5 Tips to boost your IAS prelims score in the last 30 days

There are better starters than me, but I’m a strong finisher. – Usain Bolt.

Of course, well begun is half done. But only half!

What matters more is your ability to manage pressure, time, and resources in the final lap.

Don’t panic in the last minute. That will badly affect your productivity.

Don’t think that everyone else is better prepared than you!

If you have started early, well and fine! If not, that is also okay!

Most of the aspirants get into the exam mood only in the last 30 days before UPSC prelims. So don’t think that everybody else is well prepared and it’s only you who is lagging behind.

From our experience, we have noticed that aspirants who follow the right strategies, the efforts in the final lap would be enough to edge past the competition.

The last-30 days can be a game-changer. Don’t stress yourself too much. Use your time and resources wisely.

In this post, we discuss the tips and strategies to maximize your UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam score in the final 30 days before the exam.

1. Attempt previous year UPSC questions in a timed environment with negative marking

What should be done to avoid panic in the exam hall? Do rehearsal of the same.

And the best source of actual exam rehearsal is the previous year UPSC questions.

But to get the best results, you should take the previous year UPSC questions in a timed environment with negative marking. This is available in ClearIAS online mock test platform. You can re-take previous year questions papers from 2011 and analyse your performance based on the official UPSC key.

ClearIAS UPSC Prelims Re-Take Exams are based on the official UPSC answer key. We strongly advise aspirants to refer only to the official answer key for answers, as keys prepared by many coaching institutes and publishing houses have a lot of errors.

2. Take ClearIAS mock tests for IAS Prelims

There is no better strategy than taking UPSC Prelims model exams to comprehensively cover the UPSC syllabus in a short time.

This method will give you the best return on investment.

ClearIAS mock tests are rated high by many UPSC toppers. We strongly recommend you take and revise all the mock tests uploaded (solutions are available in each user account).

We have tried our best to match UPSC standards and requirements. However, we have purposefully added a few questions to account for the possible deviations from previous UPSC trends and standards. Remember, this is purposeful!

On the exam day, it may be the right answers to 1-2 tough questions that would help you cross the prelims barrier! Don’t bother much about the marks, but analyse your relative performance in our pan-India platform (more than 3,00,000 registrations already!).

Our advice would be to take as many quality mock tests as possible. Having said that, don’t go to the extreme end and run behind all. Your time is limited. Invest only in the right resources. Once you are familiar with the previous year UPSC question papers, you would be able to judge UPSC standards.

If you are yet to enrol in ClearIAS Prelims Test Series, don’t delay it any further. Click to enrol in ClearIAS Prelims Test Series now.

3. Finish ClearIAS Current Affairs Capsules (Monthly MCQs) – FREE

CCC covers monthly MCQS (current affairs) in PDF format.

The full set of CCCs of the last 4 years (about 2500 MCQs) is available for FREE download from this link.

4. Read ClearIAS Daily MCQs Compilation – Available for download as PDF

Those who are part of the ClearIAS Email Program will get 3 important MCQs for FREE in your email. We strongly recommend you to learn all the daily MCQs.

ClearIAS Prelims Test Series subscribers are provided with the compilation of Daily MCQs (PDF) for FREE.

Here is the link to download the ClearIAS Daily MCQs compilation (PDF).

5. Revise the notes you have already made for IAS Prelims

Rather than going behind everything under the Sun, revise the notes you have already prepared.

If you haven’t prepared any notes, or are unsure of how notes should be made, learn from ClearIAS study materials. ClearIAS notes are easy to learn and revise in the last minute.

To supplement this, we have given the list of UPSC books you should refer to. However, in the last month, it’s always advisable not to learn from too many new sources (unless you are totally stuck/feel under-prepared with the present source).

If you have read Indian Polity by Laxmikanth once, then in the last month, it’s better not to start reading Indian Polity by D.D. Basu. Just stick to the same source and revise the same.

Make quick to read notes, about confusing points. This would be useful in the last 2-3 days before Prelims.

Stop material collection, sit and learn!

In the online age, there is no shortage of materials – online and offline. Each of your hard-drive may have hundreds of GigaBytes of study materials (which you may not refer at all!). Many will be there in Google Drive or Telegram. Materials will keep on coming. Learn to limit the sources to a quality-few.

Otherwise, you may feel overburdened. Also, the notion that there are too much to finish may not let you sleep peacefully.

ClearIAS don’t believe in over-supplying materials.

We believe in quality and not quantity. Once aspirants know the right path, they can easily pick it up. We have already shared the link to free download all-important notes prepared by ClearIAS Team. We have no claims that that’s complete or enough, but if you find any concepts difficult to understand from traditional textbooks, refer to our notes regarding the same. You may find it easy and quick to learn. Give it a try, it’s free!

PS: We have good news to share 🙂 ClearIAS has now crossed 4,50,000 plus followers on Facebook. Thanks a lot for your continuous support.

Additional tips

1. Go through ClearIAS Memory Techniques. It will help you remember many facts you may otherwise forget in the exam hall.
2. Learn the art of solving UPSC question paper by referring to the link – Question Paper Solving Techniques.
3. Many UPSC questions can be easily solved using ClearIAS Intelligent Elimination Techniques. Learn it. You can thank us later!
4. ClearIAS app can help you save time in travel. All the materials available in clearias.com can be accessed from the ClearIAS app including our mock tests.
5. Make sure you study for at least 8 hours in the next 30 days and ensure that you get 7-8 hour sleep until IAS Prelims.
6. Have strong self-belief. Believe that you can clear IAS Prelims with whatever time left. Time wasted over wasted time is again wasted time! Remember what the fastest runner on earth has said. All the best! Be the face of ClearIAS next year!