How To Prepare Mains Exam

How to prepare for UPSC Mains exam?

The final merit of the UPSC Civil Services Exam is made by the sum of the marks of the mains and interview. The importance of the mains exam increases due to the fact that out of the total 2025 marks of this exam, 1750 marks are of the mains exam. Therefore, it is necessary to perform well in the mains exam to get finally selection. Some tips are shared here to prepare effectively for this exam. 

Nature of UPSC Mains Exam

• The syllabus of the mains exam is multidisciplinary and vast. The commission examines the subject knowledge, analytical ability, expression skills, ethics etc through this exam.
• This is a written exam and there are a total of 9 question papers in this exam-  

Till now we tried to understand the pattern of exam, now we will discuss the preparation strategy through it.

How to start preparation for UPSC Mains exam?

• Read the complete syllabus of all the question papers of the mains exam and keep a copy of it.
  • • This will help in giving direction to the preparation as per the demand of the exam.
    • This syllabus will decide what to study and what not to study.
• Keep a compilation of questions asked in the previous years of the mains exam with you.
  • • This will help in understanding the nature of the questions being asked.
    • This will give information about the priority and importance of the subjects.
• It would be better to join a reliable coaching institute.
  • • Coaching will help in passing the exam in less time.

Important tips for UPSC Mains exam:

Choose the right study material

• After understanding the expectations of the exam, the important thing to do is to decide the sources of study material.
• There is so much to study that even a lifetime is not enough for it. Candidates should have a selective approach.
• There is a flood of study material in the market, choose only authentic and relevant study material.
• Keep in mind that the study material should be accurate and concise, which also solves almost questions of previous years.

Start from the basics

• The strength of a building is determined by its foundation. The better the basic preparation, the easier it will be to increase knowledge and remember it for a long time.
• First of all, understand the entire syllabus and complete your basic preparation with NCERT books etc.

Study the subjects in depth

• After the basic knowledge of the subjects, increase your knowledge with authentic books of the subject.
• Keeping in view the nature of questions being asked by UPSC, keep updating your knowledge with reliable sources.

Make short notes or synopsis

• The syllabus of the exam is vast, which is not easy to revise at the last moment of the exam and remember for a long time.
• Keep making short notes while studying. So that it is possible to revise quickly in the last days of the exam.

Try to write effective answers

• While reading and writing a topic, try to write by connecting that topic with different topics.
• An interdisciplinary approach will bring sharpness in your writing. It is difficult to write an effective answer with a single disciplinary approach.
• In the mains exam, the knowledge of the students is tested through writing. Keep trying to make your writing skills effective, for which some suggestions are as follows-
• • • Write answers regularly
    • Spelling, language, sentence structure should be of standard level
    • Write accurately and concisely
    • Avoid using unnecessary complex words
    • Use the technical terms of the subject in writing
    • Use diagrams, charts, maps etc. in answers.

Keep checking your own knowledge

• Practice regularly and keep checking your knowledge.
• Keep checking your studies by thinking about the study.
• There are more chances of improvement in self-testing as the level of inner satisfaction is high.

 If a student follows the study strategy given above with full commitment and dedication then surely the Mains exam will help him/her to be ultimately successful.

Know More about UPSC

• Important Books for UPSC preparation
• UPSC Prelims Previous Years Cut-Off
• UPSC Previous Years Final Cut-Off
• UPSC Prelims syllabus 2024
• UPSC Mains Test Series 2024
• Previous year cut off  mains examination
• How to prepare for the UPSC prelims examination