The Clock is Ticking….
With Prelims date 27th June 2020 is fast approaching, one has to get ready to cope up with the time frame. You may be spending 8 to 10 hours per day for reading but it is important that it should register in your mind first. Otherwise, the entire exercise is futile. Every year, the competition is growing. So, the litmus test is how to win Prelims and enter the arena of Mains. When we compare the Statistics of previous years, it is evident that Prelims examination is the crux of the problem.
Strategy
- Utilize the short period available in a best way.
- Practice tests are important.
- At least ,you have to appear two grand/ mock tests.
- Do not worry, even if you get low marks.
- The cutoff marks will be 55 to 60 % in Prelims GS I.
Revision
- You should have SWOT analysis done and bank upon strong points.
- Have confidence on your abilities.
- Recollect all the important points during revision.
- It is important to assimilate than grinding. It is usually done during high school/ Intermediate stage while preparing for EMACET, which is routinely done in coaching centers.
What is to be read?
- Priority subjects are to be noted down first and then start with the preparation.
- Take the advice of your seniors and faculty of different institutes.
- It can be categorized under 9 heads for convenience sake.
- Prelims questions during past 4 years are shown below:
| Subject | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| Current Affairs | 18 | 23 | 31 | 42 |
| Modern History | 07 | 06 | 11 | 06 |
| Ancient and Medieval History | 08 | 14 | 03 | 11 |
| Geography | 14 | 10 | 11 | 04 |
| Polity | 18 | 11 | 12 | 06 |
| Economy | 18 | 10 | 21 | 29 |
| Environment | 17 | 28 | 22 | 21 |
| Agriculture | 05 | 08 | 04 | 05 |
| Science & Technology | 13 | 09 | 09 | 11 |
Since we have statistics at a glance we can concentrate on the subjects where more stress needs to be laid.
Current affairs
- Be thorough with current affairs.
- It is useful in three ways- for Prelims, Mains and Personality test.
- Environment, Ecology and Science subjects are to be given priority.
- At least the current affairs of past one year are to be studied.
- Importance for current affairs of last 6 months is to be given while taking notes.
- Prepare a notebook -subject wise and keep it for revision at the last moment.
Traditional subjects
- Importance for traditional subjects like- Geography and Polity is narrowed down.
- Instead of Geography ,stress is laid on Environment.
- Instead of core Polity, it is stress on current polity.
- More stress is to be laid on agriculture.
- Regarding Economy ,the questions are clear cut and conceptual based
Dilemma in questions
- The questioning pattern has changed.
- The questions are in reverse gear.
- Select the wrong statement among the following: If you are not alert, you may land up in wrong answer.
- In utter confusion and lack of time, one may go wrong resulting in loosing mark-0.33.
- While going through the question in a hurry, make note of the statement with pen or pencil so that while reviewing you can concentrate on the twist given.
Scoring topics to be kept in mind
- The recent trend in Prelims questions is on the following topics- Modern Indian History, Environmental issues, Fundamental rights, Constitutional institutions, etc.
- Good practice is the only solution.
- Go on answering previous question papers and take weekly tests.
- “One can take you to the pond- that is you who has to drink water from the pond”- Though it is an old saying, it is true.
Marking A B C D
- In a hurry to complete the examination within the time frame of 120 minutes, everyone is in a hurry to jump to a wrong conclusion.
- Elimination process is the best method.
- Candidates mark the answer with this process only.
- Self confidence and grip on the subject are most important.
- Most of the candidates for the fear of negative marking do not venture to answer.
- Finding out correct answer is necessary.
- Only few, out of lakhs of candidates who appear for Prelims, clear the cut off score.
Right strategy
- To crack IAS in the first attempt, the candidate needs right strategy.
- Candidates often find Civil Services Examination a hard nut to crack, not due to lack of hard work or potential but due to lack of right strategy.
- Think of right strategy- Analyzing previous question papers is one among them.
- One can down load previous question papers in PDF format from the official website of UPSC. www.upsc.gov.in
- Regular tests are conducted in our Academy.
- Enroll yourself online at our Academy, so that you can gain confidence.
- It will help to cover all the recommended textbooks and a time frame.
- Automatically it enables you to get proper exam practice.
- You can analyze your performance, find your own strong and weak areas, and compare your marks with peer groups.
- This method is much faster than reading the text books. If one is lucky 20 to 30% of questions may appear in UPSC exams.
NCERT
- The candidates by and large follow NCERT text books.
- But lot of other books and material are to be covered with in short period.
- A time table should be prepared to complete all the material available with you.
- Common mistake done is trying to read over ambitiously.
Guess Work of question pattern
- In general, the following will be the number of questions one can expect during 2020 Prelims.
- It is not gambling or astrology based. Only a guess work by Civils Pundits.
| Subjects | Number of Questions (expected) |
| Indian History and Culture | 12 – 15 |
| Current Affairs | 12 – 15 |
| Geography ( Physical, Social & Economical Geography) | 10 – 14 |
| Indian Polity ( Constitution, Political Science, PanchayatRaj, PublicPolicy, etc) | 10 – 12 |
| Economy ( Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics) | 10 – 15 |
| Environment ( Environmental Ecology, BioDiversity) | 15 -18 |
| General Science | 10 – 12 |