Confidence: A key to success
I used to score anything from 56marks to 110 marks in mock test (CSE 2020). On an average my mean and median used to be around 80 marks.
My friend once asked me ‘Will you clear prelims?’
I said Yes, as other people will lack confidence but I will have it. This will give me a lead of 10 questions- around 26 marks (including negative marking)
In CSE 2019 my score was 110 and in CSE 2020 I am expecting it to be 120 (I cleared Forest also, so marks are not disclosed)
Being calm and composed in examination hall is very important. You would be able to use your common sense and logic more properly.
I used to score anything from 56marks to 110 marks in mock test (CSE 2020). On an average my mean and median used to be around 80 marks.
My friend once asked me ‘Will you clear prelims?’
I said Yes, as other people will lack confidence but I will have it. This will give me a lead of 10 questions- around 26 marks (including negative marking)
In CSE 2019 my score was 110 and in CSE 2020 I am expecting it to be 120 (I cleared Forest also, so marks are not disclosed)
Being calm and composed in examination hall is very important. You would be able to use your common sense and logic more properly.
Shubham Kumar: Strategy and Notes for UPSC(CSE)
Photo
This is my last years VisionIAS prelims mock tests scores
I got 78, 73, 83 and 91.6 score
In Abhyaas 3, there was some Internet issues because of which it is showing 26 marks. But as far I can remember I got 83 marks
My point is- it is fairly okay to score on an average 70-90 marks in mock test.
Real prelims examination would be a different ball game. Still I believe that with elimination technique, logic and reasoning, one can solve many questions in real exam
I got 78, 73, 83 and 91.6 score
In Abhyaas 3, there was some Internet issues because of which it is showing 26 marks. But as far I can remember I got 83 marks
My point is- it is fairly okay to score on an average 70-90 marks in mock test.
Real prelims examination would be a different ball game. Still I believe that with elimination technique, logic and reasoning, one can solve many questions in real exam
How I use to attempt prelims paper
(I practiced this strategy in mock tests in every detail. Prelims is just a week away, so I would suggest not to change your strategy entirely)
1. My target was to attempt around 90-95 questions. This is because I always use to do minimum 20 questions wrong no matter the difficulty of paper.
2. My strength area was environment and Science & Tech. So even if I had eliminated 1 option (and I’m having doubt over 3 options), I used to attempt by using some other logic. Because I never read ancient and medieval history books and I use to do more mistakes in these topics- I use to leave around 5 questions from these areas only
3. Please attempt all those questions where you have eliminated two options i.e. you are having doubts over two options
4. I used to attempt paper in 3 iterations (more I will share)
5. I use to start bubbling my omr sheet at 1hr 35minutes
(I practiced this strategy in mock tests in every detail. Prelims is just a week away, so I would suggest not to change your strategy entirely)
1. My target was to attempt around 90-95 questions. This is because I always use to do minimum 20 questions wrong no matter the difficulty of paper.
2. My strength area was environment and Science & Tech. So even if I had eliminated 1 option (and I’m having doubt over 3 options), I used to attempt by using some other logic. Because I never read ancient and medieval history books and I use to do more mistakes in these topics- I use to leave around 5 questions from these areas only
3. Please attempt all those questions where you have eliminated two options i.e. you are having doubts over two options
4. I used to attempt paper in 3 iterations (more I will share)
5. I use to start bubbling my omr sheet at 1hr 35minutes
Prelims: attempting question paper
I use to complete my 1st iteration between 1:10 minutes to 1:20 minutes.
In 1st iteration, I used to do 35 questions with full confidence (that I won’t see again) and in almost 20 questions I used to mark arrow. In these 20 questions, I used to be 70-80% sure. In my 2nd iteration I used to just give a 2nd thought over these questions. This helped me to reduce my blunders
In my 2nd iteration, I used to attempt around 30-35 questions in which I have eliminated 2 options (in 1st iteration itself) and I had to decide between 2 options.
Generally during mid of my 2nd iteration, I used to start bubbling my omr (time 1hr 35min). Till 1hr 42min I used to complete my bubbling of those questions which I did till that time
Till 1 hr 50 min, I used to complete my 2nd iteration
I used to bubble questions one by one now
3rd iteration
In last 10 minutes, I used to do 25-30 questions
But remember that I have seen these questions twice and twice I have put my brain. So in 3rd iteration I was able to solve these questions giving around 20 seconds to each question
Being confident and calm in last 10 minutes (in 3rd iteration) was the key for me.
Because I had practiced this technique in mock test I was able to pull this Dhoni kind style twice in Prelims (2019 and 2020)
Don’t rush in prelims towards the end. Giving 2nd and 3rd thought to question helps. But we should be careful. Don’t overthink and change your answers too frequently.
I use to complete my 1st iteration between 1:10 minutes to 1:20 minutes.
In 1st iteration, I used to do 35 questions with full confidence (that I won’t see again) and in almost 20 questions I used to mark arrow. In these 20 questions, I used to be 70-80% sure. In my 2nd iteration I used to just give a 2nd thought over these questions. This helped me to reduce my blunders
In my 2nd iteration, I used to attempt around 30-35 questions in which I have eliminated 2 options (in 1st iteration itself) and I had to decide between 2 options.
Generally during mid of my 2nd iteration, I used to start bubbling my omr (time 1hr 35min). Till 1hr 42min I used to complete my bubbling of those questions which I did till that time
Till 1 hr 50 min, I used to complete my 2nd iteration
I used to bubble questions one by one now
3rd iteration
In last 10 minutes, I used to do 25-30 questions
But remember that I have seen these questions twice and twice I have put my brain. So in 3rd iteration I was able to solve these questions giving around 20 seconds to each question
Being confident and calm in last 10 minutes (in 3rd iteration) was the key for me.
Because I had practiced this technique in mock test I was able to pull this Dhoni kind style twice in Prelims (2019 and 2020)
Don’t rush in prelims towards the end. Giving 2nd and 3rd thought to question helps. But we should be careful. Don’t overthink and change your answers too frequently.
Prelims Tips
With only 2 days to go for prelims 2020, it is quite obvious that you may feel like you have not read many things and there is lot to read and revise
Many may feel to not read anything now
Every Prelims I used to feel like it. But I was also aware that it is quite obvious to have fear of prelims and if I hold myself just for 2 more days then whatever hard work that I have done in last 1 year will be paid off.
I used to read 10-10hrs per day in last 1 week. In last 2 days I used to go through all the subjects and notes (highlighted part from my notes I used to revise).
It is important to revise factual things like modern Indian history, reports and indices, environment (National parks etc), maps, Art &culture and Polity in last 2 days
I used to focus more on static part in last 2 days. There is no limit to Current Affairs. So one should not do mistakes in easy to medium level static questions
With only 2 days to go for prelims 2020, it is quite obvious that you may feel like you have not read many things and there is lot to read and revise
Many may feel to not read anything now
Every Prelims I used to feel like it. But I was also aware that it is quite obvious to have fear of prelims and if I hold myself just for 2 more days then whatever hard work that I have done in last 1 year will be paid off.
I used to read 10-10hrs per day in last 1 week. In last 2 days I used to go through all the subjects and notes (highlighted part from my notes I used to revise).
It is important to revise factual things like modern Indian history, reports and indices, environment (National parks etc), maps, Art &culture and Polity in last 2 days
I used to focus more on static part in last 2 days. There is no limit to Current Affairs. So one should not do mistakes in easy to medium level static questions
Prelims Tips
1) Read all questions. Even if it may appear that you don’t know anything about it. Sometimes we tend to recall things which we have read long time back. And many time unknowm questions in UPSC can be solved with some logic
2) Read all options and then Eliminate most wrong option first. Don’t be tempted to attempt easy questions in hurry. In hurry we tend to do lot of blunders.
1) Read all questions. Even if it may appear that you don’t know anything about it. Sometimes we tend to recall things which we have read long time back. And many time unknowm questions in UPSC can be solved with some logic
2) Read all options and then Eliminate most wrong option first. Don’t be tempted to attempt easy questions in hurry. In hurry we tend to do lot of blunders.
Prelims Tips
3) I am assuming that everyone has gone through CSAT paper as well.
For CSAT, I used to focus only on solving 50 questions (42-44 maths and and 6-8 passage)
Few Logic reasoning questions can be solved by putting the 4 options given in paper.
Don’t become sentimental in CSAT paper when you are not able to solve any maths/reasoning questions. If you are not able to solve any question then leave it and solve other questions
In English passage questions I used to select and solve only the short passages first.
3) I am assuming that everyone has gone through CSAT paper as well.
For CSAT, I used to focus only on solving 50 questions (42-44 maths and and 6-8 passage)
Few Logic reasoning questions can be solved by putting the 4 options given in paper.
Don’t become sentimental in CSAT paper when you are not able to solve any maths/reasoning questions. If you are not able to solve any question then leave it and solve other questions
In English passage questions I used to select and solve only the short passages first.
Hello everyone
The day has come that you guys were waiting for 1 year. I would like to suggest few things
1) Pack your bags now- take all essential things- admit card, identity card, black ball point pen etc
2) I used to carry chocolates, water in transparent water bottle, whitener as well (just for extreme case) etc.
3) Don’t read in hurry now. I used to go through notes and pdfs but I used to see only important things. The aim should be to Boost your confidence. Believe me calmness and confidence can have a much bigger impact
4) Reach centre early especially when you don’t know where exactly the centre lies. Many times there are schools with same name. My friend in past has missed prelims due to this
5) At exam centre, I used to do few things to calm myself.
- I used to see where the toilets are just in case if in middle of exam I had to use
- I use to think that from this room I will clear it even if nobody else. I used to look around and think that I am appearing for mains in coming months
- I used to do deep breathing for 5 minutes
- For 5-10 minutes, I used to keep my head down and try to remember few tips that I had prepared- like how to appear paper
The day has come that you guys were waiting for 1 year. I would like to suggest few things
1) Pack your bags now- take all essential things- admit card, identity card, black ball point pen etc
2) I used to carry chocolates, water in transparent water bottle, whitener as well (just for extreme case) etc.
3) Don’t read in hurry now. I used to go through notes and pdfs but I used to see only important things. The aim should be to Boost your confidence. Believe me calmness and confidence can have a much bigger impact
4) Reach centre early especially when you don’t know where exactly the centre lies. Many times there are schools with same name. My friend in past has missed prelims due to this
5) At exam centre, I used to do few things to calm myself.
- I used to see where the toilets are just in case if in middle of exam I had to use
- I use to think that from this room I will clear it even if nobody else. I used to look around and think that I am appearing for mains in coming months
- I used to do deep breathing for 5 minutes
- For 5-10 minutes, I used to keep my head down and try to remember few tips that I had prepared- like how to appear paper
6) on the day of exam in morning I solved around 5-8 previous year questions that I have already solved in past. It used to boost my confidence
7) I used to wear loose clothes like pajamas/track pants and sandals/sleepers. One should feel comfortable in exam specially when many times the benches are very small
8) Keep focus on your paper for entire 2 hours. Don’t start judging yourself. Think that if paper is tough than it is tough for everyone.
9) Many times it happen that tough questions are at the start of paper. Be patient, you will get easy questions as well. Every question should be started a fresh mindset.
7) I used to wear loose clothes like pajamas/track pants and sandals/sleepers. One should feel comfortable in exam specially when many times the benches are very small
8) Keep focus on your paper for entire 2 hours. Don’t start judging yourself. Think that if paper is tough than it is tough for everyone.
9) Many times it happen that tough questions are at the start of paper. Be patient, you will get easy questions as well. Every question should be started a fresh mindset.
10) Last 30 minutes are very important. Last year my I was able to solve only 40 questions till 1 hr 25 minutes. I had gone through all questions once but I was having doubts in options. Being calm helped me to go through the remaining questions and solving them with decent accuracy.
11) I used to solve GS questions one by one from question 1 to 100. No jumping in between or glancing in between. Jumping from one question to another increases your anxiety.
12) In break if your room is very near (less than 1km) and if SOMEONE is with you then you can go back and take rest also. Eat light, have juices/fruits/chocolates etc
13) Don’t evaluate yourself in break. It is human nature that you will tend to remember only those questions in which you faced difficulty and was confused.
In 2019 attempt I analysed my paper thinking that the next paper is CSAT and I will clear CSAT anyway. My analysis was that I have not done well in GS. Because of this tension I was not able to solve CSAT paper according to my satisfaction.
Later when marks came out my marks was well above cut off and I could have failed in CSAT. But luckily I cleared CSAT
So All the best friends. You all have worked hard in last one year. Remember that the correct option is there in front of you in prelims. You have to elements the wrong options.
All the very best again !!
Tata
Good night
12) In break if your room is very near (less than 1km) and if SOMEONE is with you then you can go back and take rest also. Eat light, have juices/fruits/chocolates etc
13) Don’t evaluate yourself in break. It is human nature that you will tend to remember only those questions in which you faced difficulty and was confused.
In 2019 attempt I analysed my paper thinking that the next paper is CSAT and I will clear CSAT anyway. My analysis was that I have not done well in GS. Because of this tension I was not able to solve CSAT paper according to my satisfaction.
Later when marks came out my marks was well above cut off and I could have failed in CSAT. But luckily I cleared CSAT
So All the best friends. You all have worked hard in last one year. Remember that the correct option is there in front of you in prelims. You have to elements the wrong options.
All the very best again !!
Tata
Good night
Good afternoon everyone
I hope everyone has done well in paper. I just saw the paper. According to me it is like last year and tough. Please don’t analyse the paper now. If the paper is tough then accordingly cutoff will go down.
In break you can revise CSAT notes.
One advice that I used to follow-
In passages you can first read the questions and then read the respective passage. Many times you would able to eliminate few options without reading the passage.
All the best for next paper !!
I hope everyone has done well in paper. I just saw the paper. According to me it is like last year and tough. Please don’t analyse the paper now. If the paper is tough then accordingly cutoff will go down.
In break you can revise CSAT notes.
One advice that I used to follow-
In passages you can first read the questions and then read the respective passage. Many times you would able to eliminate few options without reading the passage.
All the best for next paper !!
Shubham Kumar: Strategy and Notes for UPSC(CSE)
2021PrelimsAnswer_ToppersKey_Final-2.pdf
This is the key prepared by selected candidates of CSE 2020
Finally Prelims is over. There are many answers keys and like lay year in many questions there are doubt.
My analysis of paper
Prelims has become more factual and random. Although there were some questions where logic can be used to eliminate options. But randomness of paper has increased. One of my close friend beautifully put it ‘Prelims is now like Slumdog millionaire’ where something you have studied somewhere can be useful
I used to be very scared before prelims as 2 hours decides a lot of things including your 1 year of preparation. In examination hall I used to gain confidence. Fortunately I cleared prelims twice in 2019 and 2020 with decent marks. But I cannot say with 100% confidence what worked for me and what not.
I gave many mock tests, used common sense and elimination strategy, attempted maximum questions etc etc. But there are many people who followed everything but couldn’t clear Prelims and I know a friend who attempted only 73questions and cleared prelims
There is no clear strategy for prelims. The only thing that we can do is to prepare well
In my opinion those who are getting 80-90 marks should start preparation for mains. Those who is fresher (1st attempt) should definitely prepare for mains as this will be helpful for next attempt.
My analysis of paper
Prelims has become more factual and random. Although there were some questions where logic can be used to eliminate options. But randomness of paper has increased. One of my close friend beautifully put it ‘Prelims is now like Slumdog millionaire’ where something you have studied somewhere can be useful
I used to be very scared before prelims as 2 hours decides a lot of things including your 1 year of preparation. In examination hall I used to gain confidence. Fortunately I cleared prelims twice in 2019 and 2020 with decent marks. But I cannot say with 100% confidence what worked for me and what not.
I gave many mock tests, used common sense and elimination strategy, attempted maximum questions etc etc. But there are many people who followed everything but couldn’t clear Prelims and I know a friend who attempted only 73questions and cleared prelims
There is no clear strategy for prelims. The only thing that we can do is to prepare well
In my opinion those who are getting 80-90 marks should start preparation for mains. Those who is fresher (1st attempt) should definitely prepare for mains as this will be helpful for next attempt.
Those who are not getting good marks don’t get disheartened. One examination should not decide your life. I know many people who remain unhappy even after joining IAS.
What is there in our hand is that we can Prepare well and try to be a better and happy person in life.
All the best
Regards
What is there in our hand is that we can Prepare well and try to be a better and happy person in life.
All the best
Regards
Hello everyone
Hope everyone is doing well. I think almost 90% of you have known your prelims score. This time there is a lot of variation in marks.
So if you are near to expected cutoff, start you preparation asap. I would suggest even if you are not expecting to clear please prepare for mains. This will help you a lot in your next attempt.
I will be sharing my mains and anthropology strategy soon (possibly in a week)
Hope everyone is doing well. I think almost 90% of you have known your prelims score. This time there is a lot of variation in marks.
So if you are near to expected cutoff, start you preparation asap. I would suggest even if you are not expecting to clear please prepare for mains. This will help you a lot in your next attempt.
I will be sharing my mains and anthropology strategy soon (possibly in a week)