INTERVIEW FOR CSE 2019
All ForumIAS members selected for CSE 2019 Personality Test must submit their details and DAF and register below to receive further instructions and guidance from ForumIAS. Click here to register now
INTERVIEW 2020 CHANNEL
ForumIAS Channel for Interview Preparation is now Active! Please join the channel by clicking here
We are hiring!

Takeaway points from Mains-2013

1356

Comments

  • My takeaways-

    (1) Never ever ever expect anything before going to examination. A preset mind will leave you dumbstruck when you will see an entirely different pattern. Your attitude should be of a soldier on a war front: the enemy can attack in any way & i am ready for it.

    (2) In my view, optional preparation should be given more time than GS. It is more predictable & more marks fetching.

    (3)This is specially for science optional people: formulae should always be on your tip of tongue! I forgot formulae & missed 40 marks for those questions, which were merely 6-7 steps long i.e. 2-3 min max!

    (4) The most important one: Be cool & calm. A calm mind can win over the world. A worried & tensed mind always attracts mistakes. The attitude during the exam is of a 'no-loss' manner. You must not attach your life with an examination. You should always feel that, after all, this is just a job. All you can do is to give your best & leave the rest on fate. But, that's my view. If you agree to disagree, then i have no problem agreeing to your agreement. :D
  • edited December 2013
    the multiplicity and wholistic-ness of the views expressed here, make me believe in crowd sourcing and believe against individualism like mrunal or insightsonindia.

    truth is that all the knowledge is hidden inside us , we have to just explore it. this can be done by having a meaningful conversation like we have on ForumIAS

    pandey and oceanus, very well written.
  • @DanielCraig Thanks a lot buddy !!
  • the multiplicity and wholistic-ness of the views expressed here, make me believe in crowd sourcing and believe against individualism like mrunal or insightsonindia.

    truth is that all the knowledge is hidden inside us , we have to just explore it. this can be done by having a meaningful conversation like we have on ForumIAS

    pandey and oceanus, very well written.
    The way insight bases its approach on discussions and improvement by mutual correction and appreciation, I don't get how you referred to them as individualist. Same with the latest article submission approach by Mrunal.

    Or was it that you were quoting them as examples against individualism?
  • Important lessons from mains:

    2) Cover the entire syllabus or at least cover as much as possible. The new pattern gives more importance to breadth and not the depth of knowledge.

    You have said that aspirants should focus more on the breadth rather than the depth.

    Do you mean to say that if there are 1000 topics to be prepared, then instead of preparing 700 out of those 1000 topics in great depth, one should try to cover all the 1000 topics with just basic knowledge about all of them ? So if we explain the core issue mentioned in the question in 10-15 lines, then it can fetch us marks at par with those one would have got after going in much detailed analysis of the matter at hand. Correct me if I am wrong.
  • Important lessons from mains:

    2) Cover the entire syllabus or at least cover as much as possible. The new pattern gives more importance to breadth and not the depth of knowledge.

    You have said that aspirants should focus more on the breadth rather than the depth.

    Do you mean to say that if there are 1000 topics to be prepared, then instead of preparing 700 out of those 1000 topics in great depth, one should try to cover all the 1000 topics with just basic knowledge about all of them ? So if we explain the core issue mentioned in the question in 10-15 lines, then it can fetch us marks at par with those one would have got after going in much detailed analysis of the matter at hand. Correct me if I am wrong.
    You are not wrong !
  • @Neyawn

    Nice to have u back. ekdum Arnold type announce kiya tumne "I am Back" :)

    This was my 2nd and last mains. I suppose after attempting the papers, I felt that it doesn't matter how much you study ( I am referring to the depth of analysis blah blah!! ). all it matters is what you can scribble (yes not WRITE) in those 3 hrs.

    English Language paper was tough and even students with decent english skills couldnt complete the paper.

    Hindi was again tougher compared to last time. But anyone completing the papers should sail through IMHO.

    Its absolutely not necessary to study 100 books for GS. Hindu/IE and NCERT would suffice. Questions were generic.

    I heard some optional papers were tough. Sociology was decent, like last time. again the marking depends.

    IMHO this year the ranks/selections would be dependent on 2 papers mostly 1) Essay and 2) GS IV
    And no one can predict what sort of marks he/she would get in these 2 papers.
    The marks of the candidates in GS 1,2,3 would be a bell curve around 95-110.

    so, subjectivity or the art of writing answers would really really matter.

    Hence All the best to everyone. we need this luck even more now after writing the papers.

    Godspeed !!
  • my takeaway points are:
    1. exercise regularly.the kind of stamina which is now required in the exams is not acquired by stewing 24 hours over the books.
    2. when you first open the paper, get out of 'begin from the beginning' mindset.you should be able to evaluate the ones you don't know,somewhat know,and thoroughly know. shouldn't be coming back with 'I knew xyz thing but wasted too much time guessing something I had no idea about'.
    3. have a balanced prep. UPSC is trying to make sure that it is.take a virtual 'scalpel' to your methods and resources for prep.are you covering enough?is it relevant?
    4. be mentally resigned to unexpected situations.nothing can be done if the UPSC decides to change the game.it's easy in the abstract,but believe me,in the exam hall it can cause heart failure.be prepared.

    Good luck to all of us.
  • edited December 2013
    I've read what the above experienced people have written n definitely it will give a positive direction to many preparing for cse 2014.. thnx to all..
    But can u please list the books or whatever material is to be read "paper vis & subject vis" as it would be even more beneficial..
Sign In or Join to comment.

Welcome!

We are a secret self-moderated community for Civil Services preparation. Feel free to join, start a discussion, answer a question or just to say Thank you.

Just dont spread the word ;)

Sign in or join with Facebook or Google