What Did She Change In Her Second Attempt? UPSC Civil Services Exam Preparation Strategy By IAS Officer Tapasya

Just because the person you want to compete with is going for coaching, you don’t have to join one. DON’T RUN WITH THE HERD! To show you what we mean, here is an inspirational story of an IAS officer, Tapasya Parihar, who, without any coaching, secured an AIR of 23 in the UPSC 2017.

A native of Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh, Tapasya completed her education in her hometown and then moved to Pune to pursue a law degree. While this bright mind always wanted to appear for the UPSC CSE, it was only in Pune that she truly realized it.

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How did the law degree give her a positive push to crack CSE?

During her five-year degree, Tapasya, a student coordinator and a part of the legal aid cell, noticed that most of the problems brought to the cell’s attention were administrative. This gave her an epiphany. The realization of how most of them can be solved before they become legal issues!

This fueled her thought of becoming an IAS officer!

She moved to Delhi just like a thousand other CSE aspirants in 2015 with high hopes to crack it in one go. While it was apparent to join a coaching center, persuading her parents to let her live alone was not an easy task.

You don’t have to run with the herd!

Soon after taking her first few lessons at the coaching center, Tapasya was at sixes and sevens!

Her inability to adjust to the ‘new bustling environment’ of a fully packed coaching class, along with the shift to a new city, left her in dire straits. CSE 2016 examination brought her back to reality. She realized how little she knew about each topic compared to what UPSC CSE requires - in-depth knowledge!

Her failure to clear UPSC in the first attempt shook her to the core. But her strong willpower and unwavering determination helped her sail through the challenging period. Even though she was far from home, her mother's wise words stayed with her:

Instead of listening to what others say, always follow your heart.

How did she use her shortcomings to prepare for the second attempt?

The failure at the first attempt propelled her to start fresh with a positive mindset.

Here are some of the things she did six months before the prelims to crack the UPSC exam:

She,

watched various interviews of toppers and read articles on different preparation strategies.
prepared a list of books and started with the basics.
completed NCERT textbooks within one and a half months.
prepared and glued to a revised schedule for the next stage of preparation.
gave enough time to solve test papers, which helped her analyze her strong and weak areas.

During her entire preparation, she made sure not to repeat the mistakes she made in the first attempt.

The 3 tips you need to crack UPSC CSE…

Failure is a fundamental part of success, and no one can guide you the best other than someone who has tasted both failure and success. Tapasya says,

One strategy does not fit all: Toppers have shared a myriad of strategies on the net. But, what is working for one aspirant might not yield the same results for another. So, instead of copying their plan of action and resources used, make your personalized strategy. Use the resources you find the best and easy to understand.
Making a plan is one thing, and sticking to it is another: There will be distractions and moments when you don’t feel like giving your cent percent to the preparation. Chart out a schedule and stick to it. If it seems cumbersome initially, break it down into smaller and more manageable goals.
Self-doubt is natural: Where there is competition, there has to be self-doubt. But it is of utmost importance to stick to your plan and keep giving your best. It should not matter whether you are competing with a college topper or a repeater. Keep your eyes glued to the END goal.

This creative soul (yes, one cannot overlook her love for arts) is an epitome of hard work and a positive mindset. We are sure this serves as a perfect dose of motivation for many UPSC aspirants out there.

Attaching a beautiful artwork made by her:

To help you with your UPSC journey, here are some suggested reads:

Shivangi Vatsal

Sr. Associate Content Strategist @Unstop

I am a storyteller by nature. At Unstop, I tell stories ripe with promise and inspiration, and in life, I voice out the stories of our four-legged furry friends. Providing a prospect of a good life filled with equal opportunities to students and our pawsome buddies helps me sleep better at night. And for those rainy evenings, I turn to my colors.