DON'T RELY ONLY on MAGS FOR CURRENT AFFAIRS

Most people have this bad habit,

They don't read newspaper regularly but see the entire months 'current capsule' in the mag

And think that their 'currents ' is good.

Disadvantage

you are only learning the 'facts' but not the heart of the current issue- where it came from and which direction its moving.

1. in mags they've page limit, because they've to put big coaching classes advertisement with toppers photos on every second page, so they can't discuss everything in detail like a newspaper /its editorial. So they end up giving you some facts and data and bullets – and you feel happy. But won't help you in prelims.
   
2. Mags don't cover many things like in newspaper you'll come across in the economy section that Kishore biyani is the owner of Big Bazar and Pentaloon, but this thing never mentioned in mags but this question was asked in 2008. (That Kishor Biyani is associated with Retail business.)

How to do the currents then?

Keep a diary and note down the thing that you are sure the mags won't be writing.

Same way if you come across some good editorial, then cut and paste It in in a file. (I use old rough full scape note and stick them with glue on it.)



That's it.

Refer the paper set and see what UPSC has been asking from each topic and prepare accordingly from the books mentioned above.



Sometimes mags don't cover entire G/S in their cycle (of December to April)

So you might need to find and buy the older PT special issues for certain topics like Mental Ability , Chemistry-Physics, Ancient – Medieval India- so don't forget.

DO MAKE NOTEs.

 Since G/S is so vast – its not possible to make notes of everything but at least do it for imp topic that you think you'll forget if you don't keep revising.

And rest of the things are getting covered in your Current Affairs Diary.

Do practice the mental ability sums

Most people only glance over the solved sums- but unless you try your hand on it- you won't master it.
 

DON'T NEGLECT ANY SECTION

Many people would advice you (especially this 'Faculties' & many of those who did not clear the prelims) (I've not cleared the prelims either- I failed in 2008's attempt )

"oh you are a arts grad? Ok then don't waste lot of time in Science portion – instead concentrate on Geography / History"

"oh you are a Science Grad? Ok then don't waste time in economy is you can't understand- instead concentrate on Science portion"

"economy is worth only 5 marks in prelims so don't waste time on it."



But that's wrong approach – you've to be good in all of them, ignoring anything completely will hurt you. you at least need to have basic idea of each.

i.e. they don't ask some extremely tough question from Chemistry generally but they ask easy stuff like What's blue vitriol etc. – and if you are ignoring even such easy stuff then only God can help you.

at the same time going through entire Mishra Puri for 5M Economy is waste of energy but at the same time its shameful to not to even know what's GDP , GNP, Budget etc.

Remember it's a tough competition. Just because you are ignoring one section doesn't mean other serious candidates will do the same.

AND you've 11 months in your hands – time limit is not an issue.



Strengthen your strength and make sure your weakness is well hidden

Ie. If you like polity – then make sure you are well prepared enough that even on the toughest paper you can get 12/15 correct in polity , but if you are weak and uninterested in economic then at least make sure you are not so dumb that you can't even answer basic GDP/GNP/Inflation /CRR questions.

AVOID MARCH-APRIL FLOODS

 When the March end comes- you'll see a flood of material from Delhi.

(if you go to some coaching class OR studying in group) – you'll notice that all your friends are Xeroxing some imp notes that came from some big classes of Delhi. Most people go greedy and stop their routine preparation and concentrate on that imp thing only but UPSC doesn't ask anything from it (just like they did not ask anything from Vaji's Current affairs notes this time lol- don't waste your time AND money on Xeroxing it)



And finally

DO read the question before answering

Consider following questions



Q.1 Consider following statements and chose the incorrect statement

i. Gandhi was a lawyer

ii. Gandhi is preached truth and non-violence.

Ans

1. Only 1
   
2. Only 2
   
3. Both 1 & 2
   
4. Neither 1 or 2.
   

So the correct answer is D.

BUT many people are under stress and haste so when they see statement I and 2 – they think oh yes both are true, so they'll tick 'C' as true answer.

You don't make that mistake- read it carefully what they've asked. (correct statement or incorrect statement)

That's why I said practice test papers- they'll give you more accuracy and speed dealing with such questions.

DON'T BLUFF/ BLIND GUESS IN PRELIMS

UPSC questions are tricky, many times you feel like "oh yes this must be the answer" BUT if you've not read it earlier in some book/newspaper or magazines

then its most likely you'll be wrong in it.

even if you get only 50 or 40 correct answers in the paper- never ever take blind risk of attending the answers you don't know cause you're going to lose marks. (0.33 per wrong answer)



if you feel that the question paper is hard- then its hard for the rest of the India as well,

so if you can't answer something - chances are a lot others won't be able to answer it either. (provided that you really have prepared good.) So in that case by taking risk you're degrading your own score.

so don't get scarred in the exam hall. its all about walking in with confidence and walking out with confidence - bluffing & guessing ain't gonna help.