Failed the 2025 Prelims and again the 2026 Prelims. I'm 23 (F), turning 24 soon. I can't keep postponing my life any longer. We don't realise how hoping for one more try keeps pulling us away from our potential every month.
Yes, I could have done better. Yes, I made silly mistakes this time that could have given me at least 8 extra marks. I did over 10 years of PYQ analysis with surgical precision, revised my static part more than five times before D‑DAY, had a clear strategy, and my mains notes with answer writing were ready. But I think it's time to accept that I'm not cut out for this exam. I've been a topper all my life, and I can't bear another delay caused by such failures. I'm not feeling sad or happy, just completely drained emotionally and mentally.
All the best to everyone who chooses to stay on this path! I have really good handwritten notes and will upload them if I find time later, free of cost.
Best wishes to all. If you decide to stay, hang in there - may God give you all the strength.
Wow! That's pragmatic. I wish we all had the chance to step out of this prep when we feel it's not for us, but in UPSC families parents get equally involved. Consider yourself lucky - you have the option to quit.
If I could have done better, I would have increased my score by only 2 marks, because I did almost everything right. But my luck said NO.
All the best, girl. I was a topper throughout school and college, and now I'm stuck in this government exam loop. I feel you. Good luck.
Doing the right thing. I wish I had done the same back then. I'm 30 and still jobless.
What's your next step? Doing a master's? I'm in the same boat as you.
Same journey - two attempts and couldn't clear the Prelims ('25 and '26). I'm quitting for now. I can't afford to lose another year to this exam.
I wish I'd had the same clarity of thought and conviction you have at 23 when I was your age. My life would have turned out very differently.
Girl, sameee. Word for word. It felt like reading my own story - I'm 23 too and it was my second attempt.
Same. I have two attempts left now and I don't want to waste them anytime soon. I want to secure a job first and then think about taking the exam again. Till then I'm out. I'm 23 and have been idle for four years because of this prep - it's mentally exhausting.
I cleared the toughest prelims in many years (2023) by a huge margin, but I flunked the CSAT because I was lazy and had a bad day due to meds messing me up. I didn't feel like writing again for a while, so I've been living my life doing whatever work I can. I'll give one more shot (2027) if I feel like it by July. Since it's been four years since I gave my first prelims and cleared it, I've become a lot more mature and have new perspectives that I didn't have then. All the best to you in whatever comes next. I sincerely hope you enjoy the next phase of your journey.