Stuck between giving UPSC in 2026 or waiting till 2027. Anyone else actually confused like this?

I’m 26 right now, and this decision is stressing me out more than actual preparation. My situation is slightly complicated because I’m working full-time and realistically can’t quit right now. If I attempt in 2026, I’d have barely 9–10 months of decent prep. If I wait till 2027, I can give myself a full proper year.

But waiting an entire extra year feels scary too. Sometimes I feel like I’m already behind compared to people who started in early college. And with the competition getting tougher each year, delaying feels like a risk. But giving an underprepared attempt feels equally risky.

The mental debate looks like this:

• 2026 Attempt Pros:
  • Try early, get exam experience
  • Might surprise myself
• 2026 Cons:
  • Possibly wasted attempt
  • Stressful with job
• 2027 Attempt Pros:
  • Proper foundation
  • More confidence
• 2027 Cons:
  • One more year of waiting
  • Age anxiety
  • Fear of losing momentum

I keep asking seniors, and everyone gives contradictory advice. Some say “early attempts are great,” others say “don’t give half-baked attempts.” I genuinely don’t know what the right timeline looks like anymore.

If you were in my shoes — job + age 26 + no full attempt experience — what would you choose?

Also, if anyone did something similar and can share how it worked out, I’d really appreciate it.