Common Mistakes to Avoid During UPSC CSE Preparation

UPSC exam is conducted for recruitment to civil services officers in India, also known as the IAS exam. But do you know that even a small mistake of yours can stop you from getting selected? Here we will talk about Mistakes to avoid in UPSC preparation.

UPSC exam gives a chance of becoming an IAS. From Where you can participate in the growth of our country. If you wish to crack the UPSC 2022, you must avoid these mistakes.

Not Understanding the UPSC Syllabus

The first step in UPSC exam is to understand its syllabus. Many aspirants start their studies but they do not know its syllabus. The result of this is that you often also read things that are not even in the syllabus. The syllabus of UPSC is huge, so aspirants must check it thoroughly to cover it.
You have to treat UPSC Syllabus as a roadmap and follow it continuously. Studying according to the syllabus will save you a lot of time and you will be able to prepare well.

Neglecting the Importance of Syllabus

One of the primary mistakes that UPSC aspirants often make is not understanding the importance of the syllabus by neglecting the vast and comprehensive syllabus.

The UPSC syllabus is a guiding light for aspirants that covers a wide range of subjects and topics. It is important to thoroughly understand it.

Without a clear understanding of the syllabus, candidates might end up wasting time on irrelevant topics while missing out on crucial ones.

To avoid this mistake, aspirants must:

Thoroughly go through the UPSC syllabus
Create a well-structured study plan focusing on all essential subjects and topics

Referring to Many Books

To cover UPSC Syllabus thoroughly, you may have to depot more than one book, but for any one topic, you should not depend on more than two sources at a time as it will only create confusion.
Many times, aspirants make such mistakes that they refer to more than four or five sources for any one topic and also watch videos for it, because of this they get more confused, so it should be avoided.

Relying on Past Results

Some aspirants are overconfident just thinking about their past results, like if I have cracked IIT, then UPSC will be cleared easily. But the aspirant should avoid doing this because every exam has a different syllabus and pattern and only by following it you can crack the exam.
There are also some who keep thinking about the old results as if they did not have good marks in 12th or the result of graduation was not good etc. Aspirants should also avoid this because in the past years there have been many IAS toppers who were not good in their academics but still cracked the UPSC exam.

Only Planning but No Execution

You will not get selected just by making a timetable or study plan. If aspirants are planning well then it means that they have started well but unless they execute it, that planning is of no use to them.
“Having a vision for what you want is not enough…Vision without execution is hallucination” – Thomas A. Edison
So, plan it but execute it as well, only then your plan to clear the exam will be successful.

Focusing Multiple Exams

Aspirants prepare for UPSC as well as other state exams. Preparing for multiple exams at the same time can be harmful. Though having Plan B is not a bad thing but first aspirants should try their best to execution of Plan A.
For UPSC exam preparation you need to give 8-10 hours of time and if you are preparing for any other exam then it means you are giving less time to UPSC. Aspirants should restrain themselves from doing this.

Using too Many Sources

Referring to too many sources for the IAS Exam preparation can lead to disaster.
Make sure you don’t refer to so many books for a single topic. Take one or two books, and the same goes for note-making as well.

Not Covering Current Affairs

A common mistake candidates make that not covering the Current Affairs adequately.
Current affairs are an important section of the UPSC syllabus, and most UPSC questions are based on current events.
Newspapers are the best sources to cover this section.
Make sure the sources you depend on for current affairs are easy to study, crisp, and relevant.

Not Properly Reading NCERTs

The best way to start IAS preparation is by reading NCERT Books. But it is also necessary that NCERT should be read in the right way. If aspirants clear their basic concepts from these books then they will not face any problems in reading any kind of advanced book. So, try to read ncert at least 2-3 times. The content of NCERT is also very authentic and reliable, so you can trust them.

Ignoring Previous Year Papers

Solving previous year’s questions is very important not only for UPSC but for any exam. By solving these papers aspirants can understand the UPSC pattern well, which is very important for their preparation. Aspirants can also improve their time management by solving these papers. Solving previous papers should be your first priority while preparing for UPSC, don’t make the mistake of ignoring them.

Less Answer Writing Practice

The main exam has the highest weightage in the UPSC exam and hence it requires more practice. The more you practice writing, the better you will be able to write in the exam hall. The aspirant should write well-equipped with facts and knowledge, the fluent flow of knowledge in an accurate and efficient manner can fetch good marks. You also need to pay attention to essay writing, this is also a very important portion of UPSC Mains.

Not Practicing MOCK Tests

Along with preparation, it is also very important to analyze it so that you can understand your weakness and strength. The best way to do this is to practice as many mock tests as possible. UPSC is one of the toughest exams in India, only 1 number can get you selected and can also throw you out of the exam.
There is a negative marking in UPSC Pre so you have to attempt the question wisely and it is possible only by practising a mock test. IAS NEXT is the most valuable learning platform in India, the mock tests here are prepared as per the latest pattern of UPSC. You can analyze your performance with this most preferred UPSC platform.

Not giving Equal importance to all topics

While preparing for UPSC, paying more attention to just a few subjects can hinder your selection. You need to read each and every subject according to the UPSC syllabus, it will not be right to miss any topic. It is not necessary for UPSC to ask questions about any specific subject. Examiners can ask questions from anywhere in the syllabus and aspirants should be ready for the same.

No Time for Revision

Many times aspirants make the mistake that they read everything but do not take the time to revise it. Revising is as important as covering the syllabus. If aspirants want to avoid the problem of not being able to recall in the exam, then there is only one method which can be adopted and that is revision. If you haven’t included a revision in your strategy yet, do it now

Lack of revision

The UPSC syllabus is huge, and the exam is a long process. So there is a high chance that a candidate can forget what was studied in the beginning,
The best way for maximum retention ability is to revise the notes regularly.
Candidates need to pace their preparation in such a way that there will be ample of time left for revision before the exam.

Spending Too Much Time Reading Newspapers

No doubt, the newspapers are a vital part of the preparation, but it should be done in a proper manner,
Aspirants shouldn’t spend too much time reading newspapers
Aspirants must filter and cover only the important topics
Aspirants need to spend a maximum of 1 hour on it.

Not Set Common Goals

Without common goals, individuals within a study group or community may be working towards different objectives. This can lead to a lack of direction and focus, as each person might emphasize different subjects or areas of preparation. A shared set of goals provides a unified purpose and helps everyone align their efforts toward the same target.
When goals are not standardized among group members, there’s a higher likelihood of resource misallocation. Some might focus extensively on a particular subject while neglecting others, leading to an imbalanced preparation approach. Shared goals enable efficient allocation of study time and resources, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the syllabus.

To avoid these pitfalls:

Thoroughly go through the official UPSC syllabus.
Create a comprehensive study plan that aligns with the syllabus.
Choose a limited number of reliable sources for each subject.
Regularly review your progress and adjust your plan as needed.
Focus on in-depth understanding and application rather than superficial coverage.
Regularly solve past years’ question papers to get acquainted with the exam pattern.