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How much study time is required for the IAS Exam?

Preparing for the prestigious and tough IAS (Indian Administrative Service) examination requires strategic planning and dedication. The most common question among aspirants appearing for the IAS exam is how much time it requires. Numerous factors impact the UPSC CSE preparation of the candidates.

Although there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for all aspirants, still this blog will look into some effective tips and recommendations for a healthy study schedule.

About IAS Examination

Are you a candidate passionate about getting into the apex service IAS? Then you should know about UPSC CSE. UPSC, the Union Public Service Commission recruits candidates for the top level postings of Central Government. UPSC conducts the civil service examination every year. This popular yet competitive examination contains three different stages.

  1. Preliminary examination

– An entry-level objective type examination that has 2 papers. This covers the General Studies (GS) and CSAT, which is Civil Service Aptitude test. This examination serves as the gateway to the next level – Mains.

  1. Mains Examination
  • This second stage of the IAS examination contains a total of 9 papers and this examination is descriptive in nature. There are two language papers – English and any Indian language (listed in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution), which the candidate has to choose. The seven papers consist of GS I, GS II, GS III, GS IV, Essay Writing paper, Optional paper 1 and Optional paper 2 (the candidate has to choose one Optional paper from the 48 subjects listed by UPSC and prepare.  There will be two papers in that.  Eg: If the candidate has chosen History as his/her Optional, then it will be History 1 and History 2).  The marks of seven papers mentioned will be taken into consideration for final merit ranking. The two language papers will require the candidates to obtain minimum qualifying marks as set by the commission to qualify for the correction of the remaining seven papers.
  • The candidates who achieve the cut off mark will be called for the Interview level.
  1. Interview/Personality Test

This final round of the IAS examination is taken to evaluate the personality of the aspirants. Typically, the candidates have to undergo an interview with a five-member Board. The core purpose of this UPSC IAS examination is to evaluate whether the candidate is suitable for the Civil Services post.

How many hours of study are required for your IAS exam preparation?

Some aspirants including toppers claim that they typically spend around 6-14 hours of study in a day. Still, remember, the overall hours you spend preparing for the IAS examination is not just sitting with books and reading them for long hours. Rather, those hours should be productive, focused and effective.

There can’t be a specific answer to how many hours of study are required to crack the UPSC CSE IAS Exam. Everyone will have their unique strategy, potential, academic background and more. Generally, experts recommend 7-8 hours of study time for 1 to 1.5 years for effective preparation.

While preparing for the IAS exam journey, aspirants usually start with 12 hours of study in a day. This may last for a week or 10 days. Then the intensity gradually dips and they struggle to spend minimum study hours in upcoming days. This is not good. For successful IAS preparation, the aspirants should remain enthusiastic, energetic and self-motivated throughout the year.

If you look at some of the toppers in the IAS exam, they have devoted just 4 hours or less in a day. Hence, instead of spending all day with books, derive the right study schedule of productive hours with a structured format to ace the exam.

So, coming to the question ‘How much study time is required for the IAS exam?’ is determined based on the capability of the candidate. Some have cracked the exam in 4 years, while some were able to do that in just a year.

If you are truly dedicated and put your complete efforts effectively during the UPSC IAS preparation, time is not a thing here.

Factors to look upon for UPSC IAS Preparation

Assess your own strengths and weakness

To find out how many hours of study are required for successful IAS preparation, the candidates should find out their own strengths and weaknesses. It is very important that you maintain the same level of energy and motivation when you start preparing till cracking the exam.

Understand the UPSC syllabus

The UPSC syllabus includes various subjects such as History, Geography, Indian Polity, Environment and Ecology, Indian Economy and more. The current affairs has an important role in the UPSC syllabus and it has a high weightage in the examination. Hence, the aspirants should stay updated to prepare at their best.

Exam Format

As discussed earlier, the exam pattern of UPSC CSE contains 3 different stages Prelims, Mains and Interview. The pattern spans around a year.

Time allocation for different stages

The required time resources for every stage can differ based on the strengths & weaknesses of the individual as well as the complexity of the phase.

Typically, it is recommended with:

  • 4–6 months of study period for Prelims preparation
  • 6–8 months for preparing for the Mains exam
  • A few weeks of time for preparing the final interview phase

Guidance and mentorship

The expert guidance and mentorship from the best coaching institutes like Chinmaya IAS Academy reduce your preparation time and make it effective and productive. By enrolling in a reputed UPSC IAS coaching institute like Chinmaya IAS Academy, aspirants can gain valuable insights, study resources, mock tests, regular revisions, and mentorship from prominent persons who will help in streamlining their preparation.

How many hours should you spend on IAS exam preparation?

Typically, one year of focused and valuable approach is sufficient for IAS Exam preparation. The key that opens the path to success is the best guidance from a leading coaching center like Chinmaya IAS Academy and staying motivated throughout the journey.

Rather than focusing only on long durations, aspirants can split the study hours into short and intense study sessions. It is necessary to include short breaks for mind relaxation and rejuvenation. You can practice yoga and have enough sleep hours to promote your productivity and concentration.

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