Hello everyone!
Took a closed group session today and addressed some of the doubts for the upcoming prelims exam. Sharing them here for the larger benefit of all. And will plan to take an open session soon!
1. What should be my minimum safe attempt range considering negative marking?
Imo, minimum should be 80. My score used to be maximum when I attempted upwards of 90. So my range was 90+-3. In 2021, I attempted 93 questions.
2. How many mock tests are ideal before Prelims, and how should I analyse them properly?
Number of mocks - addressed in the sheet above. For analysis part, identify patterns in your mistakes, identify strengths and weaknesses (in which areas/subjects, your guesswork largely fails/succeeds) and the final attempting strategy (no. of rounds and no. of questions).
3. In the final month after 2 revision, should I focus more on revision again or test-solvin and in what ratio?
Final month should be more about revision. Can give 1/2 mocks per week just to maintain the MCQ solving acumen and mindset.
4. What kind of questions should I leave completely in the exam hall?
The ones which you have no idea about. If you can’t do 50-50, no point of solving that question as probability of getting it wrong (75%) is more than probability of getting it right (25%).
5. How should I revise current affairs in the last without information overload?
Using yearly compilation and skimming through. Without focusing too much on specific details. Ultimately, in the exam hall, you have to ‘identify’ and not ‘reproduce’ the answer.
6. On exam day, is paper given early to read like 10 mins or as soon as paper is distributed time starts?
Different experience in different centres. It is given 10mins in advance but that time is mostly for filling OMR sheet.
7. Can I skip defence current affairs? It is very difficult to retain them or suggest any strategy to learn them.
Do not skip any class of current affairs. Instead, do only the most important ones. Ones that were always in news (say S400 during Op Sindoor). The only strategy to retain is make 1 pager notes, stick them in front of your study desk and read it twice everyday. Goes for all things that are very factual and hence, difficult to remember.
8. While filling omr sheets, if the ink goes out of circle or remains little uncoloured, do they go unchecked?
No. Unless it is only half filled or it is filled way beyond the circle. Minor deviations here and there are not an issue. The OMR sheet also indicates what constitutes a rightly/wrongly filled bubble. Just be mindful of that.
9. Focus should be more on static or current affairs
Balance is the key. But static lies at the heart of even current affairs. The best strategy is to link them and study. But still, static is finite (is it?🥲) and current affairs is infinite. Contemporary affairs is what they now call them. So, one word answer is static. But can you ignore the current affairs? To your own peril. So you have to do it all (😭😭).
10. What works better going sequential or rounds based on elimination
Sequential first. Mark the sure ones. Identify the 50-50 questions. Then go in rounds.
11. How do I understand that I am prelim ready a month ago?
I wish I knew🫠
I think one can never know. The only confidence you can derive is from your hold over standard books and static content. And understand that, readiness and the consequent result constitutes hard work and luck/god’s grace in equal parts in an examination like UPSC. So, do your best and leave the rest (to the almighty).
Wishing you all, truck loads of good luck! May you preserve your sanity and sense of self in the process.
Happy Prelims-prepping! 🫡
