Welcome to the series on UPSC PRELIMS 2020. Here we will be dealing with – Subject wise probable areas and topics where UPSC might be asking you the questions this Year. Though its Impossible to track each and everything thing for any of us. We will be trying to solve this basic and important problem, through this series to the best of our abilities. Before we begin for subject wise guidance, this is a basic guide to students – SOME MUST DO THINGS FOR AVERAGE, SINCERE STUDENTS.
Lets Begin.
UPSC PRELIMS, for many of us, is like a mirage. With a success ratio of 0.01% or something like that and different conspiracy theories of people who don’t study sincerely daily, clearing prelims looks like a humongous task.
I cleared prelims 2019, in my first attempt and have failed in Mains, due to some structural mistakes while preparing for Mains, and while writing this piece, I want to make it clear that UPSC prelims cannot be guaranteed, if someone is saying such to you, either one or both of you are a fool. Even people who have cleared it twice or thrice have failed to crack pre in their next attempts. I myself, though writing this cannot guarantee my success in Prelims 2020. (This is not being pessimistic, but being simply practical.)
Coming to our today’s issue, I will try to highlight some basic things which may give an edge to your preparations (Only – If they are serious, UPSC tukke se nahi Hoga !)
1. Mocks –
Solve as many mocks as you can. I solved 70 last time and it helped to clear me through. But if you are just solving a paper, calculating marks and keeping it aside, you are wasting your time and preparing to fail. So what?
As you finish your paper, analyse the answers, make a list of concepts at where you are making mistakes, for.eg. effects of devaluing the currency, or topics like Emergency in Polity, or normative topics like Liberty, Social capital etc.
My suggestion would be, revise your wrong answers of each mock, twice, so that topic gets fit in your mind.
2. Questions and Attempts –
No. of questions to be attempted:- As we are talking about an average student like me, our hit ratio is 60-70%, so making from that, one must solve “at least” 85+ in prelims. Roman Saini solved 100 got 72 correct !
3. Mocks –
When you are solving mocks try to solve 125+ questions in 2 hours.
Reason being:- UPSC real paper questions are very lengthy. Remember IoT Que. in 2018 or Removal of judges Que. in 2019.
On the other hand, questions in mock are shorter in length with simple sentences (30% being one-liners)
4. High Ratio Topics –
Mark your high ratio topics, which will sail you through in Prelims.
For Eg. I score well in Polity, Economy Geography and Modern History. So these 4 are going to compensate my losses in topics like Science and Tech, Envrironment, Wo Ashoka times ke questions and like wise.
You will know this only after giving a sufficient number of Mock tests.That’s why mocks are important.
5. Previous Year Question Paper –
Keep referring to UPSC previous year papers. I will suggest it in the following way –
You read a topic twice, then look some previous year questions, you will know the type of questions plus a boost of positivity if you get the answer correct.
You will feel this repetitive, but believe me,such small things matter the most.
With less than 2 months from today, i.e. First week of April unless the exam is postponed, it is the time to rose up to the challenge seriously.
I am trying to make a list of probable topics for each sub-component based on previous trends of UPSC prelims, will write it soon subject wise, so that it might help in your efforts.
Once again I am no one to guarantee the success. I am just writing the most common things which we forget to do. UPSC prelims require 95% efforts in the right, focussed direction, plus a 5% luck on the day of paper, which you eventually will get if you persevere efficiently now.
Thank you.
Next topic:- Probable areas of Current affairs on which Polity questions may come.
