✦ Strategy & LearningsPreparation approach, subject-wise strategy, and interview mindset - compiled from public interviews and coaching-institute features.
ⓘ AI-generated from UPSC Topper Waseem Ahmad Bhat's public interviews & coaching-institute features - not written or reviewed by them.
2020
Attempt 1 - AIR 225
Secured an impressive rank in his first attempt.
2021
Attempt 2 - Failed
Unexpectedly failed to clear the preliminary stage.
2022
Attempt 3 - AIR 7
Rethought his approach with a huge plan and achieved AIR 7.
🧠Prelims Strategy
Integrated approach and reverse engineering
Waseem emphasizes an integrated study plan that covers both Prelims and Mains simultaneously, while focusing on understanding the exam's demand.
Reverse Engineering
Analyze model answers and previous year toppers' copies to understand the exam's demand rather than just covering standard books.
Target Score
Aim for a score of 100-110 to comfortably secure a place in the Mains, given the increasing difficulty of the paper.
Practice
Write sectional tests for every subject you study and do plenty of practice tests to improve accuracy and time management.
📝Mains Strategy
Answer writing and model answers
His Mains preparation was heavily focused on answer writing practice and utilizing model answers for guidance.
Model Answers
Instead of making extensive notes, he read model answers for three years to understand how to structure and present thoughts.
Daily Practice
Dedicated 1-2 hours every afternoon to writing tests and 30 minutes to checking them against previous year questions.
⚖️Ethics Paper Strategy
Structured approach to case studies
Waseem developed a specific, repeatable pattern for handling Ethics case studies to ensure consistency.
Case Study Pattern
Analyze the case, write a summary, identify stakeholders, find ethical issues, and evaluate options using a table of merits and demerits.
Value Addition
Substantiate answers with examples and quotes from great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi to add depth.
🧬Optional Subject: Anthropology
Specialist approach
He treated his optional subject with a specialist mindset, focusing on research and value-added notes.
Research-Based Notes
Made high-quality, value-added notes by researching topics and incorporating names of authors and their specific views.
Previous Year Questions
Use previous year questions to understand the depth of topics, as even small syllabus topics can have hundreds of potential questions.
🗣️Interview Approach
Personality development
The interview stage requires a different skill set, focusing on personality and communication.
Personality Focus
Preparation centered on personality development, staying calm under pressure, and refining communication skills through mock interviews.
Current Affairs
Read multiple newspapers like The Indian Express and The Hindu to stay updated and form views on current issues.
“It is very tough and mentally taxing, but if you have the passion, you should go for it. One has to be in it for the long haul.”
— on his message to aspiring civil servants“I wrote the exam like a test. I did not think of the consequences, so I was not thinking of the future, I was in the moment.”
— on his mindset during the Prelims exam🎯 If You're Starting Out
- Familiarize yourself with the UPSC exam pattern and syllabus early on.
- Make reading a hobby; even if you are not yet preparing for UPSC, read books and newspapers to build a strong foundation.
- If you are in college and thinking of civil services, at least read the newspapers and do some basic reading.
- Do not become a social media addict; use platforms like WhatsApp and Twitter in a very limited capacity.
- Develop your answer writing skill as much as possible, as this is the most critical skill for the Mains exam.
Where this came fromBiography and marks corroborated across 3 coaching-institute profiles; strategy details drawn from 1 interview video and 3 coaching-institute blogs.