The Civil Services Exam, held by the UPSC, is known to be one of the toughest exams in the country and still is one of the most sought-after job positions in India. UPSC conducts this exam to recruit aspirants for various job positions such as IAS, IPS, IFS, and IRS. Many aspirants dream of becoming an IAS officer right from their school days, and some start planning for IAS while studying in the college. Aspirants prepare for the exam for years. Some are school students while some are working professionals, so it is obvious to question the right age to start UPSC preparation?
There is no perfect answer to this question as it varies a lot, so the best thing is to plan out the entire exam preparation in advance. It is different for all the aspirants and thus needs to be curated as per the schedule. In this article, we will discuss What is the Right Age to Start IAS Preparation and offer you a good insight into how the preparation should begin and what should be done to make it better.
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What is the Right Age to Start UPSC Preparation?
In most cases, it is seen that the IAS aspirants begin their preparation after completing college at the age of 21 or 22 years. On the other hand, some aspirants start preparing for the exam at 26 or 28 years. So there is no perfect time, to begin with, the IAS preparation. Some students do self-study, while most students join an IAS coaching Institute.
I would also recommend joining The Thought Tree as we are the best IAS coaching institute. We have experienced faculty members who can help and guide you in the right direction. Our mentorship program helps the students to know their weaknesses and potential. We also provide scholarships, test series, notes, answer writing practise and many more things to our students.
UPSC Preparation Strategy
UPSC Preparation Strategy for School Students
School Students who have completed their high school can now focus more on understanding the IAS exam pattern and what is required to clear all the UPSC civil services exam stages. The logic is simple here, the early you start, the better results you will get and will allow you to build a solid base for this exam. While it is not necessary to start studying UPSC right away, start developing the habit of reading newspapers daily.
Read More: Mistakes to Avoid in UPSC Preparation
A school student should gather all the essential information related to the exam. See which important subjects and topics are to be studied for the exam. After that, begin with studying and try to cover NCERT books of classes 6 to 12. Begin with keeping up with the current happenings and develop a habit of reading newspapers. Read articles on national importance, sports, and entertainment. And then begin with the editorial section of the newspaper. At the start, it won’t be easy, but it will get much more simple with practice.
Reading a newspaper will be helpful for prelims and mains along with the interview. Do not make notes while reading the newspaper at this time. Watch online news, read blogs, and don’t read magazines for now. Just read for new and absorb all the new information. Refer to NCERT books for beginning with the preparation for the exam.
UPSC Preparation Strategy for College Student
A College Student should also start reading the newspaper and keep up with the current happenings. Also, try to read NCERT books of classes 6-12. Furthermore, also start studying for some topics which are under CSAT. It consists of logical reasoning, data interpretation, and comprehension.
Manage time, prepare a good strategy, and make it a routine to study daily. Take a look at the optional subjects and see which is the one subject that sparks an interest in you. It would be better to choose a subject you have studied during graduation, as then it will help you get a high score. Toppers often say that college time is the right age to start UPSC preparation.
Put in all your efforts and dedication while preparing for the IAS exam. Don’t stress about clearing the exam in the first attempt. Focus on completing the syllabus, managing time, getting good sleep, and eating healthy. Just make up your mind and prepare a good study plan. Later, give your best.
Read More: Qualities of an IAS Officer
UPSC Preparation Strategy for Working Professional
If a working professional also wants to begin with the preparation, then the timings for the working professional will be difficult to manage, so thus it is best to devise a plan and manage time efficiently. Remember, working professionals will have to make the most of their time in their hands. Studying and working for a full-time job is bound to get difficult, and thus you will only be able to give 3-4 hours to IAS preparation.
There is no set age or time limit for working professionals to start preparing for the exam. If you think this is the right age to start UPSC preparation, go ahead. Remember that you can prepare for the UPSC exam at any time. As there is a lot of competition out there, it is best to put in 100% of the effort and prepare for the exam, as there is no assurance on whether you will be able to clear the exam in the maiden attempt itself. In this case, the good thing is that even if you aren’t able to clear the civil services exam, you will still have the option of moving to a different career.
Read More: Best Newspaper for UPSC Preparation
In simple terms, there is no right age to start UPSC preparation. Although it is seen that in the latest trends of the success rate of the IAS Toppers, the aspirant should begin with the IAS preparation after being done with the college and graduating at the age of 21 years or 22 years. On the flip side, it is also seen that the toppers have been successful in IAS Exam even after the age of 25 years. It all comes down to how much effort an aspirant is willing to prepare for the exam.
Conclusion
I hope that this article provided you with all the answers to your question on what is the right age to start UPSC preparation?. There is no set age and time for the UPSC exam.
Just remember that while starting with UPSC preparation, don’t go on and start reading different books without understanding the context of the subject. Focus on your physical health, work on your personality, eat healthy and stay as fit as possible. Books and notes will help you clear the mains and prelims section, while the personality and understanding of the current happenings will be helpful in the final round, which is the Interview.
While starting with the preparation, know about the things, the news, what is happening worldwide, society, country, the latest technological advancements, and much more. Also, have general knowledge of the history, geography, culture, and government, politics if you wish to clear UPSC.
You can achieve success in UPSC exam at any age. Along with the right age, you will also need guidance, mentorship, good training, practice, inspiration, and motivation for clearing the exam. For complete IAS coaching, you can join us at The Thought Tree, and we will provide you with everything that you need to clear the UPSC exam.
