Can an Average Student Crack IAS? Practical Tips and Strategies

A common misconception surrounding the civil services and the UPSC examination is that only those with an impressive academic record can easily clear this exam. At the same time, some of them think that it is easy for students with professional qualifications like medicine and engineering.

Many IAS aspirants mull over these questions- “Can an Average Student Crack IAS?, If I’m an average student, will I be able to crack IAS?” Yes! You can crack the IAS exam. It is a well-known fact that the UPSC Civil Services Exam is a tough nut to crack. But if you follow a study timetable, then you can crack the UPSC exam.

Coming back to your question, I would say this: Stop considering yourself as average. Then half the battle is won already. Many aspirants believe that this exam will be a cakewalk for students who have always topped in school and college, but this is incorrect. This quote is apt for your case: “It’s time to stop pretending that you’re an average person. You’ve got big work to do. Big.” Keep in mind that your past academic performance does not control UPSC. It requires a lot of hard work, time management, dedication, and analytical skills, and this exam is challenging for all the aspirants. So, without considering your past educational attainments, everyone realizes that it is a difficult exam to crack when preparing for UPSC.

However, before explaining further about IAS, you must be wondering how to prepare for the IAS exam? I will highly recommend The Thought Tree (T3). T3 is one of the promising and leading UPSC coaching in Jaipur, Rajasthan. They have academic experts and professionals who share their knowledge with the students.

See, the average is a parameter. Don’t define yourself by grades. In India, the main focus has always been on the academic aspects. Still, no prominence is given to the pragmatic characteristics, and as a result, many students mug up and end up cramming during exams. And who can blame them?

All the exams and assessments are there to check whether you can recollect information rather than comprehend the concept. There is also pressure on the students to score good marks, and then they categorize students as above average, average, and below average. We all know that pressure is good, but this pressure can somehow discourage students while preparing for a challenging exam like IAS. Students must not be put in a category; it must be unallowable because every student is unique; they all have different bits of intelligence and capabilities. In the present time, nobody accepts one-size-fits-all, but now it calls out for one-size-fits-one.

Each year, lakhs of candidates sit for this exam, and only a few hundred qualify to get selected as an IAS officer. Unquestionably, the UPSC civil services exams are super tough. This article is for the aspirants who are under the impression that it is difficult to ace the exam in their maiden attempt. I want to bring to your attention that this exam has been cleared by intellectually bright students and those who weren’t toppers school and college. So, how has your opinion changed?

As a student, one needs to hit the pause button on negative thoughts, be optimistic, and have faith in your capabilities while preparing for a challenging exam like IAS. Hard work and perseverance are bound together; one must continue and keep moving forward without discouragement, opposition, or previous failure. Hard work is essential, but perseverance is the key to success in life.

Tips and Strategies for an Average Student Crack IAS

1. Plan your Study Schedule

Clearing the civil services exam doesn’t have any shortcuts. One has to plan their study schedule and invest their time properly. As we all know, every challenging exam requires a timetable; it is essential to plan and study each topic accordingly to get the desired result. You have to figure out when to study and how much to study based on your grasping abilities.

2. Make Notes

Organize notes systematically. Writing down and highlighting important points and adding notes will immensely help you remember them in a better way. You will also be easily able to revise before the execution of the tests. Use current affairs as a part of your Note-Making as well. It will also allow you to learn concepts, and it would be easy for you to recollect easily.

3. Set a Practical Goal

Think of the big picture; know if your goal is concrete enough? See, there is nothing wrong with aiming for the stars, but one should ponder over whether you can achieve the goal or not.

4. Read the Newspaper Daily

Develop a news reading habit as reading a newspaper daily is very important in the IAS preparation. Reading newspapers is a mundane task for some people, but for an IAS aspirant, it is compulsory to read the newspaper. A newspaper is the best source to learn about current affairs and to keep up with the current events of national and international importance.

5. Be Acquainted with the Syllabus

While preparing for the IAS exam, one must know what to read and what not to read. The UPSC syllabus is vast, so divide it into different parts. Each part must be studied thoroughly. Any systematic preparation should commence by being acquainted with the syllabus because it will guide you during your preparation and help you in holding off the irrelevant topics.

6. Practice Writing Answers

As IAS exam is descriptive and tests your analytical, critical, and communicative abilities. It also wants to see how you think and what is your thought process. Without enough practise in writing answers flawlessly, it would be difficult to clear the exam. Practice is the mantra for success in CSE.

7. Importance of Revision

Because the syllabus is vast, many aspirants end up just studying all the topics but not revising them at regular intervals. Revision is the mantra for success in CSE. Keep practising mock tests and revise topics at frequent intervals to avoid memory from getting evaporated from your brain.

8. Take a Mock Test

Mock tests are necessary because you will get a lot of practice. They are like spot-check, making you feel as if you are in the same place and feel the pressure before appearing for the actual examination; this will be an encouraging experience for the aspirant.

9. Read Toppers Interviews

As IAS preparation tips keep changing with time and new question patterns, one must read some success stories and interviews.

Success stories of Average Students

Get motivated by reading the success stories of some average students who defied the odds and accomplished their dream of becoming an IAS officer.

Vaibhav Chhabra

He completed his Btech degree from Netaji Subhash Chandra Institute almost in 5 years with 56% marks.
After teaching for 2 years, he decided to become an IAS officer.
He worked in BSNL for a very short period as he was determined to join civil services.
As he was not interested in studying, he initially used to study for only 1-2 hours. Gradually, his he started studing for 12-14 hours daily.
Before the exam, he met with an accident and got some severe injuries. He was bedridden for 8 months. He didn’t lose hope.
After facing continuous failures 8 times, he finally cracked the exam in the year 2018.
He secured an impressive AIR 32 in the examination.
According to him, anybody can crack any competitive exam, but the need is of having a positive approach towards your goal and a little faith in yourself.

Lakshya Singhal

Lakshya had decided to pursue an engineering degree in computer science, but his father enrolled him in mechanical engineering.
During graduation, he decided to become an IAS officer as he came to know that his neighbour passed the UPSC exam.
He wasn’t able to clear the exam in his first attempt.
In the second attempt, he secured a commendable AIR 38.
He believes that one must prepare with better confidence and always keep their enthusiasm high.

Mandar Patki

Mandar pursued Mechanical Engineering, but he realized that his heart lies in administration. Thus, began his UPSC journey.
In his very first appearance, he secured an impressive AIR 22 in the examination.
According to him, planning and multiple revisions are the most important.
His message to aspirants is: Always prepare with a time-bound goal and have a backup plan.

Final Thoughts:

So, to wrap it up, I hope that this article was helpful to you and encouraged you to pursue your dream of becoming an IAS officer. Have faith in yourself and remember that “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water” which means that you can’t clear the exam just by reading success stories and getting inspiration, you will have to put in the effort. So go and give it your 100%.

As IAS is a very challenging exam, an aspirant must be having some queries regarding IAS. So below is a list of some FAQs respectively:

FAQs

Q1. Are candidates allowed to use calculators in the UPSC IAS – Civil Services Exam?

No,you are not allowed to use it for the Prelims Exam. Although you are allowed to use the simple Scientific Non-Programmable calculator in the subjective paper of UPSC which is the Mains Exam. Usage of programmable calculators is strictly prohibited.

Q2. How to choose the optional subject?

The foremost important thing is how much interest you have in that subject, your strengths and weaknesses, availability of study material, etc. So, do the research properly and make a good decision.

Q3.How many hours of preparation are sufficient to clear the exam?

To succeed in this exam you will have to invest your time smartly. Some aspirants study 10-12 hours per day while some study for 6-7 hours in a day. In the end it’s all about qualitative results over quantitative efforts.

Q4. How many years is the IAS course?

At T3, we suggest that aspirants who are currently pursuing graduation should go in for the 2 year IAS course and the aspirants who have already graduated should go in for the 1 year IAS course. Still, before all that a counseling process takes place and after evaluating your capabilities, you will be assigned a mentor. who will tutor and clear all your doubts to prepare for this tough exam. You are our responsibility and we will be with you to guide until the selection takes place.