Like other students, do you dream of becoming an IAS officer someday?
I know you want to become an IAS officer someday and solve all the problems in our Indian society. To reach that stage, you need to clear the most difficult and the most important examination in India, The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam.
Don’t worry. In this blog, we are going to tell you about the UPSC examination, how you can prepare for it, common mistakes you can avoid, and, at the end, some tips that will help you prepare for this exam, such as taking UPSC mock tests and test series, online UPSC mock tests etc.
Introducing UPSC exam
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year to select deserving and capable candidates to serve for various prestigious positions and responsibilities such as an Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and other central services.
This exam is conducted in three stages:
Preliminary (CSAT)
This is mainly a screening test with general studies and a qualifying CSAT paper, this is a kind of tougher exam to crack.
Mains (optional subjects)
If you clear Prelims examination then only you can take Mains. This exam has essay writing and subject-specific exams beforehand.
Interview
Once you clear both of the above exams and you get shortlisted then you need to take a personality test so that you can get to know that whether you are suitable for this role or not.
Importance of UPSC mock tests series in preparation
UPSC mock test series and UPSC test series are the most important components in your UPSC exam preparation. As these mock test will help you to understand the exam pattern, difficulty level of each question, how you can manage your time effectively, and you can assess your knowledge level.
Types of UPSC Mock Tests and Test Series
Online Vs Offline options
Online UPSC mock test can be more convenient and flexible for you as you can take it from anywhere you want without travelling to any institute or any coaching class, you just require an internet connection and a laptop.
There is only one benefit of offline UPSC mock test, that is you can closely learn about the exam environment, its process and how you can reduce distractions during your exam.
Subject-wise test
In this test you can focus on individual subjects like Geography, History, Economics, Politics, etc. With the help of these tests you can build a strong understanding of specific topics to make sure that you are covering the whole syllabus. This will be useful for you to identify your weak areas and work on them.
Full-length mock exams
Full-lenght mock exam is a kind of an actual UPSC exam that is covering whole syllabus. If you take this mock test then you can practice time management that is important for performing well in this lengthy exam.
Prelims Vs Mains focused series
Prelims-focused mock test series focus on objective-type questions to test speed and accuracy. Mains-focused exam focus on subjective, essay-type questions that will test your analytical and writing skills.
Benefits of taking UPSC mock tests and test series
Familiarization with exam pattern
By taking these mock tests you can become familiar with with the structure and format of an actual UPSC examination. This will reduce your anxiety and you can give your actual exam more confidently.
Time management practice
With regular practice you can learn about time management strategies, to make sure that you complete all questions within the specified time. This is important for both Mains and Prelims.
Identifying strengths and weakness
By taking these UPSC mock test you can identify your strengths and weaknesses in a particular subject or concept. So this will help you to work on them before taking an actual examination.
Boosts confidence
By taking these mock tests you will develop confidence in yourself that you can give an actual UPSC exam and this will reduce your stress and anxiety during an actual exam, maybe you will crack it in your 1st attempt.
Free vs paid options
Free mock test are available for everyone and anyone can access them and Paid mock test series are not available for free for everyone and it comes with additional features like detailed solutions, expert feedback, and performance analytics.
Best Practices for Using Mock Tests
When to start taking mock tests
You should start taking mock test as early as possible while preparing for it, ideally a few months before your Prelims. This will give you ample of time to identify and address your weakness.
Frequency of tests
You can start taking one mock test per week, and slowly slowly you can increase its frequency as per your convenience. In the final months, start taking 2-3 UPSC mock test per week to ensure readiness.
Analyzing performance
After each mock test, analyze your performance by looking for both correct and incorrect answers. Also try to understand where you are making mistakes and how you can avoid them in future.
Incorporate feedback in your study plan
As pe the feedback you can adjust your study plan by focusing more on the weak areas and revising the concepts again and again for your continuous improvement and preparation.
Online UPSC Mock test series: Pros and Cons
Advantages
Online mock test are more convenient and flexible for you as you can take it from anywhere in the world, you just only need an internet connection and a laptop to take classes. This will give you instant results and detailed metrics of each correct and incorrect answer.
Potential drawbacks
There is one drawback of online classes that we think that is a connectivity problem or any software glitches which can disturb your test-taking process.
Tips for maximising the benefits of test series
Treating mock test like real exams
You should solve mock test seriously as same as you are solving an actual UPSC exam. This means following the same time constraints, avoiding distractions, and adhering to exam rules.
Review and learn from mistakes
After each test, carefully review your mistakes, understand the concepts and logic behind the correct answers. This will help you to avoid those mistakes and avoid them in your exams in future.
Track progress over time
If you keep a record of your UPSC mock test scores and performance, will help you to track your progress, how much you are improving with each mock tests. Each mock test will give you motivation and highlight your weak areas where you can improve.
Common mistakes to avoid
Overreliance on mock test
We know that mock test are important, but overrelianing on them without studying is not a good option. You should balance test-taking with proper subject-wise preparation.
Ignoring weak areas
If you are focusing more on your strengths and less on your weaknesses then you are making a big mistake, as those weak areas can trouble you in your exams. So never avoid them and always try to balance and work more on your weak areas.
Not simulating exam conditions
If you are taking UPSC mock test series in a casual way without experiencing exam conditions then this will reduce your effectiveness.
Conclusion
So if you are planning for an UPSC examination then these tips will help you a lot in your preparation. Remember it will take time to understand the concepts, and in the beginning you may not be able to solve online mock tests properly, but as you will keep practicing you will be able to do that.
So always keep working towards your goal of becoming an IAS or an IPS officer and serve your responsibilities for the country.
Exampay offers a range of mock test series for different competitive exams.
