Cracking UPSC in One Shot: Tips to Ace Your First Attempt

Cracking the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam is a dream for many aspirants who wish to serve the nation through the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), or other allied services. UPSC is one of the most competitive exams in India, and it requires a combination of hard work, dedication, and smart strategy to ace it in the first attempt. In this article, we will share some tips and tricks that can help you in cracking the UPSC exam in one shot. These tips are based on the insights of top-performing candidates and experts in the field.
Preparing for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) exam requires a well-planned strategy and consistent efforts over an extended period of time. Here are some steps you can follow to start your IAS preparation.

Clearing the UPSC exam in the first attempt is a dream for many aspiring civil servants, with the right approach and preparation, it is definitely achievable.

Here are some tips to help you increase your chances of success on your first attempt.

So here are two points that are important first to know about the IAS exam and 2 nds about yourself.

Firstly, try to find out “Why I want to become an IAS/IPS officer” and believe us the answer to this question will make your Civil services preparation journey easier. And second step is about Knowing your personal strengths, your biggest personal strength would be something that comes very easily to you.

Take some time and think about what comes naturally to you. It could be anything. For example, perhaps you have no problems having conversations or being able to think of quick solutions in a tense environment.

Knowing yourself is important before IAS exam preparation because it can help you develop a better understanding of your strengths, weaknesses, interests, and values. Here are some reasons why knowing yourself is essential for IAS exam preparation:

Knowing your weaknesses

It is equally important to know your weaknesses as much as to know your strengths. Your weaknesses hold you back from achieving many great things. Weaknesses are areas that you have the power to improve. It can be anything ranging from professional to social skills.

Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses gives you a better understanding of yourself and how you function.

Understanding the exam pattern

To start with, it is essential to understand the exam pattern of the UPSC exam. The exam is conducted in three stages, namely Preliminary Examination, Mains Examination, and Personal Interview. The Preliminary Examination consists of two objective-type papers, while the Mains Examination has nine descriptive-type papers. The Personal Interview is the final stage of the selection process, where the candidate’s personality, communication skills, and knowledge are evaluated. It is important to note that the marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination are not counted in the final selection, and only the marks obtained in the Mains Examination and Personal Interview are considered. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on the Mains Examination while preparing for the UPSC exam.

Syllabus for UPSC exam

The next step is to understand the syllabus for the UPSC exam. The syllabus for the Preliminary Examination includes General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). General Studies Paper I covers topics such as Indian Polity, Economy, History, Geography, Science, and Technology, while General Studies Paper II assesses the candidate’s comprehension, interpersonal, and analytical skills. The syllabus for the Mains Examination is much broader and covers topics such as Indian Language, English Language, Essay, General Studies I, General Studies II, General Studies III, General Studies IV, Optional Subject Paper I, and Optional Subject Paper II. It is important to go through the entire syllabus carefully and understand the weightage of each topic.

Planning your preparation strategy for the UPSC exam

Once you have understood the exam pattern and syllabus, the next step is to plan your preparation strategy for the UPSC exam. It is essential to create a study plan that covers all the topics in the syllabus and gives you enough time to revise the concepts. One effective way to plan your preparation is by creating a timetable and allocating specific time slots for each topic. It is also important to set realistic goals and track your progress regularly. Another important aspect of your preparation strategy should be to stay updated with current affairs and read newspapers, magazines, and other relevant materials regularly.

Tips for effective time management during preparation

Time management is a crucial factor when it comes to cracking the UPSC exam in one shot. One effective way to manage your time is by prioritizing the topics based on their weightage and difficulty level. It is advisable to start with the topics that are more important and have a higher weightage. Another effective way to manage your time is by creating short-term and long-term goals and tracking your progress regularly. It is also important to take breaks and engage in activities that help you relax and rejuvenate.

Important books and resources for UPSC preparation

Choosing the right books and resources is critical for effective preparation for the UPSC exam. Here are some essential books and resources that you can refer to:

NCERT textbooks

NCERT textbooks are the best source for building a strong foundation in the subjects covered in the UPSC syllabus. Make sure you read and understand the concepts covered in NCERT textbooks from Class VI to XII.

Standard textbooks

Apart from NCERT textbooks, there are several standard textbooks that you can refer to for advanced learning. Some of the popular books include ‘Indian Polity’ by M. Laxmikanth, ‘India’s Struggle for Independence’ by Bipin Chandra, ‘Indian Economy’ by Ramesh Singh, and ‘Certificate Physical and Human Geography’ by Goh Cheng Leong.

Online resources

There are several online resources that you can refer to for UPSC preparation, including websites, blogs, and YouTube channels. Some of the popular online resources include iasnext.com

The importance of mock tests and previous year question papers

Mock tests and previous year’s question papers are an essential part of your preparation strategy for the UPSC exam. Mock tests help you in practicing the exam pattern and identify your strengths and weaknesses. Solving previous year’s question papers gives you an idea of the type of questions asked in the exam and helps you in understanding the exam pattern better. It is advisable to take mock tests regularly and analyse your performance to improve your preparation strategy.

Why IAS NEXT is the best coaching to clear UPSC on the First Attempt?

IAS Next has a strong Comprehensive UPSC Study plan and Unique strategy which is helping each IAS aspirant to get through the Civil Services Exam for many years. This makes students of IAS next coaching crack their Civil services exams on the very first attempt.

IAS Next is providing a hard copy of the syllabus to each aspirant so that it will be handy and always it will be in front of them, which will save them time as well as it will make them study important topics.

To get a whole idea about the question papers, it is necessary for Students to go through all the previous year’s papers, especially from the year 2011.

IAS Next will focus on this part by providing and practicing the previous year’s question papers for each subject on regular basis in the classroom Programme.

Enrolling in a test series for IAS can give one an actual taste of the competition. Joining good IAS test series can give a pan-India ranking with overall performance analysis.

“Practice makes the man perfect”

Correctly said and quoted by the great writers. Before appearing for the UPSC exam, IAS NEXT will make sure that every IAS aspirant has gone through a number of Tests regularly conducted and given by IAS NEXT team. This old and unique approach is more of an integrated approach, hence IAS NEXT thinks this is the best strategy.

You cannot build a great building on a weak foundation. If UPSC Civil Service Exam is a superstructure then NCERTs are the bases. You should read them because.

IAS NEXT will help you to start the habit of learning. The topics also converge with the demands of UPSC.

IAS NEXT is written in very simple language and from a neutral perspective.

UPSC wants to provide a level playing field for all. These books are not costly, and readily accessible everywhere for all regardless of rich-poor or city villages.

Every year at least 30-35 questions are directly asked by NCERTs.

Most importantly today’s era is flooded with vast information, contents, and materials. Here NCERT books will filter the excesses. They will be time and content efficient.

If you are planning for humanities optional, but you are from anon-humanities background, then after going through these books it will be easier to choose optional according to your personality.