UPSC Prelims Preparation Strategy -Dos and Don'ts
Revise, Revise and Revise: Whatever subject and topic you are studying, make sure to revise and remember so you do not make lose marks in those topics. Without proper revision, you will probably carry more confusion into the exam hall and end up with a higher negative score that will undo all the good work that you have otherwise done.
Make an assessment on Facts vs Concepts: The UPSC prelims over the last few years in core subjects have become quite conceptual. So look at the last 4-5 year’s question papers and make an assessment of the type of questions that are asked on each subject. For example, in Polity, you do not need to rote learn names of past Presidents, Election Commissioners, etc. (Qs used to be asked on them earlier but not anymore). The Economy paper is now highly conceptual and highly scoring. So concentrate on understanding the basics. Make an assessment of all subjects. If your preparation is a mismatch to the exam pattern, then you will only be wasting time.
Space out your
current affairs preparation: Many students make the mistake of picking up
current affairs booklets in the last few weeks hoping to finish. Reality is
that it will be overload of information and your memory may not be able to cope
up with the sudden load. So spend a few hours every day from now itself on
current affairs and make sure again to revise regularly. Even if you are unable
to finish all current affairs, do not worry. Study and revise what you can.
Same applies to map work - allot a small time slot for it daily and keep
revising.
Practice a lot of
Test papers: Make sure to pick up some UPSCprelims test series booklets and attempt them regardless of the level of
your preparation. This will help you assess the level of your preparation, your
ability to finish on time, and the kind of basic errors you commit like
improper reading of the questions or options etc.
Make a routine to be
most active during exam hours: During the last weeks leading up to the
exam, make sure you are studying or practising with intense concentration in
the two slots of 9am-12pm and 2am-5pm. Your brain will get accustomed to being
most active during those hours.
Check out the venue
before the exam day: You (or someone who' s going to accompany you)
must physically go and visit the exam venue once before the exam day, so that
there are no surprises that day. You will also understand the best mode of
transportation. Also, if you plan on going in a cab, remember that there will
be huge demand for the cabs and so you should keep a buffer of 10-15 minutes.
Reach the venue well
on time: Make sure you reach the venue 45 min to 1 hour before the scheduled
time. Last minute rush and anxiety to reach the venue could negatively impact
your concentration.
Dont's
Do not be afraid:
The paper is same for everyone. Trust your preparation and give your best. Any
anxiety before or during the exam will hurt your performance. Close your eyes,
shut out everything and take deep breathes for a minute to find calmness. Even
if at first look, the paper looks tough and you feel you know nothing, do not
get scared. Keep calm and go through the paper question by question and you
will find ample number of questions that you can answer.
Do not think you are
unprepared or under-prepared: Your preparation is an objective reality and
cannot change on the day of the exam. Once you decide to give the paper, do not
let thoughts of your preparation enter your mind. Focus only on what you know
and make a smart attempt of the paper.
Do not lose momentum
going into the exam: You need to be concentrating and studying as much time
as you can in the days leading up to the exam. The mental state leading up to
the exam is very important.
Do not leave OMR
sheet filling to the end: Students often ignore the fact that filling OMR
sheet not only takes time but is the most important part of the prelims. If you
do not want to go to the OMR sheet after every question, make sure you fill it
up after every 45-50 minutes at least. This will not only make sure you do not
lose out for not filling OMR sheet but also help you plan your paper better
towards the end. Also, while filling OMR sheet, make sure to read out the
number of question in your mind; serial filling without looking at question
numbers could lead to a big tragedy.
Do not make mistakes
in attendance sheet: You will need to fill an attendance sheet during the
exam where you also will have to fill out circles. Be very careful and it only
takes 1-2 minutes. Although, the exam centers help you if you make a mistake,
it will not only lose you time but also create additional anxiety. It is quite
a common scene to see students making mistakes in exam sheets. So, be very
careful.
Do not leave any
question before looking at the options: Make sure to read at least once all
questions and options. There will always be 2-3 questions that you can answer
just by reading the questions and options carefully. Even with minimal
information, you will be able to eliminate 2-3 options.
Do not over-attempt: Do not ever think you will have to attempt a
predetermined number of questions. You will be able to make a mental assessment
on how difficult the paper is after having attempted the paper. If the paper
looks very tough and your preparation has been good, then attempting around 70
questions (in paper-I) well might also be enough. So, again, there is no fixed
number but do not feel compelled to attempt like 90-100 questions just because
some toppers did so.
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