IASNOVA
This article is based on the preparation perspective of some of the highest scorers in Prelims exams,one may use it as a guidance article and not as some sure sort strategy,as we understand that every aspirant has a different style of preparing and scoring well in Prelims exam.
Last 30 days are the most crucial phase in determining who will clear the prelims and who wont.
If your syllabus is complete,the only thing one should focus is on multiple revisions from sources you have done earlier.
If your syllabus completion is not upto the mark,the next 15 days should be given to fast completion of basic sources,while also noting down the imporant chapters/topics etc which you feel you need to revise again.And you should get back to those topics during the last 15 days.
The volumes of current affairs compilations have been increasing every year,but the focus areas and basic chapters remain the same.Focus on that aspect during the last one month.
For example,it may not be necessary to remember which lab in a university of Canada did an experiment on genome sequencing,but you need to know the basics of genome sequencing.In all probability,UPSC wont ask the name of the lab,but it will ask questions on genome sequencing.Thats how you have to separate wheat from chaff while doing bulky current affairs compilations.
While doing any book/compilation etc,if you feel that you need to get back to that small topic in NCERT/compilations etc,click a pic of that part and save it in a specific mobile folder.For example,its not easy to remember the names of tributaries of rivers,or national parks in a biosphere reserve even after many revisions.You can get back to those important topics at one place anywhere,for example while traveling to your exam centres,browse through pics before sleeping,etc and do a quick revision.A simple but very effective technique to get few questions right.There are other ways as well to do this,this one is the simplest one.
In Science Tech compilations,and in case of some schemes- do make one liner notes for quick revision of those topics in last few days.
For example
Instead of writing complete details about MOSAIC Expedition/Avian Botulism,you can simply note it down on a paper as –
‘MOSAIC-Arctic.’
‘Avian Botulism- bacterial disease,Sambhar lake birds.’
Now it will help u remember that MOSAIC is somehow related to Arctic and you can get the answer right.
Such notes help you get through one last minute revision of topics which you have done in detail.It helps you in answering questions related to terminologies- example- Cirrus cloud thinning technique,Denisovans etc last year.
And it does not take any extra effort and time,one just needs to have a pen and paper in hand while reading.
Its not a replacement for answering questions with multiple choice options,but helps one score well in terminologies question by having a last minute quick revision.Its specially helpful in Science Tech section.
The last year question paper should be in front of your eyes while going through last month revision,probably pasted on the wall in front of your study tables.Going through the questions while revision will give you good idea about the topics you need to focus on while revising and what related topics may appear in exam,and in what way the multiple options on such a topic can be framed.
One should also practice elimination strategies in test papers.There are about 3-5 questions generally in UPSC exam paper which one can solve even without knowing the topic by having basic knowledge.It may not be the case this year but has generally been done by many aspirants earlier.Only the aspirant in the exam centre is the best judge of such scenarios,it all depends on how much application of mind one can do during those crucial hours.One should not go too far with this technique though,sometimes it may backfire.
For example,if there is a question related to some environment related funds,and World Bank and IMF are in options,one knows that IMF does not deal with environment related funds,only World Bank deals with Climate,development etc funds,so one might not have read the Fund name ever before,but he can try his luck by going for World Bank.This is an elimination technique by using background knowledge,application of basics.
One simple formula for success in Prelims is – ‘Do everything which others are doing,and do something extra’.
EXTRA is nothing else but revision and focus on important areas.
If you have done the basic sources nicely,no pattern change can stop you from clearing the prelims cut off.Spread your time across subjects,focus on multiple revisions.Change topics when same subject /same booklet is getting monotonous,look at maps /atlas with an intention to explore important regions rather than just complete the syllabus. It helps one remember better when one wants to explore the Indian ocean,the islands,or how one would ride in a boat through the Mediterranean,which island will he meet first while sailing from east to west or north to south.
Then there are topics which take very less time to complete but fetch you one to two questions right easily,such as International Reports,Climate related Funds,WTO terms etc. Do not look at the paper as simply a set of 100 questions,at least not during preparation.Approach them as a set of questions from different areas during preparation.Try to complete those sets,those areas, one by one till you reach the 100 questions complete set by 1-3 October.
When you are doing a topic,it should be done with a mental framework that you have to get any question from that topic right,you have to read it that way.Generally what many aspirants do is that in an attempt to complete multiple topics,one just completes the topic fast so that he/she could move to the next subject.UPSC Prelims questions with multiple options need you to know and remember a topic in detail.
Make those sets/areas your small forts,any question from that subject/topic,and you have to get it right.
Another smart thing to do is to list all important chapters /topics from which many questions are asked or have chances to be asked for revision just one to five days before Prelims exam- 27th Sep-3 Oct.For example,the Parliament chapter in Polity.
These are simple techniques,which may help you in last month revision.
One can also go through revision strategy articles on History,Geography and Economics in Revision Capsules,Important Chapters in Polity in Strategic Articles section.
At the end,we reiterate that this month is very crucial for clearing the cut off,balance your schedule,do not stretch yourself in a day and become slack on the next.
This article in no way should affect your style of preparation if you are already doing good and satisfied with your style of preparation.
One important point we want to add is that do not be mentally bothered if you are not scoring well in test series of institutes. That should be the last thing on your mind in this month.Only the performance on 4th of October will finally matter,and it will be a very different set of question paper from that in test series.Take test papers as simply ‘practice’ sets,not as ‘test’ papers.Many students get demotivated by test series scores in the last month and lose the momentum. Solve them with the motive to learn, practice intellectual guessing,elimination strategies and addition to preparation rather than using them as your testing kit in the last month.
