Can I prepare for UPSC with IAS Coaching In Kolkata?
People often equate success in the IAS with taking admission to Delhi-based conventional coaching institutes. Being the administrative capital of the country, New Delhi attracts thousands of UPSC-aspirants every year from different parts of India. This can be feasible for some. But too many people who cannot afford or get admission in those institutes hesitate to pursue civil services. It’s very disheartening. UPSC conducts Civil Services Prelims in 80 and Mains in 24 centers across the country. They do not differentiate between who is from what places! So, you must not too.
Are you thinking if you can clear UPSC with or without an IAS coaching in Kolkata? This is the article you should read.
What are the major misconceptions about the UPSC Civil Services exam?
Before we answer how you can clear the IAS from Kolkata, let us first understand the common misconception that people keep regarding the UPSC civil services exam. You might find some of them funny, but are the reasons behind major misdirections in IAS preparation.
Myth 1: Civil services are only for toppers and “geniuses” students.
- Reality: This is possibly the farthest from the reality as many UPSC candidates who top in CSE show average academic performance in their schools and colleges. Academic performance does not ensure the capability to manage administrative roles in a government department. What is important is dedication and determination behind your aspiration. What UPSC assesses in a candidate is analytical ability and clear understanding of diverse subjects. However, academic excellence is always helpful.
Myth 2: Studying 18+ hours daily is mandatory.
- Reality: UPSC syllabus is vast and questions can come from any of the topics within the official curriculum. However, if you prepare in advance, an 18-hour study routine is neither needed nor humanly possible for a longer duration. It may cause mental and physical fatigue, demotivation, and anxiety. So, candidates should give emphasis to quality time and not the quantity of hours they spend. Many people have cleared IAS with only 4 to 6 hours of daily study routine, or even less. A 2 to 3 years of comprehensive preparation period before attempting IAS is more helpful than an intense 18-hours routine.
Myth 3: Coaching is essential.
- Reality: Coaching is always useful as you get mentoring, guidance and motivational support along with expert-curated study resources, news analysis and many more. With self-study, you have to arrange all of those factors on your own. However, many candidates cleared IAS by self-studying.
Myth 4: UPSC is for arts (humanities) students.
- Reality: Every year, many candidates from non-humanities backgrounds, like engineering, tech, science, law and medicine, clear IAS. UPSC also looks for candidates from diverse backgrounds, as administrative responsibilities demand people from every field.
Myth 5: You need to memorize things to succeed in UPSC.
- Reality: Neither it is possible nor it is encouraged to memorize information to succeed in UPSC exams. Mugging up does not help score in Mains. Besides, even if someone clears Mains paper using memorization, the personal interview round will test critical analysis skills.
Myth 6: Reading newspapers is sufficient for GS papers.
- Reality: General Studies papers require current affairs and the underlying subjects related to any current event. So, reading newspapers is a part of an effective GS study routine. You also need to consult study notes, textbooks and UPSC magazines.
Myth 7: You can clear UPSC only after multiple attempts.
- Reality: The rate of success in the civil services exam increases significantly with multiple attempts. However, there is no direct causal relation between the number of attempts and success. Many candidates clear UPSC in their first attempts. Any candidate with sufficient preparation can clear the UPSC in the first attempt.
Myth 8: Few optional subjects are more scoring than others.
- Reality: No subject provides an automatic route to high marks. So, the concept of high-scoring optional subjects is fictitious. Depending on candidates’ interests, clarity of understanding and preparation, any subject can yield a high score.
Myth 09: You need to be lucky to clear UPSC.
- Reality: Clearing UPSC is about dedication, determination and intelligent hard work. By ‘intelligent hard work’, we mean adaptability, time management and strategic preparation.
- Myth: Civil Services is a glamorous career
- Reality: The job of a civil services officer is becoming tougher every day. Perks, prestige and monetary benefits are handsome, but responsibility and accountability are tremendous, to say the least. Glamor can be misleading.
What does it take to clear UPSC CSE?
A candidate must make sure of a few things to clear competitive job exams, like UPSC civil services.
- Know the exam pattern. This is important. Learn everything possible about exam patterns, question patterns, and syllabus about Prelims, Mains and Personality tests.
- Prepare strategically, not randomly. You must learn the basics of every subject for conceptual clarity. NCERT books are very helpful. Read standard reference, newspapers and magazines. Mock tests, online courses and focussed group studies (classroom) are crucial for UPSC success.
- Learn to manage time before you use it (consistently). It is important to understand your pace of study and learning habits. It helps to set a realistic timeline for preparation. Allocate study and revision time for Prelims, Mains and Interview separately, every day.
- Develop analytical writing skills, not creative writing. UPSC Mains require precise answers and definitely not in flowery language. So, to succeed in IAS you need to answer in to-the-point in simple language. You can develop this skill through practice. Alternatively, top IAS coaching in Bhubaneswar, Kolkata or in any other cities offer Mains answer writing practice courses. You can join them.
- Learn not to lose home. Learn from failure. Candidates should attempt as many practice and mock tests as possible. This helps to analyze mistakes and rectify them through changing study strategies.
- Build self-discipline and a habit of resilience. Physical and mental wellbeing is very important to succeed in UPSC, as candidates often require years of preparation and attempts.
- Identify, understand, and develop your personality. The last hurdle in the UPSC is the PI round. It tests a candidate’s composed and balanced perspective on any issue with confidence.
Bottom-line
So, the answer to the question of clearing UPSC with IAS coaching In Kolkata is affirmative. It is not the place but your intelligent hard work, adaptability and resilience that decides your success in civil services exams. Are you looking for IAS coaching in Bhubaneswar or any other cities in Eastern India? Check https://aptiplus.in/. They offer multiple courses and programs for UPSC preparation.