Do’s and Dont’s of the UPSC Examination

Aspirants who start their journey may feel the need for proper guidance. The "I wish someone could tell me if this is the right strategy or if I am going the right way" crosses their minds. If these are your queries, congratulations, you are on the right way. The first habit to develop in this preparation is to be inquisitive. And to fulfil this wish, we are here with some do’s and don’ts to help you customise your itinerary to LBSNAA.

1. Read the syllabus and memorise!

To begin with, read the syllabus to understand the requirement. It will give you an insight into the knowledge an aspirant needs to build. Memorising the syllabus helps one identify the key areas and the focus points of this examination.

1. Don’t skip the PYQs:

You must go through the Previous Years' Question Papers. Glance through at least the last ten years papers to get a fair estimation of the level and work on your plan accordingly.

1. Don’t skip the NCERTs:

One of the most commonly asked questions is related to the relevance of the NCERTs in this preparation. As one needs to know basic ABCs to learn the English language, it is necessary to read the NCERTs if you’re preparing for this exam.

Once you have built the foundation, give revision tests to assess yourself. There are many pre-designed courses and materials present online and offline. It will boost your confidence and motivate you.

1. Don’t gather multiple resources:

The biggest mistake that students make is gathering multiple resources. It might feel that every material is important but avoid cluttering. The mantra is ‘have minimum resources and maximum revision’.

Our mantra will aid you, especially when the exam is just around the corner.

Chant it & thank us later!

1. Don’t make an unrealistic timetable:

Yes, the syllabus is not less, but an unrealistic timeline will only toughen your task. The idea behind making a timetable is to increase efficiency. Too-tight deadlines will create panic and decrease your morale

You can get a pre-made planner and divide your strategy into daily, weekly and monthly goals. It will help you build momentum, ticking off every hurdle from the list.

1. Give mock tests.

Mock tests come into the picture when you have completed your syllabus and made your notes. These pre-made and AI-designed mock tests will help you assess your performance. Many platforms offer All India Mock Test where you can get an idea about the level of your preparation and the competition.

Mock tests will help you identify your weak areas to work on and prepare for D-day.

1. Don’t wait for the main examination to start writing answers.

Once you have built your foundation, you can start practising. Many toppers suggest attempting PYQs to write scoring answers. Set the timer every time you write a paper to practice writing the good answers in less time. Remember, time management is everything in this exam.

Focus on your optional paper. This paper has to be the most scoring. Excelling in your optional will give you an edge over other candidates. You can check the topper's copy for insight.

There is a saying that the essence of strategy is choosing what not to do. And now that you know it, you can prepare well for the exam with a clear mindset. Remember that you don’t have to copy the toppers entirely. What works for them might not work for you.

How many steps out of these are you following? Be honest and share with us in the comments section.

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