Thorough Analysis and Review vs. Completing a Larger Number of Papers


When preparing for the UPSC exams, it is essential to strike a balance between practicing a larger number of papers and thoroughly analyzing and reviewing your answers. Both approaches have their own advantages and it is important to understand which strategy suits you best.


1. Identifying knowledge gaps: By thoroughly analyzing and reviewing your answers, you can identify the areas where you lack knowledge or understanding. This allows you to focus on those specific topics and improve your overall understanding.

2. Improving answer structure: Thoroughly reviewing your answers helps you identify any structural or formatting issues. By understanding the pattern and structure of the questions, you can learn to present your answers in a more organized and coherent manner, which is crucial for scoring well in the UPSC exams.

3. Developing critical thinking skills: Analyzing your answers helps you develop critical thinking skills. By critically evaluating your own answers, you can identify any biases or assumptions you may have made. This allows you to approach questions more objectively and provide well-reasoned arguments.

4. Learning from mistakes: Reviewing your answers allows you to learn from your mistakes. By understanding where you went wrong, you can avoid making similar errors in the future. This iterative process of learning from mistakes is crucial for continuous improvement.


1. Time management: Practicing a larger number of papers helps you develop effective time management skills. The UPSC exams are time-bound, and by practicing multiple papers, you can learn to allocate your time efficiently to each question.

2. Exposure to diverse questions: By completing a larger number of papers, you expose yourself to a wider range of questions. This helps you familiarize yourself with different question types and topics, enhancing your overall knowledge and understanding.

3. Building exam stamina: The UPSC exams are long and demanding. By practicing a larger number of papers, you can build your exam stamina and develop the ability to maintain focus and concentration for extended periods.

4. Test strategy: Completing a larger number of papers allows you to experiment with different test strategies. You can try different approaches to answering questions, such as attempting easy questions first or focusing on high-scoring areas. This helps you identify the strategy that works best for you.


While both thorough analysis and review, as well as completing a larger number of papers, have their own advantages, it is recommended to strike a balance between the two. Allocate sufficient time for practicing papers to build exam stamina and expose yourself to diverse questions. Simultaneously, dedicate time to thoroughly analyze and review your answers to identify knowledge gaps, improve answer structure, and learn from your mistakes. By combining these two approaches, you can enhance your preparation and increase your chances of success in the UPSC exams.