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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 ?
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 ?
bhai cover the optional...rest gs papers toh sabke almost ek jaisa hi rehta hai...but most imp is to cover the optional holistically
*Lack of writing practice resulted in bad handwriting I guess(Only 1 mock test of GS 4 was given and nothing else) *Optional went good, but the issue of handwriting persisted along with the issue of change in script *No short notes were made and this took its toll on revision *Waited for pre-results to start actively for mains *Finally, if we have the optional done, pre to mains period is sufficient(at least to attempt all questions and many satisfactorily)
1 in optionals like Philosophy, there is no substitute to doing previous years papers. If possible write down the whole syllabus. I think i will again get low marks in paper 1 philo
2 must do a test series for mains, if not for practice , then for confidence, the feeling that you have written so many tests is important. last year i had done my test series well, but this time i did not, and i was all throughout afraid
3 leaving questions is a bigger problem than not knowing the questions. GS 3 paper was so open and straightforward that i ended up overshoooting the time in each questions and missed out on at least 3 questions and i do not generally have the slow handwriting problem
4 use facts / data in answers as much as possible. i have seen some people have fixed the data component on the basis of themes such as women, democracy, civil society etc. i think it makes a lot of difference
5 dont postpone anything for last moment. that will never come. i was thinking of joining a test series for mains, and then waited and waited thinking i will join now.. i joined mgp in the end, but hardly wrote 3 tests because of lack of time in the last moment. I should have just begun on time, then i would have been much better
6 arrive at the exam venue one hour early than late. I was late for the laguage paper, and i was all panciked if they would let me write the exam. i did another blunder, by not carrying the hall ticket. i was all panicked, thankfully i had another copy of the hall ticket in my bag, which i accidentally found out while switching off and keeping my phone. it would have been a nightmare. P.S. I have an acquaintance who was late for GS 3 Paper and had to miss it. totally squandered one chance.
1 in optionals like Philosophy, there is no substitute to doing previous years papers. If possible write down the whole syllabus. I think i will again get low marks in paper 1 philo
2 must do a test series for mains, if not for practice , then for confidence, the feeling that you have written so many tests is important. last year i had done my test series well, but this time i did not, and i was all throughout afraid
3 leaving questions is a bigger problem than not knowing the questions. GS 3 paper was so open and straightforward that i ended up overshoooting the time in each questions and missed out on at least 3 questions and i do not generally have the slow handwriting problem
4 use facts / data in answers as much as possible. i have seen some people have fixed the data component on the basis of themes such as women, democracy, civil society etc. i think it makes a lot of difference
5 dont postpone anything for last moment. that will never come. i was thinking of joining a test series for mains, and then waited and waited thinking i will join now.. i joined mgp in the end, but hardly wrote 3 tests because of lack of time in the last moment. I should have just begun on time, then i would have been much better
6 arrive at the exam venue one hour early than late. I was late for the laguage paper, and i was all panciked if they would let me write the exam. i did another blunder, by not carrying the hall ticket. i was all panicked, thankfully i had another copy of the hall ticket in my bag, which i accidentally found out while switching off and keeping my phone. it would have been a nightmare. P.S. I have an acquaintance who was late for GS 3 Paper and had to miss it. totally squandered one chance.
i would like to add one more thing apart from wat all mentioned. apart from concentrating on current affairs in gs 2 and 3 also be well prepared in static part of syllabus. joint session, nuclear qn, stem cell and many more might have been really difficult if not read after prelims.
To be honest I don't know about lessons learnt as of now. I didn't clear mains twice before so I did some things differently this time :
1. Made diligent short notes of current topics issue wise - strictly one page - covering both summary of static and important points of current aspect. For each topic I specifically included static part in my notes that helped me. Eg in SHG question I used the data of my static part for a large part of the question and supplemented it with current part in conclusion and way forward.
2. For paper 1 I did crisp study - theme wise and issue wise that again saved time - kept sources less but many revisions - lessened stress during exam.
3. Optional I had revised before prelims majorly though some parts were left - but I still don't know what to do more as it's GEOGRAPHY - so no trends are helpful, no sureshot way to crack it. But GS prep helped a lot in paper 2 optional.
Lessons learnt from mains :
1. *Don't think you're out of the race for the year till the time result is declared* I mean each and every word of it. I had worked very hard this time and the essay day - I chose natural laws - came back home read on forum that the interpretation might be different - lost all hope of clearing mains then and there - I thought the start itself has been so bad etc etc - luckily my parents talked me out of dejection and by evening I was back to revision. Nobody knows what might click to the examiner. Keep your nerves and give your best in that one week. Will power can make you do a paper much better than a demotivated and dejected attitude.
2. Revision is key - revise till you drop - leave a few topics if necessary but don't go like with half baked knowledge of each topic - one page per topic is more than sufficient for 200-250 words - more than sufficient - but knowing still not knowing the topic is to be avoided. Do 90% of the topics but do them well - revise them multiple times. In 15-18 answers even 60-70% of the relevant points well presented will fetch you marks. But 20-30% points written without confidence in every answer will not work.
3. This is for others - because I don't do this this but friends did so and repented - don't compromise sleep before the exam day - the worst thing you can expect during the exam is to have a black out during the exam. Not recommended at all.
4. Make short concise notes after prelims - first month after prelims do this along with mad revision - then only revise the short notes - this is for static. For current - one page per issue. Revise it like a mad person - you should even know where you have put a full stop or comma in your notes - what I mean is it should be imprinted in your mind - no other way.
5. Write answers and join a test series if necessary - to iron out specific issues like writing speed, hand writing etc but strike a balance - there is a mad rush and mindless rush to join tests and that might not work for everyone. To each his own. Do what suits you. Study how it suits you. You have to make a strategy to clear the exam. Know how to write answers but only writing answers madly won't help. You need content too. Balance!
6. Find your path. Don't follow anyone not even rank 1. Your doubts, fears and journey is very different from others. Take the best points that suit you from everyone. But think on those and do what you feel correct without being escapist. Even an IAS Father/Mother or brother/sister cannot ensure the best strategy for their child/sibling. Because everyone's mind is different. Understand your mind and try to guide your mind rather than being guided by your mind. A ranker of one year might not even clear pre/mains next year. It's that unpredictable. But we can just plan for success. And do that but don't follow anyone blindly.
7. Write mains with detachment. Write it like any other exam. The more attached you are the more are the chances of faltering. It's not a a matter of life and death. I know it's difficult to believe that internally but it's true. A career is just one aspect. You'll clear the exam and then be depressed about a bad cadre, a life partner, postings, money, children or the lack of children, ageing parents, lack of happiness in life etc. This never ends. The sooner we realise the better.
These are my two cents. I just wrote mains with a different manner of preparation and a different mindset this time. Hope hardwork is rewarded someday.
Biggest learning is that no matter how much hard work you put in for GS1,2,3,4. At the time of exam, it all boils down to your optional. GS every good candidate is writing more or less the same answers as you are. It is the optional that can make or break you.
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Comments
Some more writing practice for gs.
revising notes on data for paper 3.
rest , papers were easier.
*Optional went good, but the issue of handwriting persisted along with the issue of change in script
*No short notes were made and this took its toll on revision
*Waited for pre-results to start actively for mains
*Finally, if we have the optional done, pre to mains period is sufficient(at least to attempt all questions and many satisfactorily)
2 must do a test series for mains, if not for practice , then for confidence, the feeling that you have written so many tests is important. last year i had done my test series well, but this time i did not, and i was all throughout afraid
3 leaving questions is a bigger problem than not knowing the questions. GS 3 paper was so open and straightforward that i ended up overshoooting the time in each questions and missed out on at least 3 questions
4 use facts / data in answers as much as possible. i have seen some people have fixed the data component on the basis of themes such as women, democracy, civil society etc. i think it makes a lot of difference
5 dont postpone anything for last moment. that will never come. i was thinking of joining a test series for mains, and then waited and waited thinking i will join now.. i joined mgp in the end, but hardly wrote 3 tests because of lack of time in the last moment. I should have just begun on time, then i would have been much better
6 arrive at the exam venue one hour early than late. I was late for the laguage paper, and i was all panciked if they would let me write the exam. i did another blunder, by not carrying the hall ticket. i was all panicked, thankfully i had another copy of the hall ticket in my bag, which i accidentally found out while switching off and keeping my phone. it would have been a nightmare. P.S. I have an acquaintance who was late for GS 3 Paper and had to miss it. totally squandered one chance.
@nandini please share your exp
apart from concentrating on current affairs in gs 2 and 3 also be well prepared in static part of syllabus.
joint session, nuclear qn, stem cell and many more might have been really difficult if not read after prelims.
I didn't clear mains twice before so I did some things differently this time :
1. Made diligent short notes of current topics issue wise - strictly one page - covering both summary of static and important points of current aspect. For each topic I specifically included static part in my notes that helped me. Eg in SHG question I used the data of my static part for a large part of the question and supplemented it with current part in conclusion and way forward.
2. For paper 1 I did crisp study - theme wise and issue wise that again saved time - kept sources less but many revisions - lessened stress during exam.
3. Optional I had revised before prelims majorly though some parts were left - but I still don't know what to do more as it's GEOGRAPHY - so no trends are helpful, no sureshot way to crack it. But GS prep helped a lot in paper 2 optional.
Lessons learnt from mains :
1. *Don't think you're out of the race for the year till the time result is declared* I mean each and every word of it. I had worked very hard this time and the essay day - I chose natural laws - came back home read on forum that the interpretation might be different - lost all hope of clearing mains then and there - I thought the start itself has been so bad etc etc - luckily my parents talked me out of dejection and by evening I was back to revision.
Nobody knows what might click to the examiner. Keep your nerves and give your best in that one week. Will power can make you do a paper much better than a demotivated and dejected attitude.
2. Revision is key - revise till you drop - leave a few topics if necessary but don't go like with half baked knowledge of each topic - one page per topic is more than sufficient for 200-250 words - more than sufficient - but knowing still not knowing the topic is to be avoided. Do 90% of the topics but do them well - revise them multiple times. In 15-18 answers even 60-70% of the relevant points well presented will fetch you marks. But 20-30% points written without confidence in every answer will not work.
3. This is for others - because I don't do this this but friends did so and repented - don't compromise sleep before the exam day - the worst thing you can expect during the exam is to have a black out during the exam. Not recommended at all.
4. Make short concise notes after prelims - first month after prelims do this along with mad revision - then only revise the short notes - this is for static.
For current - one page per issue. Revise it like a mad person - you should even know where you have put a full stop or comma in your notes - what I mean is it should be imprinted in your mind - no other way.
5. Write answers and join a test series if necessary - to iron out specific issues like writing speed, hand writing etc but strike a balance - there is a mad rush and mindless rush to join tests and that might not work for everyone. To each his own. Do what suits you. Study how it suits you. You have to make a strategy to clear the exam. Know how to write answers but only writing answers madly won't help. You need content too. Balance!
6. Find your path. Don't follow anyone not even rank 1. Your doubts, fears and journey is very different from others. Take the best points that suit you from everyone. But think on those and do what you feel correct without being escapist. Even an IAS Father/Mother or brother/sister cannot ensure the best strategy for their child/sibling. Because everyone's mind is different. Understand your mind and try to guide your mind rather than being guided by your mind. A ranker of one year might not even clear pre/mains next year. It's that unpredictable. But we can just plan for success. And do that but don't follow anyone blindly.
7. Write mains with detachment. Write it like any other exam. The more attached you are the more are the chances of faltering. It's not a a matter of life and death. I know it's difficult to believe that internally but it's true. A career is just one aspect. You'll clear the exam and then be depressed about a bad cadre, a life partner, postings, money, children or the lack of children, ageing parents, lack of happiness in life etc. This never ends. The sooner we realise the better.
These are my two cents. I just wrote mains with a different manner of preparation and a different mindset this time. Hope hardwork is rewarded someday.