HOW to preparation For UPSC Civil service prelims 2018

For 2018, we have even better plan to help you prepare well. Following points will help you understand some of the features of this plan and how it’s going to make a huge difference in your preparation: 

1. You will read all relevant NCERT books thoroughly. NCERTs are bedrock of UPSC preparation. There is no better way to read and revise them than by giving regular tests which are solely based on NCERT books (we started this, and now it’s a trend) But this time, you will read them Topic-Wise i.e. every week, we will devote each test to cover Two Topics. For example, Mock Test 1 will be based on Ancient History and Polity only. Each test will be a progress over previous test in terms of covering all aspects of a topic. You will find this feature excellent once you start preparing. You will see meaningful and natural progress in coverage of each topic (like Ancient to Medieval to Modern to World history to Art and Culture in case of History and Physical to Human to Indian geography in case of Geography part)
2. Every test will test your current affairs knowledge thoroughly. Along with preparing for NCERT and Optional, you must daily read newspaper and current affairs carefully. Because every test will have current affairs based questions, you are compelled to update yourself with current affairs. As we are covering PIB and The Hinduregularly in every day current affairs, we suggest you to cover Insights current affairs regularly (you may choose any other source of your liking too)
3. For 2018, we are giving you weekly tests. Every Sunday will be a day that’s reserved for revision and taking tests. Big reason why many fail is lack of consistency in preparation. Weekly tests will make sure that every week will be useful and tight in your efforts to get rank in 2018. If you give up, you will lose. If you keep up with the timetable, you will definitely win. 
4. Weekly tests that are scheduled on Sundays help working aspirants too.
5. After UPSC prelims 2017, many regretted not giving our tests from the beginning. They regretted not revising syllabus and tests often.  Last minute revision will take you nowhere. Therefore after 3 regular tests, there will be a revision test. This test will have 50% questions from topics covered in tests prior to it and 50% questions from new topics that are prescribed to be read during preceding weeks. We have found out from our experience that giving gap exclusively for revision is not advisable. Many topics will left uncovered and the gap will affect flow in your preparation. What you need to do is reserve all Sundays for giving Test and Revision purpose ONLY. (To understand this point, you can take a look at the timetable and read this point again)
6. Unlike last year, this year you will get adequate time for both reading and revision of topics. You will get two days to finish a topic or source. Moreover, we have made sure that prescribed syllabus is not bulky (For ex. you will get 2 days to finish Class VI NCERT History book and 3 chapters from Tamil Nadu Class XI History book, which is easily manageable if you give 5 hours daily for these). This will ensure time for revision too. And gives you enough room for Optional preparation. 
7. Fully integrated with Mains preparation: There will be weekly small Mains Test posted on Test Series website on Saturdays. A set of 5 questions -framed from static part – will be posted for your practice. Below, we will tell you how you can integrate Prelims 2018 timetable with Mains preparation (including Optional subject).
8. More number of Tests: Considering the nature of recent prelims, it is evident that your preparation can not be shallow. You should understand topics both broadly and deeply. Through more tests, we can ensure this. Each test will let you know which are all the important areas that needs to be covered. 

How to Make Most of  Prelims Test Series?

If you have decided to give Prelims in 2018, you should start preparation immediately. Giving tests from Day 1 will boost your confidence. We have noticed that those who give tests from Day 1 improve scores drastically. For ex, if you are getting scores of 30-40 in first test, you will score 110+ in last set of tests provided you give tests regularly. 

1. Treat each Test as both Learning and Testing exercise. By giving a test, you test your concepts as well as learn new concepts or facts. Most of the students give these tests solely to Test their preparation. This creates problem. If you score low, you lose your confidence. Instead, treat each test as a learning opportunity too. After giving a test, same day, you MUST read all solutions carefully. That’s why, a Sunday should be kept solely for revision. When you follow our timetable, you will have to revise everything on Sunday. This revision cycle will help you immensely in remembering even minute details which is very much needed to choose correct option for a tricky question in exam. 
2. While revising solutions of our tests, don’t restrict yourself to what’s given in there. You have to explore links and learning part. This is another mistake many aspirants commit. In the end they expect everything to come out of these questions and solutions in real exam. If this is the case, you can just buy all tests in the end, mug up and give exam. Why struggle? Revising meaningfully and in-depth helps you in Mains too. Always read both from prelims and mains point of view. 
3. Give each test with good preparation. If you just give the test for the sake of giving it, you will not learn much. If you come prepared and give a test, you will learn better. Test reinforces your concepts. It lets you know how further you can study better. While studying you might miss some important facts or concepts, or you might ignore assuming those facts are unimportant, but when you see a question on these facts/concepts, you will realise what you were missing. If you give a test without preparing its syllabus, you will never come to know what you are missing.