What 3 UPSC Failures Taught Me About Success
Every failure was a stepping stone to understanding what UPSC really demands
Three times I walked into the UPSC examination hall with hope in my heart. Three times I walked out with my dreams shattered. Each failure felt like a personal attack on my worth, my intelligence, and my future. But looking back now, those three failures were the greatest teachers I ever had.
If you're reading this after a recent failure, I want you to know that your story isn't over. In fact, it might just be beginning. Here's what my three UPSC failures taught me about preparation, resilience, and ultimately, success.
My UPSC Journey Timeline
First Attempt (2019)
❌ Mistake: Resource Overload
Bought 50+ books, joined 3 coaching institutes, collected everything but learned nothing properly.
🎯 Lesson: Quality over Quantity
Second Attempt (2020)
❌ Mistake: Poor Time Management
No fixed schedule, studied 16 hours some days, 2 hours others. Inconsistency killed my preparation.
🎯 Lesson: Discipline & Consistency
Third Attempt (2021)
❌ Mistake: No Proper Revision
Kept learning new things till the last day. Never revised properly. Forgot everything in the exam.
🎯 Lesson: Resilience & Smart Preparation
Failure #1: The Resource Overload Trap
2019 - When more became less
The Mistake That Cost Me a Year
In my first attempt, I was like a kid in a candy store. Every UPSC topper's interview mentioned different books, so I bought them all. My room looked like a library explosion:
My Resource Collection (First Attempt):
- • 15 History books (from Spectrum to Bipin Chandra to Ancient India by RS Sharma)
- • 12 Geography books (including advanced texts meant for PhD scholars)
- • 8 Polity books (Laxmikanth, DD Basu, and 6 others)
- • 20+ current affairs magazines and compilations
- • Notes from 3 different coaching institutes
The result? I spent more time organizing books than reading them. I would start one book, get excited about another, leave both incomplete, and buy a third one. By the time Prelims arrived, I had read everything partially but mastered nothing.
Lesson Learned: The Right Resources Strategy
✅ What I Should Have Done:
- • One book per subject rule: Laxmikanth for Polity, one standard book for History
- • Stick to basics: NCERT + One standard book + Previous years
- • Master before moving: Complete one book thoroughly before touching another
- • Quality revision: 3 revisions of good content > 1 reading of everything
💡 Key Takeaway: In UPSC, depth beats breadth. It's better to know Laxmikanth inside out than to have surface knowledge of 10 polity books.
💔 The Emotional Impact
The night before Prelims, I looked at my mountain of books and realized I knew nothing properly. That feeling of helplessness, of wasted months, still haunts me. But it taught me that in UPSC, smart work always trumps hard work.
Failure #2: The Discipline Disaster
2020 - When flexibility became chaos
The Mistake That Broke My Momentum
After my first failure, I overcorrected. I reduced my resources but completely ignored the importance of a structured routine. My daily schedule looked something like this:
My Chaotic Schedule (Second Attempt):
Good Days:
- • 6 AM - 11 PM study sessions
- • 16-18 hours of intense focus
- • Felt like a UPSC warrior
Bad Days:
- • Woke up at 2 PM
- • 2-3 hours of guilty studying
- • Netflix and self-loathing
This extreme pattern continued for months. I would burn out after 3-4 days of intense study, then crash for 2-3 days. By the time I recovered, I had lost momentum and had to start rebuilding focus again. It was like trying to fill a bucket with holes at the bottom.
Lesson Learned: Discipline & Consistency Over Intensity
⚡ The Power of Consistent 8 Hours vs Erratic 16 Hours:
❌ Erratic Pattern:
- • 16 hrs × 3 days = 48 hours
- • 2 hrs × 4 days = 8 hours
- • Weekly Total: 56 hours
- • Retention: 30%
✅ Consistent Pattern:
- • 8 hrs × 7 days = 56 hours
- • Same weekly total
- • Retention: 80%
- • Less burnout, better health
🎯 Key Insight: Your brain learns better with consistent daily practice than with intense weekend marathons. Think of it like physical fitness - you can't get fit by exercising 20 hours once a week.
🔄 My Ideal Daily Routine (Learned the Hard Way):
Morning Block (6 AM - 12 PM):
- • 6:00-6:30: Wake up, light exercise
- • 6:30-7:00: Current affairs
- • 7:00-8:00: Breakfast & prep
- • 8:00-12:00: Heavy subjects (History, Polity)
Evening Block (2 PM - 8 PM):
- • 2:00-5:00: Geography, Environment
- • 5:00-5:30: Break
- • 5:30-7:30: Revision & Notes
- • 7:30-8:00: Test/Previous years
💔 The Emotional Toll
"The guilt of wasted days was worse than the failure itself. I felt like I was betraying my own dreams. But this failure taught me that discipline isn't about perfection - it's about consistency. Small daily efforts compound into massive results."
Failure #3: The Revision Tragedy
2021 - When learning without retention killed my dreams
The Final Wake-Up Call
By my third attempt, I had learned to choose the right resources and maintain consistency. I was feeling confident - maybe too confident. I kept learning new topics till the very last week, thinking "more knowledge = better score."
My Learning vs Revision Ratio (Third Attempt):
The disaster struck during Prelims. I remember sitting in the exam hall, looking at a question about the Gupta Empire. I knew I had studied it just two months ago, but I couldn't recall the details. Question after question, the same story - familiar topics but fuzzy memory.
Lesson Learned: Resilience & The Art of Smart Revision
🧠 The Science of Memory Retention:
After 1 day: You remember only 50% of what you learned
Without revision, half your effort is wasted within 24 hours
After 1 week: You remember only 20% of what you learned
Most of your knowledge evaporates without structured revision
With proper revision: You can retain 80-90% long-term
Strategic revision transforms temporary learning into permanent knowledge
📚 The Ideal Learning vs Revision Ratio:
❌ What I Did:
- • Learning: 80% | Revision: 20%
- • Kept adding new topics
- • Revision only in last month
- • Result: Knew everything, remembered nothing
✅ What Works:
- • Learning: 40% | Revision: 60%
- • Finish syllabus 6 months before exam
- • Multiple revision cycles
- • Result: Know less, remember more
🎯 My 3-2-1 Revision Strategy (That Actually Works):
📖 First Revision (After 3 days):
Quick read-through of notes and important points. Focus on understanding concepts you found difficult.
📝 Second Revision (After 2 weeks):
Active recall - try to write/speak about the topic without looking at notes. Identify weak areas.
🧠 Third Revision (After 1 month):
Test yourself with previous year questions and mock tests. This converts knowledge into exam performance.
💪 Building Resilience
This third failure nearly broke me. I questioned everything - my intelligence, my choice of career, even my self-worth. But it also taught me the most valuable lesson:
"Resilience isn't about never falling down. It's about getting up one more time than you fall. Every failure is a teacher in disguise, showing you exactly what not to do next time."
Key Takeaways: What These Failures Taught Me
1. Right Resources Matter
- • One quality book > Ten average books
- • Master basics before exploring advanced
- • Stick to your chosen resources
- • Check our recommended books list
2. Discipline & Consistency
- • 8 consistent hours > 16 erratic hours
- • Build sustainable daily routines
- • Focus on process, not just outcomes
- • Small daily wins compound over time
3. Resilience is Everything
- • Every failure teaches valuable lessons
- • Mental health is as important as preparation
- • Support system makes all the difference
- • Your story isn't over until you say it is
Frequently Asked Questions
Common concerns after UPSC failures
Can I clear UPSC after multiple failures?
Absolutely! Many successful IAS officers have failed multiple times. Read about aspirants who succeeded after 3+ attempts. Each failure teaches you something new and brings you closer to success.
How do I deal with family pressure after failures?
Communication is key. Share your learning from each attempt, show them your improved strategy, and set realistic timelines. Sometimes, taking a short break to work and contribute financially can ease the pressure while you regroup.
Should I join coaching after failing multiple times?
It depends on your specific weaknesses. If you're struggling with guidance and structure, coaching can help. But if your issues are resource management or consistency, self-study might be more effective. Analyze your failure patterns first.
How many attempts should I make before giving up?
There's no magic number. Some clear in 1 attempt, others take 6. The key is continuous improvement with each attempt. As long as you're learning from failures and adapting your strategy, keep trying. Your persistence might be the only thing standing between you and success.
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Remember: Failures are Stepping Stones to Success
Every failure brings you one step closer to your dream. Don't let temporary setbacks define your permanent future. Your breakthrough might be just one attempt away.