1) OVERCONFIDENCE
Most of the students think that they are different than other student. They think that their way of study is different and so they will clear the prelims. For ex.- Some students makes Mnemonics and make their study revolve around this only. But this is wrong way of thinking because every student has to go through same hardwork for clearing Prelims.
2) IGNORING DAILY NEWSPAPER
Youtube videos on daily newspaper will not help you nor various coaching institute’s daily gist of newspaper will help. You have to spend daily around 3 hours reading newspaper and make notes out of it. Complete newspaper reading build your thought process which other shortcut’s like youtube videos cannot do.
3) TAKING LIGHTLY -FIRST ATTEMPT
First attempt is most important, ignoring it will cost you 3-4 years surely. We often find our friends saying that “this is my first attempt only. Next attempt will be my serious attempt”. With such attitude they get trapped into vicious cycle. You have to give your all efforts in your first attempt only otherwise forget it.
4) SOLVING MULTIPLE TEST SERIES
Solving number of test series of various institute will backfire. Just attempt any one test series seriously and revise it 5-6 times till prelims. Go for quality study and not for Quantity.
5) TO GIVE UP EASILY
This problem is a major concern on the day of exam. UPSC will surely shocked you with their questions. Students at such time loss all hope and starts thinking about next attempt. In those 2 hours they start taking question paper lightly. Never do this. Remember that if the paper is hard for you then it is hard for others as well.
This strategy has helped me clearing prelims thrice with excellent score’s 122(2016), 118(2017) and 105(2018).
SOURCE: Nikhil Agrawal, Cleared UPSC prelims 2016, 2017, 2018 with score 122,118,105
