The only question that remains in the minds of lakhs of hopefuls is a simple yet powerful one: What do UPSC rankers do that others do not? Lakhs give the Civil Services Examination every year, but only a few manage to get through the final list. The syllabus is one and the same, the time is the same, and resources are aplenty available—so what really differentiates the first-rankers from the others? The solution is not only in what they learn, but the way they prepare, set priorities, and keep going.
1. Rankers Get the Syllabus Like a Roadmap
UPSC toppers don’t even look at the syllabus—they memorize it. They keep referring to it while reading newspapers, books, or solving questions. They keep all preparation activities in sync with the key themes and terminologies followed in the syllabus. This reduces wastage of time and makes their preparation aligned.
What others do: Follow coaching material or YouTube lectures randomly without synchronizing it with the syllabus.
2. They Make Smart Resource Choices
Top rankers naturally restrict their sources. They don’t fall prey to the vicious cycle of book collection. Rather, they concentrate on:
- NCERTs (deep but selective reading)
- 1-2 standard reference books per subject
- Newspaper daily reading with focused current affairs notes
- A dependable monthly current affairs magazine
What others do: Attempt to read everything and forget nothing. More is less here.
3. They Prioritize Answer Writing Early
One of the most prevalent habits of rankers is practice writing answers early on. They don’t wait until they complete the syllabus; rather, they begin with easy questions and progressively shift to GS and optional answer writing, refining content, structure, and time management.
What other people do: Procrastination and delaying confidence building activities on the answer writing and preparing stage, waiting for everything to be ‘ready’.
4. They Always Analyze and Learn from the Mistakes
Rankers consider mock tests along with last year papers as study material. After each test, they:
- Review all the wrong answers they took.
- Analyze mistakes (conceptual, intrinsic errors, silly errors).
- Update notes and prepare accordingly.
This type of self-learning ensures that they do not repeat the same mistake in the actual test.
What others do: Go through feedback and delve into particulars but only verify scores.
5. They are Consistent, Not Intense
UPSC is not such a sprint but more of a marathon. Rankers know that and form the following habits of:
- Daily study routines less than 6-8 intensive hours
- Regular weekly revision time slots
- Scheduling free time breaks and hobbies to prevent burnout
What other people do: Study for 12 consecutive hours and then sleep for two days afterwards.
6. They Have Faith in Themselves and Do Not Over-Compare
Rankers themselves pace their own speed and do not always compare speed or content with others. They compare their progress with themselves inside, not by peer or social media pressure.
What others do: Panic if they see something else being done differently by others, and continue to switch strategies.
Conclusion
Then what do UPSC rankers do differently than others? They simplify, focus, analyze, and stick to it. They have faith in the process, learn and improve from criticism, and construct a disciplined atmosphere around them. There is no single recipe for success, but embracing these strategic behaviors can make a huge difference in your chances. It’s not working harder than others—it’s working smarter, steadier, and wiser.
