The journey to success in the APSC CCE examination is rarely linear, and my experience reflects the importance of patience, guidance, and structured preparation. I first appeared for the APSC prelims in 2021, in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having just completed my master’s degree and coping with the loss of my grandmother, I lacked clarity and direction at that stage.
In 2023, I appeared for the prelims again with renewed determination and cleared the examination. However, my understanding of main answer writing and strategy was still limited. Around this time, I came across SPM IAS Academy’s current affairs study material in PDF format. That content proved to be a turning point in my preparation and played a crucial role in helping me clear the mains examination on my very first attempt. At that stage, however, I did not receive structured interview guidance, which affected my outcome.
Key Takeaways from My APSC Preparation Journey
For the APSC CCE 2023 cycle, I made another focused attempt in 2024. This time, I relied completely on SPM IAS Academy’s content for prelims preparation and cleared the exam once again. To strengthen my mains preparation, I enrolled in SPM IAS Academy’s mains mock test series and attempted 17 full-length tests. The detailed evaluation and continuous feedback from experienced mentors helped me steadily improve my scores and sharpen my answer-writing skills. SPM’s current affairs material once again became the backbone of my preparation.
The main examination that year was particularly demanding, and uncertainty remained about the outcome. To stay prepared for the next cycle, I joined SPM IAS Academy’s August 2024 Foundation Batch. The geography classes conducted during the course, especially under the guidance of Mridul Sir, helped clarify several core concepts. These conceptual improvements later proved extremely useful during the interview stage.
Building Confidence through Mock Interviews
Once the interview dates were announced, I shifted my full focus towards personality test preparation. I appeared for multiple mock interviews, including two conducted at SPM IAS Academy. These mock sessions helped me build confidence, structure my answers better, and present my thoughts with clarity. As a result, I was able to perform well in the interview and secure above-average marks.
From my first attempt at prelims in 2021 to securing ACS Rank 3 in APSC CCE 2023, this journey has been shaped by consistent effort, structured study materials, and timely mentorship. I owe my success to the continuous academic support, comprehensive coverage of current affairs, mock tests, and interview guidance provided by SPM IAS Academy.
