The civil services exam is one of the most difficult and tricky recruitment exams in India. It is the passage to various prestigious civil services and All India Services. The recruitment exam is primarily a three-tier process, beginning with the preliminary examination, which is just a screening test. This prelims exam has two papers testing the general knowledge and aptitude of the candidates.
It is the Union Public Service Commission, that is entrusted with the responsibility of conducting recruitment exams for various civil services. An aspirant needs to take this exam and pass it in order to become an IAS Officer.
Do’s
- Focus on concepts more than the facts: In recent years, the CSE prelims exam in core topics have turned quite conceptual. Analyse the previous years’ question papers from the last 4 or 5 years, to determine the types of questions being framed in each area. For instance, in Polity, you don’t have to memorise the names of previous Presidents, Chief Election Commissioners, or any other officials (questions used to be framed on them in the past but not anymore). The Economics section is now a high-concept, high-scoring area. So, focus on learning the fundamentals. Make a comprehensive evaluation of all topics. You would be squandering time if your preparation does not match the exam pattern.
- Revision is the key: Make sure to revise and understand whichever topics and concepts you are learning, so that you don’t lose scores in those areas. Without sufficient preparation, you will most likely bring more doubt into the exam room, resulting in a greater negative marking which will negate all of your previous hard work.
- Read current affairs daily: Numerous aspirants commit the error of trying to pick current affairs magazines in the final weeks before the exam, in the hopes of finishing them. The truth is that there will be a saturation of knowledge, and your mind may not be capable of handling it. So, starting right now, devote a couple of hours a day to current events and make sure to review on a frequent basis. Do not be concerned if you are unable to complete all current affairs. Whatever you can, learn and revise.
- Attempt mock tests: Irrespective of your extent of preparedness, be sure to give several mock test series and smartly attempt them. This will allow you to measure your level of preparation, your capability to complete on schedule, and the kinds of silly errors you make, such as inappropriately reading the questions or alternatives, among others.
Don’ts
- Don’t stress out yourself: Everyone gets the very same questions, although in different orders. Put your faith in your studies and give your best. Any nervousness you have before the actual exam, or during it will hamper your thinking ability, and lead to bad judgement calls. Do not panic if the paper appears difficult at first glance, and believe that you know nothing about it. Maintain the calmness and go over the test, question-by-question; there will be plenty of questions for you to answer.
- Don’t lose the momentum of your studies: In the days preceding the examination, you should be focusing and preparing as much as possible. The mental condition you’re in leading up to the examination is crucial.
- Don’t over attempt questions: Never assume you’ll be required to answer a certain amount of questions to pass the exam. After you’ve attempted the paper, you’ll be likely to construct a mental estimate of how challenging it is. If the paper appears to be difficult and you have done your studies, tackling roughly 70 questions (in GS – 1) may be sufficient. So, while there is no set amount, don’t feel obligated to attempt 90-100 questions simply because some of the toppers did.
The exam is no-doubt challenging but nothing is impossible, if your willpower is strong enough. In order to get the IAS, you need to get in the top 100 ranks, depending on your category. The IAS full form is the Indian Administrative Service, and is the most sought preference among the UPSC CSE aspirants.
Keep in mind that this is just the preliminary stage, and the test is just a screening test; marks scored here do not add up in the preparation of the final merit list. That being said, your goal shouldn’t be to top the prelims but to just qualify, so that you may attempt the mains exam.