I need Focused Study, Focused Material, Good Analysis of Subjects what to study, how to study and

what is expected to write in exams

you can crack the examination in the first attempt itself, you need focused study of
subjects.you should analyse the syllabus, and hard work is needed to crack this
examination.

Read more here: http://entrance-exam.net/forum/general-discussion/how-crack-civil-

services-exam-1st-attempt-53277.html#ixzz1IiSuN9yz
11HELLO,if you have high thoughts & willingness to bring them true,then try hard to get
it.there must be hard work in your preparation.i'll give you some tips-
*the initiation of preparation starts from the whole syllabus coverage.
*at the time of exam there should be more focus on the important section of the core
area.
*at exam time the repetitve revision of the selected section will be very helpfull.
*read hindi or english newspaper regularly for update with GS(general studies) & essays.

Read more here: http://entrance-exam.net/forum/general-discussion/how-crack-civil-

services-exam-1st-attempt-53277.html#ixzz1IiRuj8CL

One who is able to make mains never counts the hours and how many books he/she has read. But they know
what to read, what not to read, how much to read, how to use when required writing the answers. Civil Service
exam never wants one to be ideal. It requires creativity, innovativeness within the candidates, who lack to use
his/her knowledge properly they feel tough to clear the exam. Before starting the preparation find out properly
what to read, what not to read, what types of question are asked from particular topics. After taking guidance
from others put your own strategy, don’t follow their strategy it may not be suitable for you,

Strategy of IAS Officers for Prelims

Prelims is the first hurdle in the success of civil services. The dynamic nature of the exam has rendered
it highly unpredictable in present scenario. It needs a high command over the following:-

 Time Management
 Material Management
 Right Direction

The above three aspects vary from General Studies to Optional Subjects, and within optionals - from
subject to subject. Following links give a glance over the strategy

Strategy of IAS Officers for Prelims (Gen.Studies) 

The analysis of the way IAS Toppers prepared for the GS Prelims highlight the following
points:-

 GS Prelims preparation is not only about how much you study but also about how you study i.e.
about the strategy.
 Even though certain aspects of the strategy differ from one person to another, there are certain
very important commonalities in the strategy of various toppers.
  4 to 5 hours of regular preparation for 5 months is sufficient for preparing GS Prelims provided.

You know what the trend of the exam is

You read the right material for each topic
You know what areas to emphasis
You have your study material organized in such a form so as to facilitate the revision in the last month
before the exam.

One of the major problems encountered by the students is due to the vastness of the terrain of the GS
Prelims. It can be resolved by dividing the areas into - Core areas, Important areas and Optional areas.

CORE AREAS

Current Affairs (including India Year Book), Indian Polity and Modern Indian history must form the
foundation of your preparation on which no compromises should be made. Not only the majority of
questions in prelims are asked from these areas but they also form significant portion of Mains G.S.
Paper-1. The question paper analysis of last 4 years shows that current affairs section is getting more
and more important every year. This makes regular reading and compilation of newspapers
indispensable .Various competition magazine are not at all sufficient; they can only supplement your
daily self-made newspaper notes. While reading newspaper always keep a good Atlas (preferably Orient
Longman) with you as more and more questions are getting location oriented e.g. instead of asking the
venue of APEC meet they might ask you to locate the place on world map.

IMPORTANT AREAS

After the core areas, next on the list of priority are Indian Economy, Geography and Ancient & Medieval
history. In case of Geography, physical geography especially Indian physical geography is very
important. Map based questions and questions on locations, lakes, rivers, mountain ranges etc. are
being increasingly asked. Map of India (particularly physical) should be properly studied. Same is true
about world map albeit with lesser intensity. Economics along with basic concepts, study of Economic
Survey and relevant chapters of INDIA Year Book would be helpful.

OPTIONAL AREAS

These are those tricky areas such as Science and Technology, GMA etc. which on ultimate cost-benefit
analysis should come later on the list of priorities. Obviously the academic background of the student
would play an important role in it. 
For students having a non-science background, there is a note of caution. The analysis of previous
papers points to the fact that the questions related to these areas are becoming more specialized and
less general. Hence it is advisable to do only basic minimum on these areas. Also it should be kept in
mind that you would be able to attempt questions successfully only if you had revised these areas
thoroughly. For this NCERT unto 10th standard alongwith NBT's HUMAN MACHINE would be suffice.
Same is true for General Mental Ability wherein questions are becoming tougher year after year. Here
student should analyze his/her own strengths and weaknesses. For those who are not comfortable with
mental ability can put it last on his/her list of priorities.

The whole idea is that the Prelims marks are not added while making the final list of merit. Generally, a
student scoring around 80 questions correct in GS is through with it. However, the ever toughening
competition makes it mandatory to score 90+ correct questions to be on a safer side. It also offsets the
variations in cut-off marks that happen year after year. Furthermore, this kind of score also helps even if
you haven't done well in the optional. Our experience says that over the years, General Studies has
become the deciding factor as far as Prelims is concerned.
Right Approach alongwith Right Material & Right kind of Notes holds the key to your success
in Prelims.

Apart from focus on specific areas and subjects such as Polity, Constitution, Economy, History,
Geography, Science etc., the need is to walk an extra mile to be successful. It is essential to be vigilant
and cultivate an attitude of being receptive to the events and changes that are happening around you.

Remember "Eternal vigilance is price of success"!

Best of luck!

LIST OF BOOKS 

HISTORY

Modern Indian History: NCERT 8th and 12th std. 

Ancient and Medieval History: NCERT
Spectrum for Mains (make out the relevant portions for prelims) 

ECONOMY

Tata Mcgraw Hill's Indian Economy section.

Pratiyogita Darpan special issues
Vajiram Notes
ECONOMIC SURVEY and INDIA YEARBOOK. 

POLITY

Our Parliament by Kashyap (for beginners)

Our Constitution by Kashyap (for beginners)
D.D.Basu
Bare Act
Vajiram notes (relevant portions) 

GEOGRAPHY 

NCERT Books of 6th, 7th, 8th and 10th 

NCERT on Regional Geography
Atlas (preferably Orient Longman) 

SCIENCE

NCERT books up to 10th std.

Human Machine (NBT)
Biology from Unique & Tata Mcgraw Prelims Guides (relevant portions) 

CURRENT AFFAIRS and MISC

THE HINDU
INDIA YEAR BOOK
MANORAMA
GK section of Tata-Mcgraw Hill
A good competition magazine
IMPORTANT NOTE: 
The strategy discussed here has been designed by the IAS officers. Their personal notes well incorporate
this strategy. Crackias.com would avail these notes in a very compact & comprehensive form, making
them handy and easily manageable for the students at the time of their examination.

Stategy of IAS Officers for Interviews 

A note on the "Interview" as experienced by Raghuraj (interview marks 210, AIR-25) 

First things first. Interviews styled as personality tests are no tests of personality in the real measure.
Personality of a person is something that does not change over a period of a few years. The intrinsic
traits and most of the external characteristics remain the same and it is well and truly impossible for any
body to assess accurately the personalities thrown in front of them in a span of 30 to 45 minutes. If I do
not admit this (or accuse so, I give you the option), it would be difficult to find an explanation as to why
varying marks are obtained by the same candidate in different attempts. It would be equally difficult to
explain how some outrageous personalities are rated high and how gems are given a go by in the
interviews, be it in the UPSC or otherwise. Now with that caveat, I would like to suggest some things
that worked in my favour (in my opinion) in my second interview.

1. In my first attempt, I had been so very confident of a good performance in the Mains
examination that I had it some where at the back of my mind that I would qualify irrespective of
my marks in the interview. I did qualify, but the deficit in the interview meant that I qualified
for the allied services! Take the interview with the seriousness it deserves. The mains
examination puts you on the platform and the interview is the leap that you take. In Mussoorrie,
you realize that there is not too much of a difference in the Mains score of the successful
candidates. It is interview that comes in as the major differentiator.
2. Dress well and be comfortable with dressing well. Coming from down south, I had never bought
for myself a blazer. Tie was a pain in the neck during the first working days of my school days
and one was relieved to be out of it in college. Now, I had said up front that it is too much to
expect from any board to fish out your personality and earnestness in 30 minutes. So help them
by showing in the most visible manner that you are earnest about the attempt. Plus it adds to
ones own confidence while answering the questions (shall I reframe it as while making the
conversation). I am sure it is not the correctness of the answer that is being valued out there -
in that case they would have restricted themselves to questions where there is just one correct
answer!
3. Speak in the interview as if you are speaking to your parent's (or grand parent's - depending on
the age) friends. Now this is not my statement and I don't remember where I read it. But it
sounded sensible to me in approaching the interview. It suggests the right amount of respect
and assertiveness in facing the interviewers. This will help you smile when you answer. This will
help you listen carefully to their words. This will help you in realizing that they have their own
opinion about the state of affairs. And most importantly this will help you avoid an out and out
argument.
4. It does not matter how right your answer is. It all depends on how rightly you put it. Ever heard
about that joke about diplomats - that when a diplomats says yes he means may be; when he
says may be he means no; and when he says no, oh then he is not a diplomat! In thirty
minutes, if some one is able to provoke you into an argument in the UPSC interview hall, then
he/she/they have just been able to prove that you are not the best pick for jobs where you have
to constantly listen to illogical unreasonable out of the world unacceptable rubbish. I suggest
the maximum you do in expressing absolute disagreement is to say, " I understand there is a
alternative view point". Now am I suggesting that you lie by not telling them how you feel about
it - Yes!
 5. Don't cook up answers. Now the person in front of us knows a thing or two about what she is
asking. Not too many of us would ask about the technological lacunae in India's cryogenic
programme if ever asked to put in a question during the UPSC interview. That is because not
too many of us know about what that thing is all about. (at least I don't). Now if some body
does ask you that question in the interview - I am assuming that we do not know the answer
here - the best way to tackle is to admit to be not too well versed in that area. And if you are
guessing, ask for permission from the Chairman by may be saying " I am unsure; but I can
make a guess if you would allow me to". And then he has the bad fortune of listening to a
howler from you, it is his fault. It becomes a little difficult when the question is related to your
area of specialization. Now am I suggesting that you tell the truth about how much you know
about it - Yes!
6. Not being able to answer a question or two does not matter. But letting it affect you during the
interview does matter. Life is not so kind as to give us questions that we will always be able to
answer - and interviews are not any kinder. May be one should plan for it that one or two
questions would not be answered to the perfection. Planning for that makes the frown on your
face a little less when faced with the situation. If the board answers a question for you, listen to
it eagerly and thank them for doing that.
7. Speak slowly and deliberately. In case your English is not the strongest in the world it helps in
avoiding grammar mistakes while speaking. If you make a mistake and don't get to know about
it, it is still fine. But if you realize that you have got it wrong with the grammar soon afterwards,
it can affect the confidence with which you speak which is even more of a problem than the
mistaken grammar.
8. Begin well. It is very easy typing away on the computer more than two years after my last UPSC
interview, but I admit it was not that easy when I had to actually do it. In my first attempt, I
began with a most courteous Good Morning Madam, Good Morning Sirs. (Ladies first - Protocol
adhered to perfectly). The only problem was that it was two in the afternoon and the generous
Chairman of the board smiled and wished me Good Afternoon Mr. Raghuraj. I don't remember
the rest of my interview. I was kicking myself for that mistake and when the results came I
realized that I was not alone in kicking myself! In my second attempt again it was the same
time of the day and I was praying to my lords in heaven that I should not be going again for the
Good Morning thing this time around. And the lords were very generous in granting the wish
and I ended up saying Good Evening Madam, Good Evening Sirs. Thankfully it was around three
o' clock this time and the Chairman was gracious enough not to have made that an issue.
Suffice to say, begin well and even if you are not able to, do not let it affect you

And of course, be very specific with your prayers - the lords are short on processing time! Wish you all
the very best!

Cheers!!! We are also coming up with the strategy of the person who got 235 in the interview.

HOW TO CRACK IAS EXAM

1. What makes one successful and another failure in Mains?
All the candidates are having books, all the candidates are dedicated to work and most of them attend coaching
institutions, take guidance from seniors and friends but what makes one success and another failure. Students
say they studied for 18 hours and still they couldn’t make mains. Others say they studied only for 8-9 hours and
could make mains. Why these differences. The difference between successful candidates and the failure
candidates is same as difference between ordinary and extra-ordinary persons.
One who is able to make mains never counts the hours and how many books he/she has read. But they know
what to read, what not to read, how much to read, how to use when required writing the answers. Civil Service
exam never wants one to be ideal. It requires creativity, innovativeness within the candidates, who lack to use
his/her knowledge properly they feel tough to clear the exam. Before starting the preparation find out properly
what to read, what not to read, what types of question are asked from particular topics. After taking guidance
from others put your own strategy, don’t follow their strategy it may not be suitable for you,
Better strategy makes one success in mains.
2. Going through Syllabus
This year there is change in the syllabus of General-Studies and also optional paper. Don’t get tense when
somebody says there is change in syllabus. Civil Service exam tries to select candidates who are creative and
innovative and aware of day to day life. Accordingly, syllabus has been changed.
First go through General Studies syllabus thoroughly and try to be perfect with the syllabi. If you know syllabus,
20% of your work is over. It helps you what to read and what not to read. Don’t neglect the added syllabus.
Always questions will be asked from the new syllabus. Try to think what type of questions may come from
particular topic. What is the relevance of particular topic in today’s life?
In the same way go through the added topics of both optional and try to cover them first. Old candidates may
know other parts of the syllabus only added syllabus they have to be perfect. New-comers have to know whole
syllabus before starting their studies.
3. Having balanced approach towards Optional
Candidates have to select too optiona1 for mains. Most of the candidates take one optional same for both prelims
and mains. Some may have different optional papers for prelims and two different optionals for mains. Both the
optional papers should be given same weightage. Don’t neglect the optional which you were having for prelims..
Don’t think already that you have studied for prelims and can give less time for mains. There are many students
who are unable to score more than 300 marks in first optional but easily they can score more than 300 marks in
second optional. This is because way of approach for study differs. Student might know concepts but unable to
use where it is required. Therefore study both optionals simultaneously. Marks of both optional are important to
be successful in exam.
Considering question number 1 and 5 is equally important Question number 1 and 5 play very important role in
getting good score. From both the optionals we have 480 marks for these questions. Therefore, practice writing
short answers while preparing. Study previous year questions and analyze what type of questions has been
asked from particular topics. Try to cover all the points within 200 words. Read the questions properly and
answer according to the nature of the question. While studying try to note down topics where short notes can be
asked and write points for that topic and keep. That will help during revision.
4. Exclusive skills for presenting answer
After the prelims exams and till the exam date everyone study. But, in Civil Service main exam only studying is
not important. But here important is how one is using his knowledge to write particular paper within three hours.
What one writes during these three hours makes one topper and anther failure. Here how much you studied it
doesn’t matter, but how you are using your knowledge to write particular answer. Therefore while studying,
always think what type of questions may be asked from particular topics and what points to be included to make
different from others.
Many times we hear students saying they have done their exams very well. Question paper was very easy. But
still they are unable to make mains. Why? When question paper is given they never try to read full question. If
they come across the words they know they start writing answers. They might have written wrong answer also.
There they make mistakes. First, study questions properly and understand what has been asked. Then think
what to be written for that answer. Write up to the point answers. While writing 60 marks answers follow one
strategy. When you read question, take always last page of your answer booklet and start writing the points what
all to be included in that answer. Because while writing suddenly you may forget the points, these points give
hints to continue the answer and make to be within the track. .
Don’t repeat the paragraphs. If graphs, pie-charts, flow charts are required draw them to make examiner know
what you have written. Always follow word-limit. If you think you know more about that answer and start writing
more on that answer, you cannot complete the paper within a given time. Always try to give positive points. Don’t
mention anybody’s name. Write such type of inputs which makes your answer different from others.
5. Current Affairs
Current Affairs play leading role in the Civil Service main exam. Students try to buy many current affairs
magazine and they think they studied more instead of that studied from one magazine and be a regular reader of
newspaper. Whatever you read, try to make note of it, It helps to revise. Without revising you cannot remember
the points. Study previous years question paper and try to analyse what type of questions have been asked from
current affairs. See whether there is any change in asking questions from one year to another.
General Studies first paper contains national affairs, social issues, geographical issues and etc. And General
Studies second paper includes international affairs, economics, science and technology, statistics. All these
topics are related to current affairs. Therefore concentrate more on current affairs. The students having
stronghold on current affairs are able to score more than 300 marks in General Studies. Current Affairs also play
leading role optional. Same of the optionals like Public Administration, Political Science, Science, and Sociology
require current trends. Therefore one must be aware what type of current affairs is required for particular topic.
Here one should remember only reading current affairs never give marks. Try to revise it again and again and
you will be able to recollect during the exam. Preparing current affairs should be continuous process and don’t
think some days can be allotted for it.
6. Two marker questions and 20 words
Always small things make great thing happen. That means, too marker questions are very important to score
more than 300 marks in General Studies. Usually students think, it’s only two marks, they can write them without
any strategy. But when you really sit for writing you will understand how much difficult are those. To write these
questions you must evolve good strategy. While reading newspaper you may come across some personalities,
places and terms try to write on them about in 20 words. Keep on practicing. If answer is written up to the mark
you can get full marks. If you ask any topper, he always says that he gave importance to two markers.
To make yourself different from others, prepare your own strategy in order to study these two marks questions.
Go through previous years questions and try to write yourself for those questions. While reading any newspaper,
magazine or book, note down the words and write on that topic.
In exam hall, write up to the point. This can come only by practice. Questions will be from Indian polity,
economies, history, culture, science and technology, geographical concepts, personalities. While studying, make
different note on different topics thus it helps to revise properly.
7. Selective Study
All the candidates who are preparing for civil service main examination know the importance of selective study.
Being selective is how much useful in preparation how it makes one comfortable.
When students, who are preparing for examination, see the vast syllabus, they find themselves in confusing
state. It is like throwing one into the sea; That means syllabus is so vast if they sit for preparing simply without
making any selection. One needs complete one year to read whole syllabus. By that time exams are on the head,
candidates are not fully prepared in each topic and after reading the entire syllabus they are not even in position
to tackle anyone question perfectly. Therefore, selective study is very important in civil service preparation. One
should know what to study, what to be given more importance, what not to be studied and etc.
Once study whole syllabus completely. They should take some 3-4 previous year question .papers and study the
topics thoroughly. This help to decide on which topics frequently questions are asked and on which topic
analytical questions are coming, on which topic short questions are coming and so on. By going through previous
year question paper one can understand what to study’ in current affairs. This makes one to be selective while
reading newspapers.’ Otherwise one has to spend more time on newspapers.
Syllabus of optional subjects are also vast, sp candidates often have many books to cover the topics but they
cannot read all of them so here also being selective is very important. Try to read standard books and recollect
the points what you have read and how it is useful in writing the answers. Selective study hopes you to answer
any question asked on that topic.
Most of the toppers follow strategy of being selective. It is not wise to waste time in reading which is not required
for the exam. One should have proper approach towards study the optional subjects to get success at mains.
8. Importance of Compulsory Papers
English and any other Indian language and one essay paper are compulsory for civil service main examination.
Its nature is of qualifying nature so often candidates think that hey easily can write them and clear these papers.
But after each result actually we see that many students are unable to clear language papers. Even some
candidates await there result positively and actually they did very well at there exam but finally language papers
create a big hurdle. So never underestimate these too language papers and do not neglect them. Here their
importance is more. Without qualifying these papers, you cannot at mains. Therefore, they cannot be neglected.
These are considered as first step to clear mains. Therefore, be perfect with grammar, essay writing, precise
writings.
The students who are getting good marks in essay can definitely get success in mains. Essay paper plays
important role in getting good rank. This paper is for 200 marks. One Who writes good essay can get upto 140
marks. This makes great difference between an ordinary student and an extra-ordinary student. To write essay
one should have comprehensive thinking. While preparing, don’t prepare a few topics. Prepare general way.
Select topics like global warming, social change, and development-oriented topics, globalization, terrorism,
democracy’ and prepare on these’ topics in general way.
Particular topics won’t be asked in the exam. But whatever you have studied can be used in anyway while writing
essay. Read all the topics of essay at least once, and then select which topic you feel comfortable. Then take last
page of your answer booklet and note down all the points you know so that you will not forget the main points
while you writing the essay. Then arrange the points in accordance with their importance and there should be
continuation of paragraphs. . .
Always write common language, don’t use complicated words and don’t bring optional concepts into the essay.’
Essay paper also marks the assessment of your personality. Therefore be careful while choosing the topics and
while writing the essay paper.
9. 2600 Marks to be covered in 100 days
Civil Service Main Examination is an examination of 2600 marks. In that two compulsory language papers have
300 marks each. They are qualifying papers and are important to clear the main examination. After preliminary
examination there will be 150 days available for preparing for mains; But while choosing second optional and
collecting books candidates waste some 40 to 50 days. Only reaming will be 100 days to go far mains. these 100
days are crucial for everyone. Aspirants have to cover some 100 topics in optional and some 100 topics in
General Studies.
To achieve one’s goal within 100 days, one has to follow proper strategy. Planning is very important to complete
studies. 100 days can be split into two parts: first 80 days for studying and remaining 20 days for revision. Main
examination requires how you analytically think over the .topic. Therefore, revision helps one to know how one
can recollect the points. Study all the subjects simultaneously. Equal weightege should be given to all the papers.
According to your comfortability with subject allot your time for study and make planning every week. Change the
planning according to the topics to be covered.
Planning helps to use 100 days fruitfully to achieve the goal.
10. What to follow: during preparation and in examination hall
(a) Read limited books. Don’t try to read more books. Read fewer books and gain more from them. Read only
one or two newspapers and follow anyone book on current affairs.
Reading more books make you what to remember or not.
(b) Be selective while reading a newspaper. From the beginning of your preparation build the habit of reading
what is important from the exam point of view. Spend only 45 minutes to 60 minutes for newspaper daily.
(c) Always plan your studies. For a week and also for a day. This helps to complete the syllabus within a time.
(d) In the name of selective study don’t leave what to be studied. Don’t go only for popular topics study what may
be asked in the mains.
(e) Prepare your own notes. But don’t spend more time in preparing notes. Make point-wise notes which can be
reversed very easily with less time.
(f) Don’t run from difficult topics. Get clarified from somebody else and simply don’t leave difficult topics. Don’t
give importance to what you know. Give less time for what you know and more time for studying difficult topics.
(g) Make more and more practices for writing answers. Don’t be lazy. At least p1ake the
habit of writing points to be included in that answer.
(h) While writing answer in examination hall, I don’t cross the word-limit. If you cross the word I limit, you cannot
manage to write all the answers.
(i) Statistics carries 40′marks in General Studies. Give importance to this section while II
preparation and also in the examination hall. In the examination hall, keep last 20 minutes for statistics and don’t
take it first. Practice makes you to solve the problem within a time limit.
(J) Last point is very important. Don’t be hurry while reading the question paper. Read slowly word by word and
you can understand what is asked. Otherwise, there is a chance of writing wrong answer. Therefore, follow
questions’ properly.