How Can Students Prepare For IAS Exam While Still In College

IAS is a dream of many Indians. But in the marathon to get good education and building a career, many IAS aspirants would cross the age limit or give up their dreams in between. Here is why many scholars or IAS officers suggest college students to start prepare for IAS if they plan for that. With all the energy of the young age and the sharpness of the student’s mind, the just-out-of-college guys have higher probabilities to clear IAS exam. By thinking so, the on-going college students will probably feel a major concern – how do I manage school lessons, exams, daily tuition hours and now IAS preparation?

Usually, those who wish to clear IAS attend coaching centers and invest their study time only for it. But for students, time will be their main constraint as they can’t dedicate a full year in between college education for UPSC preparation like other IAS aspirants. They need to prepare for it parallel. That’s why a thorough planning is said to be important for any UPSC preparation. If organized properly from the early years, IAS dream won’t be that far from the reality. Following are a few tips for making the IAS exam preparation easier for college going students:

Prioritize Things

When you are a college going student and dream to become a civil servant, start prioritize things and do only what is extremely important.

Understand the UPSC Syllabus Completely

Do a lot of research about the UPSC exam and selection procedures. Candidates have to thoroughly follow the syllabus, in fact should learn it by heart. This will give you the right direction to prepare for the exam.

Reading Should Be Made More Focused

Once you have decided IAS as your career goal, you should buy the best books for the preparation of IAS exam. Some books that you can start reading are Polity – by Laxmikanth, Economics – by Ramesh Singh and History – by Bipin Chandra.

Develop the Habit of Reading Newspapers

General knowledge is a must-have quality for any IAS aspirant. Therefore, develop the habit of reading newspapers, magazines and other general knowledge resources daily. In this digital era, it’s highly recommended for IAS aspirants to follow the main incidents on social media platforms too. Trace the history of important current affairs and begin to make a note of of them.

Writing is Important

In UPSC CSE Mains, writing speed plays an important role. Aspirant just who is a college student will have a big advantage as they are daily practicing writing for their studies. So, make use of it and start investing time on writing about important public affairs or current issues.

Select Subjects Carefully

Optional papers come in the main exams of UPSC. Since you are a graduate or post graduate student, you will be able to identify your area of interest. So, the college students get the benefit of starting their preparation for mains during their higher education itself. With a focused approach, your IAS dream can become a reality!