Common Mistakes to Avoid While Preparing for UPSC Prelim

Are You Making These UPSC Prelims Mistakes? Let’s Fix Them Now!

Preparing for UPSC Prelims can feel overwhelming, right? There’s so much to cover—History, Polity, Economy, Current Affairs—and let’s not even talk about CSAT! But here’s the thing: most aspirants fail not because they don’t study enough, but because they make avoidable mistakes.

If you’re gearing up for UPSC Prelims 2025, make sure you don’t fall into these common traps. Let’s go through them one by one—no sugarcoating, just real talk!

1. Skipping NCERTs and Jumping to Advanced Books

Let’s be honest. Have you ever picked up a thick reference book on Polity or Economy, only to feel completely lost? That’s because you skipped the NCERTs—the foundation of UPSC preparation.

What to do instead?
Start with NCERT books (Class 6-12) for History, Geography, Polity, and Science.
Read them twice before moving to advanced books like Laxmikanth or Spectrum.
Make short notes for quick revision.

Trust me, once you have your basics sorted, the tough concepts won’t seem so tough anymore.

2. Not Having a Study Plan (Winging It Never Works!)

A lot of aspirants study randomly, picking whatever subject they feel like on a given day. Big mistake! UPSC demands consistency and structure.

Fix this:
Make a realistic daily & weekly study plan (one that you can actually stick to).
Divide your time between static subjects, current affairs, and answer writing.
Keep Sundays for revision and mock tests.

Without a plan, you’ll feel lost. With a plan, you’ll know exactly what to do every day.

3. Ignoring Current Affairs (UPSC Loves It, So Should You!)

If you think UPSC is only about books, think again! Current Affairs play a huge role in Prelims.

Avoid this mistake by:
Reading The Hindu or Indian Express daily.
Making concise notes (not just mindlessly reading).
Following monthly current affairs compilations for revision.

Even subjects like Polity and Economy have direct links with current events. Ignore them, and you’ll be in trouble!

4. Taking CSAT Lightly (And Regretting Later!)

Every year, so many aspirants fail UPSC Prelims just because of CSAT. They assume it’s “easy” and don’t practice—until reality hits on exam day.

Warning: CSAT is qualifying, but failing it means your GS Paper 1 score won’t even matter.

Practice previous years’ CSAT papers.
Improve your math, reasoning, and comprehension skills.
Take at least 10 full-length CSAT mock tests before the exam.

Don’t let CSAT be the reason you have to wait another year!

5. Not Solving Previous Year Papers (PYQs Are Gold!)

UPSC repeats themes and patterns every year. If you’re not solving past 10 years of PYQs, you’re missing out!

Why PYQs matter:
You understand what UPSC actually asks (vs. what coaching materials “think” it asks).
You spot important recurring topics.
You get a feel of difficulty level and time management.

Make PYQs a non-negotiable part of your preparation.

6. Collecting Too Many Study Materials (Quality > Quantity!)

Be honest—how many books and PDFs have you collected? Too many, right?

The truth is, more books don’t mean more knowledge. In fact, too many resources lead to confusion and zero retention.

The smart way:
Stick to one good source per subject (e.g., Laxmikanth for Polity, Spectrum for History).
Revise one book multiple times instead of reading 10 books once.
Use coaching notes selectively—don’t depend on them blindly.

UPSC rewards smart work, not book hoarding!

7. Not Taking Mock Tests Seriously (Exam Day Shock Awaits!)

Some aspirants feel they’ll “directly perform well” in Prelims without practicing mock tests. Big mistake!

Mock tests help you:
Improve time management.
Learn to eliminate wrong options.
Identify your weak subjects.

Aim to take at least 30 full-length Prelims mock tests before the actual exam.

8. Poor Time Management in the Exam Hall

Picture this: You’re in the exam hall, stuck on a tricky polity question, wasting 5 minutes. Now you’re short on time for easy questions. Sound familiar?

Fix this with the 2-Pass Strategy:
Pass 1: Attempt sure-shot easy questions first.
Pass 2: Tackle medium-difficulty questions.
Pass 3: If time permits, attempt the toughest ones.

This way, you maximize your score without panicking.

9. Ignoring Health, Sleep, and Mental Well-being

What’s the point of studying 12 hours a day if your brain isn’t functioning at 100%?

Golden Rules for UPSC Health:
Get 6-7 hours of proper sleep (no all-nighters).
Eat healthy food (avoid junk and excess caffeine).
Meditate or exercise to keep stress in check.

Remember, a healthy mind studies better. Take care of yourself!

10. Not Having a Backup Plan (UPSC Is Unpredictable!)

Let’s be real—UPSC is tough, and even brilliant aspirants sometimes don’t clear it. Having a backup plan doesn’t mean you’re not committed—it means you’re practical.

Consider other exams like State PSC, RBI Grade B, SSC CGL, or CAPF.
If you have work experience, keep job options open.
Don’t let UPSC define your entire self-worth.

Success comes in many forms—keep an open mind!

Also Reads :

Must-Know Current Affairs for UPSC Mains 2025

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