Union Public Service Commission, UPSC has announced the results for Civil Services (Prelims) on July 14, 2018, and started the process of filling DAF. This year, approx 3 lakh aspirants appeared for the Civil Services (Prelims) exam, out of which an estimated 10,500 qualified candidates will now attempt the UPSC Civil Services Main Examination 2018. With the Civil Service exam having limited seats and a vast syllabus, it becomes a difficult exam to crack. Well formulated preparation strategy along with optimum time management is the only way to climb the ladders of your dream to get selected in the exam.
This year, with the vacancy being around 782, the cut-off for UPSC Main examination is expected to be even higher. Thus, a sound preparation strategy is crucial, not only to clear the cut-off but also to secure a higher rank in UPSC Civil Services Main examination 2018. While what constitutes a sound strategy will differ from person to person, what should be the same for anyone preparing for the Civil Services (Main) exam is their attitude and passion. Rather than thinking they are sitting for an exam, every candidate should believe that they are just one step away from contributing to the progress and development of the country.
The Mains examination is scheduled to begin on September 28, 2018, till October 7, 2018. Candidates who have successfully qualified the Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2018 shall be eligible to fill the DAF. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has started the process of inviting Detailed Application Form (DAF) from those qualified candidates for the Civil Services Main Examination 2018. The candidates can fill the DAF on the UPSC official website from July 23 to August 6, 2018.
On the one hand, such an approach will help them gain an understanding of the various issues concerning the society; while, on the other, it will gear them up for the requirements of the exam, thus giving them an edge over other aspirants. A proper preparation strategy for a competitive exam plays an important role in better writing the exam paper as well as the success rate in competition.
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UPSC Civil Services Main Examination 2018: How to prepare
Overall strategy
The best strategy to prepare for any exam is to start with the syllabus and the exam pattern. Keenly analyse the previous five years’ question papers and pinpoint the focus areas in each paper and understand the examination pattern. Thereafter, develop your own strategy for the different sections based on your findings.
Keep the timetable of the Main exam in mind. This year, for the first time, aspirants will be getting a week and a gap for optional subjects. So, try and allot time in a balanced manner to optional subjects as well as the GS papers.
Current Affairs
Mainly due to the vast syllabus, a consistent point of concern for almost all Civil Services aspirants is to prepare all the relevant topics. A word of caution: most students end up cramming the present year’s current affairs; when, in reality, it has been observed that at the Main level UPSC includes current affairs related to the past 2-3 years. Here again, going through the previous years’ papers in detail will prove to be invaluable.
Essay Writing
Develop an in-depth understanding of burning issues. Watching, or listening to, quality debates will be of immense help.
Ethics (GS-4)
Connecting, at a deeper level, with the society around you will surely help in coming up with better answers and solutions. Delve into the reasons behind the thoughts of important personalities. For case studies, track issues from our day-to-day lives. Keep challenging yourselves with various problems plaguing the society; and try to come up with your own, genuine solutions. This, in turn, will help you a lot in case studies.
Answer Writing Skills
Your knowledge serves little purpose if you cannot communicate it well to the examiner. So, it is of utmost importance to hone your answer-writing skills. Remember, writing answers that catch the eye of the examiner and compel them to read is an art. And like any other art form, rigorous practice is needed to present your views in limited words, but in a balanced manner.
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Important tips to crack UPSC Civil Services Main Examination 2018
- Start off your preparation with your optional subject first. Early time invested in the optional subject can guarantee 25 per cent of your score.
- Another topic to focus on is the Ethics Case Study. This is one of the scoring section.
- Do not spend the next two months doing World History & Indian Culture — the big abyss in IAS preparation — alone. At this point, you have to ensure optimal usage of time by covering the topics in the shortest duration possible.
- Concentrate on general studies subjects more in the months of August and September. Your main target should be to cover those sky-high topics that have supreme importance in your IAS Mains.
The success in any exam depends on your passion and how you formulate an effective study plan. Do not set overambitious goals for yourself. Try to incorporate realistic everyday goals in your preparation. Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek.
By due planning, utilizing resources wisely, and constant practice, one may crack the UPSC Exam in the first go. You need to keep evaluating yourself from time to time. And follow the Gurumantra “Process of Self Correction”. These little things contribute to massive transformation in your result.
READ MORE: Engineering Graduates Dominate UPSC Civil Services Exam
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All the best to UPSC Civil Services Aspirants..!!
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