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Its that noone knows what they are writing in GS.haha.believe me on this.Everyone is trying to fool the examiner.You have to get clever nd diplomatic in this game, for a good GS score.But do good in essay and optional,without any dramas.
Although this is off the topic but the lesson which i learnt in this CSM 2017 that cost me 1 year.
Please whatever you do and what ever book, strategy, optional or suggestions you follow ;please go to the examination hall with a clean slate meaning forget about the past, forget about the books and forget about the revision that you have not done, what matters most in the examination hall is the scribblings that you put in your paper. And for those precious scribble to apper "gold" you need a peaceful mind.
I was affected by the late declaration of CSM 2016 result, the dejection caused me a psychological pressure on me. In prelims 2017 I had attempted 120+ (matched with all the keys of coaching institute) but I was not peaceful at the examination hall. As I said what matters in the examination hall is the scribbling that you do in the examination hall. The revisions, value added notes etc. do matter but if your mind is not fully conscious when you needed the most then you will never make it. In prelims I filled my OMR sheet wrongly by darkening the circle one above the actual question and this was because my mind was not fully attentive when I needed the most.
So whatever you do my friend, whatever books you follow, go to the examination hall with a peaceful clean mind. Do not stress too much about the past (revisions, books, test series) at the last moment. Following things I have learnt by wasting my 1 year due to this:-
1. Full sleep 2. DO not stress too much revisions in the last week, prepare in such a way that all the things are complete just before a week. 3. Never leave anything to study in the last week, at max you can(in the last week ) prepare a rough schematic on how to manage the information through a flow chart or venn dagram or something like that in the 6-7 minute time frame. 4. Reach the examination hall peacefully ( documents, pens, pencils, atleast 30 min before entry ).
Very pertinent point. Going without any baggage is very very important.
What you have learned from MAINS 2017 ? Did things went as you had planned for this whole mains season ? Do you feel while prep for mains "I should have done that or I shouldn't have done that" - If yes ,What is it ?
1.prep should be blend of static and current.. 2.do practice answer writing but don't rely completely on institutes pattern and marks ..real paper will always be different from practiced paper 3.try to do different test series paper..for e.g... if u follow vision syllabus and test series than do give other papers too.this will add element of surprise must for reality checking of one's prep 4.be master of none but jack of all 5.in optional strengthen ur ppr 1 to maximise ur score..ppr 2 is more abt opinion but in relation to the subject itself
I think, Nandini, Anjus and others have written everything. I am just putting what I did.
In my opinion four things are most important. I call them FOUR MAJORS
1) Newspaper (Hindu) There is no replacement for this. Read it everyday, make short notes topic wise. Monthly magazines can act as supplementary but not as replacement.
2) Revision It is the most important factor in mains exam. Revise again and again.
3) Practice For this, just download Insights on India secure index. I am saying only INDEX of monthly secure compilations. Take it's print out. Write answers to it. If time is less, try to form answers mentally- How you will introduce, what you will write in body and how you will conclude it.
4)Test series Join it , but don't go for 30 tests or like this, if you are not able to follow it. Try to write like Final exams- two tests a day (eg. GS1+GS2 / GS3 + GS4). Basic idea of writing two tests a day is to simulate a final exams. (In simple words, HATH TO DUKHEGA ,LEKIN LIKHNA TO PADEGA.)
Additionally, three small activities are important. I call them THREE MINORS- QDD
1)Quotes- Make list of quotes topic wise. Eg. Women, agriculture, education, democracy, poverty, character. Application- Quotes can be used not only in essay and ethics but also in other GS papers to introduce and conclude the answers. Quotes can be paraphrased. Quotes convey large content in few words. Eg. To start doubling farmers income or agriculture related questions, one can use Nehru's quote- "Everything else can wait. But agriculture can not." Eg. To begin environment related questions , following quote can be used- " Prakriti Rakshiti Rakshita "
2)Data- Collect topic wise data. Eg. Child sex ratio, adult literacy rate, corruption index. It can be used to begin answer or support your stand.
3) Diagrams- Flowcharts, pie diagram, boxes, star diagram, cloud diagrams can be used. It helps to express more in less words. But these diagrams should be practiced before exam. You can not invent everything in exam hall.
Dedicate one hour for 3 Minors regularly. These can act as brownie points.
Finally, keep motivating yourself during Mains exam. Self Motivation is key in this exam.
I think, Nandini, Anjus and others have written everything. I am just putting what I did.
In my opinion four things are most important. I call them FOUR MAJORS
1) Newspaper (Hindu) There is no replacement for this. Read it everyday, make short notes topic wise. Monthly magazines can act as supplementary but not as replacement.
2) Revision It is the most important factor in mains exam. Revise again and again.
3) Practice For this, just download Insights on India secure index. I am saying only INDEX of monthly secure compilations. Take it's print out. Write answers to it. If time is less, try to form answers mentally- How you will introduce, what you will write in body and how you will conclude it.
4)Test series Join it , but don't go for 30 tests or like this, if you are not able to follow it. Try to write like Final exams- two tests a day (eg. GS1+GS2 / GS3 + GS4). Basic idea of writing two tests a day is to simulate a final exams. (In simple words, HATH TO DUKHEGA ,LEKIN LIKHNA TO PADEGA.)
Additionally, three small activities are important. I call them THREE MINORS- QDD
1)Quotes- Make list of quotes topic wise. Eg. Women, agriculture, education, democracy, poverty, character. Application- Quotes can be used not only in essay and ethics but also in other GS papers to introduce and conclude the answers. Quotes can be paraphrased. Quotes convey large content in few words. Eg. To start doubling farmers income or agriculture related questions, one can use Nehru's quote- "Everything else can wait. But agriculture can not." Eg. To begin environment related questions , following quote can be used- " Prakriti Rakshiti Rakshita "
2)Data- Collect topic wise data. Eg. Child sex ratio, adult literacy rate, corruption index. It can be used to begin answer or support your stand.
3) Diagrams- Flowcharts, pie diagram, boxes, star diagram, cloud diagrams can be used. It helps to express more in less words. But these diagrams should be practiced before exam. You can not invent everything in exam hall.
Dedicate one hour for 3 Minors regularly. These can act as brownie points.
Finally, keep motivating yourself during Mains exam. Self Motivation is key in this exam.
My learnings from Mains 2017: Write mock test punctually within time limits. I learnt this after Last Mains but still could not follow this year to my satisfaction. Please do writting practice guys.
This year was my first attempt and I am not satisfied with my performance. I am not able to study properly after the mains exam.pls help. Should I concentrate on prelims or prepare for interview. And also tell me how to gain back my momentum?
This year was my first attempt and I am not satisfied with my performance. I am not able to study properly after the mains exam.pls help. Should I concentrate on prelims or prepare for interview. And also tell me how to gain back my momentum?
Why don't you integrate prelims and interview prep? It'll be a win-win! Do current affairs extremely well till the time result is declared. If you clear mains, will help you in articulation of views in interview, else prelims requires it anyhow. Do those parts of the syllabus that give you stress and you hate - eg some people dislike culture, or environment - this is the best time to do those parts - you have time and you can do it well. Work on your hobbies - if your hobbies are genuine (which ideally they should be) then right now none of us who have written mains is doing intensive study - you can pursue those hobbies and also reduce your hobbies to paper. Eg you like reading? Make an account on goodreads and list down all the books you've read. This way you'll also prepare for the interview. Similarly for other hobbies too. Won't take much time.
This year was my first attempt and I am not satisfied with my performance. I am not able to study properly after the mains exam.pls help. Should I concentrate on prelims or prepare for interview. And also tell me how to gain back my momentum?
Why don't you integrate prelims and interview prep? It'll be a win-win! Do current affairs extremely well till the time result is declared. If you clear mains, will help you in articulation of views in interview, else prelims requires it anyhow. Do those parts of the syllabus that give you stress and you hate - eg some people dislike culture, or environment - this is the best time to do those parts - you have time and you can do it well. Work on your hobbies - if your hobbies are genuine (which ideally they should be) then right now none of us who have written mains is doing intensive study - you can pursue those hobbies and also reduce your hobbies to paper. Eg you like reading? Make an account on goodreads and list down all the books you've read. This way you'll also prepare for the interview. Similarly for other hobbies too. Won't take much time.
1. Shit happens - the change in the marking scheme in the paper. One must learn to adjust at once or risk missing out on a lot of the paper (happened with a few of the people I know)
2. Optional is the 'too big to fail ' paper (Because if you screw it, its next attempt preparation time). Its hard to predict trends in Geography now still that is no excuse for any slack in your preparation. The standard books must be covered thoroughly and repeatedly
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Comments
2.do practice answer writing but don't rely completely on institutes pattern and marks ..real paper will always be different from practiced paper
3.try to do different test series paper..for e.g... if u follow vision syllabus and test series than do give other papers too.this will add element of surprise must for reality checking of one's prep
4.be master of none but jack of all
5.in optional strengthen ur ppr 1 to maximise ur score..ppr 2 is more abt opinion but in relation to the subject itself
In my opinion four things are most important. I call them FOUR MAJORS
1) Newspaper (Hindu)
There is no replacement for this. Read it everyday, make short notes topic wise. Monthly magazines can act as supplementary but not as replacement.
2) Revision
It is the most important factor in mains exam. Revise again and again.
3) Practice
For this, just download Insights on India secure index. I am saying only INDEX of monthly secure compilations. Take it's print out. Write answers to it. If time is less, try to form answers mentally- How you will introduce, what you will write in body and how you will conclude it.
4)Test series
Join it , but don't go for 30 tests or like this, if you are not able to follow it. Try to write like Final exams- two tests a day (eg. GS1+GS2 / GS3 + GS4). Basic idea of writing two tests a day is to simulate a final exams. (In simple words, HATH TO DUKHEGA ,LEKIN LIKHNA TO PADEGA.)
Additionally, three small activities are important. I call them THREE MINORS- QDD
1)Quotes-
Make list of quotes topic wise. Eg. Women, agriculture, education, democracy, poverty, character.
Application- Quotes can be used not only in essay and ethics but also in other GS papers to introduce and conclude the answers. Quotes can be paraphrased. Quotes convey large content in few words.
Eg. To start doubling farmers income or agriculture related questions, one can use Nehru's quote- "Everything else can wait. But agriculture can not."
Eg. To begin environment related questions , following quote can be used- " Prakriti Rakshiti Rakshita "
2)Data-
Collect topic wise data. Eg. Child sex ratio, adult literacy rate, corruption index. It can be used to begin answer or support your stand.
3) Diagrams-
Flowcharts, pie diagram, boxes, star diagram, cloud diagrams can be used. It helps to express more in less words. But these diagrams should be practiced before exam. You can not invent everything in exam hall.
Dedicate one hour for 3 Minors regularly. These can act as brownie points.
Finally, keep motivating yourself during Mains exam. Self Motivation is key in this exam.
Write mock test punctually within time limits. I learnt this after Last Mains but still could not follow this year to my satisfaction. Please do writting practice guys.
Do current affairs extremely well till the time result is declared. If you clear mains, will help you in articulation of views in interview, else prelims requires it anyhow.
Do those parts of the syllabus that give you stress and you hate - eg some people dislike culture, or environment - this is the best time to do those parts - you have time and you can do it well.
Work on your hobbies - if your hobbies are genuine (which ideally they should be) then right now none of us who have written mains is doing intensive study - you can pursue those hobbies and also reduce your hobbies to paper. Eg you like reading? Make an account on goodreads and list down all the books you've read. This way you'll also prepare for the interview. Similarly for other hobbies too. Won't take much time.
2. Optional is the 'too big to fail ' paper (Because if you screw it, its next attempt preparation time). Its hard to predict trends in Geography now still that is no excuse for any slack in your preparation. The standard books must be covered thoroughly and repeatedly