1. Prepare a Time Table

• One thing that separates the wheat from the chaff in terms of those that will succeed in the UPSC exams and those who won’t, is a well-organized and properly thought-out daily study routine.

2. Choose your Optional Wisely

• The optional subject-based papers account for 500 marks in the final tally of the UPSC IAS exam.
• I have listed below, some of the factors that you should keep in mind while selecting your optional subject:
  • Availability of study material.
  • Availability of mentoring.
  • Your interest in the subject.
  • Prior understanding of the subject.
  • Overlap with subjects of GS papers.

3. Solve Past Year UPSC Papers

• Solving past years’ UPSC papers is the most reliable way to get an idea about the actual difficulty level, pattern, and question types of the exam.
• Therefore, solving past years’ UPSC papers is extremely important to gauge your strengths and weaknesses, and also to know the topics that are most important from the exam point of view.

4. Solve Mock Test Series

• Solving mocks is an essential aspect of the IAS preparation, that’s because by solving mock you get to assess yourself by understanding your strengths and weaknesses better.
• I’d recommend enrolling in one or more mock test series for your IAS preparations, especially if you are preparing for the exams without joining a coaching institute.