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Strategies: Without sufficient planning, a goal is little more than a fantasy. In the case of civil service, this is also true. The Civil Service Exam, as the country’s most difficult exam, demands more than just preparation. It necessitates what is known as “strategy plus preparation.” Aspirants and clever aspirants are separated by a thin line drawn by a sound plan. With fewer inputs, the latter gets more productive, whereas the former becomes less productive with more inputs.

The UPSC Civil Services Exam has three stages: an objective preliminary exam, a written main exam, and an interview (personality test). Thousands of candidates work hard every year to pass the exam, but only a handful are successful. Those who are unsure where to begin their UPSC preparations might consider the following:

1. Understand the exam pattern and syllabus:

• For effective preparation, a thorough understanding of the syllabus’s nature, clarity, and scope is required.
• It aids in determining what should be read and what should be avoided. Because the exam questions are always from the syllabus, keeping a constant check on the syllabus is essential.
• Aspirants should concentrate on the exam format and syllabus. Preliminary, mains, and interview are the three phases of the test.
• One of the most significant components of getting good grades in tests is to keep track of your progress.
• Make goals for yourself. Begin by setting daily goals for accomplishing chores such as review and preparation, then gradually increase by adding more study time and expanding your syllabus.
• This practise will help you cover a large portion of your curriculum while also improving your study habits.

2. Do SWOT analysis:

• Taking as many mock tests and practise tests as possible is the key to a higher score.
• You can obtain sample papers online or request previous year question papers from your lecturers.
• Spend at least a week or a few days before the exam practising different question papers using a timer. Every contender has some advantages and disadvantages.
• We should be aware of our strengths and weaknesses as candidates for any entrance exam.
• As a result, aspirants should do a SWOT analysis. It will assist you in enhancing your skills and recognising your limitations, allowing you to gain confidence.
• This is one of the most crucial things to think about when studying for tests. Make a list of your weak concepts and focus on them in addition to the other areas.
• If you’re weak in Current Affairs, for example, it may intimidate you and you’ll attempt to avoid it as much as possible.
• However, make it a habit to include difficult courses in your study plan so that you don’t feel overwhelmed at the end.
• Furthermore, once you’ve determined the topics you need to improve, enlist the assistance of friends or seek advice from teachers.

3. Analyse your solved papers by yourself:

• The more you practise the sample papers for this exam, the more questions you will be able to answer correctly.
• It will aid in the development of speed, discipline, and confidence, as well as the identification of your weak spots.
• The greatest technique to assess what you’ve learnt when studying for any exam is to use prior year sample papers and mock exams.
• These exams are designed to help students prepare for exam day by determining whether or not they can administer a mock exam in a reasonable amount of time.
• When you are through with the syllabus of each subject or area, the optimal time to practise sample and mock examinations is just a few days before the final showdown, when you are just a few days away from the final showdown. Set your timer, grab a sample paper, and administer the test as if it were the real thing.
• This way, you’ll be able to see which portions take the most time for you and where you may cut corners.
• Aspirants should double-check their questions because doing so will force you to repeat your mistakes, which will prevent you from doing so again.
• Making a strategy to strengthen weaknesses while maintaining aware of strengths can be a terrific way to achieve not just academic success but also personal fulfilment.

4. Strategy is important:

• A sensible approach must be established before you begin your preparation, bearing in mind the nuances of each phase you must complete.
• A proper strategy is a detailed plan that outlines what you’ll do, how you’ll do it, and what resources you’ll need.
• There are numerous techniques for learning any subject without memorising it, and you should constantly attempt to find pleasure in whatever subject you are studying.
• To grasp the basic core of a subject, look up video tutorials and use flashcards or memorization techniques like mnemonics, mind palace, and visualisation, or use a combination of the two.
• Instead of intense studies, smart studying is the way to proceed. It entails being aware of the exam’s nerves and adjusting accordingly.
• The key principle of smart study is to read the material that is relevant to the exam.

5. Choose Proper Study Material:

• Choosing study material is not a simple task and requires proper guidance. It is always a good idea to begin preparation by getting subject fundamentals in place.
• The best source to get clarity and a good hold on various subjects are the NCERT books (from class VI to class XII).
• Don’t compromise your newspaper reading irrespective of the time constraints. Once you get into the mood, believe us, it’s not that boring!
• We prefer The Hindu or Indian Express for quality articles. Give importance to editorials and op-ed articles.
• Choosing study materials is a difficult undertaking that necessitates expert advice.
• It’s always a good idea to start your preparation with learning the fundamentals of the subject. The NCERT books are the best source for gaining clarity and a firm grasp on many subjects (from class VI to class XII).
• Regardless of time constraints, don’t skimp on your newspaper reading. It’s not so boring once you get into the groove, believe us!
• For quality articles, we recommend The Hindu or The Indian Express. Make editorials and op-ed pieces a priority.
• In terms of magazines, EPW is an excellent place to look for up-to-date information. Yojana and Kurukshetra are government projects and initiatives towards understanding.

In UPSC preparation, the utility of material obtained from books or newspapers is critical. You must be astute enough to fit a fact or piece of information into the best possible context. The Internet aids in keeping up with what is going on in the world. The Internet’s usability, on the other hand, is something that candidates should take advantage of in order to add value to their preparation.