Muhammed Ali Shahib (rank 226), All India Civil Services Exams , 2011, says that a thorough preparation is all that one needs. Time management is important, he feels, adding that it does not matter if one studies for 16-17 hours a day or more, unless it is productive.

"With the prelims approaching , candidates must start revising and solving problems in particular subjects," he stresses. "I had started preparing two years prior to the UPSC exam. For CSAT, candidates need to develop a capacity to read extensively and analyse a particular piece of writing. Also, candidates must not only read to gain information , but try and understand the language, structure and usage of words," says Shahib.

Topic wise

The right selection of topics is one of the keys to cracking the exam, says GSG Ayyangar, joint secretary (operations), National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), ministry of home affairs, New Delhi. "It is important that candidates pick up subjects they are comfortable with," he says.

It is easier to score in general studies - a multiple-choice paper divided into five or six sections - in the prelims. Candidates must, therefore, be thorough with current affairs and make sure that they read newspapers and magazines.

Ideally, Ayya ngar stresses, one should start preparations for prelims three months prior to the exam. One should also simultaneously prepare for at least one paper for the mains. "Putting in six to seven hours every day should suffice," he says.

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