By this time you know that the UPSC exam has three parts- the prelims, the main exam and the interview. And it is the prelims that you need to really work hard on. If possible dedicate at least a year for the preparation. It makes no sense to just fill in the forms and sit for the exam for the heck of it. You need to focus and plan out everything in advance. Listed are a few pointers which will help.

• Appropriate selection of the optional paper in Prelims exam:  Choose the same paper for both prelims and main exams. This will not only ensure that the effort put in is not going waste after the prelims but also help you in getting a good grip on that subject for the mains. Secondly select the subject in which you have either attained proficiency/higher academic qualification which helps you to dig deeper in the subject. Now that UPSC has enforced negative marking, it becomes really important to choose the correct subject.

• Prepare well for General Studies paper in the Prelims exam: As this exam consists of questions on Indian Polity and Economy, History of India including, Indian and World Geography, Current Affairs of National and International Importance etc, exhaustive study of each and every topic with thorough preparations are required to crack this exam. For history, economy, etc, it is advisable to read Class 11 and 12 books published by the NCERT. Some books on the freedom struggle are published by the National Book Trust. Regular and detailed reading of a good national newspaper, a standard competition magazine like competition master and a basic book on general knowledge is also a must.

• Start preparations for the Mains, well in time: because there is much common ground for study, and there is little time for the mains exam once the results of the Prelims are out.

• Appropriate selection of subjects: Here you need to select one language paper for paper1 and 2 optional subjects for last 4 papers. Here the choice should not only be with regard to your interests but also with regard to the study material available and also which subject you choose in prelims

• Exhaustive reading and writing:    In order to crack the mains you need to work on your writing skills. This can be done by writing down the answers to the questions asked in previous years' papers, and showing answers to someone you know, like a parents or friends. Also pick up past question papers and write down the answers to questions. This will help you organize the arguments and making a coherent answer from the diverse material. You should carefully read the questions in order to make out what the examiner is asking. Having done that, it will be easier write down your thoughts in an organized way. If you are unable to show the answers to someone, then you can revise your answers after few days. In this way you can find out mistakes and loopholes in your answer, which helps you master the art of writing crisp and to the point answers.

 Visit www.upsc.gov.in for more information on optional subjects and the course details.