The cornerstone of any excellent UPSC test preparation is taking mock exams and analyzing them.
As a UPSC candidate, your goal isn’t simply to know the UPSC Prelims and Mains syllabus like the back of your hand; it’s also to know how to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to real-world situations by answering UPSC-style questions. Solving Mocks is a fantastic way to get started.
Attempting simulated tests, on the other hand, is similar to the army’s mock drills. The goal is to simulate the UPSC exam experience in the comfort of your own study room, without the risk of losing your job.
Assuming that you got my point here, let us take a look at the several benefits of solving UPSC Mock tests 2022.
Benefits of Solving UPSC Mock Tests
- Know your strong and weak points clearly
- Know the difficulty level of each question
- Become Fast
- Become instinctive
- Know you’re the exam structure by heart
Now that you know the benefits of solving UPSC mock test, it should be further noted that you should atleast attempt one UPSC mock test or a previous year’s paper after you have already finished with your UPSC preparation. That way after solving the UPSC mock test you’d know which portions of the UPSC syllabus you still need to work on.
Tips on Solving UPSC Mock Tests
Since, in in the section above, I have mentioned the various benefits of solving the UPSC mock, tests, in this section, let me jot down some important tips that you can use while doing so, I.e., solving mocks.
Using the tips given below you shall be able to make use of the Mock tests in the most optimal manner. So, here they are:
- Take your Prelims mock exams seriously, allotting two hours to the GS and CSAT papers. Also, when taking your mock mains papers, use the official time duration of 3 hours for each paper.
- Make sure to solve the UPSC mock exams with a calm mind. The goal shouldn’t merely be to finish it in the allotted time. You should make sure that your answers are right, and also of good quality (in the case of the mains papers). As a result, taking an extra 15 minutes here and there over the allotted time is acceptable, but remember not to exceed the allotted time.
- Do not consider your task done once you have completed a mock; you must now thoroughly study the questions in the mock as well as the answers you have written for each. That way, you’ll be able to see the ideas you struggle with.
- After analyzing a mock answer sheet, do not move over to solving another one without first clearing your weak points.
- After you’ve cleared your weak points, move on to the next simulation and repeat the process, identifying your weak places. You might also seek assistance from a mentor in this regard. You don’t have to do this on your own.
- Keep repeating this process till the very end.
- Also, when solving the mocks, remember not to spend too much time on one question. If you’re not sure what the solution to the question you’re stuck on is, go on to the next one.
- If you follow the process I have mentioned in the above points, you will start noticing improvement in your scores within a short span of time.
Also read: UPSC Recruitment