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How I Topped the UPSC and How You Can Too: What It Really Takes to Crack the World's Toughest Exam

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Gamini Singla stood all India third in the UPSC CSE 2021 exam rankings. Just a year before, she didn’t even make it past the first stage – the Prelims.What did she do differently this time? In this book, Gamini gives you all her strategies and also the lessons she learnt from her mistakes – from exactly how to plan your day, take effective notes, to exercise routines while you study. But most importantly, she argues that preparing psychologically for the exams, from dealing with self-doubt and anxiety to building confidence, is what will take you across the finish line. A book not just for all UPSC candidates but also for anyone giving competitive exams, How ITopped the UPSC is a no-holdsbarred book full of so many hacks and so much honesty – you won’t need anything else to succeed.

208 pages, Paperback

Published May 14, 2023

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Gamini Singla

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for Himani Kumar.
5 reviews9 followers
March 4, 2023

1. I really liked how for the first half of the book, the content is mainly focused on all the other things
surrounding the exam : mental hurdles/support/family/your motivation/your why. To me it gave the
raw picture of the backdrop behind this ginormous exam that UPSC is and how it can get to you and
be the reason of you failure if not harnessed properly.
2. At some points you do feel that author is pushing herself way too hard but then again the hard work
translates into her results.(Again reiteration of a very important point: Everyone is different, What
worked for her might not work for you. So keeping senses open at all times helps )
3. Strategizing and the analysis portion were well covered and one can maximize the learnings from
there.
Profile Image for Sakshi Sugandhi.
20 reviews
July 4, 2023
What a book, while preparing she put the efforts and even write writing she didn't leave any detail for aspirants. Traits of All India Ranker. Her studying abd learning habits are not only shown in her AIR but in her book as well. The book is really helpful thank you so much for writing this book. A newbie who just had an idea about upsc must buy and read because thing you will start thinking in months, gamini's book will give you answers for all. So first read and tham start the preparation.
Profile Image for Shashank S.
10 reviews
April 4, 2025
Key takeaways:

1) Practice mock tests during the same time as the actual examination timing.
2) Study and revise the same base material for GS subjects.
3) For current affairs read newspaper and make notes of GS related topics.
4) Solve and study PYQs of atleast the last 6 years.
5) Choose an optional subject that makes you curious, has widely available study material and content. But keep in mind you don't have to become an expert at it.
6) Even the most well prepared candidates would know the answers to only about 35 questions in Prelims GS 1. So, answer at least 85 questions by making calculated and educated guesses. But don't overdo the guesswork.
7) Identify and cover the multiple dimensions from the syllabus like political, economic, social, historical, etc while answering Mains questions.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews

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