Lessons I have Learned in my 5 years of Struggle and Hard Work with UPSC

Saima Khan, AIR 165, CSE 2023, Offline Classroom Student of Foundation Batch 2019-20, Educrat IAS Academy

Highlights -

● Lessons I have Learned in my 5 years of Struggle and Hard Work with UPSC

● Prelims

● Mains

● Interview

● UPSC Mantra: STUDY, EAT, SLEEP, REPEAT.

Highlights -

● Lessons I have Learned in my 5 years of Struggle and Hard Work with UPSC

● Prelims

● Mains

● Interview

● UPSC Mantra: STUDY, EAT, SLEEP, REPEAT.

As the Educrat IAS Academy classes began, I started feeling more sure of myself. In the first class, we talked about the syllabus, which is like the ultimate guide for UPSC exams. Without it, studying can feel all over the place. If we don’t know what to study, how can we become experts? The classes combined learning for both the initial prelims and main exams, which made it easier to understand the ideas instead of just memorizing them.

In UPSC exams, it’s important to grasp the fundamentals because the questions cover a wide range of topics. Mixing different subjects in the classes made learning more interesting and easier to handle, so it didn’t feel boring or too much to handle. Also, being around other competitive students pushed me to do my best and work even harder than before.

At Educrat IAS Academy, I learned how to work smart, not just hard. I figured out that I don’t have to read every single book out there, but instead, I should focus on the ones that really matter. It’s about picking the valuable ones, not trying to learn everything.

At Educrat IAS, mentors taught me to concentrate on a small number of books and notes, and keep going over them regularly. Also, I took weekly practice tests to see how I was doing. These tests helped me figure out which subjects I needed to work on more, so I could get ready for them better.

The classes at Educrat, weekly mock exams, multidimensional approach to grasping concepts, established targets and comprehensive preparation strategy all contributed significantly to my success in the exams.

Here is a quick strategy that was planned at Educrat IAS Academy which can be effective for anyone preparing for UPSC-

Prelims:

● Revise the basic concepts

● Appear weekly mocks

● Limit the resources

● Read current affairs daily

To begin preparing for UPSC prelims, first, carefully go through the syllabus. It’s crucial. Second, form study groups with friends and tell them your goals. Stick to a few resources and go over them frequently. Also, read the newspaper every day to stay updated on current events. Some candidates might overlook newspapers for prelims, but they’re actually quite important.

Mains:

Weekly targets were set, and over the course of 3 months, I appeared for 28 mock tests. Essays and ethical topics were also discussed at the academy.

● For example, we discussed an essay topic in class and shared our ideas. Then, the topic was broken down into different parts, and we explored many different aspects of it, going beyond just a basic framework. This taught me how to look at a topic from many different angles, which made my essays more diverse and interesting.

● Likewise, when it comes to ethics, handling case studies requires finding solutions that are both moral and realistic. It’s a tricky balance to strike, and having a good mentor to guide you is crucial in achieving it.

The competition pushed me to go beyond what I was comfortable with. I was up against some really smart people at Educrat IAS Academy. Reading their answers and the discussions we had helped me think in new ways. Plus, our mentors looked closely at every answer we wrote, which helped us improve even more.

● Kolkata’s Girl created History, Cracked UPSC!

● IAS Interview Preparation

● To watch the mock interview of Saima at Educrat IAS Academy, click on the link given below

Interview:

While the interview session is mostly about conducting mocks, my preparation at Educrat IAS Academy went beyond that. The mentors aided us in completing the Detailed Application Form (DAF), offering guidance on selecting suitable services according to our preferences, evaluating our hobbies, cadre preferences, and more.

Furthermore, on weekends, we conducted sessions dedicated to the DAF, where we delved into current events and practiced effective responses. Interviews are essentially a test of personality, and thus, we concentrated on refining skills such as diplomacy: learning to take a stand while maintaining respect, achieving balance, and embodying confidence tempered with humility. And at last, stress-mocks to handle whatever situations may arise within the confines of Dholpur House. And it proved effective.

Basic ideas:

● Fill the DAF carefully; take help if needed.

● Go through each and every word of your DAF. DAF sessions are extremely important to learn how to answer.

● Appear for mock interviews. Take the feedback positively and try to improve.

UPSC Mantra: STUDY, EAT, SLEEP, REPEAT.

Here are some lessons I’ve learned during my UPSC journey-

● Keep the syllabus with you at all times. It is the Holy Grail.

● There is no substitute for hard work. But work smart as well.

● Learn the basic concepts. Focus on NCERT and standard books.

● Limit your resources and revise them multiple times. Do not run after books. Remember, you will have to revise whatever you learn.

(https://educratias.com/mains-value-addition-material/ )

● Practice makes an aspirant perfect. No matter how extensively you study, without mock tests, your efforts will be futile. This goes for all three stages: prelims, mains, and interview. Weekly mock tests are a must.

● Adopt a holistic approach to study and interlink the concepts. Do not study in silos.

● Quality over quantity: do not focus on the number of hours studied; rather, focus on the concepts understood.

● Having a strong peer group can elevate one’s performance. Discuss with others, learn their viewpoints, and accommodate that in your answers.

● Set targets and share them within your peer group. Performance tends to improve when peers are aware and observant.

● Read answer copies from those who have appeared before. It will help you improve your own answers. (https://educratias.com/model-answer/ )

● Turn to mentors for support, whether it’s academic guidance or emotional reassurance. UPSC can be difficult.

● Lastly, and most importantly, be honest. Be honest with yourself and with your preparation. Do not lose hope. Success may be delayed, but it will not be denied.

The journey that we have embarked upon is not easy. Yet, it is something that we have chosen. My preparation has not only expanded my knowledge but also transformed my perspective. It has ignited in me a spirit of dedication, hope, and optimism. As I anxiously await my results, I’m grateful for having come this far.

To sum it up, the classes at Educrat IAS Academy, the practice tests every week, the way they taught us different aspects of subjects, the goals they set for us, and the overall way they prepared us – all of that played a big part in helping me pass the exams.