Hyderabad: It was while pursuing his engineering degree that the civil services bug bit Anudeep Durishetty, now district collector of Kothagudem. In his maiden attempt, he cleared the IAS mains exam but could not get through the personality test round and in his fifth attempt in 2017, he secured All India Rank 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Jagityal-based Durishetty shared a few tips and strategies with Sruthi Kuruganti on how to prepare for competitive examinations.
Get a grip on Syllabus:
The first step in preparing for any exam is to understand the syllabus. Since all the books are not tailor-made for all the exams, chances are very high that you can get lost in the books. Availability of material is not an issue but one must have an understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern. You have to get a grip on the syllabus and plan accordingly.
Proper Planning:
Comprehensive planning is the most important aspect of competitive exam preparation. It helps you feel less anxious. Break down the tasks on a daily basis into manageable, specific tasks. There should be incremental progress to reach the final target. Depending on how much time you have for the exam, make daily, weekly, and monthly plans. In doubt, go back to the plan and see if everything is going according to plan.
Being informed on current affairs is the core aspect of any public service exam. Reading the newspaper is important in one’s daily routine and practising mock tests is essential. Take as many mock tests as possible before the exam, they help both in revision and boost the confidence levels.
Have the right frame of mind:
Never be worried about the number of people taking the exam or your chances of success. It’s about you competing with your yesterday self. As long as you are true to your exam preparation, that’s all it matters. Patience, persistence and ambition are the only things that drive you. Focus on the inputs— the plan and the preparation; the output will take care of itself. Don’t get fixated on the marks. Enjoy the process and try to give the best
On hours to dedicate each day:
Don’t lock yourself in a room for ten to twelve hours, instead, take breaks and go for walks to relax and refresh your mind. The number of hours spent studying every day is entirely dependent on the individual and the study schedule they follow. Each individual must make their own decision. On a daily basis, however, a minimum of 5 hours of focused reading is essential.
Stress Management:
When I was stressed, I used to go for a run and meditate for half an hour. It helped me relax. Deep breathing is also helpful. Exercise is important to your mental health as well as your physical health. Again, different people have different stress coping mechanisms. Some benefit from music; others prefer to dance, exercise, do Yoga, talk with friends and family, etc.
How to deal with failure:
Failures and successes are both a part of the process. Clearing an exam is not a criterion for someone’s abilities. Public service is a great ambition to have. If everything goes well, it’s great. If not, it means that you’ve made for something else. I always believe that preparing for an exam changes you as a person. The hard work you put in stays with you, if not here it will come to use somewhere else.
