How to Prepare for UPSC Prelims In 2 Years?

UPSC Prelims In 2 Years: In preparation for the UPSC Civil Service exam, candidates always feel time crunch. This is largely due to the vast syllabus, ranges of study material, and year-long exam process. However, clearing the UPSC Prelims cut off with the right approach can be a cakewalk.

A 2 Year Study Plan for UPSC Prelims

Phase 1 Till May 2025

• Go through the UPSC syllabus and make a booklist for Prelims and Mains.
• Cover NCERTs to have a good foundation of Prelims subjects.
• Go through PYQs and start newspaper reading on a daily basis.

• After completing the NCERTs move to the standard reference material for holistic preparation.
• Start note-making for revision from lectures and study material. Make revision notes keeping in mind the unique requirements of the UPSC Prelims and Mains exams.
• Solve UPSC PYQs to evaluate preparation so far and understand the structure of questions.

• Decide your UPSC optional subject wisely according to trends and interests.
• Start optional paper preparation. Since this paper holds significant value in Mains, candidates must get guidance from experts.
• Start revision of notes that you are making and refer to topper notes for improvising them.

• Enroll in a UPSC Prelims test series to stay disciplined in the upcoming phase.
• Take the subject-wise test first to test the fundamentals and restructure your strategy if required.
• Go through the UPSC CSAT syllabus and make a study plan for this paper as well.

Phase 1 Till May 2026

• Ensure to cover 70 to 80% of the integrated UPSC syllabus.
• Cover topics like disaster management, security, and governance in this phase that are usually exclusive to UPSC Mains.
• Start answer writing to learn articulation skills in the next 6 months.

• Complete your optional subject and remaining syllabus of UPSC Mains.
• Have UPSC Mains revision notes ready and do a quick review of all topics.
• Increase the frequency of mock tests for the prelims stage.

• Join a dedicated test series for GS and CSAT papers.
• Solve 5 to 10 questions daily, 3 tests weekly, and 10 full-length tests monthly for prelims.
• Complete the UPSC CSAT syllabus for prelims and practice to improve accuracy in this paper.

• Dedicate 10 to 12 hours exclusively to UPSC Prelims in the last 3 months.
• Break the revision schedule into multiple blocks to cover all topics.
• If seeing less improvement in the score, get help from mentors through a detailed analysis of the test.
• Be calm and confident in your preparation for the UPSC Prelims in the last week.

General Tips to Prepare for UPSC Prelims In 2 Years

• Have a strong foundation in static subjects like history, economics, and polity.
• Take mock tests on a regular basis. Leaving even a single mock due to any reason must be avoided at all costs.
• Do not delay your daily targets otherwise, you will struggle to complete the syllabus on time.
• Get guidance from experienced professionals wherever required.
• Revise regularly and solve PYQs this will keep your preparation aligned.
• Start answer writing and learn presentation skills as you cover the UPSC Mains syllabus.
• Learn time management from the preparation phase itself for all stages.
• Work on your personality development for the interview round.

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