UPSC interview is the last and minor part of the selection process. It is conducted for 275 marks. The marks obtained in the written examination and the interview are taken into account for the final selection. The preliminary exam is just qualifying in nature. The interview plays an important role in determining the final rank of the candidate. The candidates will get an opportunity to score extremely high marks(>75%) which is not possible in the written part of the main examination.
The candidate who has poor marks in the written will have an opportunity to score high in the interview and make it to the final list. If the written exam marks are high and the interview marks are poor, the candidate’s rank will either go lower in the merit list or maybe, be eliminated from the list. Therefore, interview marks are crucial in determining the rank, job and cadre of the candidate.
Therefore, it is very important for the candidate to practice well before the UPSC interview. Mock interviews help the candidates to avoid some common mistakes and analyse his/her performance. Mock interviews improve the consistency of the candidate.
Importance of Mock Interviews
The importance of giving Mock interviews are given below:
- Understand the type of questions asked: It helps to understand the type of questions asked in the interview. The candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest like profile related, current affairs, situational and behavioural questions.
- Body language: Body language means communicating without speaking. These nonverbal cues can include your posture and eye contact (or lack thereof) as well as toe-tapping and other common actions. Mock interviews help to improve body language and avoid gestures that do not suit the occasion. The candidate can also practice sitting in front of the mirror and work on a few aspects like sitting posture, appearance and behaviour. Try to maintain eye contact while listening and while talking.
- Balanced answers: The candidate must have an impartial and balanced view of the events/topics. Mocks interviews will help to improve the candidates’ ability to give balanced answers without any bias.
- Improve your confidence level: The candidate has to appear confident in front of the panel members. Take some mock interviews to avoid some common mistakes. Make a note of your weaknesses and strengths and try to avoid them in the interview.
- Communication skills: It is important to develop fluency in the language you choose for the interview. Attending mock interviews will improve the candidate’s ability to communicate and express thoughts clearly.
Also, do not blindly follow the tips and advice of mosque boards. There are many institutes in the market that have no clue about the actual process of the interview. They might distort your vision and confuse your mind about the interview. So, carefully select the institutes for mock interviews. Take only reliable, expert advice from people of high standing.
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