10 Self-Study Tips to Crack the UPSC exam
The answer to whether one can crack UPSC CSE
without going to a coaching institute is yes. However, that will require hard
work, determination and dedication. This
is an age where information is available in plenty for free and with the right
study plan and in the right direction, one can achieve the UPSC CSE goal.
Today, we bring to you self-study tips to crack the UPSC exam. These tips are
brought to you by Oliveboard, an online exam preparation platform for
government and banking exams.
Let’s first understand why people choose coaching
classes:
-
Need
a mentor for guidance
-
Want
to be aware of the whole exam preparation procedure
-
Unable
to analyse previous year question papers and device a study strategy on their
own
-
Less
time for preparation and are overwhelmed with the vast syllabus
-
Unable
to find the right resources for preparation or
having limited access to study material.
A book cannot replace a mentor and it is true that
a good coaching center helps candidates with exam preparation. However, if
someone wants to give UPSC CSE a shot without going to a coaching center, the
goal is achievable. If you’re planning
on preparing for UPSC CSE on your own, remember one thing: There
is no shortcut to hard work. It’s important that you keep yourself motivated
throughout the preparation process and stay consistent. Remind yourself often
why you chose to take up the Civil Services Examination.
1. Do
your research about the Exam
Before
you begin preparation, go through the Official Exam Notification. The exam
notification gives you a brief about the exam, and contains all the details
about the exam.
Check
for the eligibility (age, qualification, etc.), make a note of the exam dates,
selection process, exam pattern, and the syllabus.
2.
Gather the required
study material
Going
through the exam syllabus will give you a brief idea about the kind of
resources/study material you will need for your preparation. Rely on
limited but good sources available.
3.
Follow government
websites
You
should follow official websites of Income Tax Department, Ministry of Home
Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, etc. for authentic information. These
websites are periodically updated with the latest information and annual
reports. Gather and analyse previous year UPSC CSE Exam question papers(at
least last 7 years).
4. Make
a time table & set goals
Go
through the UPSC CSE exam syllabus. Divide the syllabus into topics and ensure
that you allot time for each topic as per the time left for your preparation.
Make sure the time table covers the entire syllabus and leaves some time for
revision. Stick to this plan and try to follow it religiously.
5. Keep
yourself up to date with current affairs
Staying updated with current affairs is the most
important factor to clear the UPSC. You should make a habit of reading a
newspaper every day (preferably The Hindu). However, just knowing an issue
will not help. You should be able to analyse it and have an opinion about it. While
UPSC is concerned about your knowledge of the facts, it is equally concerned
about your opinions on them.
6. Practice
mocks and measure performance regularly
Track
your improvement and test your performance regularly. You must test yourself to
determine your speed and accuracy and identify your weak areas. You can do
these by taking Oliveboard’s UPSC
CSE Mock Tests . Oliveboard
Mocks provide insightful feedback on
your performance, your all-India ranking and speed and accuracy. You can use
this feedback, to improvise your weak areas.
7. Avoid
too many distractions
Try
to reduce your distractions so that you canchannelizeall your attention towards
your preparation. Social outings and hobbies are needed but majority of your
attention needs to be on the exam. The UPSC CSE syllabus is vast and
it is important that you dedicate yourself to it.
8.
Interact
with your peers
When you are preparing alone, there are chances that you might miss out
on something important. To avoid this, interact with your peers often and
exchange ideas, insights and preparation tips. It breaks the monotony of exam
preparation while providing you with helpful insights around the exam.
9.
Break the
monotony
It is natural to feel bored reading and practicing mocks. You can take
break from books and watch YouTube videos on exam preparation. This will break
the monotony and yet help you with the information required for the exam. There
are various YouTube
channels that provide ample information
for UPSC CSE exam preparation.
10.Stay
away from exam stress
While
it is important to study at least for 6-8 hours every day, it is equally
important that you make sure you are getting sufficient sleep and are
well-rested. UPSC exam preparation can take months, so it’s very important that
you don’t over exhaust yourself and neglect your physical and mental
well-being.
Thus,
it is possible to prepare for UPSC CSE Exam without any
formal coaching, provided you’re efficient, dedicated to self-study, and hard
working.
All
the best!
