How To Practice The UPSC Prelims GS Paper-1 In 90 Days?
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To crack UPSC Prelims, one requires extensive preparation. It can take months or years, depending on the aspirant’s potential and learning strategy. This span of preparation lays down a strong foundation to pass the UPSC Prelims at par with the cut-off. Furthermore, it makes it possible for candidates to invest sufficient time in revision and practice sessions, a few months before the exam.
Things to keep in mind to practice for UPSC GS Paper-I and Paper-II in 90 Days
1. Prepare an exclusive 90-day schedule
These 90 days of preparation will be remotely different from all the previous days of preparation. These last few days should be focused on revisions of all your subjects. The candidates must prepare a 90-day schedule, dedicating time slots for the same. It is crucial that the schedule covers practice sessions, doubt solving, tests, etc. as they all contribute to a well-rounded preparation.
2. Refer to the same set of books
During the last few days of the UPSC Prelims GS Paper I preparation, it’s wise to stick to the same old books that the candidates have been referring to since the beginning. Using any different set of books can be distracting or overwhelming. Hence, it is also important to cautiously choose the right UPSC Prelims books.
3. Solve previous years’ question papers
There are multiple benefits to solving previous years’ UPSC Prelims question papers. One gets familiar with the question pattern, learns time management skills, and is able to indulge in active learning. Candidates can choose to solve 7 to 10 previous years’ question papers. Along with that, it is ideal to get your hands on the solved question papers as it can help verify the answers. This method of practice gives candidates a chance to self-evaluate their performance and get quantitative results.
4. Stay updated with current affairs
Candidates must focus on covering the current affairs since the start of their UPSC Prelims preparation. They can do that by referring to current affairs magazines or by staying on top of the news through newspapers, online news portals, online discussion forums, debates, etc. It’s best to find relevant and reliable sources of news. Just indulging in news watching might not be enough. The candidates should also be able to form arguments and have a welfare-oriented approach based on the possessed information. These skills will be essential in the personal interview after you clear UPSC Prelims and Mains.
5. Prioritize doubt solutions
During this 90-day practice session, the candidates may come across various doubts or a new set of questions that are difficult to comprehend. These doubts should be resolved through practice, learning, tutorials, personal classes, or any other preferred method of doubt resolution. Post-doubt solution candidates must practice those concepts to make sure they have understood them well.
6. Practice with mock tests
One of the most important practice methods that cannot be neglected is taking UPSC GS Paper I mock tests. These tests give real-time examination experience in a simulated environment. Hence, one can learn to finish their exam on time by taking one or two mock tests each day.
To level up your UPSC preparation, one must refer to quality books that cover the entire syllabus. Pearson’s books for UPSC aspirants not only cover the syllabus end-to-end but are designed to indulge aspirants in observational learning. The context of the books is updated and relevant. There are multiple books that UPSC aspirants can refer to in order to cover all the subjects. These books can help with memorization during the UPSC Prelims practise session of 90 days, making your last-minute preparation wholesome.