This is the first question asked by a Civil Services aspirants.
Lakhs of students appear for the prestigious civil services exam conducted by UPSC every year. Altough, the competition is fierce and requires ardous efforts by the civil services aspirants over a long period of time. Still,a fresher needs to be hopeful and advised to keep away from these news showing the toughness of the examination.
We must always be focussed towards our goal without being worried about the obstacles in the process.
What should I study to prepare for Civil Services exam?
To answer this question, one must be familiar with the three tier exam pattern of the competition. i.e. CSAT, Civil Services(Mains) and Interview.
It is important to note that all of these three exams needs to be crakced with different bent of mind and altough with similar objectives. CSAT exams consists of two sets of Paper 1 (aptitude test) and CSAT Paper 2 (GS - General Studies). It is exam with objective type of questions. While the Paper 1 is qualifying, on the other hand, the marks of Paper 2 will be counted for shortlisting the candidates for the CS(Main) written examination. It is good thing that around fifteen thousands candidates are shortlisted (depending on the number of vacancies).
Civil Services(Main) exam consists of several papers and are of written type in nature. Thus, writing skills play a very important role in cracking the main exam. and lastly, the interview requires good communication skills apart from a good source of knowledge.
In this article, we'll see all the three exams from bird's eye. We'll provide guidelines to prepare for the Civil Services exam in general for a novice or from scratch. Foundation of education or thoughts plays most important role in the examination. Thus, we'll focus on how to build the foundation and what it is composed of.
Building Foundation for the Civil Services exam
Foundation is the base on which the preparation of civil services stands. To crack the IAS exam, one needs to build a firm foundation on which the rest of empires rests. If we build solid foundation, we'll achieve the desired results with greater ease, and in a smooth manner. To build foundation, one needs sustained efforts for a year or two. [1- 2 years]. After this foundation is formed, than one needs to start focussed preparation for the Civil Services exam. We can start building foundation for the exam ...even from our school time or during degree or later. It doesn't matter, when you arise or awake, the thing is you should put efforts seriously without bothering about the competition.
One needs to study: [follow the sequence, self study with/without aid]
For a novice, We would recommend atleast 3-4 hours (with 4 hours of average) of regular study of NCERT books during first six weeks. Now, you're successful in this pursuit, you've studied at least 3 hours per day continously, irrespective of your situation or condition and completed total of 168 hours of study! Wow! that's good news, now you need to double your study time i.e. atleast 6-8 hours (avg 8 hours) for next six weeks!
Now, total of first six weeks = 168 hours. next six weeks = 8*7*6= 336 hours!
If you're successful, than keep going and increase upto 10-12 hours per day after inital three months! You'll definately crack the exam one day.
Note that, you can count half of coaching of time, if you're attending coaching.
Lakhs of students appear for the prestigious civil services exam conducted by UPSC every year. Altough, the competition is fierce and requires ardous efforts by the civil services aspirants over a long period of time. Still,a fresher needs to be hopeful and advised to keep away from these news showing the toughness of the examination.
We must always be focussed towards our goal without being worried about the obstacles in the process.
What should I study to prepare for Civil Services exam?
To answer this question, one must be familiar with the three tier exam pattern of the competition. i.e. CSAT, Civil Services(Mains) and Interview.
It is important to note that all of these three exams needs to be crakced with different bent of mind and altough with similar objectives. CSAT exams consists of two sets of Paper 1 (aptitude test) and CSAT Paper 2 (GS - General Studies). It is exam with objective type of questions. While the Paper 1 is qualifying, on the other hand, the marks of Paper 2 will be counted for shortlisting the candidates for the CS(Main) written examination. It is good thing that around fifteen thousands candidates are shortlisted (depending on the number of vacancies).
Civil Services(Main) exam consists of several papers and are of written type in nature. Thus, writing skills play a very important role in cracking the main exam. and lastly, the interview requires good communication skills apart from a good source of knowledge.
In this article, we'll see all the three exams from bird's eye. We'll provide guidelines to prepare for the Civil Services exam in general for a novice or from scratch. Foundation of education or thoughts plays most important role in the examination. Thus, we'll focus on how to build the foundation and what it is composed of.
Building Foundation for the Civil Services exam
Foundation is the base on which the preparation of civil services stands. To crack the IAS exam, one needs to build a firm foundation on which the rest of empires rests. If we build solid foundation, we'll achieve the desired results with greater ease, and in a smooth manner. To build foundation, one needs sustained efforts for a year or two. [1- 2 years]. After this foundation is formed, than one needs to start focussed preparation for the Civil Services exam. We can start building foundation for the exam ...even from our school time or during degree or later. It doesn't matter, when you arise or awake, the thing is you should put efforts seriously without bothering about the competition.
One needs to study: [follow the sequence, self study with/without aid]
- NCERT books for building foundation
- VI, VII, VIII books of almost all subjects depending on your skills/knowledge
- IX, X Social Science, Science and
- Start reading the Hindu, or any other paper initial
- When NCERT is finished, start reading the Hindu [specially opinion/editorials]
- Start reading about Government Policies/Schemes
- Be aware about national and international current affairs
- Read History and Economics from XI, XII books
- Our Constitution from Subhash Kashyap [MUST READ]
- India's Struggle for Independence: 1857-1947 by Bipin Chandra
- India Since Independence
- A History of Medieval India Paperback – 2007 by Chandra Satish
- Indian Polity 5th Edition M. Laxmikanth
- Introduction To The Constitution Of India D.D. Basu
- India's Ancient Past Paperback – 20 Oct 2006 by R.S. Sharma
- The Orient Blackswan School Atlas
- Mastering Modern World History (Palgrave Master Series)17 May 2013by Norman Lowe
- India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy Paperback – 14 Aug 2008 by Ramachandra Guha
- Geography of India1 September 2017 by Majid Husain
- Indian Economy (Old edition)20 April 2016 by Ramesh Singh
- The HINDU newspaper
For a novice, We would recommend atleast 3-4 hours (with 4 hours of average) of regular study of NCERT books during first six weeks. Now, you're successful in this pursuit, you've studied at least 3 hours per day continously, irrespective of your situation or condition and completed total of 168 hours of study! Wow! that's good news, now you need to double your study time i.e. atleast 6-8 hours (avg 8 hours) for next six weeks!
Now, total of first six weeks = 168 hours. next six weeks = 8*7*6= 336 hours!
If you're successful, than keep going and increase upto 10-12 hours per day after inital three months! You'll definately crack the exam one day.
Note that, you can count half of coaching of time, if you're attending coaching.
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