Prelims 2025 - Support Group

In my opinion (Passed three prelims, failed two) , Prelims preparation rests on multiple pillars (You've to find which Pillar is weak for you) 

1. Static revision:  Polity, Economy being the basic structure. You must be able to mug up all the major themes asked. Eg: Important chapters of Laxmikant, BOP/Money & Banking etc from economy 

Further, you must do BASIC BOOKS (not coaching material) for Economy, Polity, History, Geography 

Coaching material can be used for Science & Tech, Environment, A&C and obviously CA. 

2. Intelligent guessing : Not using them, costed me two prelims (2019,2021)

3. Paper attempting strategy : Attempt like an emotionless machine. Don't be happy at an easy question and don't be upset at a tough one. 

How many rounds, Will you flip the paper, will you Start from 1, which area will you start from? 

What will you do in the time between GS & CSAT. Which pen will you take? What will you do if you're near the window? (I made sure that in Abhyaas, I sat near the window where My city song was being played by the Garbage wagon) 

4. Emotional resilience : The paper will evoke many emotions. You must be able to reign your emotions and stay focused to execute whatever you've planned on the exam day. 

In 2021, it was my third prelims and I had cracked it in 2020. However one of my close friends secured a Top 10 rank just days before exam. While I was happy, it totally threw me off. All I could think was how will I match that benchmark? Well, I didn't need to. 

This emotional turbulence and chaotic revision ensured that I choke in Prelims 2021,merely attempting 67 Q (Yes, you read it right). I missed the cutoff by 4 marks. 

5. PYQs :

Are you aware that IR has seen increased presence since 2022, that biotechnology is being asked in great depth, that Oceanography and Climatology will (Likely) make a appearance in 2025. 

Not only this, have you researched that Mapping gets you a great deal of marks. Have you made notes of options? 

Further looking at the language, can you get in the mind of the examiner? 

6. Practice : To hone all of the above skills, you need to practice.

This shall be done using PYQs (Daily practice) as well as Mocks. 

I consider Mocks as utile primarily for time management skills. Apart from that I never fret over poorly made economics questions in most coachings. Just stay calm. 

I never let myself be worried about the Ramsar site Question I get wrong in month of February because I knew I'll do these lists (Ramsar, Mapping, National park) in April. Similarly, CA questions were marked but never bothered about them. 

I didn't become happy when I got 120+ and I didn't get sad when I got 70.

I practiced how OMR had to be filled in the mocks and made sure I finish 15 mins before as UPSC Prelims is usually lengthier. The crux is your must be aware WHY you are giving mocks. Don't be fixated on marks. Follow the PROCESS and you shall be fine. 

7. Short notes (Only if you're like me and NEED short notes at any cost to revise) 

It helped me revise the syllabus quickly in the last days. I think a lot of facts can be put in your short term memory which helps in increasing the confidence 

8. Listicles (Ramsar, National Park, Mapping, Art & culture) : I had created a Playlist of things that had to be mugged up. I used to watch these video everyday starting from April (as no point doing them in January) 

By the time May arrives, the facts were cemented due to daily recalls. Also, I studied with a friend so as to make sure my brain remained active and curios while studying for Prelims as well. Curiosity and active reading will take you places. 

Mugging up and Rattofying without fun can make the process bland. And for me process is everything! 

If you fail even after doing the above due to some factors beyond you, BLAME THE LUCK. Don't be too hard on yourself. But till the D Day make sure, you do everything in your power to conquer the prelims ! 

P.S: I hope those who have cleared Prelims previously or studied religiously for prelims >2 attempts continue studying for Mains till Jan or Feb. Mains is in August, Don't EVER forget that. It's the REAL MONSTER (for those who think Prelims is hard and Mains Can be "managed") 

The above is just an informal post to add value. I'll try and add more descriptive tips with pictures to substantiate in coming days. 

All the Best warriors ! 

In my five years of engagement with UPSC, I've failed the prelims thrice(twice due to CSAT) and written mains twice(2020,2024). I've cleared GS cutoff by a good margin in four of my attempts and missed one by 2 marks. This is what I've learnt in my journey so far.

1) Static is king - in all of my attempts I've stuck to attempting 73-75 odd questions which has been my magic number. Why? Because I've made static my armour. I've revised it maybe more than 100 times in these five years and most of it has been in the first year itself and subsequently I only revise whatever I think is necessary. The credit to getting my static buisness in order goes solely to forum ias. In 2019 I joined forum pre and mains test series. Solved all their papers plus sfg as well and wrote all my mistakes in a book. Now I only revise those before prelims to get a clarity of the scope and breadth of static syllabus.

2) current is an ego train - no matter what you do and how much you do, you'll always feel like you're missing out on something which creates doubt and confusion during the D-day. I try and stick to one source and that too follow it only till December. Than preferable I read a yearly compilation of whichever institute that is the least in size. This covers most of the topics and is easy to revise plus gives an added boost to the confidence. This confidence equips me to attempt only those questions which I feel most confident in while reducing the attrition rates due to negative marking.

Also while attempting the paper, I always keep in mind what my father reminds me before every exam. He says "remember that you are a lion, not a power hungry one. A lion dare not kill an elephant just because its hungry." Just  guage what type of question(elephant or a gazelle) is in front of you and try not be overly optimistic about your abilities. Patience and keen presence of mind is what gets you through in the end.

Do not over complicate anything. Be busy, be sane !

Make sure that you finish your static by December. Keep reading the newspaper. Read anyone magazine compilation. Do not overdo CA.

I would also suggest solving 30-50 questions everyday from prelims toolkit when you are bored. They are good, and from what I have seen, you should be sorted if you have done 50-70% of it by Feb.

Also have this plan of finishing the prelims static syllabus by Feb. And after March only revision and FLTs.

Some people have the plan of starting preparation from March. 

Sometimes being ahead and having extra time is all that you need to clear the exam.

Whoever commands the hold on static  portion, pyqs( more the number of years better it will be ) also need to conquer oneself to avoid unnecessary fomo will dominate prelims, the destiny of the individual will be decided on there ability to do the above .’

- Alfred Mahan’s two cent advice on UPSC prelims 

 Revise static 5 times,Pyq 2-3 times, test series mistakes 3 times and CA 2 times .

@Neyawn 

Prelims Score -

55 (2023) - 1st Attempt , 89-94 (2024) - 2nd Attempt; did not join SFG, despite giving entrance, costed me.

3rd Attempt—story so far

Joined MGP and writing mains test, also decided to do both phases of SFG this time. 

My friend and one of your FRC student asked me to meet you, but serious health problems and this string of failures never kept me confident enough to reach out to you. I will try my luck to meet you post completion of phase 1 of SFG. Till then, Ineed your POV on the following:

1. The SFG schedule mentions secondary resources that I did not follow, for instance, Ramesh Singh for the Economy. So should I stick to what I was doing and do it better or follow what is required?

2. How to handle remaining MGP, while going for SFGs daily?

3. Also, I have heard that last time you asked FRC students to complete Forum IAS toolkits twice; when should I start with those books: post-Feb or from Jan onwards? 

4. Last year I started prelims-specific prep in mid-Dec, but I observed my performance peaked at the wrong time around May, and post that, things went downhill only. How to avoid this pattern?

https://forumias.com/blog/two-cents-how-to-clear-civil-services-with-a-top-rank-and-avoid-exhausting-attempts/

Plz read this post, you will get clarity when to stop the mains preparation.

This is Gold. :))

Revision isn't really a small thing. I have seen people perform best after 5-7 revisions. Unless you are born with a photographic memory. 

With reference to source, my advice will be that do well whatever you do. You are overdoing things. You can refer to some of the red books which students have told me have had a comprehensive coverage - such as the Enviornment, S& T ones. read NCERTs 1 or 2 times at the max. Then the standard pvt publications have to be done.

https://forumias.com/post/detail/How-to-ace-2025-upsc-cse-1723083207?JiwzKFIsM2BTCmAK

One of my early comments on a different post for prelims 2025

@Neyawn 

• Respected sir,
  
  
  This is my 4th attempt.
  1st attempt - GS 52, CSAT 77
  2nd attempt - GS 79.45, CSAT Failed
  3rd attempt-  GS- 75, CSAT - 83
  
  ab tak 1 baar v prelims qualify nahi kar paya hu. Mai bahut hi umeed se SFG join kiya tha lekin SFG me mere marks 60 ke aasps aa rahe the aur ab wo marks aur v jyada ghatne hi lage hai.
  
  Mujhe samajh nahi aa rha hai ki mera prelims qualify karne ka approach kya hona chahiye.
  
  Filhaal mera approach --
  
  SFG ke timtable ke according padh rha hu, Current k liye SFG essential.
  Toolkit solve karta hu (only pyq , not practice book of toolkit)
  
  SFG karne k samay ek cheej realise ho raha hai ki yadi mujhe full length test attempt karna hua to uski strategy kya hogi??
  Mere kuchh doubts hain
  
  1- Kaise ek saath sare subjects ko prepare karunga ?
  2- Kya Toolkit ka practice workbook karna v jaruri hai ??
  3- SFG essential enough rahega Current affairs k liye ??
  4 - How to improve marks in SFG tests
  5- How to manage SFG with full lenghth test ??
  
  
  Sir please help !!

@Neyawn I have been scoring mostly above 100 in simulators with lowest being 98.67(simulator 7) and highest 129.33(simulator 6) , but my score in Abhyaas has been in the range of 86.20(Abhyaas 1) and 89( Abhyaas 2). Is this because I am a student of sfg ,current affairs and there is a similarity bias in the questions of simulator , or is there some other concern please guide.

@Neyawn Completed static part and prelims specifics , got 68 in 2023, expected 85 in 2024. Did everything possible in 2024 from tests, simulator tests for prelims. For 2025 prelims I could not think of anything different from what material I read, what way I read previously.

1. Please guide how to approach in 2025. From my side Revision is the best I can do.
2. Also I want suggestions regarding any good content/books in Environment , History.
   My sources earlier prelims specific reading : IE newspaper, NCERT Biology, Websites press releases -UNEP, CoPs, IUCN etc, NCERT Themes History, RS Sharma, Spectrum Modern H, History Poonam D.