The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is considered one of the toughest exams in India. With the Prelims behind them, aspirants now shift their focus to the Mains — a critical step that brings them closer to their dream of becoming civil servants.

IAS officers and mentors strongly advise beginning preparation for the Mains without waiting for the Prelims results. Why? Delaying preparation could leave aspirants with little time to cover the vast syllabus and refine their skills.

For first-timers, the question of “How to start?” can feel overwhelming. But fret not! Rani Nandedkar, a content creator and ex-UPSC aspirant, shared a series of invaluable tips on X that can make your Mains preparation more effective.

Let’s dive into the seven key tips she shared:

1 Start Early Rani advises starting your Mains preparation by mid-June if you’ve attempted the Prelims. This ensures sufficient time to study and practise before the exam in September.

2 Don’t Aim for the ‘Perfect Answer’ Answer writing can be intimidating for beginners. Rani shared her own experience of struggling initially and how a friend’s advice changed her approach.

“Try to add data, reports, and original insights to make your answers stand out from the others, which will help to gain marks. Avoid trying to replicate someone else’s style; focus on building your own,” she tweeted.

3 Join a Peer Group To improve her answer writing, Rani joined a peer group where members wrote two answers daily and reviewed each other’s work.

“A peer group can help you learn from others’ strengths and refine your own weaknesses, giving a good opportunity for collaborative learning,” she said.

4 Practise, Practise, Practise Rani emphasised that consistent practice is key to improvement in any field. Analysing the answer sheet of toppers might help to understand what works.

“Don’t shy away from practising even if it feels tough at first,” shared Rani, which will be useful during the final preparations.

5 Focus on Your Optional Subject Rani stressed the importance of completing optional subjects by November. To achieve this, she followed a disciplined schedule.

“Dedicate six hours daily to the optional subject which helps to cover the content well. Start your day with it from 8 AM to 12 PM, then continue from 1 PM to 3 PM,” she shared.

6 Write Daily Consistency in answer writing is crucial. Rani dedicated half an hour every day to this practice, ensuring steady improvement.

You can reserve your Sundays for essay writing as this helps in gaining speed while writing and helping master the key components.

7 Make Notes from Newspapers Rani recommended maintaining a separate notebook for jotting down key facts, data, and reports from daily newspapers.  This habit will enrich your answers with relevant and up-to-date information.

By incorporating these actionable tips into your preparation, you can approach the UPSC Mains with confidence and clarity. Remember, consistent effort and a strategic approach can set you apart in this challenging exam.