If you are a UPSC aspirant, you will know that the UPSC exam is divided into three phases: the Prelims, the Mains, the Interview round, or the personality test. The UPSC Prelims is the first hurdle you need to overcome to step into the UPSC Mains, followed by the personality test. Then, for better preparations, you can join the UPSC coaching in Delhi.
However, before you look into the IAS coaching, you need to know how to maximize your UPSC Prelims score. There are multiple-choice questions in the Prelims that look easier but require rigorous studying and concentration. All UPSC aspirants can’t know everything under the sun. But having a solid foundation and knowledge base can help all of you answer critical questions. Nowadays, lots of online IAS coaching institutes are available – paid as well as free. They can be of great help, if you are a working professional or not leaving in Delhi.
Now, before you start your UPSC preparation, there are a few things that you ought to know about the UPSC Prelims. They are as follows:
- In the UPSC Prelims, every candidate has to be careful about the negative marking. So, with every wrong answer you write, your marks will be deducted accordingly. Therefore, if you are not confident with a solution, it is better to avoid it altogether.
- Even if there are critical questions, you should not get nervous at all. The more anxious you become, the more mistakes you commit. As a result, you will write wrong answers. Instead, be calm and read the question paper thoroughly.
- The UPSC Prelims exam has a fixed time within which all candidates are asked to finish the paper. No extra time will be given. So, you need to be careful when writing answers. Finish the paper ahead of time to get some spare time to revise your answer sheet.
Rules to score better in Prelims
- Guessing answers
When the question paper pattern is filled with MCQs, you have to guess the answers to some questions. A UPSC candidate can’t know everything that exists in this world. In the multiple-choice question, four options are more or less close to one another. So, while answering, you have to be careful, apply your knowledge, and tick the most prominent answer.
- Read the questions thoroughly
Since the UPSC exam is one of the toughest exams candidates have to write, all aspirants need to read the questions carefully. In short, it is suggested that you read in between the lines. The multiple-choice question is all a game of eliminating the wrong and selecting the correct option. It may so happen that the answer is hidden in the question.
- Conduct the true-false test for all questions
Every question has some important keywords that you need to focus on. You will be surprised to know that the answer is hidden in the question itself in most UPSC Prelims questions. So, when answering questions, ask whether the statement is true or false. This way, you can reach the correct answer quickly.
- Time management policy
It is always advisable to finish answering the question paper ahead of time. To do this, you need to practice previous years’ question papers. Also, appearing for mock tests will benefit you greatly. Finally, keep the last ten minutes for reviewing the paper. Hurrying at the last minute may make you miss out on the essential points.
Conclusion
Above all, if you want to get a better score in the UPSC Prelims, persistence is essential. You have to concentrate and aim higher. Do not get deviated from your goal. Last but not the least, side by side try to join any essay test series. It has been observed that most of the aspirants ignore this paper. Essay paper has the ability to make or break in Civil Services.
All the best for your exams!
