Time-tables have always been an extremely important part of my life. As far as I can remember (third or fourth grade), I've been excited about making schedules for myself. Earlier, it was a ritual involving my mother, wherein she would make a grid and write in neat, block letters. In my high school years, I took on the mantle of making my own time-tables. So, it was but natural that I make a time-table for my UPSC Civil Services preparation. I had imagined one weekly time-table would suffice. Well, I was in for a shock! I realized I'd have to make not just a weekly one but also a monthly one and update it regularly.
So, I set about the task of doing so. My basic one, which I used for about most of my preparation was as follows-
- 7.00 am - Wake up
- 7.00 to 8.00 am - Exercise, get ready, breakfast
- 8.00 am to 1.00 pm - Study (Usually GS subjects)
- 1.00 - 3.30 pm - Lunch and nap
- 3.30 - 5.30 pm - Study (Optional)
- 5.30 - 6.00 pm - Break
- 6.00 - 8.30 pm - Study (Optional)
- 8.30 - 9.00 pm - Dinner
- 9.00 - 11.00 pm - Newspaper + daily current affairs
- 11.00 pm - 12.00 am - Monthly current affairs booklet
- 12.00 - 1.00 am - Map practice (This would sometimes be in the morning between 7.30 -8.00 and later, I began using this time to write answers)
On Sundays, I would follow the same time-table, but instead of studying any new topic, I would do my weekly revision of GS, Optional and current affairs. Of course, on some days, I felt quite lazy and didn't follow the time-table completely!
My monthly time-table changed according to my prep plan. I finished my syllabus in the first 6 months and then, I focused on revision along with answer writing along with mock tests for prelims. Eventually, 2-3 months before my prelims, I focused entirely on studying the prelims. So, the the time devoted to optional preparation was now used for taking mock tests or just simply revising for prelims. I took out time usually on the weekends for my prelims mock tests. After my prelims, my time-table remained the same. I also took out some time for my GS and optional test series on Sundays, which meant that revision shifted to Saturday. For my interview preparation, the time-table remained the same. However, the focus changed to my DAF, in place of GS while Optional and current affairs remained.
Overall, making a weekly and monthly time-table served me greatly as it allowed to me to complete my syllabus in a timely manner and ensure that I didn't miss out relevant topics. It also enabled me to take out time for leisure. I took about 10-15 minute breaks after every 1.5 hours of studying and 4-5 hour breaks every 15-20 days.
Having harped on about my love and the importance of schedules, I'd recommend making a time-table that suits one's needs and abilities but feel free to choose aspects you like from mine. However, once you've made the time-table, focus on the tougher task of following it with rigour.
How 2 b lyk u Ma'am!?
ReplyDeleteyou can be only you, and try to become the best version of you!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteVery helpful ma'am ! :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations ma’am for this huge accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteMa’am can you please tell that what is the right time to finish all gs subjects if started preperation in june 2020 and give sincere attempt in june 2021?
Try finishing the static (NCERTs and standard books) portion by Oct-Nov. And thereafter begin you revision, mock tests etc.
DeleteCongratulations ma’am for this huge accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteMa’am can you please tell that what is the right time to finish all gs subjects if started preperation in june 2020 and give sincere attempt in june 2021?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello ma’am congratulations first of all. And thank you for these blogs. Ma’am i have just started my preparation and i have one doubt like in this timetable you have written about monthly affairs booklets so you were reading previous months booklets along with your daily current affairs and like how were you revising them like you were making compiled notes which included everything for current affairs and like when you started pt365 i mean this section is so confusing for me. If you could please tell me what you did it would be very helpful for beginners like me. Thank you Ma’am
ReplyDeleteI didn't make compiled notes from monthly compilations or from PT 365. Since I remembered the current affairs from my weekly revisions, these compilations only served the purpose of revising.
DeleteHello ma’am congratulations first of all. And thank you for these blogs. Ma’am i have just started my preparation and i have one doubt like in this timetable you have written about monthly affairs booklets so you were reading previous months booklets along with your daily current affairs and like how were you revising them like you were making compiled notes which included everything for current affairs and like when you started pt365 i mean this section is so confusing for me. If you could please tell me what you did it would be very helpful for beginners like me. Thank you Ma’am
ReplyDeleteHi, congratulations for this huge achievement! By which month should one according to you finish with the ncerts?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Praniti. I finished my ncerts along with the standard books. All of this took me 5-6 months.
DeleteCongratulations on your success.can you please guide about the reading of laxmikanth?Like its huge so for prelims point of view which part is important to study and what is important for mains as well.
ReplyDeleteMa'am ur blog is really helpful. Hope u keep writing on quora more. Thank u so much and best wishes.
ReplyDeleteMam i have started gs preparation from Oct can i complete it by jan though i have gone through my optional once
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I needed this.
ReplyDeleteTq so much mam.. congratulations for all your efforts...may god bless u in abundance
ReplyDeleteCongrats first of all on your success.
ReplyDeleteDo you think a person doing 9:30- 5:00 (govt. Job) would be able to crack upsc?
Going by your timetable, I think it's better for me not to even think about it.
We’ve got a special offer for you. We have conducted over 1,000 IAS mock interviews and our team has created a unique algorithm to predict your chances of getting selected in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Our experts will help you prepare better than ever before with highly personalized training modules that are designed just for you. You can even schedule your mock interview online! It’s never been easier to get started on this path towards success.
ReplyDeleteHey, your blog is great. I will bookmark it and I plan to visit regularly.
ReplyDeleteBest AFCAT Coaching in Allahabad
Thank you for sharing such detailed Blog. I am learning a lot from you. Visit my website to get best Information About Best IAS Coaching Institute in Ranchi.
ReplyDeleteBest IAS Coaching Institute in Ranchi
Top IAS Coaching Institute in Ranchi
This is an awesome post. Really very informative and creative contents. Visit my website to get best Information About Best IAS Coaching Institute in Thane.
ReplyDeleteBest IAS Coaching Institute in Thane
Top IAS Coaching Institute in Thane