IMPORTANT TIPS FOR THE UPSC MAINS EXAMINATION 2019

UPSC Mains exam has been aptly referred to as most onerous examination owing to its demanding regime of answering essay questions. Preparation of the IAS Mains exam requires an individual to possess both mental and physical strength. Students are expected to refer to the myriad resources and retain the maximum information as possible in order to write descriptive answers. Candidates should adopt a strategy to enhance their written skills which play a vital role in the success of the Mains Examination. Preparation for the exam requires a focused and dedicated approach. Shared in this blog are important tips and techniques that come in handy for the students appearing for the IAS Mains 2019 and 2020. The scenario for the UPSC examination looks highly competitive with more than 10 Lakhs candidates appearing for the IAS examination, out of which only about 15000 get to appear for the Mains examination. Unlike the Preliminary examination, which is an entirely objective type, the Mains examination is aimed at determining the overall intellectual capability of the candidate rather than just testing the memory which the Preliminary exam intends to test.

PATTERN OF THE UPSC MAINS EXAM

UPSC Mains examination consists of a written examination and an interview. The written examination consists of nine papers out of which two are qualifying and seven rank-bearing in nature. A wide array of questions can be asked which vary from one mark to sixty marks and can be answered from twenty words to 600 words respectively. Each of the paper is of 3 hours duration and candidates are ranked according to the marks attained followed by calling the candidates for an interview or a personality test at the Commission’s discretion. Allocations in the distribution of marks in Civil Service Examination 2013 following the suggestion of Prof Arun. S. Nigavekar Committee, which proposed certain changes in the exam. But after controversy, it led to the restoration of Indian languages and English were restored.

With only a couple of months left for the second part of the most challenging exam of the country, the candidates are gearing up by devising a calculated action plan comprising of time table dedicated to a disciplined study regime and spare time for relaxation. For the candidates who are still jittery about their action plan, some of the below-mentioned tips can provide them with some assurance and relief. Considering there is a scarcity of time, the candidate should figure out to differentiate between topics which are important from the exam’s perspective from the ones that result in wasting your time and energy on covering needless ones. Also important advise for the candidates at this stage is to segregate the things to be done from the ones that don’t. It is extremely vital for following it makes the remaining tasks easy.

Things to be done at all cost to crack IAS mains exam

i) Make the best use of time : Candidates appearing for the main exams should use the time with prudence for the questions that you might have to defend during the interview might be unpredictable.

ii) Famous Quotes : Read plenty of books by famous authors and make a list of famous quotes on a range of topics like education, society, culture, science, etc. and memorise it well as this will help you greatly in ethics and essay papers.

iii) Important references from personal life : Papers like ethics can fetch the candidate with more scores if personal events are included as references in the question. Thus a great strategy requires the candidates to list down a set of such events and share in the memory.

iv) Daily Reading Newspaper : UPSC Mains exam is highly demanding and expects the candidate to have the knowledge of current affairs and important events happening in the country and world. Considering its importance, it is extremely essential that the candidate should make the reading of the newspaper a daily habit for the mains examination. The candidate should read the newspaper and make notes from editorials and it can add tremendously to your scores. Candidates should note that the questions from General Studies Paper II and Paper III are mostly based on current affairs. Extensive reading shall put you in great standing in the Civil Services IAS Mains Examination.

v) Practice with Previous Years Papers : Practice answer writing with previous years papers paying special attention to speed and accuracy. Gradual practising with them shall hon your writing skills. The candidates are advised to get their answers graded by a knowledgeable faculty for its content and accuracy. Most of the questions in the exam expect for answers in 150-200 words hence advised writing less but Intelligently.

Things to avoid while preparing for UPSC IAS exam

i) Avoid Verbose Literature : Avoid Times on lengthy books, but rather start the preparation from NCERT and refer to basic easy to understand literature. The syllabus is extensive and following lengthy books can make you lose time on other important subjects.

ii) Don’t mug the Ethics Paper : The best way to approach the preparation of the Ethics paper is to follow the NCERT book followed by practising on previous years paper. Supplement it with real-life examples and avoid mugging the ethics book.

iii) Don’t follow the Internet extensively and trust your instincts : Don’t just rely on everything that is there on the internet and trust your basic instinct to answer questions for 200 words in less than 7 minutes. Browsing the net can only result in more confusions as it is loaded with so much pointless information

iv) Prefer Smart Study rather than a detailed study : Though detailed study can always boost your knowledge, the approach is not recommended considering the extensive syllabus and less availability of time. Understanding briefly the topics is all that you need for the exam.

v) Other Important Aspects : Some of the areas that candidate need not go in depth are science and technology and art culture and questions to be asked can’t be anticipated. Just a basic understanding is required for this section. Avoid apprehensions that might come in your mind as the level of your preparation. The level of difficulty of the exam or whether you shall be able to clear the exam. Also, time management in the exam is an important aspect during the exam. Avoid investing time on subjects like art and culture, world history and sociology as not more than 30 to 40 marks question are asked in these areas in the entire GS paper I.

IMPORTANT TIPS FOR IAS MAINS EXAMINATION

Candidates can effectively devise a study plan to achieve the final cut off scores and ensure your name in the top final rank list. Some of the below tips can help the candidates to achieve their goals.

Tip #1: Follow the Study Routine with Diligence

It is highly critical that the candidate follows the routine diligently. Time management is extremely crucial as there is avast syllabi to be covered. Time is valuable and the candidate should avoid delaying things for later days.

Tip #2: Smart Ways Of Preparation

IAS mains expect the candidate to answer essay type questions in a limited time. Applying short cuts and tricks can help solve problems in a shorter time span.

Tip #3: Speed is a Critical Factor

it is essential to work on improving your speed of answering. The mains expects the student to be adept in answer writing as the candidate is expected to answer essay questions by practice alone.

Tip #4: Gain practice by Previous Years Question papers

Practising previous years question papers would not only provide you with the necessary confidence but helps in increasing your speed. You can also better time your answers if you do this.

Tip #5: Stay Confident and Positive

Whether it is preparation or while taking the exam, it is important to stay positive. Staying positive always has a motivating effect on your performance. Staying positive shall enable your mind to have clarity and confidence which shall further boost your thinking capacities. It is also a wise strategy to de-stress and relax once in a while during your preparation for mind rejuvenation.