IAS Preparation Tips For Beginners | How to prepare for IAS Prelims without coaching

All you need to know about IAS Preparation Tips For Beginners is here. This is especially helpful in answering How to prepare for IAS Prelims without coaching. UPSC IAS is one of the arduous exams to crack. Recently, a lot of students are of the notion that UPSC IAS exams can be cracked only by students who take coaching while preparing for this exam. This belief is not true in the past many students qualified the exams without going for any coaching and some of them even top the UPSC IAS exam. From this, it is very clear that coaching is not the only way through which one can crack UPSC IAS exams but even by studying by all by themselves aspirants can excel in this exam- Self Preparation is salient.

Whether it’s done with or without coaching. Many students choose coaching as it sets routines, targets and the students practice more & more in their set routine, but all of this can be done even without going to a coaching. Discipline and Determination are the main mantras that can help any student crack this exam.

If a candidate prepares for the exam all by themselves he/she may actually end up saving more time and resources and putting it back into their preparations. A to-do list for self study.

Develop a routine

Time management is really crucial for a student preparing for any competitive examination. A set routine helps the candidates in Managing their time effectively and being disciplined.

Early bird catches the worm

The earlier the candidate starts preparing the more time he/she has in hand to practice & cover the syllabus efficiently.

Understand the UPSC Exam Structure

Candidate should thoroughly go through the UPSC syllabus this would help them in planning their study routine. Going to through previous years question papers would give him/her an idea as to what kind of questions are asked in the exam.

GS Paper-I is the key

GS is a common paper for both prelims & mains. Revise it efficiently. Till 2014, scoring high in GS Paper 2 (popularly known as CSAT) was the most convenient way to crack Civil Services Prelims. Putting less effort as compared to GS Paper 1, aspirants used to score great in prelims paper and clearing prelims. But, with changes in the UPSC pattern in 2015 this strategy won’t work in the future. Preparing well for GS Paper-I would also help you in UPSC- MAINS.

Choose your optional paper wisely

Think carefully before you choose your optional and prepare it before prelims. This will reduce your pressure at mains stage.

Follow useful government websites

Various governmental websites are cluster of recent government policy and information. Candidates should follow these websites. Some of them are:

• upsc.gov.in
• prsindia.org
• ncert.nic.in
• Pib.nic.in
• mea.gov.in
• ptinews.com
• ptinews.com
• Idsa.in
• envfor.nic.in

Make Reading Newspaper a Habit

This habit would not only help the candidate in staying updated with current affairs.

A Good mix of Book & Self made notes

Write & develop your notes this would help you when you are revising for the exam.

Take mock tests at regular intervals

Taking mock tests helps you in understanding how well you are prepared & what more could be done to improve your preparation.

Reach out to fellow aspirants

Discussing topics will help you in understanding the topic much better sharing of ideas & thoughts would also allow you to understand the topic from the other perspective.

Write & Practice

The syllabus is vast the more you write the more you will be able to memorise & practicing would help in polishing your knowledge.

Invest on the right books for UPSC Civil Service Preliminary Exam

Studying smart is really important with so many books in the market. A candidate should invest only in the best books that would actually help them while preparing for the examination. Here is a list of books that can be of some guidance for the aspirants:

• History Of Modern India – Bipan Chandra. (History)
• India’s Struggle For Independence – Bipan Chandra. (History)
• India’s Ancient Past – R.S. Sharma. (History)
• History Of Medieval India – Satish Chandra. (History)
• The Wonder That Was India – A.L. Bhasham. (Culture)
• Indian Art and Culture – Nitin Singhania. (Culture)
• Geography of India – Majid Husain. (Geography)
• Oxford School Atlas – Oxford. (Geography)
• Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Cheng Leong. (Geography)
• Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations – M. Laxmikanth. (Polity)
• Indian Economy – Ramesh Singh. (Economy)
• Economic Survey. (Economy)
• Science and Technology in India – TMH. (Science and Technology)
• Environmental Studies: From Crisis to Cure – Rajagopalan. (Environment)
• Environment for Civil Services Prelims and Mains – Khuller. (Environment)
• India Year Book(Current Affairs)
• Manorama Yearbook. (Current Affairs)
• CSAT Paper – 2 Manual by TMH or CSAT-II – Arihant (CSAT – Paper 2)
• Analytical Reasoning – M. K. Pandey (CSAT – Paper 2: Analytical Reasoning)
• Verbal & Nonverbal Reasoning – R. S.Aggarwal(CSAT Paper 2: Reasoning)

Go with a calm mind on the day of exam

Being nervous or stressed will only make you forget what you have studied so keep a calm mind.

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