Why Most IAS Aspirants Fail to Qualify IAS Prelims Exam
The civil services examination is one of the most competitive exams in India. Every year, lakhs of aspirants appear for the exam with the hope of securing a position in the Indian
Administrative Service (IAS), but only a handful of them are successful.
So, what goes wrong? Why do most IAS aspirants fail to qualify the Prelims exam?
There can be many reasons, but some of the most common ones are
lack of proper direction, inadequate preparation, wrong approach to the exam, did not revise enough and did not manage time properly.
Luckily, there are ways to increase your chances of qualifying IAS Prelims. If you improve your understanding of the
syllabus, get a good grasp of the
examination pattern, take mock tests, and analyze your performance, join some well-reputed coaching institute and solve all past year papers, you will be one step closer to your dream.
Why Most IAS Aspirants Fail to Qualify IAS Prelims Exam
Lack of Proper Direction -
One of the main reasons why aspirants fail to qualify the IAS prelims exam is due to the
lack of proper direction. Most aspirants are not aware of the vast syllabus that they need to cover and often end up mugging up irrelevant topics. It is important to have a clear understanding of the syllabus and plan your studies accordingly.
Inadequate Preparation -
Another reason why IAS aspirants fail to qualify the prelims exam is due to inadequate preparation. The competition is extremely tough and one needs to put in a lot of hard work and dedication to stand a chance of clearing the exam. Often, aspirants make the mistake of relying too much on coaching institutes and not doing enough self-study. It is importantto strike a balance between both forms of study in order to perform well in the exam.
Wrong Approach to the Exam -
Many aspirants adopt a wrong approach while preparing for the IAS prelims exam which leads to their downfall. They focus too much on rote learning and do not give enough importance to conceptual clarity which is extremely important in this exam. Aspirants must understand that merely mugging up facts and figures will not help them succeed in this exam but having a clear understanding of concepts will take them a long way.
Did Not Revise Enough -
Revision is an integral part of any examination but it assumes even more importance in case of IAS prelims as there is a lot of syllabi involved. Many aspirants make the mistake of assuming that they will be able to remember everything that they have studied just before the examination which is far from reality. It is important to revise regularly so that you can retain whatever you have studied for a longer period of time.
Did Not Manage Time Properly -
Time management plays a crucial role in any examination but it becomes even more important in case of IAS prelims as there are two papers involved and both need equal attention. Many candidates commit the mistake of focusing more on one paper at the cost of another which affects their performance adversely. Both papers need equal attention and adequate time should be allotted for each one during preparation.
Ways to increase your chances of qualifying IAS Prelims
Improve your understanding of the syllabus -
IAS Prelims is a two-phased examination -
paper I and paper II.
Paper I is objective type and is designed to test the candidate's knowledge of
current affairs, history, geography, polity, economy etc. The questions in
paper II are of a subjective nature and aim to test the candidate's analytical and writing skills.
In order to qualify IAS Prelims,it is important that you have a clear understanding of the syllabus for both papers. You should know what topics are covered under each section and sub-section of the syllabus. This will help you plan your studies better and focus on the areas that need more attention.
Get a good grasp of the examination pattern -
The examination pattern for IAS Prelims has undergone some changes in recent years. It is now divided into two papers -
paper I and paper II.
Paper I - Is objective type and consists of
100 multiple choice questions (MCQs). Each question carries one mark and there is no negative marking for wrong answers.
Paper II - Is subjective in nature and comprises two essay questions
carrying 250 marks each.
It is important that you understand the structure of both papers before starting your preparation. This will help you identify the areas where you need to focus more attention.
Additionally, solving previous year papers will give you an idea about the types of questions that are generally asked in the exam.
Take mock tests and analyze your performance -
Mock tests are a great way to assess your preparation level for IAS Prelims as well as
improve your time management skills. They not only help you identify your strengths and weaknesses but also give you an insight into the pattern of the actual exam. Furthermore, by taking
mock tests on a regular basis, you can track your progress over time and work on improving your weaker areas. Finally, make sure to analyze your performance in each mock test so that you can identify areas where you need further improvement.
Join some well-reputed coaching institute -
There are many coaching institutes which offer comprehensive training programs for IAS Prelims as well as other stages of the exam such as mains and interview.
Joining a coaching institute can be beneficial as they provide study material, mock tests, practice sessions etc.which can help you prepare better for the exam. However, it is important to choose an institute wisely keeping in mind factors such as faculty expertise, past results, course fee etc.
Solve all past year papers -
Solving previous year papers is one of the best ways to prepare for
IAS Prelims as it gives you an idea about the types of questions that have been asked in the past exams. Furthermore, it also helps
improve your problem solving ability as well as time management skills. Additionally, by solving a greater number of past year papers, you increase your chances of coming across repeat questions in future exams, which can boost your confidence levels on exam day.
If you want to qualify for the IAS Prelims Exam, it is important to have a good understanding of the syllabus and the examination pattern. In addition, you should take mock tests and analyze your performance. Join some well-reputed coaching institute and solve all past year papers.
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