The UPSC exam consists of three stages. These stages together challenge the aspirant's knowledge, communication skills, and critical thinking.
- Preliminary examination (prelims) - The first step.
- Main examination (mains) - The most important stage of the selection process.
- Personality test (interview) - The final judgment of your intellect and personality.
Let's understand the basics of these stages and unveil what it takes to clear the UPSC civil services examination.
Preliminary examination (prelims) - The first step
The preliminary exam serves as the qualifying exam for all the aspirants. The preliminary exams include two objective-type exams. The first exam is general studies, which consists of topics like Indian history, polity, geography, economy, environment, science & technology, and current affairs. The second exam is the civil services and aptitude test. During this test, the students will face questions like comprehension, reading ability, and numeracy. The aspirants will be judged as per the quantity of their knowledge rather than the quality during the prelim examination. UPSC classes in Thane will allow the candidate to cover the entire syllabus efficiently.
Challenges during prelims
Some of the challenges the aspirants will face during the prelims include:
- Wide syllabus: The candidates have to cover all the topics that are included in the syllabus, ranging from ancient Indian history all the way to climate change that must be covered.
- Time management: Solving 100 questions in 2 hours requires exceptional focus and efficiency while also considering negative marking.
Tips for Preliminary Exam Preparation
- Back to basics: Always opt for NCERT books to build up a strong foundation for advanced studies. Books like Lakshmikant can be an ideal choice for polity topics.
- Stay up to date: Always read the newspaper to get regular updates about what is happening, and referring to a monthly current affairs compilation is essential.
- Mock test: Attempting regular mock tests will significantly increase your speed and accuracy. Joining the best coaching for UPSC helps you to get access to high-quality test series.
- Regular revision: The aspirants must do regular revisions of everything they have learned previously. Regular revision will allow you to understand the concept and reduce last-minute stress.
Main examination (mains) - The most important stage
If the prelims test the breadth of your knowledge, the main examination will now challenge you with the depth of it. This stage consists of 9 descriptive papers; the aspirants have to score well in at least 7 to make it to the final merit. The main examination includes essay writing, where the candidates have to write two essays to showcase their analytical and writing skills. Papers 1st to 4th consist of topics like history, geography, polity, economy, and ethics. The candidates can also choose one optional subject for an optional paper that goes along with their interests and background. The candidates must know that they have to clear the English and regional language papers to proceed further; the marks of these two papers will not be added to the final score. The UPSC classes in Thane will allow you to understand the important topics during this stage.
Challenges during mains
Some of the challenges the aspirants will face during the mains include:
- Subjective: The candidates will have to write well-structured, coherent answers and explain every point analytically to get good marks.
- Volume of answers: The candidates have to write detailed answers for all the questions and clear the cutoff, which is around 735 for general students out of the total of 1750 marks.
- Time management: The students will have to go to writing training to write all the questions in the allotted time period.
Tips for the Main Examination
- Writing practice: The candidate must have the ability to write long and detailed answers with precise knowledge of the topic. You can take admission to the best coaching for UPSC to get advice from mentors.
- Understand the concepts: Always opt for advanced reference material and stay updated on contemporary issues to give the best possible answers.
- Select optional wisely: Choose the optional subject wisely according to your background and interest, of which you have all the study materials ready.
Personality test: The final exam
The personality test, also known as the interview, is the final stage of your UPSC journey. During this, you have to give an interview to a panel of judges that will last about 30 to 40 minutes. This stage is designed to evaluate the personality, communication skills, and decision-making ability of the candidate. The interview panel will ask questions about current affairs, the interests and hobbies of the candidate, and hypothetical administrative scenarios. Although the personality test carries only 275 marks, it can make a significant impact on the final score.
Challenges in the interview test
Some of the challenges that the aspirants may face during the interview test include:
- Unpredictability: The aspirants cannot predict what kind of questions they will face during the interview. The questions can range from politics all the way to your favorite book.
- Pressure handling: Handling the pressure in front of the panel can be a daunting task while also thinking about the answers.
Tips for Interview Preparation
- Know your DAF: Clearly understand your detailed application form (DAF) because most of the questions arose from the form itself.
- Regular updates: Regularly discuss and read current affairs from newspapers and social media.
- Mock interviews: Various UPSC classes in Thane provide mock interviews to allow the candidates to practice for their main interview.
- Stay confident: Be clear about your answers and do not try to put on an act; staying confident and authentic is the key to successfully clearing the interview.
Conclusion
The UPSC exam journey is not just an examination of your knowledge but also a test of your patience, resilience, and adaptability. Whether you are studying for the vast syllabus of prelims, practicing detailed answers for mains, or sharpening your personality for the interview, the best coaching for UPSC will allow you to clear all the stages with ease and clarity. If you are a UPSC aspirant and looking for the best UPSC classes in Thane, you can opt for the C.D. Deshmukh Competitive Exam Centre. Are you ready to start your UPSC exam journey? Call now and start your studies today.