How should I prepare for my GS Prelims/Mains?
An extensive study is required for preparing G.S. Prelims. Start your preparation with NCERT books of 10th and 12th standard on various subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Science, Indian Foreign policy, and international Relations, etc., and then go through other books recommended for G.S. It will be better to prepare G.S. mains first and then for Prelims. In the Preliminary exam, multiple choice questions are asked, and these can be answered based on facts you have remembered while reading books on various subjects. One should also develop the capacity to answer multiple-choice questions as quickly as possible because you have only 120 minutes to answer 100 questions in the exam (i.e. less than one minute for each question). This can be achieved only through rigorous practice.
For GS Mains, start your preparation with recommended books, magazines, and newspapers. Here, one should be very careful about the word limit because you have to answer the questions in a limited number of words. This also can be achieved through practice. There should be an introductory remark while answering the questions of G.S. Mains. Try to write the answers to the point.
Should I join some coaching Institute for my preparation of Prelims/Mains?
It takes a lot of work to answer this question. It depends on the capacity and capability of the individual. But sometimes, a person with enough knowledge to get through the CSE fails because he needs to learn how to utilize this knowledge. A little hard work in the right direction can open the UPSC gate for you. A good coaching institute provides guidelines, i.e. in which direction one should apply his energy of knowledge to get through this exam.
What about Essay Preparation?
To prepare an Essay, one must be aware of day-to-day happenings worldwide because most of the topics asked in this paper are of current importance. Besides these, traditional topics like socio-economic problems, environmental problems, etc., are also asked. One should be very careful about the grammatical mistakes. Your essay should be in simple and expressive language because this reduces the chances of grammatical mistakes. One should also enrich his word power. Written practice is a must for scoring higher marks on this paper.
Should I join some coaching Institute for my preparation of Prelims/Mains?
It takes a lot of work to answer this question. It depends on the capacity and capability of the individual. But sometimes, a person with enough knowledge to get through the CSE fails because he needs to learn how to utilize this knowledge. A little hard work in the right direction can open the UPSC gate for you. A good coaching institute provides guidelines, i.e. in which direction one should apply his energy of knowledge to get through this exam.
Does the medium of expression matter for success in CSE?
It is a very common question which is often asked by the candidates. There is no doubt in it that medium of expression never counts for success in CSE. One should prefer the medium in which one can express oneself satisfactorily.
Is it necessary to join a coaching Institute for Interview?
In fact, interview is the test of your personality and not the knowledge. It is a well-known fact that personality of a human being cannot be developed within a week or a month. The coaching institute teaches about the basic manners, etiquettes to be followed during interview. By arranging mock interviews an institute breaks your hesitation.
What is the role of NCERT for preparation of G.S?
It is a very common question that the candidates often ask. Undoubtedly, the medium of expression never counts for success in CSE. One should prefer the medium in which one can express oneself satisfactorily.
What is the strategy to study General Studies for Prelims Examination?
We are sitting in 2023, and most of you will take your first Prelims examination in 2024. So, you have a good amount of time to prepare for the examination. Thus, you must take a holistic approach to clear the UPSC Prelims and Mains for both examinations. Many subjects overlap in both examinations, so don’t study any subject for any particular purpose. Please try to read it thoroughly.
- News Paper Reading – You see, most subjects are about what happens daily in life. Thus, reading good News Paper is very important.
- Magazine Reading – Magazine reading is very crucial for the UPSC examination. Therefore, Magazines like Yojana and Kurukshetra are a must for the UPSC preparation.
- Previous Years Question Papers – You must study the previous year’s question papers to understand what questions will be asked in the exams. Though UPSC frequently changes its exam pattern, this strategy greatly impacts the outcome.
- Avoid Negative Marking – Since 2007, this change in the UPSC exam has changed the dynamics. Many students each year become victims of Negative Marking. Understand how negative marking works and how to calculate your negative marking system in the Prelims exam.
- Note Making – If you study and don’t prepare your notes, you will most likely make a big mistake. However, there are also exceptions to this fact. Generally, making notes is a good practice because making notes lets you decide what is important for studying.
- Test Series – Once you complete the syllabus, it’s important to test your knowledge. You can take the Mock test even if you don’t take UPSC coaching. Many UPSC coaches provide it, and you can buy it at a nominal fee.
What is the strategy for studying General Studies for the main examination?
Since General Studies marks are very important to qualify for the Mains examination, the students must have a good command over Mains GS subjects. The strategy should be as follows:
- Essay Writing Practice – You will be asked to write long answers to the questions asked by UPSC. Thus, it would help if you practised more and more. Practice and more practice are the only keys.
- Recall it says, “Practice maketh man perfect,” but in my experience “, Right practice maketh man perfect.”
- Speed Test – The other thing you will keep in check is your speed to answer those questions. You are given only 3 hours to answer all the questions. Therefore, take as many tests as possible.
- Opening Statement – The opening statement of your answer should be interesting enough. Grabbing the teacher’s attention is very important to get a good score. Don’t write cliche answers.
- Credible Sources – Don’t trust any source. Always write answers by giving references to good books or credible sources. This is a good way to score marks. The teacher who is checking your paper should be impressed while checking your papers.
- Write in your own way – Many students make mistakes here and imitate other students. However, this strategy only sometimes works. Answer checkers are looking for some unique answers. They check almost 10,000 copies, and to make it unique, you should always follow your instinct.
Final Question, Can I make it to the IAS?
With strong willpower, dedication, and a little hard work in the right direction, you can make it to the IAS.