On 11 June 2025, the UPSC announced the results for the CSE 2025 preliminary exam. Out of over 10 lakh candidates who competed for 979 vacancies, 14,161 have advanced to the Mains examination.

As qualified candidates gear up for the UPSC Mains starting 22 August, we have curated five expert tips from civil servants to help them excel in the exam.

1) Smart revision is the key Akshita Gupta IAS advises candidates to keep a thin register to jot down key facts about each topic, which aids in quick revision before the exam.

“I scored well in my optional because I used to revise daily. Smart revision is the ultimate key,” says the officer, who scored 299 out of 500 in her optional subject.

2) Focus on short notes Writing short notes helps you revise multiple times and remember crucial information. Dongre Revaiah IAS recommends writing topic-wise keywords to retain the information.

3) Practice as per the exam pattern Dongre emphasises the importance of practising according to the exam pattern. “To avoid any discomfort or wrist pain, adjust your practice routine to mimic the exam setup. Write two papers on two consecutive days,” he suggests.

4) Crafting well-written answers Tejasvi Rana IAS emphasises that UPSC aspirants can enhance their answers by utilising diagrams, unique structures, and flow charts. Integrating examples and case studies where applicable can provide an additional advantage.

5) Importance of keywords in answers Saurabh Jassal highlights the importance of understanding keywords such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, and disaster management.

“Make sure you have at least two to three pages of notes for such keywords that would ensure a better grasp and enhance your answer writing,” the IAS officer recommends.