90-Day Revision Strategy for UPSC Prelims
90-Day Revision Strategy for UPSC Prelims
Revising for UPSC Prelims in 90 days requires strategic planning, intensive revision, and smart test practice. The focus should be on maximizing retention, improving accuracy, and mastering elimination techniques.
Core Principles of Revision
Revise, Don’t Read New Books – Focus on what you’ve already studied.
Solve MCQs Daily – Minimum 50-100 MCQs per day to improve accuracy.
Make Quick Notes & Mind Maps – Summarize important concepts for last-minute revision.
Analyze Mock Tests Properly – Understand mistakes and avoid repetition.
Current Affairs is Crucial – Revise the last 1.5 years of current affairs from a reliable source.
CSAT is Not to Be Ignored – Ensure you clear the qualifying marks.
90-Day Plan for Prelims Revision
Phase 1: (Day 1-45) – Intensive Subject-Wise Revision & MCQs
This phase focuses on thorough revision of all subjects with daily MCQs.
| Days | Subjects | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 1-7 | Polity | Revise Laxmikanth, attempt 100 MCQs daily, PYQs |
| 8-14 | History | Cover Modern (Spectrum), Ancient, Medieval, Art & Culture |
| 15-21 | Geography | Revise NCERTs, GC Leong, Maps, solve PYQs |
| 22-28 | Economy | Cover NCERTs, Economic Survey, Budget, Schemes |
| 29-35 | Environment | Revise Shankar IAS, Government Reports, Current Issues |
| 36-40 | Science & Tech | Cover Basic NCERTs, Current Affairs, Government Schemes |
| 41-45 | Full-Length Tests | Take 4-5 full-length tests, analyze weak areas |
Daily Routine:
- 4-5 Hours of Static Subject Revision
- 2 Hours of Current Affairs
- 2 Hours for Solving MCQs & PYQs
Phase 2: (Day 46-75) – Full-Length Tests & Weak Area Focus
- Solve 1 full-length test every 2 days.
- Focus on weak areas identified from Phase 1.
- Revise Current Affairs (last 1.5 years).
| Days | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| 46-52 | Revise Polity + History + Geography |
| 53-59 | Revise Economy + Environment |
| 60-66 | Revise Science & Tech + Government Schemes |
| 67-75 | Daily Full-Length Mock Tests (Analyze mistakes) |
Daily Routine:
- 2-3 Hours of Subject-Wise Revision
- 2 Hours of Current Affairs
- 3 Hours for Test Solving & Analysis
Phase 3: (Day 76-90) – Final Revision & Exam Simulation
- No new topics – Only revision & practice.
- Revise your short notes & quick summary sheets.
- 5-7 full-length mock tests under exam conditions.
- Last 3 days for mental relaxation & confidence boost.
| Days | Action Plan |
|---|---|
| 76-80 | Full-length Tests + Error Analysis |
| 81-85 | Polity, Economy, Current Affairs Revision |
| 86-88 | High-Yield Topics Quick Recap |
| 89 | CSAT Final Revision + Light Reading |
| 90 | Relax, Sleep Early, Prepare for Exam Day |
Subject-Wise Revision Strategy
Polity
- Focus: Constitution, Parliament, FRs, DPSP, Amendments.
- Revise Laxmikanth (Most asked topics: Fundamental Rights, Judiciary, Emergency Provisions).
- Solve PYQs from the last 10 years.
History
- Focus: Modern History (Spectrum), Art & Culture (Nitin Singhania).
- Revise: Freedom Struggle, Important Congress Sessions, Ancient Dynasties.
- PYQs show repeated topics – revise accordingly.
Geography
- Focus: Indian & World Geography, Maps are crucial.
- Revise Climatic Regions, River Systems, Monsoons, Soils.
Economy
- Focus: Budget, Economic Survey, Banking, Monetary Policies.
- Revise: Fiscal Policy, Inflation, GDP, Poverty Schemes.
- Current Affairs integration is key.
Environment
- Focus: National Parks, Biodiversity Hotspots, Climate Change Treaties.
- Revise Shankar IAS, Important species & organizations (UNEP, WWF, IPCC).
Science & Tech
- Focus: Space Missions, AI, Cybersecurity, Biotech.
- Revise recent government reports.
- Most questions are current affairs-based.
Current Affairs
- Revise last 1.5 years from any Magazine/DCA/Newspaper.
- Government schemes, Reports, Economic Policies, International Relations.
CSAT
- Revise Basic Math & Reasoning (Solve previous year CSAT questions).
- Focus on Reading Comprehension (UPSC asks tricky passages).
90-Day Strategy at a Glance
First 45 Days – Subject-wise revision & topic-wise MCQs
Next 30 Days – Full-length mock tests & current affairs
Final 15 Days – Quick revision & exam simulation
Final 24 Hours Before Exam
Revise quick notes, mind maps, and key formulas
No mock tests, no new material
Stay relaxed and avoid last-minute panic
Sleep well (6-7 hours)
Key Takeaways
Revise smartly – Focus on high-yield topics
Solve 50-100 MCQs daily – Learn from mistakes
Mock Tests are Key – Attempt 20-30 tests in 90 days
Stay Consistent – No distractions, no procrastination
Trust Yourself – Confidence is crucial for success
By following this structured plan, you can maximize retention, improve accuracy, and boost confidence for UPSC Prelims. 
Success is within reach—stay disciplined and execute the plan! 
