Top 10 Tips for HCS Exam Preparations

The HCS (Haryana Civil Services) is the most prestigious exam in the Haryana Region. It is attempted by more than 100 thousand aspirants though only a few realize their dream because of the vast syllabus and Dynamic Nature of the HCS Exam.

In this article, you can get all the information you need on how to prepare for the HCS exam, and Achieve your goal.

A candidate needs to invest a significant amount of time in self-study to be able to Crack the Haryana Civil Services (H.C.S) exam in the first attempt.   Mere cramming the syllabus or making notes does not help at all.

Candidate must develop a comprehensive knowledge of General studies accompanied by the ability to critically analyze things. This can be done by curiously analyzing all the events happening around us

Read on for 10 Tips for HCS Exam Preparation and Strategy to Crack it

How to prepare for the HCS Exam?

In this section, we have listed the most important tips for beginners to prepare for HCS Exam. These tips aim at helping aspirant devise a well-planned preparation strategy for the upcoming HCS Exam 2024

There are 10 important tips mentioned below:

Tip#1:- Make a strong Decision

Each day we are faced with situations in life that require us to make choices. Some of these choices are easy, and at times, some of them can be difficult. The decision to Start preparation for HCS Exam must not be taken in hassle because this preparation Demands active engagement and at least 3-5 hours of daily time

Just evaluate your free time and Gather Information for Weighing Your Options. If you can spare 3-5 hours a day for Self Study along with your other tasks in the day for at least one year. Then you can start your preparation

You should ask yourself a question.  What is the source of your motivation for the Haryana Civil Services Examination?

If your motivation is internal and you are ready to devote at least one year of your life then you are ready to be a Civil Servant in Haryana

Tip#2:- Understand the Pattern of HCS Exam

The Haryana Civil Services Exam is held in three stages and they are:

The pattern of the HCS Exam has been Modified by the Government of Haryana in July 2020.

1. First Stage: Preliminary Examination consisting of Objective type questions (MCQ) of  400 Marks
   The  Preliminary Exam has two paper in it

1. General Studies (100 Questions, 100 Marks)
2. CSAT ( Civil Services Aptitude Test ) (100 Questions, 100 Marks)

Note:- CSAT Paper is Qualifying in Nature

Preliminary exams are only for the screening of a candidate for the next level of exam which is the Mains exam. The Marks he scored in prelims will not be counted in final merit.

2. Second Stage: Main Examination: – It contains 4 Descriptive papers of a total of 600 Marks
3. Paper-I English 100 Marks

1. Paper-II Hindi100 Marks
2. Paper-III General Studies – 200 Marks
3. Paper-IV  Optional Subject – 200 Marks

Note:- There will be only one optional Subject as per the latest pattern of HCS

3. Third/Final Stage: Personality Test/Interview of total 75 marks – Face to face discussion with the PPSC Interview Board

Final merit is prepared by taking total marks, obtained by the candidates in Mains and Interview Exam, into account

Note:- Marks obtained in HCS Prelims Exam are not considered for Final Merit

Tip#3 Understand the Syllabus of the Exam

Knowing the syllabus is the foremost thing to do before you go through the study material and preparation strategy

Click here for the HCS Prelims Syllabus

Click Here for the HCS Mains Syllabus

Tip#4:- Make your own Study Plan

A study plan is an organized schedule outlining study times and learning goals. A study plan is an effective way to help you navigate through your Preparation, and hold you accountable for your own learning outcomes.  Everybody has their engagements throughout the day. So it would be unfair if we force you to follow a rigid study plan. Every student needs to create their Time Table as per their prevailing circumstances. All we need is 3 to 5 productive hours of study per day to excel in the Civil services examination.

You have already gone through the syllabus so make a custom time plan for a study that syllabus

Tip#5:- Make Newspaper Reading a habit

According to the latest trend, the questions asked in the Haryana civil services exam are dynamic in Nature. The Questions are directly or indirectly connected with current affairs. Hence, it is very important to follow the relevant news items in your daily newspaper.

We recommend you to read The Indian Express Daily.

Click here to know How to read the newspaper for HCS Exam Preparation

Tip#6:- Start Reading Basic NCERTs First

Because of simple language and uncomplicated explanations, NCERTs are the best source to make foundations for General studies. We recommend you to read the NCERT books first before starting the advanced level books.

You need to read the NCERT textbooks from class IX through class XII for each subject.  Always keep the HCS syllabus for your reference. 

Tip#7:- Read Following Standard Books 

Here are the Best Books for the HCS prelims and Mains Exam Preparation.

History Books for HCS Exam

1. History of Modern India – Bipan Chandra
2. Spectrum Modern History
3. India’s Struggle For Independence – Bipan Chandra
4. India’s Ancient Past – R.S. Sharma
5. History of Medieval India – Satish Chandra

Geography Books For HCS Exam

1. Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Cheng Leong
2. NCERT’s 11^th and 12^th Class
3. Oxford Student Atlas

Environment and Ecology Books for HCS Exam

1. Environmental Studies: From Crisis to Cure – Rajagopalan
2. NCERT 12^th Biology (Chapter 13 onwards).

Indian Polity and Governance Books for HCS Preparation

1. Indian Polity by Laxmikant
2. Governance in India by Lakshmikanth

Indian Economy Books for HCS Preparation

1. Indian Economy – Sanjiv Verma
2. Economic Survey of India
3. Economic Survey of Haryana

  General Science and Technology Books for HCS Preparation

1. General Science – Arihant Publication
2. Science subject NCERTs
3. Science Reporter Magazine

Current Affairs Sources For HCS Preparation

The current affairs section is the most important in any competitive exam. Along with regularly reading the newspaper, one should read some good monthly magazines like Yojana Kurukshetra and a Current Affairs Compilation

Haryana GK Books for HCS Exam Preparation

1. Haryana GK By R Gupta

Tip#8:- Make Short Notes  

It is very difficult to memorize and revise this vast syllabus of the HCS exam. You should make precise notes and mind maps to make it easy to memorize and comfortable for last-minute revision before prelims or mains exam.

The Thumb rule for making notes is that you must summarize 100 words into 10-15 words or else notes will defeat their purpose. 

Tip#9:- Join Prelims Mock test Series

When you have completed any of two subjects of General Studies and current affairs of 2-3 months then you should join a good Practice Test series for HCS Prelims 2024.

You should keep the following things in mind before joining any test series for HCS Preliminary Exam

1. Test series must include Sectional Tests and Full-length tests for General Studies  
2. The test series must be followed by an Explanation Lecture by experienced faculty
3. The test series should strictly be according to the latest trend of HCS Questions

Tip#10:- Revise

Revising effectively can go a long way to help you prepare for the HCS Exam in a manner so that you end up cracking it in the first attempt itself. Your Short notes and Mind Maps are a one-stop solution for holistically revising the whole syllabus. Here are a few tips to revise Syllabus in a better way

1. Take Small Targets, complete them, and then revise.

For Example, you have decided to read a particular topic in a Book within 2 days. After read that topic you should do a quick revision of the shorts notes or Mind Maps you created.

     2. Revise Every week

Choose a day, preferably Sunday, on which you will revise the whole syllabus you studied last week.

     3. Daily review

Start taking a daily review of the previous day’s study or notes before starting a new topic of the day

All the best!