How to Prepare UPSC 2021

How To Prepare UPSC 2021?

UPSC has announced the much-anticipated exam schedule for exams that will be conducted in
2021. Thus, the countdown has already started for the applicants willing to appear for the UPSC
exam in 2021! In regards to this, the most crucial question that arises in the aspirant's mind is
what is the best way to prepare for the forthcoming UPSC exam?
You must spend adequate time to understand the UPSC Exam Pattern. Find out about the
current subjects and today’s important current affairs. Approach the specialists and colleagues
you know for advice. Additionally, go through newspapers and follow news websites and
channels to know more about current affairs. Make your own study plan and subsequently set
your goals.
Herein is a thorough guide to help you understand the right way of preparing for your UPSC
exam. Remember, though you need to work hard, you also need to have a proper study strategy
to come out with flying colors in this exam.
Understanding the examination basics:
You must know all the details about the exam you’re about to appear! Henceforth, you need to
give at least one week to get an idea about the examination pattern, UPSC Syllabus, and all the
exams' bare essentials. Another activity that you should do before beginning preparation for the
UPSC is to look through earlier year papers and familiarize yourself with the kind of questions
asked in the examination.

As far as UPSC Exams are concerned, NCERT books are going to be the must-read. Invest some
substantial time like a couple of months, reading notable books like NCERTs, which is your
foundation builder, and grasp every single fundamental concept to ensure that you are absolutely
clear with the technicalities of every subject offered in all the General Papers. Don’t just
continue focusing on UPSC prelims, yet give equivalent significance to the Mains, too, as the
two papers overlap considerably, and if you learn them simultaneously, the results will be better
for you for sure. If you want to learn better and revise effectively, consider doing things like
making notes, cue cards, mind maps, etc., for your help. But, while doing all these, do not
disregard the current affairs part.

Strengthening your Foundation:

Now that you have a clear idea about the questions to be asked in the exam begin to prepare! Go
through the NCERT books from Classes VI to XII. Every year, over fifteen questions are asked
from the NCERTs directly; henceforth, no way that should be skipped! You can check online, or
if you are undergoing any IAS coaching, you’ll find specific NCERT courses created for
beginners. Such courses will help you to start your preparation, which otherwise, may appear to
be quite a challenge! Therefore, in this initial phase, begin with reading the NCERTs regularly
and creating a habit of reading newspapers and magazines daily.

You’ve strengthened your foundation? Now build on it:

Now, you should build on the foundation that you've constructed! Go through the standard books
for every subject. Do always remember that your preparation should be in such a way that you
get adequate revision time; therefore, limit your resources accordingly. Select a single book for
every subject, go through it thoroughly, and revise it several times.

The optional subject should be chosen wisely:

Determine what will be ideal for you out of the best optional subjects for the UPSC Mains.
UPSC offers a list of optional subjects and the syllabus for them, and applicants are permitted to
pick any one subject from that list.

As an applicant, you need to pick a particular optional subject and start to prepare according to
its syllabus provided. This is a time you should also practice answering the mock papers for the
upcoming UPSC prelims. Continue answering these papers (mock), take a series of tests, prepare
topic-wise worksheets, go through previous years' papers to explore your advancement, and
don’t forget to revise at the same time.

Revision! Revision! Revision!

What’s the key to the UPSC Exam? Its revision! You’d need to cover an extensive syllabus;
therefore, to retain whatever you’ve read, you must continue revising. Whatever you’ve read
through the entire week, revise that during the weekends. Besides that, consistently revise the
current affairs and different subjects also!

Practice answers writing:

After you've finished about half of the syllabus, start to practice answer-writing. Completing the
entire UPSC syllabus is a gigantic, monumental, or whatever you call it, kind of a task. You
might not be able to cover the entire of it, irrespective of whatever you do! Thus, set up a target
to complete around 70 to 75% of the syllabus and continue to revise as many times as you can.
Try to write quality answers, check online to get suggestions on writing answers from the IAS
toppers, and use them to outline your answers. Always get your answers assessed from your
tutors/mentors who could help you out with the ways to improve!

Focus now on the Prelims:

You can start to prepare for the prelims about two months before the Prelims exam. As the
Prelims are scheduled to be held on 27th June in the upcoming year, your Prelims-centric
preparation should ideally start around the middle of March. Try to take full-length mock tests to
set yourself up for the day that matters. Since the Coronavirus impact might be existing, ensure
you’re using a face cover or a face shield even when you appear for mock tests to adjust yourself
to the new examination environment.

Also, go through the current affairs and all the main subjects alongside the mock tests.
Remember CSAT. Although it is qualifying in nature, it is critical to get more than 66 in that
paper to ensure you qualify for the Prelims exam.

Start to practice writing answers for the Mains:

So, you’re done with the Prelims Exam! If, according to you, you are through with it, give
yourself a break for seven days and start your preparations for the Mains. The UPSC Mains is
declared to be held from 17th to 21st September 2021. Begin with revising your optional subject
just as make efforts to improve your weak areas. Again, write the appropriate answers
thoughtfully and ensure they get assessed by your coaches/trainers. It will permit you to evaluate
your writing aptitudes. At the same time, continue revising the standard books and, of course,
your notes. Try not to go through anything new right now; simply revise whatever notes you’ve
made earlier.

Likewise, revise the UPSC prelims again as they are essential ideas that prove to be useful. Don’t
quit reading the newspaper and following the current issues. Ensure you’re practicing writing
essays for your essay-writing paper.

Go through publications and government reports to enhance your insight and furthermore figure
out how to effectively present your thoughts and view the topics from different viewpoints.

Preparation for the personal interview:

To get yourself ready for the personal interview, it’s vital that you carefully go through the DAF
to make preparations for answering all the standard questions in advance. Ensure you are

confident, continue working on your soft skills, work on personality grooming, read newspapers
regularly to keep yourself updated always.

After the Mains:

Even after you’re done with the Mains, don’t give up the habit of reading newspapers. Continue
researching the kind of questions asked in the personal interview and ensure you’re ready for it.
By this time, you’ll also get to know about the results. Don’t get yourself into a panic situation
and under extreme pressure; instead, try and have a ball and be at recreation.

Other Different Tips:

• Get yourself admission into IAS coaching or instructional classes on the internet if you feel
that you’d need them; however, they aren’t compulsory. Numerous applicants feel that it’s
simpler to learn without help from anyone else as well. However, certain individuals think it’s
better if they undergo any training as it gives them an additional inspiration to continue pushing
ahead.

• Take adequate breaks when required, like making the most of your Sundays and not totally
confine yourself from the rest of the world.

• Continue revising topics as many times as possible to make your concept entirely strong on that
during your study period.

• Document and keep up notes for significant Current Events and News that occurred all through
the previous year, so you remember significant events.

• Ensure you learn all the essential documents and legalities required for the examination and
sign up on time to affirm your candidature.

Final Thoughts:

The initial move towards achieving success is to always choose your target as per your own
desires. Don’t let external reasons like your dad/mother’s dream or any pressure from the social
circle, etc., influence you or your objective. Whatever you want to achieve in your life, your
desires, that is, should come from within your heart, and whenever you’ve set your goals, be
resolved, and be determined to get it. Get yourself motivated to reach your destination.

Remember, UPSC exams aren’t the same as other usual competitive exams. You would need to
devote significant time and effort to get yourself ready for it, which will only be possible if you
have real dedication and determination.