The UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of the most prestigious and toughest examinations in India, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit suitable candidates for civil services of India including IAS, IPS, IFS, and other allied services. This examination is conducted in three phases, Prelims, Main, and the Interview or personality test. The first phase of this examination, UPSC CSE-2022 Prelims is just around the corner. It will be held on 5th June 2022.
Every UPSC aspirant seeks to understand the Dos and Don’ts of preparing for the examination, especially at this point. All serious aspirants would be well into their IAS prelims preparation by now. However, many of them are still on the lookout for real guidance and ways to reduce their stress and anxiety at this crucial moment.
And when such guidance and suggestions come from a person who had successfully passed the examination in the past, nothing can top it. One such person is 2018 batch IFS officer Anupam Sharma who wrote some important suggestions for the UPSC exam in a long thread on his Twitter account. He shared several tips and tricks with aspirants on how to crack UPSC papers by paying thorough attention to proper notes. You just need to keep a few things in mind for this.
Anxiety
His first thread of tweets was tips based on anxiety and nervousness that occur right before the examination. These tips help reduce anxiety and stress during UPSC Prelims Exam. He said, “Tips to manage UPSC Prelims Exam Stress/Anxiety: Remember that some level of stress is experienced by almost every serious UPSC aspirant. It may sometimes impact efficiency. A few aspirants may even break down. It’s NORMAL.”
Reduce Stress
Through his second tweet, he shared, “Undoubtedly, Civil Services are good. But, they are not as great as most coaching institutes or as some people portray. They over-glorify them. And that is rarely told. Many other avenues can offer what you want in life. I hope this truth will reduce your stress. By accepting this, half your stress will be reduced.”
Sleep
In his third tweet, he highlights the importance of sleep during preparations. He wrote, “SLEEP is an underrated aspect of exam preparation. 6 to 8 hours of sleep is necessary to remember anything well. This also reduces your stress. Make a sleep schedule; a proper sleep cycle is very important. An optimum hour (6-8) is essential for memorization and to reduce stress. Sleep deprivation, below six hours, is very harmful.”
“Proper/Regular daily schedule & sleep cycle is equally important. Don’t vary it much.”
Revision
In his fourth tweet, he enlightens the importance of study sources and revision strategy. He said, “Don’t set lofty or unachievable targets for yourself during preparation. Limit the sources. Select only those sources which have a good B/E ratio (Benefits/Efforts). Revise them multiple times.”
Mock Test
Some UPSC aspirants over-rely on mock tests during preparation. Therefore, in his fifth tweet, Mr. Sharma highlights that aspect and asks aspirants to avoid overdoing it. He wrote, “Don’t overdo Mock Tests for Prelims. If you have done 1 test/subject + 2-3 Full-length (overall it will be 10), then that’s enough. Attempt mocks only of credible institutes like Vision, Insights.”
“Don’t worry much if you are getting low scores in them. PYQs (Previous year’s questions) is very important though.”
Eating Habit
Your health plays a vital role during UPSC preparations. If you feel healthy and have a healthy mind, then your preparations will be better and easier. He said, “Eat healthy & hygienic food. Prefer fruits, vegetables, milk, etc. Avoid oily, spicy &junk food. Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Snacks, Dinner. Don’t skip meals.”
Social Life Is Necessary Too
Some aspirants end their social life during their preparation. But Mr. Sharma suggests that this is not a good thing. He said, “Don’t end your social life for UPSC. Talk to your family and friends for at least 30 minutes a day. But avoid too much socialization, like meeting more people. Stay away from negative people. Don’t waste too much time on social media. Avoid making new relationships.”
In a separate tweet, he also gave some valuable information on how to start UPSC preparation and what to read first. He shared, “Start slowly & steadily if you have time. Read NCERTs 6th-10th for building basics/foundation (or) join good online coaching. It’s not advised to read the Newspaper from the first day. It is also not mandatory to take coaching classes for preparation.”
It is natural to feel a little nervous and anxious about the impending exam, but it is also necessary to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. Indian Masterminds wishes you the best of luck for your examinations!
Read More: This IFS Officer Suggests UPSC Prelims CSAT Exam Strategy
