Every year a large number of candidates apply for the Civil Service Examination. UPSC conducts this exam every year. Working professionals and college students also applied for IAS jobs in several cases.
Some people spend their full-time while preparing for UPSC but some others do a job during their preparation.
Preparing for the IAS exam and also taking care of health together is a difficult task while working a 9-hour job working professionals. In this article, we will tell you how to divide the syllabus into manageable bits and how to make an effective study plan for UPSC preparation.
Consistency, hard work and determination are the secret ingredients that many working professionals need who aspire to crack the UPSC exam.
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How can a working professional clear the UPSC exam?
The most common question that comes to the minds of applicants is, “will a working professional be able to clear the IAS exam?” The answer is yes. Every candidate who meets the requirements of the eligibility criteria can appear for this exam. It is suggested for candidates to spare 14 to 16 months time for preparation for the UPSC exam. Being a working professional, you have less time to prepare and if you still want to crack the exam then follow this timetable for UPSC 2023 for working professionals.
Generally, a person who has a regular job spends 9 hours in the office, 1-hour travelling, 1 hour for eating and daily routine and 8 hours sleeping. He spends a total of 19 hours daily out of 24 hours. So, here are only 5 hours to reboot UPSC exam preparation but if you spend 5 hours dedicated to your preparation and study thoroughly, achieve the expected result that you want.
Time table for UPSC preparation for working professionals
Undoubtedly, time is crucial so utilize the time in the best possible way and make a suitable timetable for IAS preparation. The right timetable is needed in order to keep track of the time for preparation for the IAS exam.
It is usually recommended for examination to spare 2 hours at least for the General Studies paper before going to the office.
You can revise current affairs material and newspaper analysis during a break from work.
Spare no less than 2 hours for the optional subject later on when you are finished with your work.
You can revise the information about the topics that you have prepared in the daytime after dinner for at least 20 minutes. Revision is very important for whatever you studied and learned in your day.
Some important points that should be kept in mind
Keep the timetable distinct for weekends. Make sure to spend 1 hour revising everything that you have learned in the whole week, preferably in the early morning.
Practice mock test series and answer writing in the afternoon.
When you are done with the Prelims exam in about 2-3 months you should concentrate on General Studies.
Practice UPSC MCQs that change every year in order to prepare more effectively for the UPSC exam.
Also, take a study leave before the exam.
Once you are secured about scoring high in prelims, totally concentrate on the main exam that needs rigorous studying.
After the main exam, you can restart your work but keep updating yourself on current affairs side by side. It will help you with the interview. Don’t ignore your health and try to have a sound sleep to stay relaxed while preparing for the examination.
Time table for UPSC 2023
You will get approx. 30 hours a week by following this timetable and also can add 10 to 12 hours on Sunday depending on your capacity. Generally, a candidate will get 40 hours of study time during a week. This amount of time is suitable for cracking the exam into 1 year but follow this timetable and study plan rigorously.
Common mistakes to be awarded by working professionals
Don’t cover in-depth
Some candidates try to cover the range and not the depth of whatever they study but learning and cracking an exam are two different things. Reading one topic in a hurry will only waste your time. UPSC syllabus requires an array of knowledge in various fields so covering a greater range in depth is of immense importance.
Reading without a routine
Don’t study while working in the office. The syllabus of UPSC is vast and your brain may be thrown off balance so study with 100% concentration to make efficient use of your precious time and also avoid reading without a routine. Try to stick to your routine properly.
Less sleep
Don’t compromise sleep as it will reduce only your performance and efficiency. Generally, we all have the habit of sleeping for 9 hours so not sleeping enough will tire you and your body functions. Your brain will not be able to work to its maximum capacity. So, try to maintain the regular hours of sleep you need and don’t decrease it further.
Using the internet a lot
No doubt, the internet is a great help in our day to day life as we can access the internet easily for all the help we need.
But it is also a good source of distractions and does not help in exams. So, be careful while using the internet otherwise you will end up wasting time on other indulgences on the internet.
It is advisable not to think too much about preparation. For example, some aspirants think about different things like can a working professional clear the UPSC exam and how can a working professional clear the UPSC exam for the first time? Focus only on your study as that is the only thing that can make you crack the IAS exam.
Don’t fix proud priorities
Some candidates don’t fix their priorities. They should understand the need for time and prepare accordingly. There is no use to focus on optional papers when the Prelims exam is near. Follow the above mentioned 4 to 5-hour study plan and keep your priority straight.
Moreover, every working professional can easily sign up for the best online UPSC class and make their online IAS preparation a lot smoother.
What should be done by working professionals
First of all, don’t quit your job. Many working professionals have cracked the Civil Service exam without quitting their job so if you are in a dilemma of whether to quit your job or not then the answer to this is no but make a fine balance between job and IAS preparation. Living your job not only affects you financially but also your career progress. Work experience helps during the IAS interview.
The best time to start preparing for the UPSC exam is at least 9 to 10 months before the Prelims exam. Focus on building a strong foundation during this time, especially in core subjects such as History, Geography, Polity, Economics and Optional subjects too.
Keep both papers Prelims and Mains as well in mind for the first 6 months. Preparing for the Mains exam along with prelims covers a major chunk of the IAS exam syllabus.
Make sure to devote at least 5 to 6 hours daily to study to prepare for General Studies, current affairs and the optional subject. Working professionals should not compromise on any of these core areas due to lack of time. Plan your study in such a way that even on busy days the regulation of your preparation is not broken. Split the study hours as per your work schedule for example prior to work, during work, post-work and for revision too.
Conclusion
Therefore, adopt the right strategy with a balanced frame of mind to get success in the Civil Service exam while working full time.
Being a working professional, you will be financially independent to pay your course fee and manage other expenses that are required to prepare for competitive examinations.
You may feel the burden of the limited time available so you would priorities your preparation before anything else. devote proper time to the development of your analytical skills and knowing the kind of questions asked in the UPSC exam.
