Many IAS aspirants have one common question in mind- Should I go to coaching institute for cracking IAS exam? Can I crack IAS exam in the first attempt without spending a truckload of money on coaching? Well, the answer is yes!
By sticking to the following points, one can easily crack IAS exams in the first attempt without coaching:
1) MAKE A PROPER STUDY PLAN
You have decided to study for IAS exams without going to coaching. So, you should make a proper study plan for yourself and adhere to it. Devote more time to subjects you find difficult. If you will make a time table and follow it with devotion, you will not freak out when exams are around the corner.
2) MAKE THE BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY
If technology is here to serve you, then why go to a coaching center? There are various videos available on YouTube which cover the IAS syllabus. You can also go through the study material of coaching centers available online. There are many online courses which guide you throughout your preparation for IAS exams.
3) MINIMUM IS THE BEST
Study one or two books only per subject. Don’t run after multiple books for one particular subject. This will save a lot of your time and avoid unnecessary confusion. Consider NCERT books from class sixth to twelfth as an important tool in your preparations.
4) SOLVE PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION PAPERS
Solve last year IAS exam question paper. This way you will become familiar with the type of questions asked in the exams. You will know which topics are asked frequently. There is good best online coaching for IAS classes also in videos format to learn about important questions and answers with perfection.
5) STAY UPDATED WITH CURRENT AFFAIRS
Read at least one national newspaper daily. Prefer reading The Hindu or The Indian Express to crack IAS exam. Watch prime time debate shows. Follow government channels like RajyaSabha and LokSabha. Read magazines that are related to current affairs. Pay special attention to government policies. Also, read the editorial page of the newspaper. This will help you in forming opinions and while attempting the essay question.
6) DO WRITTEN PRACTICE
This is very important for you if you want to crack IAS exams in the first attempt without coaching center. Doing written practice without fail will help you to test your retention power.It will also help in boosting up your speed of framing answers within a limited time.
7) TAKE MOCK TESTS
The main reason why many IAS aspirants are unable to crack the exam in the first attempt is lack of practice. Give as many as online and/or offline mock tests as you can. This way you can judge your level of preparation. Not to mention that taking quality mock test series will help you in gaining confidence and remove exam fear. You will get familiar with the latest exam pattern. So, if you do self-study keeping the above points in mind, you can crack the IAS exam in the first attempt without coaching center.