How to Prepare for UPSC Prelims in 1 Year?
As the exam date for UPSC Prelims 2025 has been announced, candidates wonder, 'How to Prepare for UPSC Prelims in 1 Year?' Find the answer to How to Prepare for UPSC Prelims in 1 Year here.
Deeksha Dixit3 May, 2024
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How to Prepare for UPSC Prelims in 1 Year? This question must be bothering many aspirants as the UPSC 2025 Prelims exam date is set for 25th May 2025. Making a one year study plan for UPSC might be simpler but following it requires dedication and commitment.
Preparing for UPSC Prelims is not an easy task given the high competition but anything is possible with the right guidance, quality study material, foolproof strategy, and discipline. Get ready to ace the UPSC Prelims in 1 year with the plan discussed here.How to Prepare for UPSC Prelims in 1 Year?
One basic requirement to prepare for UPSC Prelims in 1 year is understanding the pattern and making a booklist. This should be within the first month of the preparation phase. Let’s say you are starting your preparation in May 2024, then devote the first week to go through the syllabus, PYQs, and toppers strategy. This time is also sufficient for integrated UPSC Mains preparation. Hence, make your 1-year study plan in such a way that the optional syllabus is also covered simultaneously.May 2024 - Familiarization With UPSC Prelims
Begin by understanding the structure and requirements of the UPSC Prelims. For this, go through the past 10 years' PYQs and UPSC Prelims syllabus in the first week and then proceed to finalize study materials and guidance needed for comprehensive preparation. In this month candidates should start reading NCERTs and newspapers on a daily basis. Here is a suggested UPSC Prelims booklist:| UPSC Prelims Booklist | |
| Subject | Books |
| History |
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| Art and Culture |
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| Geography |
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| Indian Polity |
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| Economics |
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| Environment |
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| Current Affairs |
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| CSAT |
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| UPSC Prelims Solved Papers | PW UPSC Prelims Previous Years (2011-2023) |
June to August 2024 - Building Foundation for UPSC Exam
After finalising books according to the UPSC Prelims syllabus, start with the basics by covering NCERT textbooks in June. Make notes for revision purposes, as it would be difficult to refer to these books in the final months. Allocate time for both prelims and mains-oriented subjects for holistic preparation starting from July onwards. Keep reading the newspaper and subscribe to PW monthly current affairs magazine to fill out any gaps in this section. For the foundation part, the PW offers one-stop solution in its ‘ UPSC GS Foundation (Target 2025) ’ batch. Utilize it to supplement your preparation and have a strong command over basic concepts. As the August month approaches, finalize your optional subject and its study material.| 3 Months Timetable for UPSC Prelims | ||||
| Month | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
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September to November 2024 - Integrated Preparation
Since there will be only a few months of time available between the UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains stages, experts suggest an integrated preparation. Candidates must do the dedicated preparation of overlapping topics in General Studies subjects during the September to November phase. Join the UPSC Prelims Test Series to gauge your preparation level by giving subject-wise weekly tests. Having holistic guidance will be highly beneficial during this phase. PW offers a range of online courses tailored to the target UPSC 2025 exam that can be leveraged for assured results:| UPSC Exam 2025 Online Courses | |
| Course Purpose | Link |
| UPSC 2025 Batch for Hindi Medium | UPSC Prahar 2.0 |
| UPSC 2025 Batch for All Students | UPSC Prahar 2.0 2025 (Hinglish) |
| UPSC 2025 Batch for English Medium | Titan 4.0 2025 |
December 2024 to February 2025 - Begin Practice for UPSC Prelims
While enrolled candidates will be prepared for answer writing in the integrated batches offered by Physics Wallah, others may start this practice after completing 40% of the UPSC syllabus. Attempt one weekly test for UPSC Prelims till December 2024 and start shifting to focused preparation from this month. Ensure that syllabus and notes taking part are completed by this time. Begin CSAT preparation in December 2024 and do the intensive practice of the quant section in January 2025 along with MCQs solving for GS subjects. Those who are having trouble with math can start CSAT preparation in May 2024 itself, given the rising difficulty level of this paper in previous years.March to May 2025 - Getting Ready UPSC Prelims for D’Day
This phase must be devoted to only UPSC Prelims-focused revision and exclusive practice. Enroll in a full-length test series starting by April 2025 and set aside subject-wise time for revision. During this phase, give 3 to 4 mock tests every week for the GS and CSAT papers. Evaluate performance to identify weak areas. During the mock test, learn time management skills, and after the mock test, revise topics where the score is consistently low. Experts’s feedback will be useful in keeping you in line with final phase preparation and boosting motivation till exam day.Books for UPSC Exams Preparation
General Guidelines to Prepare for UPSC Prelims in 1 Year
Certain guidelines must be followed throughout the preparation phase for a sure shot of success as you prepare for the UPSC Prelims in 1 year. Here are some useful tips that will aid in your preparation journey:- Read the newspaper on a daily basis, particularly the editorial, science and tech sections.
- Make crisp notes for UPSC Prelims and Mains separately for last-minute revision.
- Candidates can practice the quant and reasoning sections daily for 30 minutes, considering the recent significance of this paper.
- Attempt subject-wise UPSC Prelims mock tests weekly in the initial phase and later move to full-length tests 3 to 4 months before the exam.
- Do not procrastinate, as it can lead to the piling up of daily targets and haphazard preparation later.
- Exercise on a daily basis and take breaks to follow your hobby. This will ensure you are not overwhelmed by the pressure of the exam.
UPSC Prelims in 1 Year FAQs
Is 1 year time enough for the UPSC Prelims exam?
Yes. One year is enough for the UPSC Prelims exam.
Can I crack the UPSC exam with one year of preparation?
Yes. It is possible to crack the UPSC exam with one year of preparation.
Is UPSC Prelims harder than mains?
UPSC Prelims has a high level of competition but UPSC Mains is equally challenging.
Can anyone crack UPSC in 12 months starting from zero?
Yes. By having a proper plan and quality guidance, candidates can crack the UPSC in 12 months, starting from zero.
How many hours should I study to crack UPSC Prelims in 1 year?
Candidates should study for 8 to 10 hours daily to crack UPSC Prelims in 1 year.
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