IFS Exam Preparation Tips: Organized by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), UPSC IFS exam is conducted for candidates aspiring to work for the Foreign Department, Government of India. This is a national level exam. Every year lakhs of candidates give this exam. Successful candidates in the first round become eligible for the next round of UPSC IFS selection process which is Mains exam. Preparation for this exam should be done well planned and strategically. For this, the candidate must first go through the syllabus and exam pattern of UPSC IFS exam thoroughly and then start preparing by making a strategy.

General Tips and Tricks for UPSC IFS 2021-Know your Exam Syllabus
This is a very important one which every aspirant must understand and adopt. If you do not know about the UPSC IFS Exam Syllabus then you will not be able to prepare for the exam in a better way. Hence, experts advise to go through the complete UPSC IFS 2021 Syllabus first and then make a preparation strategy accordingly. If you know the syllabus then you will be able to identify the weak and strong sections according to your ability and interest.

Make a study plan
As an examinee you must first make a study plan so that all the important sections and subjects can be covered thoroughly. It is very important to make a study plan but even more important is to follow the study plan. Follow your study plan sincerely only then you will get positive results.

Prepare a time table
The time-table is linked to the study plan prepared by you. It will help you to decide your time according to the section of your study materials. An effective time table will also help you to break down your daily routine in a systematic and structured manner so that the topics to be covered. You can divide your time-table into different parts. Keep the first half for the topics which can be memorized more than comprehension and do the exact opposite in the second part of your time-table i.e. keep the topics which you understand more than you can remember.

Study continuously
One of the best ways to crack UPSC IFS 2021 entrance exam is to study consistently. Being steady and consistent will sharpen your memory as you will not be able to forget the things that you study easily. Solve previous year question paper of UPSC IFS, this will improve your practice. You should keep a section or time slot for revision to make it continuous. It is also advised not to take big gaps during your preparation. Remember that continuous efforts give the best results.

Always understand your mistakes
Keeping track of your mistakes is important to prepare for the entrance exam. If you take the time to understand your mistakes, why you did a particular mistake and what you should do to avoid it in future, you are guaranteed to score well in the exam.

You can take UPSC IFS Mock Test to know about your problem area and the sections where you are more likely to make mistakes. This will not only help you identify your mistakes but also highlight your weak sections which need to be given more attention. Your mistakes will also help you in dealing with the difficulties level of the exam.

Don’t be stressed
When it comes to preparing for entrance exams like UPSC IFS, you should try to avoid taking stress about the exam. Keep yourself healthy and fit during the exam. It will help you to be stress free. Keep yourself calm and study hard. Try your best to crack the entrance exam and it is possible only when you are free from all kinds of stress, nervousness and anxiety. Besides meditation, listening to your favorite songs is an effective way to de-stress. Try these tricks until you get selected.

Section Wise Preparation Plan for UPSC IFS 2021 Exam
General Studies/General Knowledge

• The time taken for this section is two hours, but test takers should divide the entire paper in equal time to solve as many questions as possible.
• To solve more number of questions, candidates need to solve questions quickly.
• Take help of best books for UPSC exam preparation. There are many magazines which can prove to be a plus point in this regard.
• Reading newspapers and being abreast of current affairs is a must for UPSC aspirants. Candidates can read their favorite newspaper on daily basis.
• Candidates can also switch to their favorite news channel and follow it regularly for knowledge on current affairs.
• For Paper-I, candidates should focus on India and its Geography, India and its History, Indian Polity and Governance and Environmental Science.
• For Paper-II, candidates should focus more on decision making and problem solving, logical reasoning and interpersonal skills.
• Solving previous years question papers can also help the candidates in their preparation as it also helps in knowing the exam pattern in a detailed manner.

Normal English

• Different sections of this part of the exam need attention in different ways.
• It is important that the candidates are aware of the current issues and matters related to their subject. This information can be used while writing an essay on the given topic.
• While writing the essay, examinees should try not to portray a negative image or bad side of the given topic.
• The examinees should remember that instead of showing the wrong side of the topic, the essay should end positively. Presenting relevant and related examples can prove to be a plus point for the essay section.
• If the candidate is well versed in the English language and knows the grammar well then can do better in other sections of this paper as well.
• For this, candidates should take the help of good books which explain the grammar part well with suitable examples, so that it becomes easier to understand the topics.
• Solving sample papers on a regular basis can help the candidates to know the type and style of the question.
• Candidates can also keep track of the time taken to solve the question paper or sample paper and improve their speed with continuous effort as per the need.