11 tips for IAS aspirants

11 tips for IAS aspirants
Posted on May 24, 2010 by admin| 553 Comments


The Civil services is a very rewarding exam that promises great career options and remuneration. To successfully face and complete the ordeal of the preliminary and main examinations of the Civil Services Exam, and face the interview, here are some tips IAS aspirants find useful to them.
1. First and foremost, you have to be very particular about the subject you choose for your prelims. This is an objective type paper, so choose scoring subjects like Maths, History and Geography. Additionally, the subject you choose should be one that has various books, reading material and guidance you can use while preparing for the exam.

2. General knowledge will be of great help in your prelims. So read newspapers, books like the Competition Success magazines, watch TV news and as many knowledgeable quiz shows like KBC as possible.

3. Remember that book knowledge is not important at the interview stage. If you reach this stage, be ready for questions like the number of steps you took to reach the interview place, and the color of the wall behind you.

4. Your personality decides your selection. So ensure you are medically fit for the examination, especially if you aim for a career in the IPS.

5. Improving your communication skills help you as IFS aspirants have to be well versed in at least one foreign language. So it’s better to learn French or German if you plan to answer the Civil Services Exam.

6. While the interview is held in the month of April or May the following year of the exam, its call is usually sent in the month of March or April.

7. Put on your best dress and attitude for the interview as the interviewers always keep a lookout for candidates with a well-adjusted personality and one who has social traits, integrity and leadership traits. All this is because it is only these type of people who are best fitted for a job in the Indian Civil Services and who succeed at these exams.

8. When you attend an interview, remember that the number of candidates called for the interview is usually twice the number of available vacancies.

9. Remember that the whole selection process for the civil services take a year or rather 18 months.

10. You have to not only do well at the prelims and main examinations, but also at the interview as it is the combined marks of the exams and interview that determine the final placement.

11. If you get a high position in the exam, you have a say in the choice of service. Otherwise, you have to accept whatever is offered to you. The other alternative you have is to make another attempt as you are permitted a maximum of four attempts at the exam. However if you opt for this, you will have to start from the start, and first attempt the prelims.

With the help of these tips, you will be able to perform better at the Civil Services exam, and thus have a better chance at getting better jobs with better remunerations.