate should have a good command over language
and is able to communicate effectively. At times, during interviews, candidates
search for words and thus run short of time in expressing themselves. A good
way to prepare for interviews is to watch debates and news on television
channels. Also, qualifying the Mains does not imply that one stops reading the
newspapers. They are not only a useful source of information for interview
preparation but also help in building up vocabulary and communication skills.
4.3 Mock Interviews
Just as the test series are important to prepare for the Mains exam; mock
interviews serve as a platform for interview preparation. A candidate must
attend at least 3 to 4 mock interviews before the final drill, and ensure that all
feedback offered by the interview panel has been put to use during the
preparation. Along with communication skills, candidates also must project a
good overall personality, in terms of a positive body posture, body language
and appearance.
Now that the mains results are out and your name is on it, it is time you start your
preparations for the interview.
The key element in interview preparation is attending mock interviews.
You may wonder why mock interviews are important.
Can’t I do away with them?

Imagine you being selected for space travel. Without proper testing and
training, you will not be able to survive even a single trip to space. The same is
the case with the UPSC Mock Interview. Without proper testing and training, you
cannot become successful in the interview. Attending mock interviews are the
key.
What is the Importance of Mock Interviews for UPSC?
Here are some reasons why mock interviews are important:
1. Personality Analysis
The first thing the UPSC interview panel members observe is your body
language. The way you move, the way you conduct yourself at the interview
creates an impression. They also try to analyze your personality from the way you
answer the questions.
Mock interviews help you analyse your personality. You will know about your
strengths and weaknesses in and out. With a mock interview, you will know how
not to fall into the personality question traps set by the interviewers.
2. Expert Guidance
Mock interviews are conducted by a panel of experts. They are domain experts,
eminent Civil Servants, and probably ex-UPSC interview board members. Thus,
by attending mock interviews, you will get expert guidance on how to get a
good score in the actual interview.
They provide a detailed analysis of things you need to improve by testing you on
various aspects like your personality, subject matter knowledge, etc.

3. Ambiance Akin To Actual Interview
Mock interviews replicate the ambiance of the actual UPSC interview. As such,
there will be a five-member panel conducting mock interviews.
 The main aim here is to familiarize you with the UPSC way of conducting
an interview and making you less fearful of the actual interview.
 For it has been seen that many candidates fumble at the final interview
due to the lack of awareness about the interview. Fear takes over, and
they struggle to perform at the interview. Attending mock interviews will
help avoid this.
4. Questioning Diversity
It is futile to guess what the panel member might ask you during the actual
interview. But, preparing yourself for the challenge will help.
 If you join a mock interview program, you will be attending many
interview sessions. In each session, the questions the panel members ask
varies. Thus, you will be preparing yourself to answer diverse questions
which the UPSC interview panel might ask.
 A mock interview thus prepares you in advance for any adversity you
might face in front of the interview board.
5.1 Give in your Best
So, integrate, complement, do everything that requires clearing this examination
in a single go. Since the syllabus for Prelims is a subset of that of the Mains, first
and foremost, prepare for the Prelims according to the Mains. The last two

months before Prelims focus on the revision of the syllabus of Prelims, however,
before that one must focus on the entire syllabus.
5.2 Don’t Overdo
One does not need 10 different coaching institutes to excel in a single exam, nor
are 20 different books required to read a single subject. The maximum number
of sources that you need for a good preparation is 2, so that if one misses out on
something, the other complements.
UPSC CSE preparation is not made up of one particular topic alone. It is a
mixture of a lot of things. So don’t overdo anything,
Here I would also like to caution you. I have seen many copies where sometimes
aspirants try to make these things in every question. Please don't overdo it. It
makes the answers too mechanical. Try to stick to the basics that is addressing
the question properly and convincing examiner you know the things and your
opinions are based upon facts.
5.3 Revise & Revise
The most important thing would be to revise, whatever one studies, multiple
times. Revise current affairs of last one year for the Prelims, and be thoroughly
prepared with them. Also make notes of all that is in the syllabus, highlight
important points and revise. It is not important to read more, but it is of utmost
importance to revise whatever has been read.
 The standard revision method of revisiting studied portion after weeks of
having studied it for the first time rarely works for IAS aspirants.
 Keeping large gaps between your study day and revision day of the same
topic leads to low memory recall and wastage of time in relearning
concepts.

You should opt for a revision method that comprises of the following attributes:
 Revision done thrice a week
 Revision to be done in a smaller amount of time
 First day of revision must be the day you study a particular subject
 Second day of revision must be third day from the day of study
 Third day must be the end day of the week
This method facilitates repetitive revision of same concepts in small amount of
time, hence saving up on long revision hours, and enabling memory recall and
retention.
5.4 Connect the Dots
Current affairs are the success mantra to cracking the Civil Services Examination.
The Mains examination comprises the current affairs largely – and candidates
must try to link the theory part with current affairs in all their answers. One must
try to connect different articles and themes they come across in newspaper
every day. For instance, for any answer related to monsoon and its impact on
agriculture the answer could be connected to the El Nino effect, its current
position etc.
5.5 Syllabus is the Key
A good grip on the syllabus helps one connect with everything being read. For
instance, a person who understands the UPSC syllabus thoroughly might, while
reading an article in the newspaper is able to relate it to some part of the
syllabus. It helps in transitioning between the static syllabus and current affairs,
smoothly and in one go.

UPSC Prelims Preparation Strategy -Dos and Don'ts
Dos:
Revise, Revise and Revise: Whatever subject and topic you are studying, make
sure to revise and remember so you do not make lose marks in those topics.
Without proper revision, you will probably carry more confusion into the exam
hall and end up with a higher negative score that will undo all the good work
that you have otherwise done.
Make assessment on Facts Vs Concepts: The UPSC prelims over the last few
years in core subjects have become quite conceptual. So look at the last 4-5
year’s question papers and make an assessment of the type of questions that
are asked on each subject. For example, in Polity, you do not need to rote learn
names of past Presidents, Election Commissioners etc. (Qs used to be asked on
them earlier but not anymore). The Economy paper is now highly conceptual
and highly scoring. So concentrate on understanding the basics. Make
assessment of all subjects. If your preparation is a mismatch to the exam pattern,
then you will only be wasting time.
Space out your current affairs preparation: Many students make the mistake of
picking up current affairs booklets in the last few weeks hoping to finish. Reality is
that it will be overload of information and your memory may not be able to
cope up with the sudden load. So spend a few hours every day from now itself
on current affairs and make sure again to revise regularly. Even if you are unable
to finish all current affairs, do not worry. Study and revise what you can. Same
applies to map work - allot a small time slot for it daily and keep revising.
Practice a lot of Test papers: Make sure to pick up some test series booklets and
attempt them regardless of the level of your preparation. This will help you assess

the level of your preparation, your ability to finish on time, and the kind of basic
errors you commit like improper reading of the questions or options etc.
Make a routine to be most active during exam hours: During the last weeks
leading up to the exam, make sure you are studying or practicing with intense
concentration in the two slots of 9am-12pm and 2am-5pm. Your brain will get
accustomed to being most active during those hours.
Check out the venue before the exam day: You (or someone who's going
to accompany you) must physically go and visit the exam venue once before
the exam day, so that there are no surprises that day. You will also understand
the best mode of transportation. Also, if you plan on going in a cab, remember
that there will be huge demand for the cabs and so you should keep a buffer of
10-15 minutes.
Reach the venue well on time: Make sure you reach the venue 45 min to 1 hour
before the scheduled time. Last minute rush and anxiety to reach the venue
could negatively impact your concentration.
Don’ts
Do not be afraid: The paper is same for everyone. Trust your preparation and
give your best. Any anxiety before or during the exam will hurt your
performance. Close your eyes shut out everything and take deep breathes for a
minute to find calmness. Even if at first look, the paper looks tough and you feel
you know nothing, do not get scared. Keep calm and go through the paper
question by question and you will find ample number of questions that you can
answer.
Do not think you are unprepared or under-prepared: Your preparation is an
objective reality and cannot change on the day of the exam. Once you decide

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