Balance RAS Prelims and Mains Preparation Together : To succeed in both stages, your preparation must be integrated, not separate. You don’t want to finish Prelims and then scramble for Mains. Follow this merged strategy:
1. Start with Common Subjects (Overlapping Parts)
Identify topics that appear in both Prelims and Mains, e.g. History, Polity, Geography, Economy, Rajasthan GK. Begin with these common parts — they give “double returns” on effort, and build a strong base for both stages.
2. Parallel Study of Rajasthan + India Subjects (RBSE & NCERT)
While working on the common topics, also cover:
- Rajasthan-specific subjects via RBSE / state board & Rajasthan GK sources
- India / general syllabus via NCERT + trusted GS books
This ensures your state + national knowledge grow together.
You can also use free resources from Connect Civils (PDF notes, PYQs, toppers’ copies) available in their “Free Resources” section to strengthen both Rajasthan + India content.
3. Why & How to Fix a Dedicated Slot for Paper 4 (Hindi + English in RAS Mains)
Why It Matters
- Paper 4 deals with language skills: grammar, comprehension, translation, composition, vocabulary etc.
- It does not overlap much with GS topics. If delayed, your language proficiency will lag.
- In RPSC’s scheme, Paper IV (General Hindi & General English) is a 3-hour paper worth 200 marks.
- You can follow a 90-day program offered on RAJ RAS to complete your Paper 4 prep systematically.
How to Incorporate It
- Fix a daily / alternate-day slot: 45–60 minutes on regular days; 1.5-2 hours on weekends.
- Best times: just after GS / static study (mind is warmed up), or evening when distractions are fewer.
- On mock/test days, reduce but don’t skip the slot.
- On weekends, extend the session for deeper practice.
What to Do During This Slot
Use that time to cover:
- Grammar & usage (Hindi + English)
- Comprehension passages
- Translation (Hindi ↔ English) & Precis writing
- Essays, letters, reports in both languages
- Vocabulary, idioms, error correction exercises
Also, practice past Paper 4 / GS-IV questions (Hindi + English) from earlier RAS Mains papers to get used to formats and difficulty.
4. Use Coaching Notes / Trusted Material
- You can follow coaching notes from reputable sources. For example, Connect Civils notes are considered among the best for RAS preparation.
- They are available via the RAJ RAS website and the Connect Civils website.
- Mains is the most important phase: consistent practice is essential. A test series with descriptive questions helps you build the right approach, speed, and confidence.
- In Mains Examination 2025, many questions appeared directly from test series or notes. (You can see them in the Mains Question Bank.)
- You can also prefer RIPA courses / programs (offered by Connect Civils) for structured coverage and evaluation.
5. Integrate Mains Depth in Common Subjects
When you study a common subject, add Mains-level depth in the same session: arguments, case studies, critiques, examples.
Maintain two layers of notes:
- One for MCQ / factual aspects
- One for descriptive / essay-level content
This way you build readiness for both.
6. Analyze PYQs & Mains Question Patterns
- Solve Prelims PYQs to understand factual trends, question framing, and recurring topics.
- Review Mains / descriptive / Paper-4 past questions to see how questions are asked: parts, marks, pattern.
- Maintain a question bank of Mains / GS / Paper-4 questions, and expected topics.
- Use these patterns to prioritize what to study deeper.
7. Regular Answer Writing Practice
- From early phases, allot time to write short / medium length answers for Mains topics.
- Use past RAS / state-level Mains questions to practice structure, clarity, keywords.
- Gradually increase length, improve flow, include state-level examples, diagrams, etc.
- For Mains, you can follow the 90 Days Answer Writing Program to integrate revision with practice and polish your skills just before the exam.
- Experience of a Successful Candidate : “On the RAJRAS website, daily target-based questions were posted. I used to write them, and for topics I found difficult, I would go back and revise. This programme played a crucial role in strengthening my preparation.” : Trilok Singh (IAS, Rank 20th – UPSC 2025)
- Daily plan for RAS preparation
Connect Civils – 90 Days Answer Writing Programme
8. Use an Integrated Test Series (Prelims + Mains + Paper 4)
- Enroll in / use a test series that offers objective mocks (Prelims) + descriptive mocks (Mains + Paper 4).
- Some days focus only on MCQs; others, on descriptive / writing / language tests.
- After Prelims, shift more emphasis to descriptive / answer-writing mocks, but keep occasional MCQ review for retention.
- Join Pre + Cum Mains Test Series
- Prelims : –
- A well-designed test series not only prepares you for the Prelims objective questions but also lays the foundation for Mains. A dedicated Prelims Question Bank is highly beneficial for students. In RAS 2025 Prelims, 115 marks worth of questions were direct hits from our Question Bank. (Prelims Question Bank)
- Mains: The Most Important Player : –
- For Mains, consistent practice is essential. A test series with descriptive questions helps aspirants build the right approach, speed, and confidence. In the Mains Examination 2025, most of the questions came directly from the test series or notes. (You can see them here: … Mains Question Bank )
- You can prefer : RIPA Courses .
