Time management is key to clearing the UPSC mains exam. With the mains exam timetable out, we bring you some quick pointers on how you can best manage your time.
- Create a practical plan: Often aspirants create mega plans on their study routine, which lack the practical aspect. With just 2 months for the mains examination, you need to create a plan which is realistic and doable. Understand which part of the day are you the most productive. Keep difficult subjects for this time. There are aspirants who are not productive in the afternoons, so they prefer to go for coaching in the afternoon batch. This is how you need to be smart with your planning and time management.
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- Do not sweat over things: The time between the prelims result and the mains exam is when many students face a lot of anxiety. Sweating over the syllabus, the topics which you are not good at, etc. will not take you anywhere. Rather it is clearly a waste of your precious time. Shift your focus on things you know and revise them thoroughly.
- Be regular with answer writing: The UPSC mains exams is all about answering every question in the best possible way, within the given time frame. It will be a mistake to think that you will manage the time once you have the question paper in hand. Rather every day dedicate a few hours to answer writing. The time you have invested in answer writing will help you in time management in the mains exams.
- Take a break: Many aspirants believe in non-stop studies for the mains exam. End result is high-stress levels and exhaustion. Better time management for the IAS mains exam does not mean zero time for recreation. Rather, most toppers agree that regular breaks from studies and discussions are key to acing this exam. Take regular breaks but stick to your plan.
UPSC mains exam: Time management in the exam hall
- Stay away from panic
- Always answer the easy questions, first. Not only will you do justice to them, but it will also even boost your confidence
- Stick to the word limit. Never get carried away with questions about which you know a lot. Always keep the word limit in mind
- Use the break between two exams for light revision. Do not enter into unnecessary discussion with your friends and fellow aspirants.
UPSC mains exam is all about time management – before you take the exam as well as when you are in the exam hall.
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