Candidates frequently find themselves at a crossroads and dilemma after years of preparation, formulating for a backup career in case they do not pass the exam.
While some candidates take a break from studying and preparing and look for other opportunities only to find themselves back in the race, many others stay to study and take other exams at the same time.
For most students, the question of what to do when there is a gap in preparation never arises. However, some students or applicants will be required to respond to this crucial question. They’re worried that because of their gap year, they won’t be able to get into a particular institute. Continue reading this article to know what to do when you take a gap.
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What to do When There is a Gap Between UPSC Preparation?
Preparing for the UPSC is a difficult task. 98 percent of candidates fail to pass the preliminary exams on their first attempt. Some candidates take a gap year to study for the exam, but they are still unable to pass. Students try to change their majors or apply for higher education in other countries.
For each candidate, preparing for the UPSC is a unique experience. The number of effort students put in while studying for the exam is unmatched. Admit to taking a gap year and the reasons for it. Don’t be afraid to take a gap year, month or week. Don’t leave out any important details or act as if it never happened.
Is It Ok to Take a Break During UPSC Preparation?
You can’t be a robot who can learn and read for hours at a time without stopping. If you believe that taking breaks is a waste of time, you are completely incorrect. It’s nearly impossible to study for long periods of time without taking a break. While performing any task for an extended period of time, we humans require periodic breaks.
Breaks are also important for UPSC aspirants to refresh their minds and bodies. One thing to keep in mind is that students should take breaks, but only for a reasonable amount of time, such as 15 to 20 minutes. Short breaks have been shown in studies to improve retention and efficiency.
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Strategy After a Gap
After taking a long gap, one needs to start again from scratch, so here are some tips.
How to Justify the Gap?
Study the UPSC syllabus thoroughly. The UPSC syllabus is regarded as the exam’s only key, and you can rest assured that a thorough understanding of the syllabus’ topics will make your IAS journey much easier.
Find out when the UPSC exams will be held. The UPSC exam calendar for 2022 when available. Make a copy of it and put it on your calendar in red.
Make sure you understand the UPSC pattern and format. Continue reading to learn more. Mentally prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride that will leave you changed.
Prepare yourself for a lot of test practice, smart work, hard work, a lot of reading, and writing answers, among other things. You must also be willing to cut down on the amount of time you spend socialising and watching mindless television.
Does the Gap Matter?
Yes, aspirants who have taken a gap year should start studying at least 6 to 7 months before the UPSC prelims exam. Only then will you be able to cover the entire syllabus and get enough test practice. Before moving on to the optional papers, you should start with the common GS papers.
However, you must have chosen your optional subject, 50% of your optional subject syllabus before taking the UPSC prelims exam and completed at least 75% of your main GS syllabus.
If your knowledge makes scoring in the exam easier for you, you are only required to practise and understand a few test papers a month before the prelims. If you are familiar with CSAT, you should devote at least one month to learning it.
Don’t Lose Your Confidence
The UPSC preparation process can be exhausting and that’s why many aspirants take a gap, and you may feel like giving up at times. Almost everyone has days like this during their preparation. However, rather than giving up, you should try to find new ways to persevere.
Listening to the topper’s interviews was one thing that helped a lot of people. It will be a satisfying experience to hear about their journey, to identify with their challenges, and to realise that they are just like you. It’ll keep you on track and give you a boost of motivation.
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Mains Paper Preparation
The CSE examiners prepare questions for the UPSC Mains to test the aspirant’s fundamental understanding, ability to analyse, and “take a look at conflicting socio-economic objectives, goals, and demands.” To prepare properly, you must have a thorough understanding of the paper.
To do calculations, the candidates can bring a non-programmable calculator with them. In 2015, the main paper was revised. The exam will be held in accordance with the revised points. As a result, nine theoretical or essay descriptive papers will be included in the Mains paper.
The merit list will be compiled from the seven papers out of the nine exams. To achieve high scores and achieve your goals, you must concentrate on all aspects of the test.
Setting Time and Goals
Setting daily and monthly personal goals is a great way to finish the UPSC syllabus on time and get the most out of your day. It was extremely useful and beneficial to previous year’s top performers in their preparation.
They were able to maximise their time by setting deadlines and time limits for everything. It allowed us to concentrate on our studies and eliminate non-essential activities. Create a schedule for yourself, and you’ll notice a difference in the quantity and quality of your studies.
Also Read: IAS Preparation Tips for Beginners: How to Start from Ground Zero?
Conclusion
Hopefully, all of the information about the UPSC exam provided in this article has assisted you in preparing for and performing well on this incredible exam. Due to the difficulty of the exam as well as the high level of competition, it is a proven fact that this exam requires guidance and mentorship.
Are you studying for this exam? If you answered yes, you should meet with the best experts to get answers to all of your questions and learn how to achieve high scores by overcoming challenges and competition. If you’re looking for professionals or experts, go to the UPSC Pathshala website by clicking here.
You will not only receive expert guidance and support, but you will also receive all necessary information and be able to prepare religiously by reading the most valuable articles. Every path becomes simple once you understand the proper procedure for achieving your goals. By selecting the appropriate platform, you can easily reach the pinnacle of success.
