CAN IAS PRELIMS BE CLEARED IN 2 MONTHS?

What is an effective strategy to clear IAS prelims in 2 months?

UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination is widely regarded as one of most unpredictable, knowledge-intensive & elimination based competitive exams in India requiring aspirants to master not only vast syllabus covering multiple subjects but also ability to apply analytical reasoning, conceptual clarity & intelligent elimination strategies to maximize their scores in an MCQ based format with negative marking.

While it is commonly believed full year of rigorous preparation is necessary to clear Prelims aspirants can successfully attempt to clear exam with as little as two months of preparation provided they follow highly structured, priority-driven & test based learning approach that optimizes time, enhances retention & eliminates unnecessary distractions.

Given that only 60 days are available for preparation aspirants need to discard traditional, time consuming methods such as reading multiple reference books in detail, making exhaustive notes from scratch & following a slow paced conceptual approach.

Instead success in this limited timeframe depends on adopting an intelligent, output driven strategy that prioritizes high weightage topics, integrates daily mock test practice, leverages past year question trends & eliminates time spent on low yield areas.

APTI PLUS IAS Academy in Kolkata has tried to outline an ultra focused, research backed & structured 60 day strategy designed to help aspirants maximize their efficiency, improve their accuracy & build confidence required to crack UPSC Prelims 2025 despite the severe time constraint.

Structure of UPSC Prelims

General Studies Paper I: 100 questions each worth 2 marks. Every wrong answer costs you 0.66 marks. Precision is key.

CSAT Paper II: 80 questions each worth 2.5 marks. A wrong answer deducts 0.83 marks. Caution is your best friend here.

Note: CSAT is a qualifying paper. You need 33% to pass but clearing it comfortably ensures no last-minute surprises.

UPSC IAS Prelims Subject-Wise Weightage for GS (2014-2023)

Year	Current Affairs	History	Geography	Polity	Economics	Science & Tech	Environment
2014	12	19	15	12	10	14	18
2015	23	15	16	13	14	8	11
2016	30	15	6	7	17	8	17
2017	29	14	8	22	16	7	14
2018	20	17	13	15	18	10	7
2019	22	14	12	15	14	11	12
2020	24	18	14	14	12	9	9
2021	19	14	10	17	15	13	12
2022	21	13	15	14	13	14	10
2023	16	14	16	15	14	12	13

 

Current Affairs remains dominant which means that staying updated with recent events is non-negotiable.

Polity, Economy, Environment are consistent pillars reflecting their importance in governance & administration.

History, Geography, Science & Tech fluctuate so cover them comprehensively but allocate study time based on recent trends.

Polity saw a spike in 2017 while Environment had peaks in 2014 & 2016. Analyze such trends to prioritize subjects during preparation.

UPSC IAS Prelims CSAT Subject-Wise Weightage (2014-2023)

Year	Reading Comprehension	Quantitative Aptitude	Logical Reasoning
2014	32	15	33
2015	27	18	35
2016	30	20	30
2017	28	22	30
2018	25	25	30
2019	29	23	28
2020	30	20	30
2021	28	24	28
2022	30	20	30
2023	26	44	10

Insights

Increasing focus on Quantitative Aptitude particularly in 2023.

Logical Reasoning has seen a decline but remains critical in earlier years.

Reading Comprehension maintains a consistent presence.

Many aspirants fail due to poor time management & lack of exam oriented preparation. At APTI PLUS UPSC Coaching in Kolkata test based learning model, PYQ analysis & high quality mock series help students develop quick recall, intelligent elimination techniques & precision in answering MCQs.

Understanding the Challenge

UPSC Prelims is not merely a test of knowledge but a game of smart strategy, rapid recall & precision in answering MCQs under intense time pressure. Given limited timeframe of just two months aspirants must acknowledge that:

Comprehensive syllabus coverage is not the goal; strategic selection of high yield topics is key.

Memory retention techniques such as active recall & spaced repetition will be far more effective than passive reading.

Mock test based learning should constitute at least 50% of daily study schedule to simulate real exam conditions & improve accuracy.

A subject wise prioritization approach must be followed ensuring that maximum effort is spent on topics that appear frequently in Prelims rather than those with marginal weightage.

Speed, accuracy & intelligent elimination must be mastered as even well prepared candidates often fail due to poor test taking strategies rather than lack of knowledge.

If an aspirant can commit to a disciplined schedule, eliminate distractions & implement a scientifically structured revision & mock test plan clearing UPSC Prelims in two months is achievable.

60-Day UPSC Prelims Strategy

Since time is critical factor preparation must be divided into three distinct phases each serving specific function in ensuring maximum knowledge absorption, improved accuracy in MCQs & progressive transition from conceptual clarity to full exam readiness.

 Phase 1 (Days 1–30): Subject-Wise Concept Building + Rapid Learning

Phase 2 (Days 31–50): Full-Length Mock Tests + PYQs Analysis + Weak Area Strengthening

Phase 3 (Days 51–60): Final Intensive Revision + Exam Simulation + Mental Conditioning

Each phase is designed to systematically improve performance, reinforce high yield topics & improve problem solving skills ensuring that by end of 60 days aspirant is fully prepared to handle demanding nature of UPSC Prelims 2025.

Phase 1 (Days 1–30)

Key Focus Areas in This Phase:

• Cover all fundamental subjects at least once using a combination of NCERTs & advanced standard books.
• Solve 50/100 MCQs daily to reinforce learning & improve elimination techniques.
• Develop concise, high yield revision notes that can be used in later phases for quick recall.
• Focus on conceptual clarity rather than rote memorization ensuring an in depth understanding of frequently asked topics.

Subject-Wise Study Plan for First 30 Days:

Days	Subjects to Cover	High Yield Topics (not exhaustive/suggestive)	Daily MCQs
Day 1-5	Polity (Standard Text)	Fundamental Rights, Parliament, DPSP, Judiciary, Amendments	50
Day 6-10	Economy (NCERT + Economic Survey)	Inflation, Banking, RBI, Monetary & Fiscal Policy	50
Day 11-15	History (Standard text + NCERTs)	Revolt of 1857, Freedom Struggle, Congress Sessions	100
Day 16-20	Geography (NCERTs + Atlas)	Indian Physical Geography, Climatic Regions, Mapping	100
Day 21-25	Environment & Science-Tech	Biodiversity, Climate Change, Protected Areas	50
Day 26-30	Current Affairs + PYQs	Budget, Government Reports, India Year Book	100

Success in UPSC Prelims within two months is possible with smart planning, rigorous practice & strategic revision all of which are core strengths of APTI PLUS best IAS coaching in Bhubaneswar where highly effective test series, focused mentorship & data driven performance analysis equip aspirants with skills & confidence needed to clear Prelims in a limited time.

Daily Routine: 6 hours for concept building + 3 hours for MCQ practice + error analysis.

Phase 2 (Days 31 to 50)

Key Focus Areas in This Phase:

• Gradually move from passive studying to active problem solving by solving 2 full length mock tests per week.
• Analyze UPSC previous year question papers (2015 to 2024) to identify common themes & recurring patterns.
• Strengthen CSAT (especially for non math students) through targeted practice in logical reasoning, numeracy & comprehension.
• Create a mistake tracking notebook to identify weak areas & intensify revision accordingly.

Solve 1 full-length mock test every two days & analyze performance thoroughly.
Use PYQs to understand most frequently asked themes in Prelims.
Make sure balanced focus between GS Paper 1 & CSAT to prevent qualifying issues.

Phase 3 (Days 51–60)

Key Activities in This Phase:

• Rapid revision of all subjects using concise notes, mind maps, flashcards. IAS GYAN resources are irreplaceable resource in this regard.
• Simulating actual exam conditions by solving two full length mock tests per day.
• Focusing on high yield topics avoiding unnecessary new topics that could cause confusion.
• Ensuring proper sleep, stress management & confidence building techniques.

Final 3 Days: Revise only key facts, avoid new topics & mentally condition yourself for exam day.

Why APTI PLUS is Best IAS Coaching in Kolkata?

When it comes to best UPSC coaching in Kolkata APTI PLUS stands out leading choice for civil service aspirants. Here is why:

• Delhi Quality Coaching Locally: APTI PLUS brings expertise of Delhi top IAS coaching centres to Kolkata offering aspirants best of both worlds quality education without need to relocate.
• Comprehensive Preparation: Whether it is Prelims, Mains or Personality Testbest UPSC coaching institute APTI PLUS provides complete & structured approach to preparing for all stages of UPSC CSE.
• Legacy of Success: Known for producing top rankers APTI PLUS combines expert faculty, innovative teaching methodologies & student centric focus to deliver consistent results.

APTI PLUS offers 12 years of live PYQ discussions (2013–2024) to help aspirants understand question patterns, identify important topics & predict expected questions for 2025.

In prelims every second counts. APTI PLUS equips aspirants with an expert paper-solving methodology designed to enhance both speed & accuracy.

This strategy includes:

• Prioritizing questions based on difficulty
• Mastering elimination techniques to reduce guesswork
• Working on time allocation between General Studies (GS)& CSAT papers

APTI PLUS offers dedicated mentorship with clear roadmap to help aspirants stay organized & motivated.

• Day Wise Plans: Focused daily targets to cover specific topics
• Weekly Reviews: Track progress as well as identify areas for improvement
• Monthly Milestones: Comprehensive assessments to ensure you are on track

APTI PLUS provides a subject wise current affairs listing making it easier to:

• Link current events with static topics
• Focus on relevant news from reliable sources
• Revise current affairs efficiently before the exam

Conclusion

The answer is a YES but only if an aspirant follows well-structured, high-efficiency plan that prioritizes high-yield topics, mock test-based learning & exam oriented strategies. Success in UPSC Prelims is not merely about how long you study but about how effectively you utilize available time.

APTI PLUS IAS Academy provides structured roadmap, integrating mock tests, expert mentorship & focused revision techniques enabling aspirants to cover essential topics smartly & improve accuracy in MCQ-based, time bound exam like UPSC Prelims.