Clearing the IAS Prelims is the very first critical step towards building a career in public administration. Choosing the right books & study materials, best IAS coaching centers, scheduling study time, and self-discipline are not just enough when it comes to cracking the Civil Services Prelims, you got to do really smart work and follow the most effective strategy. Owing to the vast nature of the IAS syllabus, studying even for 13-15 hours would not be of much help if you are not following the smartest strategy. So we bring you the best tips and strategies that can help you crack the competitive IAS Preliminary exam:
Study tips for Prelims
Since the IAS syllabus covers almost everything under the sun, candidates need to follow both intensive and extensive strategies. There are certain areas of study that requires extensive preparation such as Ancient India, World Geography and Medieval India. Whereas areas such as Indian Economics, Indian Politics, Indian Administration, Science, Current Affairs, Technology, and International Politics, requires intensive study. Within that, doing selective reading from the examination point of view is also very important.
A lot of candidates club Prelims and Mains preparation together which is definitely great but focus must be given to topics and type of questions that are more Prelims oriented. Remember, before you can hit the IAS Mains exam you first need to qualify in the Prelims, so keep in mind what matters most in the eliminatory exam.
Studying and putting all facts and information in your mind is not the best way to acquire knowledge, try testing it after you complete a chapter or an important topic. Solve multiple choice questions and test what have actually captured.
Know thy syllabus
It is impertinent to know your syllabus whether it is Paper I or Paper II. With the new CSAT pattern, Paper I of Prelims will have multiple choice questions on Indian Polity, Economic Policies, Indian National Movement, India & World Geography, Social Development, Environmental Ecology, and Current Affairs. Except for Current Affairs, all the rest topics are well covered in NCERT books. Coming to General Awareness, you need to follow The Hindu, The Economics Times, BBC, Frontline, Competitive Success Review magazines and most importantly keep a keen eyes on all national and international events. Paper II is more analytical in nature, where you will be judged on Decision Making & Problem Solving abilities, Interpersonal skills, Language & Comprehension skills, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and Basic Numeracy abilities. Paper II requires a lot of practice, mental alertness and on-the-spot decision making skills.
Get the best study materials
I am sure, when you visit any book store online or offline you are going to be flooded with numerous options. It’s best to consult with your coaching institute, check out IAS discussion forums, and do research on Internet, to find out the best study materials. Your preparation and scores will affect a lot, if you read a number of books for the same topic or read poorly structured materials. So select your study materials even coaching institute wisely.
Make notes while you prepare
This will make doing revision pretty much easy. Preparing for the IAS Prelims will require you to go through a number of books, so making short notes of important points can help you revise them later without the need to read the chapter or book again. Making notes help in collecting important points for the exam as well as covering lot of topics during exam time.
Do smart work
If you are going to approach the Civil Services Preliminary round with traditional methods, chances are you will lose the game. From solving quantitative problems to reasoning, you definitely need short cuts to crack the exam. Time matters so as speed, without speed you can hardly manage to complete the paper with correct answers. So learn all tricks and techniques that can help you solve the questions quickly and correctly.
Practice mock tests
Taking up mock tests is a mandatory thing, when it comes to cracking the IAS Prelims. Why? Without working on mock test papers regularly you won’t be able to judge where your understanding level is and whether you mostly choose the right answers. It gives you an insight on how to correctly approach a question and helps you to work on your speed and time management, if you happen to lack in any of them. Take up previous question papers, model papers and online mock tests on a regular basis and most important remember to evaluate your answers. Without evaluating your answers, you won’t able to identify your weak areas.
Don’t get stuck with a tough question
While you take up the questions, don’t get stuck in one difficult question rather focus on completing rest of the questions first. One good way to approach is solve all the questions that are easy for you, then divide the remaining time to attempt the tough ones. This way you will learn how to effectively manage your time during the exam.
Stay fit
Yes, you need to prepare well but that doesn’t mean you should neglect your health. It is essential to take periodic breaks and unwind yourself and let your mind become more receptive. Doing meditation and yoga helps not just to relax your body and mind but increases your mental alertness as well. Remember, it is an exam not the last battle of your life. So relax.
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