Mock tests: How many are too many? In the UPSC world, mock tests are an indispensable routine, like long study hours, persistent revisions, and relentless hard work. Hence, to prepare for the UPSC Preliminary exam, UPSC aspirants must take an unlimited number of mock tests.
What’s The Magic With Mock Tests?
We say “unlimited mock tests” because the UPSC is no ordinary exam. The syllabus is vast, the question papers are complex, and the competition is fierce. The Preliminary exam (famously known as the Prelims) is a challenging threshold to cross, which is why it demands exceptional exam skills to master three aspects:
- Understanding the questions and question patterns.
- Avoiding negative markings.
- Increasing the probability of marking the right answers.
It is possible to acquire these skills only through continuous practice with mock exams.
Basically, mock exams are simulated practice tests of the actual exam. The only difference is that the marks don’t matter much because these exams are excellent opportunities to understand where you stand in your UPSC preparation and how much more effort you require to ace the real exam.
You can achieve the above-mentioned exam skills through mock exams, but only if you take them regularly. Mentors and experts at UPSC coaching centres stress the importance of taking mock exams regularly for several reasons. Let’s explore why.
Why Do UPSC Aspirants Need Multiple Mock Exams: The Reasons
1. To Make Your Practice Perfect
In UPSC preparations, the phrase “Practice makes perfect” is so true since rote learning or cutting corners isn’t the best approach. Moreover, the UPSC syllabus has many diverse components like maths, logical reasoning, aptitude, current affairs, Indian history, world history, maps, geography, politics, and so much more. Statistics show that even the most brilliant of aspirants fail in the Prelims due to inadequate practice and the lack of the right strategies. Taking mock exams is perhaps the best way to avoid such inadequacies.
2. To Understand the Exam Pattern
Attending mock exams is the closest you can get to experiencing the real deal. No matter how many hours you have spent slogging over your study material, how you approach the questions and give your answers is all that matters. In addition to exposing you to the question patterns, mock exams also give you insight into the important aspects of various topics and the marks allotted for each section.
3. To Improve Your Exam Score
The UPSC exam is about the survival of the fittest; all you get is that one chance with your Prelims. Of course, you have the Mains and the interview, but you cannot get there unless you cross this gauntlet. To survive the UPSC competition, you must score more points to add to the cutoff marks and enhance your chances of heading to the Main exams.
4. To Boost Your Confidence
The more mock exams you take, the more you understand how to face the Prelims. The more you understand, the better prepared you are to handle adversities. Furthermore, these exams will greatly improve your memory retention, enabling you to effortlessly face any subject, no matter how tough it is.
5. To analyse your abilities.
Every mock exam is a critical parameter of your progress. It helps assess your:
- Understanding of a topic or subject.
- Answering ability for tough questions.
- Ability to identify and rectify mistakes.
- Exam preparation strategies.
Only mock exams can shed light on such aspects.
6. To refine learning skills.
Every aspirant has a unique way of preparing for the UPSC exams because there is no particular study pattern. Moreover, aspirants can’t be familiar with everything about a subject. However, by practising mocks and prelims, you understand the different types of questions and create your own ways to deal with tough topics.
Mock tests can give you the added advantage needed to clear the Prelims. Start taking mock tests as soon as possible, and be ahead of your game!
Enrol With CACS For Prelim Mock Exams
Mock exams are an excellent way to master even the toughest UPSC topics. Chinmaya Academy for Civil Services conducts regular mock exams for UPSC aspirants. Enrol now to ace the Prelims in your first attempt! For more information, call us now!
