1. What makes one successful and another failure in Mains?All
the candidates are having books, all the candidates are dedicated to
work and most of them attend coaching institutions, take guidance from
seniors and friends but what makes one success and another failure.
Students say they studied for 18 hours and still they couldn't make
mains. Others say they studied only for 8-9 hours and could make mains.
Why these differences. The difference between successful candidates and
the failure candidates is same as difference between ordinary and
extra-ordinary persons.
One who is able to make mains never
counts the hours and how many books he/she has read. But they know what
to read, what not to read, how much to read, how to use when required
writing the answers. Civil Service exam never wants one to be ideal. It
requires creativity, innovativeness within the candidates, who lack to
use his/her knowledge properly they feel tough to clear the exam. Before
starting the preparation find out properly what to read, what not to
read, what types of question are asked from particular topics. After
taking guidance from others put your own strategy, don't follow their
strategy it may not be suitable for you,
Better strategy makes one success in mains.
2. Going through SyllabusThis
year there is change in the syllabus of General-Studies and also
optional paper. Don't get tense when somebody says there is change in
syllabus. Civil Service exam tries to select candidates who are creative
and innovative and aware of day to day life. Accordingly, syllabus has
been changed.
First go through General Studies syllabus
thoroughly and try to be perfect with the syllabi. If you know syllabus,
20% of your work is over. It helps you what to read and what not to
read. Don't neglect the added syllabus. Always questions will be asked
from the new syllabus. Try to think what type of questions may come from
particular topic. What is the relevance of particular topic in today's
life?
In the same way go through the added topics of both
optional and try to cover them first. Old candidates may know other
parts of the syllabus only added syllabus they have to be perfect.
New-comers have to know whole syllabus before starting their studies.
3. Having balanced approach towards OptionalCandidates
have to select too optiona1 for mains. Most of the candidates take one
optional same for both prelims and mains. Some may have different
optional papers for prelims and two different optionals for mains. Both
the optional papers should be given same weightage. Don’t neglect the
optional which you were having for prelims.. Don't think already that
you have studied for prelims and can give less time for mains. There are
many students who are unable to score more than 300 marks in first
optional but easily they can score more than 300 marks in second
optional. This is because way of approach for study differs. Student
might know concepts but unable to use where it is required. Therefore
study both optionals simultaneously. Marks of both optional are
important to be successful in exam.
Considering question number 1
and 5 is equally important Question number 1 and 5 play very important
role in getting good score. From both the optionals we have 480 marks
for these questions. Therefore, practice writing short answers while
preparing. Study previous year questions and analyze what type of
questions has been asked from particular topics. Try to cover all the
points within 200 words. Read the questions properly and answer
according to the nature of the question. While studying try to note down
topics where short notes can be asked and write points for that topic
and keep. That will help during revision.
4. Exclusive skills for presenting answerAfter
the prelims exams and till the exam date everyone study. But, in Civil
Service main exam only studying is not important. But here important is
how one is using his knowledge to write particular paper within three
hours. What one writes during these three hours makes one topper and
anther failure. Here how much you studied it doesn't matter, but how you
are using your knowledge to write particular answer. Therefore while
studying, always think what type of questions may be asked from
particular topics and what points to be included to make different from
others.
Many times we hear students saying they have done their
exams very well. Question paper was very easy. But still they are unable
to make mains. Why? When question paper is given they never try to read
full question. If they come across the words they know they start
writing answers. They might have written wrong answer also. There they
make mistakes. First, study questions properly and understand what has
been asked. Then think what to be written for that answer. Write up to
the point answers. While writing 60 marks answers follow one strategy.
When you read question, take always last page of your answer booklet and
start writing the points what all to be included in that answer.
Because while writing suddenly you may forget the points, these points
give hints to continue the answer and make to be within the track. .
Don't
repeat the paragraphs. If graphs, pie-charts, flow charts are required
draw them to make examiner know what you have written. Always follow
word-limit. If you think you know more about that answer and start
writing more on that answer, you cannot complete the paper within a
given time. Always try to give positive points. Don't mention anybody's
name. Write such type of inputs which makes your answer different from
others.
5. Current AffairsCurrent
Affairs play leading role in the Civil Service main exam. Students try
to buy many current affairs magazine and they think they studied more
instead of that studied from one magazine and be a regular reader of
newspaper. Whatever you read, try to make note of it, It helps to
revise. Without revising you cannot remember the points. Study previous
years question paper and try to analyse what type of questions have been
asked from current affairs. See whether there is any change in asking
questions from one year to another.
General Studies first paper
contains national affairs, social issues, geographical issues and etc.
And General Studies second paper includes international affairs,
economics, science and technology, statistics. All these topics are
related to current affairs. Therefore concentrate more on current
affairs. The students having stronghold on current affairs are able to
score more than 300 marks in General Studies. Current Affairs also play
leading role optional. Same of the optionals like Public Administration,
Political Science, Science, and Sociology require current trends.
Therefore one must be aware what type of current affairs is required for
particular topic. Here one should remember only reading current affairs
never give marks. Try to revise it again and again and you will be able
to recollect during the exam. Preparing current affairs should be
continuous process and don't think some days can be allotted for it.
6. Two marker questions and 20 wordsAlways
small things make great thing happen. That means, too marker questions
are very important to score more than 300 marks in General Studies.
Usually students think, it's only two marks, they can write them without
any strategy. But when you really sit for writing you will understand
how much difficult are those. To write these questions you must evolve
good strategy. While reading newspaper you may come across some
personalities, places and terms try to write on them about in 20 words.
Keep on practicing. If answer is written up to the mark you can get full
marks. If you ask any topper, he always says that he gave importance to
two markers.
To make yourself different from others, prepare
your own strategy in order to study these two marks questions. Go
through previous years questions and try to write yourself for those
questions. While reading any newspaper, magazine or book, note down the
words and write on that topic.
In exam hall, write up to the
point. This can come only by practice. Questions will be from Indian
polity, economies, history, culture, science and technology,
geographical concepts, personalities. While studying, make different
note on different topics thus it helps to revise properly.
7. Selective StudyAll
the candidates who are preparing for civil service main examination
know the importance of selective study. Being selective is how much
useful in preparation how it makes one comfortable.
When
students, who are preparing for examination, see the vast syllabus, they
find themselves in confusing state. It is like throwing one into the
sea; That means syllabus is so vast if they sit for preparing simply
without making any selection. One needs complete one year to read whole
syllabus. By that time exams are on the head, candidates are not fully
prepared in each topic and after reading the entire syllabus they are
not even in position to tackle anyone question perfectly. Therefore,
selective study is very important in civil service preparation. One
should know what to study, what to be given more importance, what not to
be studied and etc.
Once study whole syllabus completely. They
should take some 3-4 previous year question .papers and study the topics
thoroughly. This help to decide on which topics frequently questions
are asked and on which topic analytical questions are coming, on which
topic short questions are coming and so on. By going through previous
year question paper one can understand what to study' in current
affairs. This makes one to be selective while reading newspapers.'
Otherwise one has to spend more time on newspapers.
Syllabus of
optional subjects are also vast, sp candidates often have many books to
cover the topics but they cannot read all of them so here also being
selective is very important. Try to read standard books and recollect
the points what you have read and how it is useful in writing the
answers. Selective study hopes you to answer any question asked on that
topic.
Most of the toppers follow strategy of being selective. It
is not wise to waste time in reading which is not required for the
exam. One should have proper approach towards study the optional
subjects to get success at mains.
8. Importance of Compulsory PapersEnglish
and any other Indian language and one essay paper are compulsory for
civil service main examination. Its nature is of qualifying nature so
often candidates think that hey easily can write them and clear these
papers. But after each result actually we see that many students are
unable to clear language papers. Even some candidates await there result
positively and actually they did very well at there exam but finally
language papers create a big hurdle. So never underestimate these too
language papers and do not neglect them. Here their importance is more.
Without qualifying these papers, you cannot at mains. Therefore, they
cannot be neglected. These are considered as first step to clear mains.
Therefore, be perfect with grammar, essay writing, precise writings.
The
students who are getting good marks in essay can definitely get success
in mains. Essay paper plays important role in getting good rank. This
paper is for 200 marks. One Who writes good essay can get upto 140
marks. This makes great difference between an ordinary student and an
extra-ordinary student. To write essay one should have comprehensive
thinking. While preparing, don't prepare a few topics. Prepare general
way. Select topics like global warming, social change, and
development-oriented topics, globalization, terrorism, democracy' and
prepare on these' topics in general way.
Particular topics won't
be asked in the exam. But whatever you have studied can be used in
anyway while writing essay. Read all the topics of essay at least once,
and then select which topic you feel comfortable. Then take last page of
your answer booklet and note down all the points you know so that you
will not forget the main points while you writing the essay. Then
arrange the points in accordance with their importance and there should
be continuation of paragraphs. . .
Always write common language,
don't use complicated words and don't bring optional concepts into the
essay.' Essay paper also marks the assessment of your personality.
Therefore be careful while choosing the topics and while writing the
essay paper.
9. 2600 Marks to be covered in 100 daysCivil
Service Main Examination is an examination of 2600 marks. In that two
compulsory language papers have 300 marks each. They are qualifying
papers and are important to clear the main examination. After
preliminary examination there will be 150 days available for preparing
for mains; But while choosing second optional and collecting books
candidates waste some 40 to 50 days. Only reaming will be 100 days to go
far mains. these 100 days are crucial for everyone. Aspirants have to
cover some 100 topics in optional and some 100 topics in General
Studies.
To achieve one's goal within 100 days, one has to follow
proper strategy. Planning is very important to complete studies. 100
days can be split into two parts: first 80 days for studying and
remaining 20 days for revision. Main examination requires how you
analytically think over the .topic. Therefore, revision helps one to
know how one can recollect the points. Study all the subjects
simultaneously. Equal weightege should be given to all the papers.
According to your comfortability with subject allot your time for study
and make planning every week. Change the planning according to the
topics to be covered.
Planning helps to use 100 days fruitfully to achieve the goal.
