Can an IAS exam be cracked with a dedicated preparation of 8 months? How many hours do I need to study? Is it possible?

Question

I am looking for a practical answer to this UPSC question: Can an IAS exam be cracked with a dedicated preparation of 8 months? How many hours do I need to study? Is it possible?

I want practical guidance from aspirants or mentors who have actually gone through this stage. Please share what worked for you, what mistakes to avoid, and how I should approach this in a realistic way.

Chetan Suri · Answer

The answer usually becomes clearer once you return to the syllabus and previous year questions. Those two things cut through a lot of noise.

That is usually where preparation starts feeling more manageable.

Rahul Mankotia · Answer

I would focus less on finding the perfect hack and more on building a routine you can actually repeat for months.

Komal Chakrabarti · Answer

A useful self-check is:
- do I know the syllabus
- are my sources limited
- am I revising enough
- am I testing myself honestly
Most preparation problems show up there.

Most people improve once that part becomes clear.

Tanisha Gangopadhyay · Answer

Whenever the plan feels messy, reduce it. One source fewer and one revision cycle more often improves preparation faster than adding new material.

Harsh Kanungo · Answer

You do not need a very clever strategy to move forward. You need clarity, repetition, and patience.

This is why simpler plans often work better for longer.

Can an IAS exam be cracked with a dedicated preparation of 8 months? How many hours do I need to study? Is it possible?

5 Answers