How to become an IAS officer after 12th Beginners Guide to Success

Being an IAS officer has always been a dream job for Indians, but getting into this job has become highly challenging over the years. Aspirants have to clear Prelims, Mains, and Interview conducted by the UPSC to become IAS officers. In this article, we will get to know how to become an IAS officer after the 12th.

Well, to be honest, you can't directly appear for the IAS exam right after your 12th board. Graduation is mandatory before applying for the exam from a recognised institution. However, you can start preparing for the UPSC exams right after the 12th, and it is considered the best time to start IAS exam preparations. If you have already made up your mind to be an IAS officer, then your motivation and determination work as fuel in your IAS preparations. 

Starting your IAS preparation early can increase your chances of clearing the IAS exam. The question now arises, How should you start preparing for the IAS exam right after the 12th? We will see some tips to headstart your preparations after completing the 12th. You can start by gathering some motivation by understanding deep inside civil services. If possible, watch interviews of IAS officers to understand ground realities in the administrative field better. It will also help you recognise if it's the right path for you. 

After you have made up your mind to appear for the exam and are determined enough to become a future IAS officer, then you can start your preparation journey by joining an IAS Coaching institute. There are many coaching institutes in the market, and these coaching institutes have expert faculty members who can help you in your preparations. The Thought Tree is one such coaching institute, and they have a seperate 2-year classroom program for undergraduates. Now, without wasting any time, let's see how to become an IAS officer after 12th. 

Tips to keep in mind while preparing for the UPSC exam after 12th 

1. Now that you have made up your mind to become an IAS officer, you should take up a course in graduation that involves subjects like history and political science, as these are immensely important subjects for GS papers.

2. Start with reading subjects more like public administration, economics, sociology, etc., as these are some key subjects from the UPSC viewpoint and have practical use in the administrative field. Conquering such subjects can relieve your pressure of selecting an optional subject while appearing for the IAS exam. 

3. Start revising NCERT books from class 6th onwards, as these are the basics and a good source of information. These books are important for all your subjects, like economics, history, civics, geography, mathematics, etc.

4. Develop the habit of reading the newspaper daily. Read at least 2-3 newspapers like Hindu, Indian express, and one financial newspaper like business-standard before leaving for college. You can also refer to Google for summarised news in the morning. 

5. Figure out how to make notes and organize stuff like study material, mock test papers, notes, etc., in a folder or file, which will help keep things handy and available during revisions. 

6. Increase your study hours. UPSC exams have a vast syllabus, and one should be persistent with time to cover that much of the syllabus. Don't waste your time; instead, utilize the maximum time you have in studying and revising topics. 

7. Start solving previous year's questions and try to match your answers with those written by toppers. This will help you understand the concepts in detail. 

8. Try to improve your communication skills as well as your personality. To begin with, you can join some elocution contests or quizzes. This will help you express your thoughts more freely. 

9. Physical fitness is also important. Take part in sports to keep yourself occupied and relaxed. Fitness also plays an important role in building personality. Don't take up too many sports; one or two is sufficient, either football or cricket. Swimming would be the best way to relax your body. If possible, try to play chess as it is a good way to use your head. 

10. Don't fool around in college or think you have enough time to prepare for the exam. Study as an IAS aspirant and not as a random college kid. Stay focused and remind yourself why you want to be a civil servant. You can also look at IAS topper interviews for that adrenaline rush. 

Conclusion 

I hope this article helped clear your doubts regarding How to become an IAS officer after the 12th? As I mentioned, you cannot directly appear for the IAS exams right after the 12th. It is the preparation and hard work you can start putting in throughout your journey until you are eligible to take the IAS exams. Thanks for reading out till the end, and best of luck with your IAS preparations.