Civil Services Exam is one of the toughest competitive examinations in India. So, if you are aspiring for the Civil Services, you have to be persistent and hard working. There are two things, if you want to clear Civil Services Exam without coaching, you have to understand and follow clearly: the first one is Strategy and the other one is Knowledge. Coaching institutes provide you with guide and study materials. But it is you who do everything.
Coming to whether you should seek coaching or not; time and again, Civil Services aspirants have proved that it is an individual choice. Several Civil Services aspirants have cracked Civil Services Exam without coaching in a single attempt without taking any coaching. It was possible because of their confidence, self-motivation, determination, persistence and, of course, with some luck.
So, if you have a track record of achieving your goals without much external support, you may try taking Civil Services Exam without coaching for which all you need is a smart study in a proper direction since everything that is written in a book is not important. Hard work with active mind will lead you to a right path. In case you fail to clear it or realize that you cannot make it on your own, you can opt for coaching and reappear for the examination.
Must Read: How to Crack IAS Exam? 10 Tips for IAS Preparation
Strategy to Crack Civil Services Exam Without Coaching:
Familiarity with Syllabus
First of all, make a determined mindset that you strive for nothing but Civil Services Exam. Prepare full one year study plan before sitting for Civil Services Exam without coaching. You must be familiar and well informed about the content and the topic it covers and also keep yourself updated with changes that UPSC makes. This will help you understand the subjects better and reduce your mental burden. On the other hand, if you are preparing on your own, you have the privilege to study at a time convenient to you. You can schedule your preparation according to your priorities.
Read NCERT Books
Start reading NCERT books. These are basic textbooks which will give you the gist of the subject and then you can go deeper and deeper into that subject. For example, in History, you should start reading India’s Ancient Past, then Medieval India by Satish Chandra and then India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra. Then you can refer textbooks which go deeper in the subject.
Read Newspapers
Cultivate a habit of reading newspaper, try to finish it off in 2 hours. Start reading newspapers like The Hindu and The Indian Express. They are very good and read them religiously. Once you get comfortable reading newspapers start making notes out of important events. Make 8 divisions, namely, International Relations(Middle East and Asia), International Relations(Americas and remaining world), Government Policies and schemes, Personalities and Awards and Sports, International Organisations, Social Issues, Economic Policies, Defence and classify all news in these categories.
Read especially editorial sections and expert opinion articles, by reading these you can score well in the exams especially the questions which are related to current affairs.These will help as a ready- reckoner while you are revising for the general studies syllabus.
Also Read: How to Write Essay for IAS Exam?
Solve Previous Years Question Papers
It has been truly said that you require smart hard work to crack Civil Services Exam without coaching. This is where the importance of your thorough insight of the question papers creeps in. You must go through the question papers of past 10 years as it will help you identify the pattern and frequently asked topics. Also, it will make your preparation process easier and boost your confidence level. Practising with model question papers will help you pick up speed.
Right Selection of books
To move in the right direction, you have to select a standard book for each topic or subject rather than referring to multiple books for each topic. Collect standard study materials and make your own study plan. This not only saves your time, but will help you get the right guidance.
Prefer you Own Notes
To make it easy for your own on the eve of examination, making notes of the topics is undoubtedly a wise move. This solves two purposes – one, it gives you an insight of the topics as you go through the syllabus and two, it saves goo amount of time during exam as you’ll not have to refer again and again to the same thing.
Read Also: How to Prepare for UPSC Exam while you are in College?
Use Internet
Make use of the Internet. Don’t restrict your reading to only books. They provide you with knowledge which can’t be gained by reading books. Watch documentaries like BBC’s Days that shook the World which will increase your knowledge base. Whenever any current issue comes up, look up all the details on the internet, including the history of the issue in question. Keep in mind that they tend to be a bit biased though. Visit the websites of government ministries whenever a new bill is introduced. It will help you see the government point of view on the bill.
Read Magazines
Read at least 4 of the following magazines: Frontline, Civil Services Chronicle, Economic and Political Weekly, India Today, The Economist, Yojana, Kurukshetra. You should read magazines that can help you improve your knowledge and aptitude.
Optional Paper
Decide your optional fast and then look online for the recommended reading list for that optional.
Whenever you are Free
When you find yourself free go for visiting different sites of current affairs, it will start bringing you on track. And to improve and increase your vocabulary mark new words, see them in dictionary, find their synonym and antonym side by side; it certainly is going to improve your mental skills to read more and understand which would be beneficial for time management during exam in paper II. By this your current affairs and English preparation for paper II would run simultaneously. Give it a try.
Don’t Miss: How to Prepare General Studies for Preliminary Exam?
Thank you. It’s very useful.
Itsa really good have websites like this which will help the students like us who really want to aspire the civil services
If there is any mobile application it will be more help full
Android application is available in the play store. Here is the link
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iastimes&hl=en
Is this app is also available in iphone
No,this app is not available on app store.
sir can i attempt this exam in hindi if one subject will in eng
similar problem with me. if you get answer then please told me . thanku
sure u can appear and write the exam which language you want
Great really helpful
it is good advice for us espacialy for those who did,t coaching due to various reasons.
Thnks!!
Advice gives paths greater than Guide
REALLY VERY HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS.
…….
THANKING YOU,
SUMAN BISWAS
Very informative. Thank you sir.
Please suggest me buy books for pre & main exam of civil service exam of upsc
it is very very useful for me and other who is new for UPSC
Thnks sir…
thanks
thank you so much
its really a very good suggestion….
Other than ncert books what are the standard books for prelims preparation subject wise.?
I like it.. Highy extend my thnks to those working for common good of our communities,society
this is right gideline.
thank u very much .
sir the book you are sujest for history is in hindi or english
thanks for your post,sir. It is certainly help Di.
Thankyou..your words really helps
Thanks sir….very very thanku….
Hi,
im in b.tech final year but want to prepare for IAS. please guide me how to start?
It’s very useful, thank you
thank u sir
Thanks for this ………Its a very helpful for me
thank you dear , its rally helpful for me.
thanks dear, it is really helpful for me.
thanks dear, it is really helpful for me
I am in B.sc. 1yr ….i want to crack ias with a rank with one digit..
It is very helpfull….thanks sir
Thank’s sir
It is very helpfull for me …..thanks
Thanks. Really helpful.
Thanks Sir,But is it necessary to read only above mentioned news papers?
This is anand.Salute to admin!!!!!!!! Rhats what i can comment!!!!!!
Im one of them who want to crack the upse exam without coaching..thank you sir
It is very helpful for my brother
Hii I’m.study in b.sc third year. I will become Ias. How to preparation In this exam. I am leaving in Gujarat.
You should….
Kill the exam
Thanks
hello दोस्तो 2016 pt ka cutoff कितने जाना है।
All the information provided and updated by you is always reliable and understable by all…what u prople are doing are not wonderful its marvellous as it’s too hard to get all the information at a particular point of time and also on the same location…Please do one more thing that please make the IAS app available on APP STORE for IOS users
All the information provided and updated by you is always reliable and understable by all…what u prople are doing are not wonderful its marvellous as it’s too hard to get all the information at a particular point of time and also on the same location…Please do one more thing that please make the IAS app available on APP STORE for IOS users
thanks,it is very beneficial for us
I like it bcoz before reading it always I m on the way of above direction
It’s really worth reading
Some1 pls tell me how to crack ias without studying..??
Thanks for instructions
Sir,
I want to ask that for self study students ,which part needs more focuses like on go with handy notes or with standard books
Thank you,
Everything mentioned above is very useful..
Will always try to follow your guidelines..
Thanks… This is some what very inspired ans motivate to read
Thanku..for the guidance.
sir,please tell the book-list for optional paper pol. sc. and IR
As u r working hard for all the aspirants and providing all the information at a single window its gud but when u r launching yr app on APP store for ios users…
Sir I am a sc candidates Presently work as police canistable any changes in my reservations to write ias exam plezz ………….suggest me sir.
hai…can anybody tell me which books are best for preparation..how can I get it.please somebody reply.
my [email protected]
plz reply to my mail. bye
Very good info.Also visit this very helpful blog for UPSC Mains Public Administration: publicadministrationtheone.blogspot.in
guys!! just i have learning English in during current period.. if now i gonna start to prepare for civil services what should i do now… if you have an any idea please aware me to get a strong mind for face a civil services………
Thank you sir
It’s very useful… Thank you
Thanku!!!
These aspects are really useful for preparation..whenever I see ur post I get motivated.
i dont think so
Hellow sir I am complete b.tech this year.I have one back class as per jntua rules leave 2 subjects so I can leave one subject.so I am qualify for civil examination.
I take to easy
Really very help full to new aspirants…
Sir, thanks for giving me this information.I am reading in Bsc. second year and want to be an IAS officer. I know that getting into ias is not easy but i shall full try to get into ias. ”CONCENTRUCTION OF MIND GETS VICTORY.” WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY.
Seriously admin,what you provide that’s outstanding.
You deal perfectly and in a small passage u always try to cover all the problem of aspirants of CSE.
thank u it is very useful.
Thnks sir for sharing this precious information