1. Early Phase (0–3 Months)

2. Mid-Preparation Phase (4–6 Months)

3. Advanced/Revision Phase (Final 1–2 Months)

Working Professionals: Realistic Hourly Goals

If you're balancing a job with UPPCS prep, here’s a practical breakdown:

Aspirant Experiences & Community Input

Real-world testing grounds often offer the best insights:

"I usually study for about 5 hours daily during working days—combining office short hours and study afterward."
Reddit

"Aspirants managing work put in 2-6 hours on weekdays and about 9 hours on weekends."
Reddit

These snapshots demonstrate how aspirants balance full-time work and study through disciplined consistency.

Smart Study Tips Across Phases

PhaseDaily HoursStrategy

Early (0–3 mo)

3–5 hrs

Grasp basics, focus on concepts

Mid (4–6 mo)

6–7 hrs

Deepen understanding, integrate current affairs

Finals

8–10+ hrs

Revise heavily, prioritize mocks & writing practice

Weekdays: Even 3–5 hours daily can accumulate into meaningful progress.

Weekends: Core for revision, simulated practice, and catching up on backlog.

Quality Over Quantity: Smart, uninterrupted sessions ensure retention and progress.

Weekly Total (Estimate):
~30–35 hours on weekdays + 6–12 hours on weekends = ~36–47 hours per week
BYJU'S Exam PreptheIAShub

6–7 hours if you still have time before the exam
BYJU'S Exam PrepEDUREV.INExamarly Blogeliteias.inTestbooktheIAShub

10–12 hours if you're in final prep mode

Weekends:
Leverage 6–12 hours of extended focused study—great for mocks, revision, or exploring optional subjects.
Highly recommended:

Weekdays:
Aim for 3–5 focused hours daily—typically split across mornings, breaks, and evenings.
jobmitr.comPW Liveeliteias.inTestbook

Focus Areas: Full-scale revisions, mock tests, past papers, sharpening answer-writing skills
Oswaal BookstheIAShub

Suggested Hours: 8–10+ hours daily

Focus Areas: Deepening knowledge, current affairs, note-making, tackling MCQs
Oswaal Books

Suggested Hours: 6–7 hours daily

Time is best used for building conceptual clarity at a steady pace.
Oswaal Books

Focus Areas: Core concepts—NCERTs, foundational materials, static topics

Suggested Hours: 3–5 hours per day