[1/10] CSS Written Exam Advice:
I receive several requests regarding different aspects of the CSS written exam. Sharing some guidelines here. Since I did not attend any academy or have any tutoring, this advice will specifically help those who are self-studying.

[2/10] Remember the final goal. Many aspirants tend to lose view of the larger picture. In every decision you make,aim is to score as high as possible in written & interview. This is the only thing that matters-you are not sitting the exam to explore your interests or experiment.

[3/10] Do not ignore the syllabus. Do not just read what is in the notes that you got from your academy or what others have told you. Study the syllabus yourself and make sure you cover all the topics.

[4/10] Keep things manageable. We set overambitious targets. We gather more material than we have time to study. My suggestion: Identify 2/3 sources (books, websites, notes etc) per subject. Start your prep vis-à-vis the syllabus. Add material if necessary. Else do not.

[5/10] Past papers are your loyal friends. Leave enough time to solve past papers. I did not and should have. My suggestion: you should start past papers by 1st January.

[6/10] This will help you revise the material you have studied and will also help identify gaps in your preparation with adequate time to address them. Finding out a week before the first exam that most questions in the past papers seem alien is bound to cause panic.

[7/10] Take it easy. Don't forget that you need to be healthy to perform well. This requires that you eat and sleep properly. Do not overdose on coffee or tea. Do not forget to exercise. The exam is taxing, physically & mentally. Be prepared.

[8/10] Understand the Opportunity Cost (OC) of your time. OC is an economic concept. In the present context it means that if you spend 10 hours preparing for your English Essay, you have 10 hours less to spend on other subjects.

[9/10] Invest your time in the subjects that yield higher marks with the caveat that you have the preparation to pass all the compulsories.

[10/10] Make a schedule, manage your time, and hold yourself accountable. I could write a whole book on this bit but want to go to sleep now. Do what has worked for you in the past.

The above is how I did things. Made some mistakes and improved my preparation strategy along the way. I think it should prove beneficial. Did for me as I ended up 2nd in CSS 2015.