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AIR 78's UPSC without Coaching: The ONLY Strategy You Need (Don't Waste Your Chances!)
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Aspiring UPSC candidates seeking a proven, no-coaching strategy and practical advice from a high-ranking topper.
TL;DR
AIR 78 UPSC topper Surabhi Goyal shares her strategy for cracking the exam without coaching. She emphasizes prioritizing Mains preparation over Prelims, focusing on optional subjects first, and building a consistent study routine. Goyal also offers practical tips for Prelims, like managing nervousness and using mock tests effectively.
Key Takeaways
- Prioritize मेंस (main exam) preparation throughout the year over प्रीलिम्स (preliminary exam), focusing on optional subjects first, then GS, and integrating newspaper reading early.
- For प्रीलिम्स, maintain a calm mindset during the exam to avoid careless mistakes and use mock tests (30-40) to determine your optimal question-attempt strategy.
- Coaching is not essential for UPSC success; self-study is highly effective, but consistently taking test series across all stages is crucial for progress assessment.
- Develop a personalized timetable that suits your needs, aiming for 8-10 hours of study daily, with increased intensity closer to exams.
- Don't neglect Ethics and Essay papers, as they are often overlooked by students but contribute significantly to the overall score.
- For economics, rely on specific resources like Mrunal Sir's lectures and analyze previous year questions to understand recurring themes and improve answer content.
- When reading newspapers like The Hindu, focus on syllabus-relevant editorials to improve comprehension and reduce reading time gradually.
- Improve writing speed by first focusing on building strong content and understanding the structure of answers; speed will naturally follow.
In This Video
- 00:00Introduction and UPSC Journey
Surbhi Goyal, AIR 78, shares her UPSC journey, highlighting her third attempt success after two prelims failures.
- 00:52Prioritize Mains Preparation
Focus on Mains preparation throughout the year, starting with optional subjects and then GS, alongside daily newspaper reading.
- 02:03Prelims Strategy and Confidence
Learn from prelims mistakes: stay confident, avoid nervousness, and attempt questions with a calm mind for better elimination.
- 02:38Mastering Prelims Through Mock Tests
Take 30-40 mock tests to determine your optimal attempt count and improve focus, rather than blindly following others.
- 03:21Don't Ignore Ethics and Essays
Crucially, do not neglect Ethics and Essay preparation, as many students overlook these important sections.
- 03:38Coaching vs. Self-Study
Coaching is not essential for UPSC; self-study is effective. Test series are highly recommended for direction and assessment.
- 04:38Personalized Time Table
Create a personal timetable that suits you, aiming for 8-10 hours daily, increasing to 10 hours closer to exams.
- 05:31Daily Schedule Breakdown
Wake at 6 AM, study 7-8 AM, break for exercise/breakfast, study 9 AM-2 PM, break 2-3 PM, study 3-6 PM, break 6-7:30 PM, study 7:30-9:30 PM.
- 06:37Online Test Series and Economics Source
All test series were online. For Economics, Mrugal Sir's lectures and previous year questions are recommended sources.
- 07:44Reading The Hindu Effectively
Don't get discouraged by The Hindu; read editorials based on the syllabus. Use Only IAS YouTube for guidance on which articles to select.
- 08:37Improving Writing Speed
Focus on content first; writing speed will naturally improve as your understanding and structure develop.
Questions & Answers
Is coaching necessary for UPSC exams?
Coaching is not essential for UPSC. While I initially joined coaching, I found self-study more effective and continued my preparation independently. However, I did utilize test series for all three stages.
How should I prepare for UPSC Mains and Prelims?
Prioritize Mains preparation throughout the year over Prelims. Start with your optional subject, then move to GS. Read newspapers like The Hindu alongside your optional. For GS, focus on Polity and Economics first as they link to current affairs.
What is the best strategy for the Prelims exam?
If you've studied all year, be confident. Avoid nervousness to focus and use elimination effectively. Take 30-40 mock tests to determine your optimal number of attempts, rather than following others.
How can I improve my writing speed for UPSC exams?
Focus on the quality of your content first. Once your content is strong, writing speed will naturally increase as you develop a structured approach to answering questions.
How to manage reading The Hindu newspaper for UPSC preparation?
Don't get discouraged if it takes time initially. Read editorials based on the syllabus to improve understanding and reduce reading time. You can also refer to channels like Only IAS for guidance on which editorials to select.
What is a good daily study routine for UPSC?
Aim for 8-10 hours of study daily. Wake up early, around 6 AM, to build a habit. Allocate time for physical exercise, breakfast, study sessions, and relaxation breaks. Closer to exams, increase study hours to 10.
Key Terms
- UPSC — Union Public Service Commission, the central agency responsible for recruiting civil servants in India.
- Prelims — The preliminary examination, the first stage of the UPSC Civil Services Exam.
- Mains — The main examination, the second stage of the UPSC Civil Services Exam, following the Prelims.
- GS — General Studies, a broad subject area covering various disciplines in the UPSC exams.
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