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How to Succeed in IAS Mains

The UPSC Civil Services Exam is one of India's most prestigious exams. Every year, thousands of individuals attempt it around the country. However, only a small percentage of them are able to realise their IAS objectives. The IAS exam is not only difficult due to the length of its syllabus, but it is also frightening due to its extremely unexpected nature. As a result, it is critical that you develop a sound UPSC Mains Strategy that will maximise your score and increase your chances of achieving a decent rank. The first step is to discover a good technique to prepare for UPSC Mains!

While experienced applicants have a good concept of what to do following prelims, beginners and fresh aspirants are frequently at sea. As a result, individuals seek answers to their inquiries about UPSC Mains Strategy for Beginners or how to prepare for UPSC Mains from a reliable source. In this essay, we will discuss one such UPSC Mains Strategy that will undoubtedly assist you in planning your own. This post will provide you with all of the information you need to succeed in the UPSC IAS mains exam and change your destiny.

Select Your Optional Subject Carefully

The optional subject for IAS mains is the most important part of the mains course. The optional subject should be chosen based on your level of comfort and interest in the subject. This decision must not be influenced by false assumptions about 'which is the most scoring optional'. It's not so much the optional subject as it is your preparation and presentation (answer writing) that determines your score.

 Maintain Consistency in Your Preparation

The advantage of extra time is the most significant advantage that early novices have. However, there is an issue. When there is enough time, it is not your 'time management,' but rather your 'consistency maintenance over this extended period of time' that requires more attention. As a result, all days, weeks, and months should be pre-scheduled with specific goals in mind. First and foremost, a candidate must memorise the whole syllabus of the exam's three parts. The IAS syllabus micro themes are available for free download on the linked article. This minor but significant task will help keep your preparation focused and relevant. Check out our definitive UPSC mains guide for subject-specific advice.

Make a Proper Study Plan

After carefully selecting an optional subject, the candidate must begin preparation immediately. Allocate the months and plan your days and weeks ahead of time to ensure that you finish the curriculum for the four General Studies papers and Optional subjects by November - December. Only by meticulously planning your time will you be able to complete your Mains preparation.

Appropriate Time Management

Time management for IAS mains is the most crucial part of IAS preparation. Given the availability of time, it is critical to follow the mains first' strategy, which means that you should begin your UPSC preparation by developing a UPSC mains preparation strategy. After prelims, a candidate has only three to four months to prepare for the mains. The requirement of answer writing and essay writing practice tightens the schedule even more. As a result, preparing for the mains component first will be a wise decision.

Follow Daily Current Events Keep Yourself Up to Date

Following the newspaper religiously and regularly on a daily basis is a significant, if not decisive, element of the preparation. In current Affairs for IAS mains the candidate should stay current on all major national and international developments. You can subscribe to one or two periodicals and government websites such as Yojana, Kurukshetra, PIB, PRS, and so forth. You can also begin your initial response writing practice after you have completed the mains syllabus once. One thing to keep in mind is that the syllabus for the mains and prelims is not fully separate. As a result, when preparing for the UPSC mains, a considerable chunk of the Prelims is also covered. From January or February onwards, one can shift into 'prelims-focused' mode for the remainder. The golden trinity revision, consolidation, and assessment' must now become part of the planning.

 Improve Your Answer Writing Skills

Because the Mains paper is descriptive in nature, it is critical that you include response writing time in your UPSC Mains Preparation strategy. At the conclusion of the day, attempt to recap what you read in your own words. Set aside an hour each day to practise answering questions. Get your answers reviewed by your mentors or seniors to get a sense of where you stand. Don't worry about writing awful responses at first. Because practice makes perfect, write as many answers as you can.

Give Regular Mock Tests.

Mock exams are now crucial since they provide you with an exam experience and help you get ready to write your best answers in a pressure-filled exam. So, never assume mockery is harmless. Consider it a chance to learn how to compose effective responses that are brief and to the point while taking the questions' demands into account.

So, using the 5-step UPSC Mains Preparation strategy that we advise, this is how you should prepare for the UPSC Mains. We discussed how to prepare for the UPSC Mains before and after the Prelims. Take inspiration to develop your own exam-cracking strategy. For your preparation, you can rely on our courses and study guides. To learn more about our courses, get in touch with our course counsellors.

Make a thorough study schedule for the UPSC Mains.

After you've completely unwinded, step out of that zone and create a thorough study schedule for your mains preparation. As you may already be aware, there are nine theory questions in the UPSC Mains, of which two are qualifying language questions, two are questions from your optional subjects, one is an essay question, and the remaining four are general studies questions. Therefore, you should have a clear plan for how to review each subject and prepare the ones you haven't even begun to cover yet.

Conclusion

In conclusion, passing the IAS Mains is a difficult task that demands substantial planning, tenacity, and concentration. However, one can improve their chances of success by adhering to the aforementioned advice, including comprehending the exam format, honing writing abilities, analysing previous years' papers, keeping up with current events, time management, practising mock exams, and remaining motivated. Keep in mind that success involves both the process of learning and developing as well as getting a high score. Keep a positive attitude, put in a lot of effort, and try your hardest. You can succeed in the IAS Mains exam and accomplish your goals if you are persistent and determined.