Coaching institutes can be expensive, and not everyone can afford them. Here's how I prepared largely using free resources, and what I learned about using them well.
The key wasn't finding more resources — it was picking a small number and sticking with them consistently, rather than jumping between different notes and video channels every week. Constantly switching sources cost me more time than it saved.
I treated free mock tests the same way I would a paid test series: full silence, full duration, and a strict no-pause rule. The quality of a free resource matters far less than the discipline you bring to using it.
I also joined a small study group of three other aspirants preparing for the same exam. We quizzed each other weekly, which turned out to be more effective than solo revision for retaining General Knowledge specifically.
Resources are only as good as the routine built around them. A free test series used seriously beats a paid one used carelessly.