Through this article, you will get to know that it is possible to prepare for the UPSC CSE Mains along with the prelims. We have mentioned the strategies by mentors that will help you in the preparation.
Is it possible to prepare for the UPSC CSE Mains along with prelims?
The UPSC Civil Services Examination is held in three different stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The Prelims are objective, whereas the Mains are descriptive and analytical. And one frequently asked question from aspirants, especially beginners, is the big one: “Can I study for the UPSC CSE Mains performance along with my Prelims?” Quite simply, yes, and it is highly recommended.
Strategically planned, it makes perfect sense and is more workable to study for UPSC CSE Mains while simultaneously preparing for Prelims. So let us see how that can be done and how institutes like Plutus IAS facilitate for aspirants at both levels.
Reasons Not to Set Prelims and Mains Preparation Aside
A wrong mindset they get into is to prepare for Prelims and not take Mains seriously until after clearing it. Such an approach can be risky because there is generally only a 3-month gap between Prelims and Mains, which would be very slight to cover the vast UPSC Mains syllabus from scratch.
That is why all successful candidates and expert mentors advocate an integrated way of studying for the UPSC.
Overlapping Syllabus – Strategic Advantage
There is a considerable overlapping portion of the syllabus into the Prelims and Mains.CR General Studies syllabus has the biggest overlap. For example:
- History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Environment, etc., are the subjects considered crucial for both stages.
- NCERT books, Laxmikanth (Polity), Spectrum (History), and other standard books are considered useful for both types of questions-objective and descriptive.
Since the Mains syllabus is vast and more or less descriptive makes one starts solving Mains papers earlier; thereb,y one starts getting a deeper understanding of concepts with which Prelims MCQs are handled with confidence and clarity.
Make Answer Writing a Part of Your Preparation from the Start
The design of questions in Prelims and Mains is very different from each other and has the following characteristics:
- In Mains, questions are analytical in nature.
- Presentation must be structured.
- Answers are to be written within the stipulated time.
During Prelims preparation, allocate 1-2 hours for practicing answer writing. Start with simple General Studies questions or UPSC Mains papers from previous years.
One of the premier ranks in coaching institutions for the UPSC is occupied by Plutus IAS, and the whole system adopted by it is answer-writing derived. Weekly answer writing assignments, model answers, and individual feedback form the basis of their foundation courses and their focused modules for UPSC CSE Mains, which helps beginners build strong writing skills from day one.
Integrate the Current Affairs for Both Stages
Current affairs serve as the backbone of Prelims as well as Mains. Prelims look into facts and recent developments, whereas in UPSC CSE Mains questions, an analysis of these causes, impacts, and solutions forms the core.
To manage both:
- Read newspapers Hindu or the Indian Express.
- Make crisp notes and categorize them topic-wise for GS Papers.
- Keep practicing citing instances from current affairs in your Mains answers.
Plutus IAS offers monthly current affairs compilations, and current affairs cum static classes to train aspirants in the art of associating current events with static subjects, which is an absolutely necessary skill for Mains.
Focus on the Optional Subject Alongside
Would you like to prepare early, too? Then start the Optional Subject too. The optional subject has 500 marks and could turn out to be really important in the final ranking. Waiting till post-Prelims status-based Optional preparation is suicidal, as you probably will not have enough time to prepare it.
Plutus IAS provides Optional coaching for main Optional subjects like Public Administration, Geography, Sociology, and PSIR, featuring expert faculty and Test Series for you to be sufficiently equipped to handle the Optional subject quite some time before.
Time Management Is Life!
The correct time management forbids one’s double preparation for Prelims and Mains exams. Here is one such example:
- Morning:Prelims (Objective Revision, MCQs, Static GS)
- Afternoon: Mains (Answer Writing, Optional Subject)
- Evening: Current Affairs & Newspaper Analysis
- Keeping in mind, this is a balanced timetable; it doesn’t allow one stage to go down.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that not only can UPSC CSE Mains preparation run in parallel with Prelims but must also be done that way. There is an overlap in the syllabus, very little time after Prelims, and the very nature of the examination demands a thoroughly united approach.
Institutes such as Plutus IAS offer structured programs integrating both Prelims and Mains Ensembles. Under the guidance of experts, regular testing, current affairs mentorship support, and personalized feedback from Plutus IAS will ensure the aspirant is well prepared for Very and Fnl stages of UPSC CSE.
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Is it possible to prepare for the UPSC CSE Mains along with prelims?
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This article on Is it possible to prepare for the UPSC CSE Mains along with prelims will give you the strategies to prepare for the UPSC CSE.
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Rishutosh
Blog Oureducation
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