Tips & Tricks to crack UPSC 2021 Exam in your First attempt

UPSC & State PSC Published on 26 February 2021

The IAS exam is one of the toughest exams that one can crack. The UPSC conducts this exam each year and selects the best candidates. However, it is important to know that not many candidates are able to clear this exam in the first go. Many of them take help from offline and online UPSC courses and coaching but still are not able to succeed. This is because they lack certain qualities like a positive attitude, hard work, planning, and so on.

While it is difficult to crack this exam, there are certain tips and tricks that you can follow to turn your IAS vision into a reality. If you are an IAS aspirant, do not worry, we got your back. Dive further to know some useful tips to crack your UPSC exam on the first attempt.

Tips & Tricks to Crack the Exam in the First Attempt

Planning is Necessary

You need to set a proper roadmap in front of you and for that, you need to plan things out. Planning is the first step while preparing for your UPSC exam. You must plan your entire day and dedicate enough time to your studies. Limit the number of hours you spend on unnecessary things like surfing on the internet or playing video games. In this process, give an equal amount of time to study, sleep, eat, and your UPSC online coaching or offline coaching (if taken any). In addition to this, note down the subjects and topics that you are planning to complete on a particular day.

Know your Entire Syllabus

You must be well-aware of your UPSC syllabus as that will help you to prepare for your exams better. Note that the UPSC syllabus is quite vast and you may feel overwhelmed but remember to be thorough with your syllabus. Carefully observe each section so that you do not miss out to read any concepts. Lastly, always refer to the latest and updated version of the syllabus which you can easily get from the official website of UPSC.

Design a Timetable and follow it religiously

Making a proper timetable is of utmost importance as that will help you to be on track. Make a flexible timetable meaning do not pressure yourself into studying 8-10 hours per day. Dedicate an equal amount of time to each section and jot down your strengths and weaknesses. After doing so, include more time in the timetable for the concepts that you feel are difficult. If you have enrolled for offline or online UPSC courses then set the time in your timetable accordingly. Include enough time for self-study as well. The key here is to follow the timetable daily so that you can complete your UPSC syllabus on time.

Read Newspapers Daily

You need to be well-versed with current affairs as it is the most important section in the entire IAS paper. Apart from this, there are many questions that are asked directly from the newspapers so make sure to read them daily. You need to inculcate the habit of reading from day 1 of your preparation as you will need time to get a hold of it.

Work on Writing & Presentation Skills

This is an essential skill that you need to work on to ace your UPSC exams. This skill is ignored by many candidates thereby scoring less in the exams. Remember that your mode of exam is offline and you need to present your answers in the clearest yet simple way. To score the best marks in your paper 1 (Essay writing), you must practice writing essays daily. Refer to the essay topics from the internet or take up any topic of your choice. Try to write a neat and interesting essay and pay attention to how you present your paper. Take a closer look at your paragraphs and spacings, you can also refer to proper writing and presentation skills on the internet or you can simply enroll for UPSC courses that help you prepare for these skills.

Practice Previous Year Question Papers

After you have completed your preparation, practice the previous year's question papers. These papers will help you know the exact paper pattern, marking scheme, and the type of questions asked in the examination. You will get the papers easily online or on the official website of UPSC.

Solve Mock Tests

Mock tests are a great way to boost your exam preparation. After taking these tests, you will be aware of your status i.e. where do you stand in your preparation. After that, you can improvise your exam preparation strategies accordingly. If you have joined any coaching then they will prepare you with full force for your exams including taking practice and revision sessions. However, for this, you have to make sure that you have enrolled with the best online coaching for UPSC 2021 so they help you effectively to prepare for your exams.

Maintain a proper diet and Sleep

Many candidates make the mistake of neglecting their diet and sleep. However, you must know that diet and sleep equally contribute to your exam preparation. Having an improper diet and sleep can badly affect your mind and health which can hamper your preparations. So make sure you intake a proper diet and get enough sleep.

Daily Revision

Last but the most important tip here is to revise whatever you have learned throughout your day. Our mind tends to forget the concepts frequently so revise everything at the end of the day. The daily revision will ensure that you remember the concepts throughout your exam preparation process. So dedicate at least an hour (depending on what you have studied) every day for revision.

As correctly said by Colin Powell, “A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work”

Along with the above-mentioned tips and tricks, you can take the best online coaching for IAS and prepare better for your exams. Clearing this exam will bring a lot of benefits and you can take pride in serving the country. Give it your best shot and be calm and positive throughout your UPSC exam preparation journey. Best of luck to all the IAS aspirants