UPSC Mains 2023 – Last Minute Preparation Strategy

UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most prestigious as well as the toughest examinations in India. It is an annual exam whose notification generally comes out during the month of February. The notification contains details about the vacancies, syllabus, and pattern of the exam. UPSC CSE consists of a three-tier selection process which includes Preliminary Exam, Mains exam and a Personality Test.

The preliminary exam which is of an objective type acts as a filtration process for the next level in the selection process. Prelims comprise 2 papers namely General Studies I and II, out of which GS-II is a qualifying paper. The marks obtained in GS-I decides the eligibility of the candidates to appear in Mains. Mains is a descriptive test that contains 9 papers in total, out of which 2 are language papers that are qualifying in nature.

This year (2023) Prelims was conducted on May 28 and the Mains examination is going to be held starting from September 16. Here are some important points for the candidates who have cleared Prelims this year.

1. Strategic Revision is the key

In order to clear Mains, revising the notes is as important as taking notes. That too, strategic revision of vital subjects is a must if you want your name to appear in the final merit list. For example – in polity, evergreen areas like judicial review, Governor’s significance and RTI Act should be revised thoroughly compared to other topics within polity. Important and evergreen topics can be chosen from the analysis of Current affairs and previous year question papers. Approaching the exam, your mantra should be “Revise, Revise and Revise”.

2. Frame factsheet for smooth sailing

Any point or statement can be proven well with data and statistics but being a human being limits the ability to retain plain numbers. Prepare notes separately for facts and data of important topics, so that you can refer to them finally instead of memorising the facts and data for every topic in the notes. For example – in the case of social issues, if facts like poverty level in India, Gender equality index, unemployment data are noted in a separate paper, they can be referred not just for General studies but also Essay paper and Ethics. This way it’s a win-win scenario.

3. Give more credit to high-yielding papers

Throughout the Mains preparation process, candidates make the mistake of giving importance only to 3 General Studies papers, but the harsh reality is that they are not the high-yielding papers. Rather the high-yielding papers are Essay, Ethics and Optional Papers. The sad truth is that, among the three, Essay and Ethics are not given any importance at all. Essay and Ethics require minimum preparation compared to other subjects, so dedicate the final days to revamp and revitalize your Essay and Ethics preparation to give you an edge among your competitors. [Question Papers]

4. Do not forget to add the PYQ ingredient

Previous Year Question papers (PYQs) are like salt to a dish. Analysing PYQs help you understand the trend followed by UPSC and identify the evergreen topics in the exam. Additionally, solving the PYQs is like simulation for the real one and it also helps in the time management which is a major issue faced by the candidates. The final lap in the Mains preparation process is analysing and solving the PYQs.

5. Remember RCC (Relax, stay Confident and Calm)

It’s true when they say that the mind is like water, when turbulent it’s difficult to see but when calm everything becomes clear. Nervousness and anxiety will not help in any situation; rather calmness and composure especially in a difficult situation does wonders. Prior to exams, get sufficient sleep, meditate if needed, have a nutritious meal, avoid emotional situations and last but not least maintain a positive and calm demeanor.

Last lap of the Mains preparation process requires a more concentrated and strategic approach. You have already done your hard work, now is the time for smart work. Follow these strategic tips and stay composed which is all needed for tackling this examination. Your hard work and dedication towards the exam will be definitely paid off.

Good luck!