Attempts, age and the final year of college
Before committing a year to this exam, it is worth getting the basics exactly right. These are the three questions we are asked most, and the plain answers to them.
How many attempts do I get?
A general candidate gets six attempts, up to the age of 32. OBC candidates get nine, up to 35. SC and ST candidates may attempt as many times as they like, up to 37. One important detail: an attempt counts only if you actually appear in a Prelims paper. Filling the form and not sitting the exam does not cost you an attempt.
Can I apply in my final year of college?
Yes. You can apply provisionally while still in your final year, and simply produce your degree result before the Mains. There is no minimum percentage required. This means you can — and many should — make your first attempt the very year you graduate.
How is the age calculated?
Your age is reckoned on the 1st of August of the year you sit the exam. The usual relaxations apply for reserved categories, for certain ex-servicemen, and for persons with benchmark disabilities.
Check these against the official notification each year — but for most aspirants, the picture above is exactly the one that applies.
If you are unsure where you stand, this is one of the first things we work through with anyone who approaches us. It is far better to know with certainty before you begin.