How to Crack UPSC IAS Exam?

Civil Services Examination, popularly known as IAS Exam (Indian Administrative Service Exam) is conducted by Union Public Service Commission every year to recruit aspiring candidates to the most coveted Government services like Indian Administrative Services (IAS), India Foreign Services (IFS), Indian Police Services(IPS) to name a few. It is one of the toughest exam taken by UPSC in India. All it requires a lot of hard work, determination and proper strategy to crack Civil Services Exam. 

Civil Services Exam Consists of Three Stages i.e

• Stage 1: Preliminary Examination
• Stage 2: Mains Examination 
• Stage 3: Personality Test/ Interview

Candidates need to adopt specific strategies to clear all the three stages to be able to feature in the final merit list.

Stage 1: Preliminary Examination consists of screening test; which includes MCQ or objective type questions. Here is an important tip for candidates to crack this stage:

• Improve your General Knowledge-Candidate needs to build a habit of reading a newspaper daily so as to improve general knowledge which is a very important part of this exam.
• Solve Mock Tests-Before appearing for the exam, candidates can solve mock test so as to get a brief overview of the pattern of exam and the type of questions asked in it.

Stage 2: Mains Examination is a written descriptive exam which consists of 9 subjects. To clear the MAin Exam the aspiring candidates should take care of the following aspects:

• Knowledge of Indian Constitution: Candidate needs to have a detailed knowledge of 8th schedule of Indian Constitution.
• Speed Test: This stage consists of 9 subjects which are quite lengthy; so to finish the exam within time, candidates can go for speed test in order to check their speed and duration they require to complete the exam. Speed test help in achieving good results and speed for the exam. 

Stage 3: Personality Test/ Interview consists of accessing the personal traits of the candidate. Here is an important tip to crack this stage:

• Work on Yourself: Candidate should be confident enough to answer all the questions of the interviewer and should have a detailed knowledge about current affairs general knowledge Situation questions etc.

Important Tips to Crack IAS Exam

• Best Time to Prepare: "The sooner the better" is the adage every Civil Services aspirant should follow. However one can start preparing for IAS exam just after final exams of Graduation or post graduation; i.e. in the month of May or June. By this, you will get one and a half years time to prepare for IAS exam and it's quite sufficient for the preparation.
• Selection of Subjects: The foremost and most important aspect of preparation for civil services exam is the selection of subject. Every candidate needs to select two subjects for its Main Exam. Aspiring candidates should select these subject with utmost care taking into consideration their hold and interest in the subject as well as the scoring opportunities in those subject. As a candidate is free to select any of the subjects from a given list irrespective of his qualifying education thus the scoring opportunities can be well considered before selecting any of them.
• Study Space: Study space is a very vital part of the civil services exam preparation.  The place where you study should be spacious, well lighted and properly ventilated. There should not be any kind of distractive elements present in your room otherwise concentration in studies will definitely reduce. Study space should be well organized and not a messy one. It should have been in a quiet and comfortable environment so that you can study well. 
• Be Focused: Some students have a habit of preparing for others competitive exams simultaneously to play safe. By doing this your mind gets diverted. IAS exam is not like other competitive exams, it requires the full devotion of a candidate. If you want to clear IAS exam in the first attempt then you need to be focused and work hard.
• Know the Exam Pattern: Students should know the exam pattern in a very lucid manner and accordingly, they should understand their area of interest, strength, and weakness. Knowing the exam pattern helps in the significant understanding of the type of questions asked in the exam.
• Invest in Right Books: Right study material is of utmost importance in the civil services examination's preparation. The student should go through NCERT books as it clear doubts at the fundamental level and help students score good marks in both stages involved in IAS exam i.e. Preliminary and Mains.
• Create your Timetable: A timetable is very important for students who are preparing for IAS exam as the syllabus is too vast and time for preparation is quite less. With the help of a well-crafted timetable, one can plan all the activities in a systematic manner which eliminates wastage of time and energy and the task assigned for each day are accomplished.
• Follow Offline and Online Mode: Students can follow both online and offline mode for the preparation. Students can go for lectures on YouTube; YouTube is a great source of knowledge and information moreover it helps in concept clarity. The student can also refer to different books as it is a great source of gaining knowledge and discovering information.
• Concept Clarity: Concept clarity is a must. Students should go through every topic in a detailed manner so as to get rid of all doubts and queries.
• Read Newspapers Daily: IAS examination is basically concerned with current affairs of national and international importance, Physical, Social, Economic and Geography of India and the World and General issues on environment etc. The newspaper covers all these topics on a daily basis. Therefore the newspaper becomes an integral part of your entire preparation process. The student should prefer newspapers that help you improve your analytical thinking and knowledge. Examples of such newspapers are The Hindu and The Indian Express.
• Improve Writing Skills: As we all know that the Civil Services Mains exam is descriptive type. Marks are given according to your writing skills. So a good writing skill is a must. Students need to have a detailed knowledge of the current topics and need to practice hard. Evaluate yourself before UPSC evaluates you.
• Quality Discussion: Students should develop a habit of discussing all important matters and events that take place in India. It will help the candidates not just in prelims and mains but also in the interview as well. 
• Solve Mock Tests: Before going for examination students should practice mock tests regularly so as to know the pattern and type of questions asked in the exam. By solving mock test student gets well versed in each section and also helps in improving the speed. 
• Study Different Subjects: As the syllabus for IAS exam is very vast and students need to prepare for each subject in detail. So rather than studying one subject, each day student should focus on different subjects by studying in small phases. In this manner, you will be able to complete the syllabus in a given period of time.
• Always Study in Small Phases: Students should not study in continuation for long hours because if they do so their efficiency and learning power will be low as compared to those who study and small phases. By studying in small phases you can relax your mind and body and give a new start to another subject. You can also set reminders for each phase; by doing this you will remember that it's time to take some rest and after that, you have to study another subject. If you study in this manner then surely it will result in a positive way.
• Question Yourself: Develop a habit of questioning yourself regarding general awareness, quantitative aptitude, economics, social sector initiatives etc. Maintain a notebook where you are writing all such questions. This notebook will update your knowledge and will be your guide to success.
• Technique: Every student has different techniques to study. Everyone should follow their own methods and techniques to study and should not be influenced by others. Some prefer to study in the mornings whereas some find it comfortable studying at night hours. Study the way you want to but the main motive should be to crack IAS exam.
• Prepare Notes: Notes should be prepared in the concise and effective manner so that they readable in short time, all at once. Notes are to be prepared for each subject individually. Handwritten notes are considered to be more effective than typing. Make sure your notes contain all informative details about the topic. You can also for headings and subheadings in order to improve the presentation of your notes.
  Important information in your notes can also be highlighted so that you can give more stress to such topics before the exam date. Note taking helps in emphasizing and organizing the information.  It keeps you alert and your body active and avoids feelings of distraction. Hence it is very important to prepare notes.
• Avoid Cramming: Students should avoid cramming if they are preparing for IAS exam because here cramming does not work; concept clarity is a must. In order to avoid cramming students need to start the preparation very early before the date announced. If you do so then you have enough time to do research and learn all the topics in detail with proper understanding rather than cramming.
• Work on your Weakness: Students need to work hard on difficult topics. They should give proper time and pay more attention to such topics, so as to score good marks. Practice as much as you can.
• Revise at least Twice: Once you're finished with your entire syllabus then revise it twice especially the important topics. Revision is an important aspect of preparation for the examination. According to a study it is noted that students who revise their syllabus well before the exam tend to score better than those who don't revise. So, revision is a must.

Importance of Coaching Classes

Although there is no substitute of Self Study to crack toughest of Exam Yet Civil Services Coaching Classes can play an important role in preparing aspiring candidates for this coveted Entrance Exam.

• Thus the student can also join coaching class for the preparation of IAS exam. But make sure you join a reputed coaching class having experienced teachers and providing you with specialized study material.
• While studying in coaching class student should prefer sitting in front. It will lead to the proper visibility of the board and you will be able to hear what the teacher is paying more clearly. By sitting in front you will feel more focused towards studies rather than distracted.
• While going for a coaching class prefers to turn off your phone as it is the biggest distraction in your studies. Don't sit idle in your class. Try to participate in your class by answering questions asked by the teacher. In case your answers are wrong; your teacher with correct you. This way your confidence will boost up. If you have any doubts or queries regarding any topic or concept ask your teacher about it, he/ she will guide you incorrect manner.
• Most importantly don't forget to do your homework daily. Homework helps in revising the concepts done in the previous class. Homework is also responsible for time management and setting up of priorities. 

Besides taking above points in consideration every student who is preparing for any of the competitive exams - be it Civil Service Exam or Bank PO Exam - should follow the below-given tips  beneficial for studying long hours to crack the exam:

• Take Lots of Water: Students should drink an adequate amount of water before the exam as it is very important to be well hydrated. Water helps in improving the brain function and keeps you away from any type of stress and anxiety.
• Exercise Regularly: One should exercise regularly before the exam days. Exercise helps the mind to relax and allows your brain to function in a systematic manner. After exercise, you will be able to retain the information more quickly and effectively.     
• Take a Balanced Diet: Some students forget or avoid eating properly while preparing for the exam which is wrong. It is very important to take a balanced diet during the exam days as the body requires sufficient amount of nutrients, proteins, and fatty acids. If you eat properly only then your body will function and will able to remember all the information you learned for a longer period of time.     
• Enough Sleep: Sleep is equally important for better results in the exam. Our body needs 6 to 8 hours of continuous sleep. Sleep will help you reset your brain and will prepare you for critical thinking and retention.

Indian Administrative Services is one of the reputed jobs in India. It is one of the best career options for students seeking the Government job. IAS is the highest official of the state after the minister's, he has that much power with he can take any immediate decision related to security or related to any administration. He is the one who has the full power to stop every illegal act that is going around his jurisdiction. All and all it is a great career option.