How Many Attempts does it Take to Clear the IAS Exam?

Every year when the UPSC announces the final list of candidates, who made it to the civil services, a few candidates who cracked the IAS exam in their very first go would be over the moon at their astounding results. But this number is not very high. Statistics claim that only one in ten candidates taste UPSC success in the first attempt. A vast majority of the candidates clear the three rounds successfully in their subsequent attempts. This article aims at finding an answer to the question, ‘How many attempts does it take to clear the IAS exam?’

Let us take a look at the figures first:

A study of the percentage of selected candidates (average of 2002-2012 figures) and the number of attempts they took reveals that 3 is the magic number when it comes to clearing the UPSC civil services. A good chunk of candidates (24.1%) cleared the IAS exam in their third attempts.

 What makes the IAS exam so hard to crack that on an average it takes 3 trials to pass?

• The USPC Syllabus
• The diversity of topics to be studied
• Ever-increasing information to be studied in the form of current affairs
• Stiff competition
• The long-drawn process

A candidate must appreciate the fact that the commission wants to pick the best and the brightest of the country. That explains the rigorous nature of the exam.

The UPSC exam is a test of perseverance and determination more than anything else. If you want to make it to the civil services, try to inculcate these habits in you. For the other resources like study material guidance, complete exam-related information and news, current affairs material, previous years IAS question papers, mock tests and so on, you can rely on BYJU’S Free IAS Prep Website.

Visit BYJU’S Website for strategy and articles on free IAS prep and all the latest on UPSC IAS exam.

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