Preparation plan for UPSC prelims exam for new aspirants
A.
PLANNIG FOR IAS MAIN PREPARATION
FACING
THE MAIN EXAM
The IAS Main Exam
happens to be a vital part of Civil Services Exam. One has to be vigilant of
all the dimensions involved while appearing for the IAS Main. Revolutionary
changes were introduced during this very year, i.e. 2013, in both pattern and
syllabus of examination. And in August, UPSC has introduced one more change that
is profoundly going to change the way Main Exam has been attempted and
maneuvered by candidates so far. Below is presented the text that has been
introduced in the Civil Service Main (CSM). Instruction document that is
released by the UPSC after result of Preliminary paper that contains important
instructions regarding the filling of Main form. “Candidates should note that
instead of separate Question Paper and Answer Book, a consolidated Question
Paper-cum-Answer Book, having space below each part/sub part of a question
shall be provided to them for writing the answers. Candidates shall be required
to attempt answer to the part/sub-part of a question strictly within the
pre-defined space. Any attempt outside the pre-defined space shall not be
evaluated.
First important
thing will be how you manage your time, thoughts and writing style. Somebody
who writes in larger font size will be at a disadvantage because of the lesser
number of words he can fit in the space. At the same time, we would caution not
to indulge in micro-lettering that can frustrate and irritate the evaluator.
Rather an optimum letter size is suggested, the same can be decided based on
your flair of writing. So, one should practice lots of writing.
B.
WRITING A GOOD ESSAY & G.S. QUESTION’S ANSWER
Planning
for Current Events
Since it’s a
subjective paper, one keep in mind two components: ‘process’ and ‘content’.
Process includes how to write a good essay and content involves what to write
in a good essay that is subject matter. Writing essay in a right way
requires a multipronged strategy. One must consider following points:
- Proper, simple and grammatically correct
language must be used.
- Ordering of essay should be done. Essay has
three parts introduction, main body, and conclusion. All three are equally
important. A good conclusion can fetch 10 to 20 more marks.
- Correct information with daily life
experiences to give personal touch and uniqueness to the essay.
- Proper time management should be there. Each
and every minute should be utilized. Time should be allotted to each
section in a rational manner.
- One should have a clear understanding of topic
on which he is writing. Always stay close to the topic and avoid deviating
from it.
- Don’t enter the examination hall with a
particular mindset as it can restrict the flow of ideas.
Interdisciplinary
Approach in Study
In order to answer holistic nature of questions asked in IAS exam, specially in
Main, aspirants are advised to develop interdisciplinary approach in study
different subjects and topics. It will help to understand all dimensions
associated with the topic.
The interdisciplinary approach is a method of integrating different informations
from different subjects, headings topics to answer different nature of
questions asked in the IAS Exam. For example topic can be studied or analysed
on political, economic, social or scientific ground or parameters.
It can also be based on its problems, issues, application, impacts, etc.
For instance,
Government decision in changing previous economic policy has short and long
term implication. Its impacts can be social, economic, political, demographic
or scientific.
In developing interdisciplinary approach in study, aspirants need to develop
and expand their outlook towards topics keeping in mind all aspects and
dimensions of the topic. For this, topics can be related with different
happening and changes that occur around in society, environment, polity, etc.
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C.
HOW TO READ, PREPARE NOTES,& DISCUSS IN GROUP
How
to Read
Aspirants often
face trouble when see the extensive syllabus of Main exam. So various points
should be followed:
- One should be objective and try to focus
on upsc syllabus as per analysis of trend of
questions asked in recent years.
- The next thing to be kept in mind is the
choice of study material. Be wise and just refer few standard books to get
a deep insight of the subject. Reading from too many books will do more
harm than good.
- Lastly it is good to be selective while
preparing for a given topic, to list all the important points and
the relevant information in a logical framework.
- It is important to remember that studying for
the exam involves purposeful reading which is basically reading with a
certain focus on the given topic and preparing for the possible questions
accordingly.
- Before starting on any topic, it is a
wise move to go through the questions asked in the past about the given
topic and jot down the probable questions for the current year. It gives
an idea to the kind of material one need to study to be able to answer
such questions effectively.
- Mentally analyze all that you have read and
try to logically link all the points and see if you have understood
everything. Such a kind of periodical revision will help in the long run
as it ensures to increase your understanding, improves and enhances memory
thus making you more confident so that you give your best performance.
How to Prepare
Notes
Aspirants might have heard a hundred times about the importance of taking small
or micro notes for the IAS exam. But how do they do it in a manner that the
notes are concise, effective, readable in a short time, all at once. After all
they will need to go through these small notes for IAS exam before the
preliminary and/or the Main in just a few days or even hours.
There are several good reasons for making own notes:
- It helps to understand any given topic, pick
out the important points and to summarize them.
- Writing down any information helps to remember
the whole topic’s content matter better.
- It makes a good practice for thinking and
writing easy.
- It prompts to revise their work since it does
not take a long time to go through a set of well made notes.
- Also helps you in your final revision by
reminding you of the most important points of each topic.
Methods
There are different methods of making notes and one should decide which method
suits him/her the best. Two common methods of making notes are:
Linear Method: It is a method in which one condenses the material after
reading ing, using headings and sub headings and sub
headings and jotting down the most important points. This
method works best when making notes from a book where the material is already
properly organized. But one disadvantage of this method is that it ends up
copying a lot of material from the book which defeats the very purpose of
condensing.
Pattern Method: For this, begin the topic at the centre of the
page. Each line radiating from it represents branch of the main idea. Each
point is written as briefly as possible using a key word or a phrase.
It is a better method to adopt because.
- It is more flexible than making linear
notes. One can add extra information to it at any point without any
problem.
- We can see the whole pattern at
one go without actually turning the pages.
- Thirdly we can indicate the links between
different topics more easily than we can do in a linear method.
But this method
has some disadvantages as well. If there are too many facts and too much of
information, the pattern becomes messy and over-crowded. Using key words can
remind the of basic ideas but when it comes to remembering details, this method
cannot be sufficient.
Therefore the most effective way of making good notes from the sources
available is to use a combination of these two linear and pattern methods. One
important thing to remember is that for many subjects, notes will have
to include diagrams, charts, tables and mind-maps. They
C.
HOW TO READ, PREPARE NOTES,& DISCUSS IN GROUP
How
to Read
Guidelines For
Essay Writing
- Select the Topic
- If the topic is in question form directly such
as, “Can capitalism bring inclusive growth…..?” or “Technology
can not replace manpower”, take an impartial and unbiased stand.
- If the topic is just a statement like “Women
in parliament- achievements and prospects” , you will have a space/words
limit to explore the topic from many perspectives with relevant
facts, and conclusion should be balanced justified.
- Planning
- Most topics demand a balanced approach. The
contestants should be objective in expressing their opinion.
- They must give evidences and examples in
support of their opinion and argument
- Prioritize points according to their
importance and value, so that they can be dealt with the most important
points in first paragraph after introduction.
- Interlink each point and they must be relevant
to the topic. Thus, planning it the blue print of the essay.
- Writing
- Introduction
- State the purpose of essay in the
introduction. A good introduction. A good introduction clearly tells
the readers what to expect in the rest of the essay, i.e.
- Begin with attractive headings such as:
Startling
Information: This information must be true. It could simply be
a pertinent fact that explicitly illustrates the points the contestants wish to
make. if they use a piece of startling information, follow it with a few
sentences.
- Body of Essay: the main body of essay
starts after introduction according to importance of points mentioned in
the introduction in a paragraph form. Each point must be dealt based on
reasoning and logic, Logic should be argued with the help of relevant
evidences and examples.
- Inter-linking of points: Make judicious use of
connective and transition sentences in and between paragraphs. This makes
the essay presentable and curious. But use them as per demand of the
context.
Conclusion: A
logical or expository essay must lead to conclusion. The contestants should
neither sum up their essay in conclusion. They should express what conclusion
has been drawn from all the arguments they have written in the essay.
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