Want to unlock the secrets to mastering the formidable UPSC personality test? Here are 10 invaluable insights shared by seasoned IAS officers.

1. Be yourself Retired IAS officer Ramesh Kumar Khanna advises aspirants to keep their personalities intact and be themselves. “You must also focus on your attitude and confidence level,” he shares.

2. Know your DAF Dr Apala Mishra, the 2020-batch IAS officer says that one of the most important things to remember for the personality round is the DAF (Detailed Application Form).

She says, “Ensure that you put in only those attributes and strengths that you wish to highlight in the DAF. Do not put down any achievements or hobbies that you cannot explain. The interviewers are likely to see through it.”

3. Don’t go unprepared Dr Apala says that one of the biggest myths is that you don’t need to prepare for the interview round as it will only test your personality. “However, we need to understand that knowledge, too, forms the basis of our personality,” she adds.

4. Focus on what you know Jitin Yadav, a 2016-batch IAS officer, says, “Do not feel under-confident imagining how much you do not know. Focus on gaining confidence from how much you already know. If you are a serious aspirant, then that is more than enough,” he says.

5. Learn to be a good listener Jitin advises aspirants to be good listeners and pause before replying to a question. “Some aspirants start framing their answers before the question is finished. Never do that, we end up giving incomplete answers,” he says.

6. Be careful while responding to questions “Interview is not a knowledge test, which has already been tested in the mains. Interview checks your personality traits via indirect methods; your response to questions will give them hints to assess your traits,” says Jitin.

7. Keep your dress code simple IAS Jitin says that what you choose to wear matters while appearing for an interview. “Many questions may come up regarding the brand or design. In my opinion, it’s better to keep the outfit as simple as possible,” he adds.

8. Keep a check on your behaviour Jitin says that aspirants should never interrupt the board members, but instead, be open to being interrupted by them. “Also, answer one question at a time. Never mix the previous question with the new one,” he adds.

9. Learn to manage anxiety Jitin says that an optimum amount of nervousness is actually good for the personality test. He suggests aspirants study Yerkes-Dodson Law, which explains how performance increases with physiological or mental arousal, but only up to a point.

10. Don’t be desperate IAS officer Jitin emphasises that it’s crucial to prioritise professional conduct over emotional reactions. “Never show you are too desperate for getting selected,” he adds.