It is important to take mock tests for UPSC Prelims and Mains. Online coaching institutes have made it easy to attend professionally administered mock tests. However, you need to know how to choose a test series suitable for your requirements.
This article explains how you can choose the right UPSC mains test series. Stay with us.
What is the Mains test series?
Mains test series is a set of mock tests and practice tests conducted on different Mains papers. Top UPSC coaching institutes arrange such a series of tests and allow UPSC candidates to take part in both offline and online formats. In fact, availability of online tests has made high-quality test series for UPSC Prelims and Mains accessible to people living in far-off places across the country.
The faculties at top institutes observe UPSC question trends and set questions accordingly to simulate tentative patterns of questions and difficulty level for the upcoming UPSC Mains papers.
How to choose the right UPSC mains test series?
Every good quality Mains test series has specific characteristics. You can identify a reliable test series through the following steps.
- Who is organising the test series?
It takes a lot of effort and experience from the faculty of teachers to design a quality test series. You might come across free tests on the internet, but those are nothing but collections of old questions from top institutes. Such question papers are less relevant to ongoing UPSC sessions.
- What are the details available for the series?
Any good quality test series must provide complete details on what are the tests included in the series, dates and other information. It helps candidates to make better decisions.
- What is the distribution of tests across different papers?
Some UPSC Mains test series may put emphasis on a specific set of papers. If you are weak in those papers, that test series will be useful for you. So, check the distribution of tests across Mains papers.
- Does the series come with doubt clearing sessions?
Any good test series must offer doubt clearing sessions. It can be available in online format, physical classroom format or as pre-recorded classroom videos.
- Does it offer a 1:1 feedback session?
Feedback on your performance in mock tests is an effective way to improve on your performance. So, choose the test series that offers a small batch or one-to-one feedback sessions.
For the latest UPSC Mains test series you can check https://www.iasgyan.in/. They are one of the oldest coaching institutes for competitive exams. Their ‘The IAS Gazette’ is one of the most popular monthly magazines for UPSC.