IAS Prelims Strategy for the Last Month of Preparation
As the date of Civil Services Exam comes near, most students start to question about the
preparation for the final month of preparation. Some of the students start to panic even after
studying seriously for the whole year. The anxiety of appearing in the toughest exam of our
country takes its toll on the candidates. But a proper strategy can help you overcome all your
fears and get the best out of you. So, let’s discuss some proper methods that UPSC toppers
follow to get the maximum result.
Revise with a Goal
Every one of us knows the importance of revision. It refreshes our concepts and allows us to
analyze our strengths and weaknesses. But just revising your subjects and notes isn’t enough. It
is most important to keep track of your progress through revision. Analyze what can be done to
improve your weaker sections. Also, create a proper plan to revise. Give more time to those
subjects which need more attention, and similarly, you can give less time to your strong
subjects. Always keep updating your schedule according to the process you’ve made.
Take Mock Tests (A lot of them)
So yes, you may feel this is the most obvious advice you can give to a student. But the thing
that most people don’t realise is that tests are not just a way to check your rank among other
online competitors. Online test series are a very vague method of ranking yourself among the
competition. Not only because of subpar difficulty level but also because online test series are
not accessible to every student preparing for UPSC CSE. Mock tests should be used to speed
up your revision and analyzing process instead.
If you have completed your syllabus and are revising with the help of your hard earned notes,
mock tests can help a lot in analyzing where you are going wrong. Thus, making it easier to
learn from your mistakes and then making amendments accordingly.
Avoid Learning New things
Learning new things will take a lot of time and focus. So, instead of helping you out they make
things more difficult. Most of the time, students keep adding new stuff to their study plan. In the
end, it just confuses them, and they end up with more data to process but no time to study. Last
month of preparation should be left solely for the purpose of refreshing your memory. Do not go
to new subjects and topics. This will be just a waste of time, and you’ll lose the precious time
that can be used to hone your existing skills. The syllabus of UPSC is already comprehensive
enough. You have to keep yourself updated with everything that’s happening around you. So,
starting a completely new subject or topic will just distract you from your routine.
Stay Put at your Routine
No matter what phase of study you are in, it is essential to keep yourself motivated and focused.
Continue your daily habits but try to make it less monotonous. Keep making changes to your
routine. Transitions are essential so that you don’t feel bored. But keep important things intact
even after alterations. Remember to read the newspaper daily to stay updated with current
affairs. Revise your most important concepts daily and create mind maps to remember
complicated things. Also, if you follow certain techniques to calm your mind down, keep
following them. They are most crucial in the final days of preparation when your mind is going
places all the time.
Relax!
Yes, relax. That’s the most crucial part of your preparation. Get a good sleep every night to
make sure you wake up fresh and ready to work. Studying all the time and giving very little time
to relax is harmful to your mind. Research has shown that even the brightest students tend to
make mistakes when their mind is not properly rested. After all, it is the hardest working part of
your body when you are studying. You can even take power naps to restore your energy every
once in a while. Additionally, follow your favourite hobbies, when you are not studying, to calm
down and maintain your emotional balance.
Conclusion
It is natural to feel anxious when a big day of your life is coming nearer. But don’t panic. You
have prepared with utmost sincerity and hard work till now. So it's time to get ready to pluck the
fruit. Do not get disheartened if you feel the competition is too hard. A lot of students stop
preparing when they can’t handle the pressure. Even when they are more capable than they
think. So, never give up. Keep your head high, feet on the ground, and follow the strategy that
will guide you to success.
All the best for your preparations.
For any query/study material requirement/mentorship needs, please feel free to contact us at
Raj Malhotra's IAS Academy in Chandigarh.
Jai Hind!
