What determines success in the Civil Services Exam?

Clearing UPSC Examination is based upon various parameters. For example, you may have heard that few toppers suggesting that he/ she has followed the strategy of going for reading and underlining the content of the book for the revision, on the other hand, few other toppers suggesting that he/she has made their notes right from the beginning. So, it is up to that person that whatever suit his/her need. However, based upon the collective components that our Institute “GS Score“ has analysed, we have found that certain similarities or traits that are common in all aspirants who have cleared this examination.

Hard work with collaboration of Smart work:

• Whether you will clear this examination or not, depends upon how hard you are working with collaboration of smart work you are doing. Working hard doesn’t mean that you have read 16 hours in day and you have to attempt 100 prelims or mains mock test to clear this examination.
• By hard work I mean, you have to plan your needs and prioritise your key areas, e.g. your strong and weak areas. You have to understand how you can crack IAS examination by pinpointing the flaws which you will definitely commit in this examination.

Patience:

• As far as clearing IAS Examination is concerned this examination require tonnes of patience. Civil services examination preparation spans a minimum of one year, right from the Preliminary stage to the interview state, it requires a lot of patience to maintain the zeal and enthusiasm.
• Even after good preparation, you may miss one stage from qualifying. If that happens than, you have to start from all over again. Many a times you may feel tired and sick of further studying during the course of your preparation. Many aspirants who has cleared this examination tends to maintain their cool and patience by following few habits like watching movies, running or playing any sports to break the monotony of studies.
• Every single aspirant tends to have this tendency to clear this examination in first attempt or even clearing with first rank. If you don't get through, don't get frustrated. Don't slow down your tempo and at the same time, you should keep patience for another year to reap the fruits of success. So one should not lose patience and the tempo throughout the preparation period till success.

Self Confidence:

• Maintaining the ‘cool head over the firing heart’ should be priority of yours to ace in this examination and for that to happen your self-confidence can make the difference. If you don't believe in yourself and your capacity to achieve then, no matter how hard you try. You will end up failing. So your self-confidence should be at an all-time high all the time. Having confidence in yourself will not ace you through the examination by itself but what it will do is that, it will provide you weapon to clear this examination by less turbulence in the journey. You should try to narrow down your friend circle to serious and dedicated aspirants, who can increase your motivational levels high and can inspire you. Form a group of close friends, who are as determined as you are to make it to the Civil Services.

If you looking for a ‘Mantra’ for UPSC CSE Examination then I can suggest you that always go for your own strategy and try to find out what is working for you and what is not. By this, I am not saying that you should waste your 2 attempts in learning, what is working for you. You have to learn from the mistakes of others. Try to find a balance between your own experience and mistakes and opinions of those, who have already cleared ias examination.