6 Strategies for UPSC IAS Prelims: Tips and Tricks to ace IAS Prelims

If you are an IAS aspirant, you would have surely felt that clearing the exams is beyond you, at least once. Whether you are making your first attempt or have made attempts in the past, preparing for the exams needs more than just hard work. Using strategies can be great. But improvising on strategies and making changes to parts of your preparation process might significantly increase your confidence and the outcome.

When appearing for your prelims paper, you will be faced with general studies and CSAT questions that determine your place for your next round. Every year, about 5-8 lakh people appear for the prelims, but only a handful of 15,000 people progress to the next round: the mains. Using a strategy that works and is proven to show good results is your key to acing this paper.

Kamaraj IAS Academy which is today one of the top IAS Academy in Tamil Nadu has worked closely with students to help them in diverse areas. Beginning with understanding the syllabus, choosing the right subjects, formulating a game plan and guiding them with its execution, the best IAS Academy in Chennai has got it covered.

We at Kamaraj IAS Academy help train students every step of the way and observe their strategies, the outcomes, their progress and results and make changes to them to help them perform better. Here are 6 successful strategies IAS Aspirants have used to ace the IAS Prelims paper:

1. Streamline your preparation

What most students try to do is accumulate a lot of information from various sources. Whether or not the information is relevant to the syllabus, aspirants tend to study them with the perception that they might be important during the examination. In reality, sticking to the syllabus is more efficient. When referring to a lot of sources, there is a chance of contamination of information. Make sure to use credible resources and always cross-verify if they are relevant to the syllabus.

In Kamaraj IAS Academy, students are given resources that are accurate and is on par with the syllabus. The information that IAS Aspirants are fed with is contradictory proof. Only useful relevant topics and facts are used during preparation for the IAS Prelims.

2. Learn from other toppers

The best thing about preparing for IAS Prelims today is the easy access to toppers and achievers. Meeting with them, discussing strategies that worked for them and their references can help you too. But, keep in mind that resources and study material can be similar to what the toppers used. But the routines, strategies and tactics they used for preparation may not necessarily apply to you. As everyone learns and retains information differently, it is better to focus on your strengths and weaknesses, your interests, experience on the subject matter and more. Use the help of IAS toppers to gain more knowledge and clear doubts. Learn from their mistakes and establish a good routine that fits best for you.

At Kamaraj IAS Academy, we work with several IAS Aspirants who are unique in their own way. We understand how each and every aspirant functions, their capabilities, their status, etc. and prescribe strategies that can work best for them. We also conduct several meets and greets with IAS toppers for our aspirants to meet and be encouraged, enriched and learn from their experiences.

3. Make notes for yourself

When studying for the prelims, make detailed, clear notes that will help you during the revision period. After completing the syllabus, it can be challenging to go through the entire resource material spectrum for revision. Instead, quickly glancing through the notes and refreshing your memory can work efficiently for you.

In Kamaraj IAS Academy, we encourage all IAS aspirants to take notes in a manner that works best for them. Including diagrams, flow charts, statistics, numbers and other elements that make the notes interactive and easy to understand and remember.

4. Understand what you learn

Many IAS aspirants make this mistake: They mug up the answers without understanding the concept. This is a very dangerous game to play as you never know how your memory can work. It is better to take as much time as needed to understand the concept and remember the information rather than simply mugging it up. This will backfire especially if you experience a blackout during the examination. In Kamaraj IAS Academy, we encourage students to raise questions and doubts regarding the subject matter.

We push students towards understanding the information and dig deeper on the matter to enhance their knowledge and give them a better chance at cracking the UPSC Prelims papers.

5. Make use of mock tests

Mock tests help you understand your progress, the time you take to complete the paper and your critical thinking ability and accuracy. These are not only vital for prelims, they come in handy even for the main papers. As prelims papers are qualifying exams, they need to be performed extraordinarily well which needs practice.

Kamraj IAS Academy conducts several mock tests during the training and mentorship period for the IAS Exams. These mock tests are evaluated and your progress is discussed to see what needs improvisations and what your strengths and weaknesses are. This helps to structure strategies around it and excel higher in the actual exams.

6. Maintain a clear head during the examination

It is normal to be tense during the examination. But take the time to cool off and regulate your breathing and heart rate before the exam. Clear your head and stay focused on the main goal. Do not overcrowd your thoughts and cognitive functions with mental revisions. This can add stress to the mind, reducing its ability to function well and think critically.

A good way to practice or “get used” to the prelims exams is by attending more mock tests and also incorporating mind exercises as part of the preparation process to enhance brain functions and efficiency.

Summary

Preparing for the IAS Prelims papers take a lot of dedication, effort and time. With a well-planned and structured strategy, acing the exams is easier. It gives you the confidence and capability to face the examinations and crack them.

Kamaraj IAS Academy as the best IAS academy in Chennai, has been a pillar of strength for many IAS Aspirants by enabling them to find the strategies that work best for each and every IAS aspirant and follow them. We keep our students updated with important and relevant information, train them adequately with mock tests, help them prepare efficiently, and guide and mentor them about sophisticated concepts to crack UPSC Prelims exams easily.