8 mistakes to avoid while preparing for the UPSC exam
What's the story
The Indian Civil Services exam, commonly referred to as the IAS exam, is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) each year.
The exam is considered one of the toughest in India, but with thorough preparation and strong determination, one can crack it.
Here are 8 common mistakes one must avoid while preparing for the UPSC Civil Services exam.
Mistakes (1)
Mistakes to avoid: Shoddy planning; Confusion about coaching
Planning: UPSC preparation is a long-term process. That's why planning is the foremost step to cracking the exam. Set realistic micro-goals, and strive to achieve them. Bad planning can ruin your preparation, while smart planning will take you places.
Coaching: Students usually take up extreme notions about taking coaching. However, truth is, coaching may or may not help. One must find out for themselves.
Mistakes (2)
Mistakes to avoid: Not considering all stages equally; Ignoring NCERTs
Stages: A lot of UPSC aspirants tend to put all their focus on the Mains examination. However, the exam has three stages- Prelims, Mains, and Interview, and all these should be taken seriously. In many instances, top candidates get eliminated in the interview round.
NCERT Books: It's an absolute blunder to ignore the NCERT textbooks, as they are vital for getting your basics right.
Mistakes (3)
Mistakes: Not practising question papers; Spending unnecessary time on newspapers
Not practising: Aspirants who devote all their time on preparation alone, and not on practising question papers are setting themselves up for failure. Practising mock tests and past years' papers helps one get the knack of paper pattern, difficulty levels, and time management.
Newspapers: Although reading newspapers is important and advisable, but doing too much of it is essentially a waste of time.
Mistakes (4)
Mistakes: Not preparing for interview; Being nervous or overconfident
Not preparing for the interview: The last stage of the UPSC exam i.e. Personality Test can either make or break things for you. Prepare well and seriously for this round to leave no stone unturned.
Being nervous: Despite hard work and persistent efforts, nervousness on the day of exam is bound to shatter your dreams.
Overconfidence: Confidence will help, overconfidence not so much.