In Economics Paper 2, which I felt was among the weakest links in my Mains examination, added with it being the overall last paper, I was having some trouble in time management as well as nervousness. As a result, I accidentally cancelled 2 out of 4 pages of a 20 marker question I intended to attempt. Being a less prepared paper, I didn’t have the option of leaving the entire question and answering another one entirely. As a result, I wrote ‘Not Cancelled’ and attempted the question.
The examiner most certainly didn’t like the shoddy work and awarded penalty.
🔆 The Lessons here:
Go through the document UPSC provides about markings in the answer sheet that lead to penalty. Avoid them at all costs.
Cancel the blank pages AFTER you have attempted all questions.
Stay calm until the end. Losing calm can cost you.
Shreya Shree UPSC Topper Instagram I’d
For those interested, my official Instagram handle is instagram.com/shreya_shree_71
What should I take for Prelims Exam hall
Checklist for 5th June 2022
A. For the exam hall
Admit Card
2 passport size photographs
Black ball point pen (take 2)
ID Proof you’ve mentioned in the form
Mask, Sanitiser must; gloves optional
Pencil (take 2-3) & eraser (for solving Qs and avoid getting confused in case you want to change answers)
Water bottle (preferable transparent, without any writing)
Carry these in a transparent folder/ pouch
B. Physical well being
Extra water – summer Prelims after 2 years; prioritise staying hydrated. Use washrooms at frequent intervals, don’t skip water
Fruit juices/ ORS Sachets
Proper food for lunch break — your brain won’t perform optimally in CSAT on an empty stomach
Chocolate/ sweets etc for instant energy
Sun protection gear – umbrella, cap, suncoat etc.
If possible, try to have a 15-20 min power nap in the gap or at least close your eyes and relax your brain in the gap period. Essential for optimal performance in CSAT paper.
C. Mental well being
Confidence – you’ve prepared all you could. Now is the time to act.
Calmness – easy or difficult, the question paper is same for everyone
Earphones – essential for avoiding discussions on GS paper in the 3 hr gap. If you are one of those who participate in the discussion, please refrain during the 3 hour gap. — can listen to music, podcasts, meditation sounds, etc to make you calm
If possible, avoid last minute revisions. Generally induces anxiety if you are unable to recall things. In case your usual approach has been to revise before exam and it doesn’t adversely affect your performance, take short revision notes.
D. General items
Cash/ debit cards
Mobile phone
Travel cards
Some emergency medicines for those travelling for some distance
Remember, you are more important than the exam. In case anyone is still feeling anxious, talk to your mentor or reach out to me in the comments section or at my insta handle – Instagram.com/shreya_shree_71
In case any of you are having issues with noisy/ talkative invigilators, you can request them to please maintain silence as the noise is disturbing you. In both my attempts at different centres, this problem didn’t occur. But if it does, you need not be scared of pointing it out. Just be polite when making the request.
What should you do on Prelims Exam day?
‼️For 11 am to 2 pm, 5th June
DON’TS ❌ 1. Do not discuss GS Qs or answers with anybody. 2. Do not try to self-evaluate your GS performance. 3. Do not leave the centre without appearing for the CSAT paper, irrespective of how bad your GS paper went.
DOS ✅ 1. Have proper food + water + any other refreshments you are carrying 2. Try to sit in a cool place/ indoors/ under a tree shade. 3. Hydrate yourself. 4. Rest your mind. Listen to music/ try to take a nap/ talk to a non-UPSC aspirant friend who motivates you in case you are feeling low after 1st paper. 5. If you do have something to revise, try to finish with that by 1 pm. 6. Re-enter the exam hall on time, i.e. around 1:30 – 1:40 p.m.. Relax yourself at your seat. Take some deep breaths etc. 7. DO NOT LET ANYTHING SHAKE YOUR CONFIDENCE. Until you have the question paper and OMR sheet in hand, you still have a chance of making it. Go in with this belief in yourself.
Now that you are all done with prelims, a few things to keep in mind.
1. If you haven’t checked the answer key so far, resist the urge. You would know the result very soon. (If trend of last 2 years is any indication, it will be out by 24th June)
2. Even if you have, if you are scoring anywhere around 75-80 or above, don’t feel disheartened just yet. With higher vacancies and a very unpredictable paper this year, the cutoffs can go low.
3. Start preparing for Mains. You only have 100 days time, including today. By the time Prelims results are declared, those who waste this time in anticipation or anxiety have already increased their chances of elimination in the next round.
4. Every single candidate has a unique strategy of preparation that works for them. Do not get anxious by looking at strategies of selected candidates of previous years. That being said, do look at them and add portions that seem relevant to your preparation. Every little bit helps.
In the subsequent posts, I will be sharing strategies relevant to various aspirants with varying levels of preparation in different subjects.
Secret Preparation Strategy by Shreya Shree UPSC Topper
Relevant for: ▫️1st attempt in 2023 ▫️ Those who expect to score below 50 marks in GS Prelims ▫️Those who don’t expect to clear CSAT Prelims
It is almost certain that you won’t be writing the Mains exam in 2022. You have an entire year. The following areas need to be focused on:
CSAT – though this is only a qualifying paper, the difficulty level is increasing each year. It needs regular practice. For those starting out afresh – take out atleast 3-4 hrs a week initially to strengthen basic mathematics, logical skills and English comprehension. Start with either good video lectures or any good book for basics. Most essential thing is do practice. Solve PYQs as well as mocks. Try to target scoring around 100 in Mocks. That will help in qualifying comfortably no matter the difficulty of the paper or exam pressure and nervousness.
Optional: while specific strategy will depend on your specific optional, some general things must be kept in mind.
build conceptual clarity.
don’t start making notes and solving Qs on the first go, especially in the case of optional different from graduation/ post-grad.
make your own notes. Especially in case of subjects like economics where graphs are very important.
practicing PYQs is a must. Try to get them evaluated as well.
whether or not coaching is required is your decision. Please talk to mentors or OTs having your specific optional.
Pre vs Mains
try not to create an artificial boundary between Prelims and Mains prepration. A lot of the conceptual foundation is similar.
do not start answer writing from day 1 but don’t neglect it for the end either. Start writing 1 or 2 answers on a daily basis after 5-6 months of preparation, irrespective of whatever you feel your level of preparation is.
Current Affairs
will be sharing separate post for this.
Relevant for: ▫️Those scoring 75+ in Prelims ▫️Those who didn’t check scores but have a good feeling about the exam ▫️Those feeling numb/ trying to be in denial ♦️ Especially those who will be giving their first Mains this year.
You can have a headstart of around 15-20 days in Mains preparation id you start today. You’ll thank yourself in the last week before Mains if you utilise this best.
Approach:
Start from papers which are highly rewarding in terms of marks but often neglected – Ethics and Essay papers.
Re-start Optional preparation as it gets neglected during last stages of Prelims preparation.
Will be posting separate approach posts for Essay and Ethics. I will also be posting my answer copies of all GS papers and Essay.
Will also be posting my approach to Economics Optional in a separate post.
Relevant for: ▫️Those confident of clearing Prelims ♦️ Especially those who have given Mains before and did not make it to the final list/ will be reappearing for Rank improvement
Approach: 1. Start by SWOT analysis of your Mains Marksheet. Focus first on the subjects you’ve scored low in. 2. If you hadn’t completed syllabus of any papers in the previous attempts, make it a priority now. 3. If your syllabus is complete, prioritise writing tests and getting them evaluated. For GS and essay answers, I felt the evaluation at Convert IAS and Corridor have been of good quality. I was part of Paid program at Convert IAS which offered a lot of flexibility. I was part of Special Focus Group at Corridor which was a free program. I had also enrolled in Vision Test Series for Mains but didn’t attempt a large portion of those tests. The ones I did attempt, didn’t find the feedback very useful. 4. My personal approach had been to focus on Essay, Ethics and Economics Paper 1. This paid off generally well for me.
One key advice by Satyam Sir at IAS Corridor relevant to everyone here is: In order to get a decent total in Written, it is enough to score average marks in all papers and above average in few. The specific papers you would target to score above average will depend on your strengths.
UPSC CSE Ethics Preparation Strategy by Shreya Shree UPSC Topper
✳️ Strategy for Ethics
Since 4 days have already passed since Prelims, I hope everyone is back on track to prepare for the upcoming phases. As I have written earlier, Ethics and Essay must be dealt with earlier as they are areas in which higher scores are possible but are often neglected.
My GS-4 score: 120
Approach for Ethics
Sources:
Vision Value Added Material on Topic Wise Ethics
PYQs + solutions
Toppers’ copies
Notes:
I preferred making my own notes for Ethics.
I initially read Lexicon on advice of seniors, but didn’t find it very useful according to the changing pattern of the examination.
My notes were based on Vision VAM, which I will be sharing on my channel.
Apart from topic wise notes, I only made compilation of examples and quotations for Ethics paper, which I used liberally in the exam.
PYQs:
It is essential to attempt PYQs on your own, rather than just looking at other solutions.
My approach had been to separately prepare Introduction, Body, Conclusion as well as Diagrams. (I will be sharing these on my channel as well)
Preferably, discuss your solutions with a peer group. I benefited greatly by exchange of points as well as alternative structures in answers.
While preparing answers to PYQs, pay attention to structuring of the answer and meeting the demand of various questions.
In recent years, case studies have been become lengthier and unconventional.
My approach has been to answer to the point in case studies rather than have a mechanical approach to answers.
Try to be creative in your structuring of Case Studies as there are 6 cases in the paper and using the same way of answering all of those could make it monotonous for the examiner.
Mock tests:
Writing practice is essential for Mains Preparation.
I attempted 4-5 FLTs of Ethics as well as time bound writing of answers between Prelims and Mains.
The most important aspect is to get your answers evaluated and analysis the feedback you’ve received.
DO NOT PAY HEED TO THE MARKS. Instead, PAY ATTENTION TO THE FEEDBACK FOR IMPROVEMENT.
That being said, take everything with a pinch of salt. Use your discretion in selectively following advice that is practical and relevant for you as everyone has a unique approach to the exam.
Toppers Answer Copies
These have been crucial for understanding approach to the exam.
I referred to the answer sheets of Vishakha Yadav Ma’am (2019) and Divya Mishra Ma’am (2020) extensively.
All the very best! In case you have any further queries, feel free to drop them in the comment box or reach out to me at instagram.com/shreya_shree_71. I will answer your queries in subsequent posts.
UPSC CSE Essay Preparation Strategy by Shreya Shree UPSC Topper
✳️ Strategy for Essay
Essay Preparation is crucial, even for those who have experience with writing. UPSC Essay Writing is a different ball game than all the other creative writing we usually do. The most fundamental issue is how to start writing essays in general, and the specific essay in question once we sit with the pen and paper.
My Essay Score: 130
Sources:
Toppers’ Copies
Vision compilations on various frequently asked Essay themes
Extensive reading of fiction and non-fiction books in my spare time (NOT Advisable for those who do not have a habit of reading in the prelims-mains gap)
How to start preparing for Essays:
It is advisable to start by reading some essays of previous year toppers, especially those who have secured high marks in the essay paper.
Those hopeful of writing Mains this year can gain most by analysing the essays of toppers that you read in terms of the structure and elements that you can inculcate in your own essays as well as things that you like and don’t like in their essays.
The most important step is to start writing. Just write. It is possible that in the beginning, one may not be able to write beyond 400 words. It is completely alright. One cannot complete a journey until they place the first foot forward.
Try to get your essays evaluated. Ask for specific feedback regarding structuring of your essay rather than merely content. My experience has been that evaluation feedbacks generally list out extra dimensions that could be used in the essay without paying heed on how to structure them for making the best impact through your essay.
How to start writing your own essays:
My approach has been to first form an outline of what I intend to write. It includes the sections I would make, flow of my essay as well as examples and quotations I would be using in the essay.
Initially, one can spend 30-45 minutes on creating this outline and 90-100 minutes in writing the essay itself. Slowly, this has to be brought down to around 15-20 minutes for the outline and 65-70 minutes for writing the essay.
If you have a peer group, I have personally found it beneficial to coordinate on the topic of the essay and then reading each other’s work to gain newer perspectives on the topic. This also gives a sense of discipline.
How to improve upon your essays:
Getting your essays evaluated and working on inculcating the feedback.
Go back to the Toppers’ Essays you’ve already read or different essays from the same or different topper and observe how they deal with the common issues. For eg, I used to have difficulty in connecting one paragraph to the next. So, I observed what kind of connecting words and phrases are used as well as the sequence in which themes are mentioned in the essay to provide an organic flow.
Re-read your own essays after a gap of 1-2 weeks. In this duration, we generally get newer ideas as well as become more open to critiquing our own work. Do this with a red pen in hand and correct mistakes as you go.
Work on justifying your arguments. Wherever you think of an argument connected to an Essay topic or theme, try to think about justifications and counter points as well, liberally sprinkled with examples.
I don’t read many books. What do I do now?
Since limited time is available now, you can use some shortcuts. For eg, there are several compilations which explain the central idea of the book in 5 minutes or less. One can use those.
Books are NOT the only source of great ideas. Essays provide a wide latitude to express your own creativity. Use this to your advantage and play it to your strengths.
Another way is to compile the good ideas and quotations you read from toppers’ essays in a separate note. Revising these regularly would help in recall and execution. I would be providing my own list of examples and quotations. You can add your own to it.
Integrating Ethics and Essay preparation
To avoid repetition of labour, I prepared my list of examples and quotations together for both GS 4 and Essay paper.
The philosophers we read for Ethics can also be used liberally in the Essay paper. Just make sure that you have a decent understanding of their work before you mention them in your answers.
IT IS BETTER TO MENTION FEWER EXAMPLES, than mentioning WRONG EXAMPLES.
I will be sharing my own Essay answer copies as well as pointers on content and structuring of essays in a separate post. For any queries, feel free to drop them in the comment box or reach out to me at instagram.com/shreya_shree_71.
Some basic pointers for choosing any optional can be applied here as well. Favour a subject where: ▫️your subject in graduation and/or masters. ▫️your interest in the subject ▫️availability of study material, mentorship etc in the subject
Specific skillsets for choosing Economics optional: ▫️understanding and use of graphs ▫️analytical approach to concepts ▫️patience — as preparation may take more time than some other optional according to your aptitude
How to start with Econ Optional?
I referred to blogs of Tejasvi Rana Ma’am, Abhijeet Sinha Sir, Abhimanyu Gahlaut Sir and Kumar Anurag Sir to get an idea of how to prepare.
From all their blogs, I minimised the book list to 1 book for each portion of Paper 1 that I’ll be using and then stuck with my choice till the end.
In the first reading, my focus was essentially on understanding the concepts, despite having a background in economics.
I did the note making in 2nd reading of each book, especially for Paper 1 topics.
After completing notes, I segregated PYQs from 2010 onwards for Paper 1 and 2014 onwards for Paper 2 topic wise and prepared my own answers. Doing this exercise in a time bound manner was very helpful. Especially because by the end, I was unable to attempt any mock tests for Optional.
Note making
In Paper 1, it is essential to make your own notes, preferably handwritten. As lots of graphs are required to be made in the exam hall.
Do this after 2nd reading of the topics.
Use toppers’ notes to (i) get an idea on how to approach note making and (ii) fill the gaps in your own notes
Mentorship and Guidance
I do not have idea about this as I did my entire optional preparation on my own.
Study Material
I did my readings from standard books and supplemented them with guidance from toppers’ resources available online.
I will be posting my material on my channel very soon.
Post more general Qs here. I will answer in this and subsequent posts.
1. Booklist – I referred to blogs mentioned above to shortlist basic books. Listing out the ones I used below: – Micro: HL Ahuja (refer Abhimanyu Gahlaut’s blog to sort chapters) – Macro: Froyen + Gaurav Agarwal notes (selectively) – Trade/ International Eco: Salvatore + speculative attack from Krugman – Money & Banking: used Kumar Anurag’s notes – Public Finance: studied selectively from both Musgraves and HL Bhatia. Neither felt adequate yet didn’t feel very useful either – Development Economics: ML Jhingan + Kumar Anurag’s notes
2. Notes: – I made detailed handwritten notes for Paper 1 from the books mentioned above. (Will share scanned copies in a few weeks) – Cross-checked my notes with Abhimanyu Gahlaut’s in Microeconomics and Kumar Anurag’s in the other papers; added portions I had missed.
3. Revision: – crucial for keeping concepts at the forefront of your mind – Please ensure that you revise with a pen and paper in hand and practice the diagrams and graphs each time you revise. – Frequency can be according to your study patterns. But ensure atleast 2 revisions of the entire syllabus between prelims and mains and atleast once in the 5 day gap between GS-4 and Language papers during Mains
4. Test Series: – I did not join any test series for economics optional or got my answers evaluated by anyone. – if you are from a non-economics background, you might benefit from a systematic test series and evaluation. – Neha Byadwal (285 marks in Economics Optional) may be contacted for experience with test series. https://t.me/Neha_Byadwal_AIR260_economics
5. PYQs – The Most Essential ingredient in my economics optional preparation. – I had sorted the PYQs topicwise and attempted them after revising the portions from my notes. Also went back to the book/ Google in a lot of cases where notes seemed inadequate. – Your first emphasis MUST be on framing your OWN answers for PYQs. However, for understanding approach, one can refer to some test papers of Tejasvi Rana Ma’am and Kumar Anurag Sir available online. – PYQ solutions of Abhishek Dudhal Sir available on his blog may also be referred. – I will also share topicwise segregated PYQ questions in some time to prevent reduplication of efforts by you.
6. Attempting the exam – Will write on this detail later.
Post further queries in the comments. I’ll respond in subsequent posts.
UPSC CSE Economics Optional Paper 2 Preparation Strategy by Shreya Shree UPSC Topper
✳️ Strategy – Economics Optional Paper 2
My Score: 132
1. Booklist: – Pre-Independence: Tirthankar Roy’s Economic History of India – Post-Independence: I read from Uma Kapila’s Indian Economy book to get familiarised with the concepts – Dynamic nature precludes a long booklist relevant over time
2. Notes: – I preferred digital notes, given the dynamic nature of this paper. – Pre-independence notes entirely from Tirthankar Roy. Had plans to read another book but never found the time. In the exam, one book seemed sufficient anyway. – For Post-independence, I used the framework of Abhijeet Sinha Sir and Kumar Anurag Sir. – On the above framework, I updated recent data using Google, Economic Survey wherever possible. – Referred to Vision Mains 365 Economy document selectively because of time constraint. – Will be sharing these on my channel. However, they are incomplete in various portions.
3. Revision: – I used to write and revise. For the last 5 days, my revision was centred on extremely short notes comprising data, papers and economists list which I quoted liberally in the paper. – Did not attempt any FLTs, which could be the reason for nervousness and the consequent penalty marks.
4. Test Series: – I did not join any test series for economics optional or got my answers evaluated by anyone.
5. PYQs: – Sorted PYQs topic-wise. Prepared my own answers for most topics. – Wherever I was unable to complete notes/ revision, I did mental structuring of the sections in the answers and used Abhishek Dudhal’s compilation for some readymade points. These are not sufficient for exams. However, they can be used to provide an idea for certain questions you might be unable to prepare your own answers. – I also selectively used EPW articles for preparing answers to PYQs. However a subscription is not essential. Educators like Atish Mathur selectively share useful articles for reference purposes. Those can be used too.
6. Attempting the exam: – Will write on this in detail later.
Motivational Post by Shreya Shree UPSC Topper
🔔🟢🔔
My tuppence for Increasing Motivation Levels
Many aspirants who appeared for Prelims on 5th June would be in an anxious state. Going by the trend of the last two years, your results could be just around the corner. I have been in the same situation twice, so here is something from those experiences, in a QnA format. If there are any other questions or internal dialogues bugging you, please reach out to me in the comment box or on my insta handle. I will try to address your queries to my best abilities.
1. I’m certain I won’t be clearing prelims. I have a long time until next attempt. So, I will re-start my preparation tomorrow. 🔹 TOMORROW NEVER COMES. If something is important enough to start tomorrow, you need to START WORKING on it TODAY. The 800-900 odd people who will see their names in the list next year haven’t paused, so neither can you. 🔸My approach: I visualised some of my most diligent peers whenever I felt like I have done enough/ I can’t do any more. If they were still studying, I couldn’t take a break yet. Whatever hours I had put in that day, I tried to study for atleast 45 min – 1 hr extra after that on that day before going to bed.
2. The uncertainty is debilitating for me. I try to study and even sit for long hours at my study table, yet I’m not able to get anything done. 🔹 Remember your mother’s words – ‘खाली दिमाग शैतान का घर’ (An empty mind is the devil’s workshop). Fill your mind with preparation related things so that it doesn’t have space or energy to think and feel anxious. Shift gears from THINK to ACT. 🔸My approach: I made daily targets and sent the status of completion every night to a friend who would encourage/ scold depending on the day’s productivity. Before the results, I started with the easy stuff (Essay, GS4) to avoid any 0 study days after prelims exam. Ensure that your optional preparation doesn’t lag behind in this time period.
3. 🔔‼️MENTAL HEALTH
♦️ YOU ARE VALUABLE, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE RESULTS. 🔹Among the aspirants are also people who have been in the grind for several years now and feel dejected. For such people, taking a break might be necessary as well as advisable. Go for it, but try to promise yourself when you will be back into preparation with redoubled energy and focus. 🔸My approach: Maintained a close circle comprising immediate family and friends (UPSC, non-UPSC both) and discussed any issues I had with them. Also took need-based small breaks – few hours/ half a day/ movie break etc.
4.🔔‼️ PHYSICAL HEALTH 🔹 A HEALTHY MIND LIVES IN A HEALTHY BODY. Having physical fitness is essential for sitting long hours and avoiding issues like back pain, neck pain etc. I personally felt that my focus and productivity also improved when I worked out consistently. 🔸 My approach: Starting after Prelims, until mid-December, I dedicated approx 30 min everyday for workouts. It can be anything of your choice – running, brisk walks, yoga, body weight exercises. Just ensure that it activates your blood circulation but is not too intense that you feel tired and are unable to study after that.
5. How much is enough/ too much? 🔹Those who have been preparing for a while know by now that counting hours of study is pointless here. One needs to ensure productivity of the hours being spent. That being said, try to ensure that the no of hours you spent are not too little or too much. CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY. 🔸 My approach: I used Engross app to track the amount of time I spent on studies each day. Made daily targets of the time I would study for as well as the amount of work I will get done in the day. I will share screenshots of Oct, Nov and Dec to show my efforts. The amount of efforts you put in will be according to your choice + need.
6. ‼️🟠‼️ FAITH + SELF CONFIDENCE 🔹THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENT in preparation. I often used to doubt whether my efforts would prove enough or not. Even when my mother felt confident in my honest efforts towards preparation, I felt there would be lot more aspirants studying even more, practicing even more and so on. 🔸Approach: I read long back in APJ Abdul Kalam’s ‘Wings of Fire’ a theory of circulation of Energy in the Universe. It can be summarised as ‘Whatever energy one sends into the universe, it gets amplified and returns to the sender’. Thus sending positive thoughts and confidence in the universe certainly can help you in unexpected ways and/ or reflect in unexpectedly good results, favourable situations etc. (You are free to choose to believe in whatever you have faith in. What is essential is having positivity and confidence.)
Notes Making strategy by Shreya Shree UPSC Topper
✳️ Note Making for Mains
1. Hand-written vs Digital – Initially I started making handwritten notes but switched to OneNote within a few months because: > difficult to search in handwritten notes > difficult to add on related content/ update with the most recent data > shortening notes requires much longer in handwritten > the bulk is difficult to carry around, especially when you have to travel to another city for the exam. > digital notes are easier to understand even after long gaps, especially as handwriting has a tendency of getting spoiled after writing continuously. – My preferred medium was the OneNote for Windows 10 App. I also experimented with Evernote for a while but didn’t like it as much as OneNote. > An unintended benefit was that digital note-making had improved my typing speed, resulting in easy completion of paper in RBI Grade B Phase-II which is a computer based subjective exam.
2. Whether or not to make notes of the given subject material? – If all the relevant material is available in one place, do NOT make separate notes. Rather, do value addition there itself. For eg. Spectrum, Laxmikanth. – If the original source is spread apart, eg. in IR/ dynamic subjects where current affairs are essential, prepare own notes and keep updating with latest data, events etc – If the original source can be significantly pared down, DO make your OWN notes. eg HL Ahuja for Microeconomics in Economics Paper 1. – Use your own discretion in deciding this. Make sure that the returns on the time you spend making notes is more than preparing the subject material directly from the source.
3. When to make notes? – Preferably in your 2nd reading of the given subject. – I tried to ensure that 2nd reading was in continuity of the 1st reading.
4. How to include note-making in study schedule? – As note-making is very time consuming, we often put it for later. – My approach was to allocate time for note-making in my schedule itself. I generally tried to put a timer on how long it would take me to make notes out of any given source.
5. Efficiency ideas for note-making – learn ten-finger typing if possible. It is an important life-skill in the current digital age. – liberal use of screenshots. – do NOT take print outs of every edition after small edits. Save paper. Prefer revision in digital medium itself. – use keyboard shortcuts in OneNote for formatting. Personally, neat presentation with bullets etc helps me in recall. – use hyperlinks within OneNote to link subject matter. UPSC values well-rounded thinking and awards good marks when your answers are interdisciplinary within the bounds of the demands of the question.
Any other queries, please put in comment box. I’ll address here.
For those who didn’t find their roll no in the pdf, this is not the end of the road. You have some time to figure things out for yourself. If you decide to write prelims again, I’ll be sharing my prelims strategy in the coming weeks.
For those who found their roll no in the list, Congratulations! But do NOT be complacent. The battle has only begun. Follow the strategy posted so far and I will be sharing the rest of my material and strategy in the coming days.
In case you have any queries, reach out in the comments box or on my Instagram. I will address your queries to the best of my abilities.
GS Answer Writing Strategy by Shreya Shree UPSC Topper
✳️ GS Answer Writing Strategy It has been almost a week since the Prelims results were announced. I hope those who got the call for Mains are moving full steam ahead. Here are answers to the FAQs posted in the previous post.
1. Answer writing practice – when should I start? – The earlier the better. If you haven’t done any answer writing so far, start TODAY. Practice writing in UPSC format answer writing notebooks, atleast 1-2 answers each day, preferably with a timer. – Those who have done answer writing previously may focus more on value additions and practice mainly through FLTs. Still, completely skipping on answer writing is not advisable.
2. Quantity vs Quality in Answer Writing Practice – Quality is any day more important in answers. The quantum of answer writing practice becomes more important from the perspective of improving speed. – Try to strike a balance between both aspects. – Focus more on REVIEWING your own answers apart from getting them evaluated. REVISE not just notes but also your own answers.
3. Test Series – I have personally only joined Vision IAS test series but didn’t like the quality of review. I relied more on good quality evaluations from other sources. – My focus was on attempting max no of PYQs between Prelims and Mains. – I do not have personal experience on Mains Test Series. Hence I will be unable to provide guidance on any of GS, Essay or Economics Optional Test Series.
4. No of tests between Prelims and Mains – No fixed number that works for all. Find your own balance. – I focused on completing PYQs. Towards the end, attempted 3-4 FLTs of each GS Papers in a Mains Simulator format ( 2 days, 2 3-hr papers in the exact slot) – For essays, I tried to write an FLT every alternate weekend at the least.
5. Tests for language papers – English, Hindi etc – Did not write in FLT format. Did practice PYQs 1 question a day and got it checked for spelling mistakes. – Prepared a compilation of translation of commonly used words and revised Synonyms, Antonyms etc from a high-school level grammar book
6. Necessity of completing the paper – It is STRONGLY ADVISED to practice completing all Qs in the 3 hr period. One must remember that even when we are not doing this, there are others who will be. – My approach: While practicing, use a lap timer app to sound an alarm of 7 minutes for 10 marker Qs and 10 minutes for 15 marker Qs. Make sure to turn over the page quickly after the alarm sounds. Consistently practicing significantly helped me and some of my peers in improving their speed. – Wherever you don’t have a lot of content, use diagrams and flow charts to fill up space. Refer to Shubham Kumar (AIR 1, CSE 2020)’ s GS1 answer copies to get an idea of how to do it without seeming obvious that you don’t know the complete answer.
7. Understanding the Question and addressing each demand – For Question keywords like Elucidate, Analyse, Critically Analyse etc, one can refer these link 1link 2 – While attempting, underline the separate demands of the question you have identified and make sure to make separate subheadings for each of those parts in your answer. – Preferably, put the subheadings IN A BOX. In GS, it is advisable to use the keywords in the question to frame the subheadings, rather than Essay paper style creative subheadings.
8. Writing good answers – While there is no set formula for writing good answers, some subject specific pointers would be shared in upcoming posts. – Ensure that you attempt ALL the questions and try to fill as much of the space available in the answer sheet as you can.
9. Making answers concise – Try to be well versed with the keywords in the specific subject. Using them significantly reduces the no of words required. – I preferred bullet points format for answers.
Self Evaluation
I preferred getting my answers evaluated by others and reviewing the evaluation received.
Those who would like to do self evaluation can refer to previous year topper’s answer copies as well as peers writing this Mains. However, the latter might not be possible as different candidates would be having different priorities before the exam.
Effectively using notes while preparing
Do not run after the material being posted by toppers rn.
Prefer your own notes for last minute revision. Wherever you have gaps, use toppers’ notes selectively only for those parts.
At the end of the day, what matters is not all the content present in the notes you referred to, but the content you put on the paper.
Enjoying the process, keeping the motivation up
All those of us who have given an important period of our lives in this preparation are here out of our OWN free will, our OWN choice. Remembering this from time to time makes the pressure manageable
The opportunity of writing the Mains is in no way small. 1 out of every 13 of those writing Mains will see their names in the final PDF. Why not BE that one?
Shreya Shree UPSC Topper Marksheet
My version of Oscar Wilde’s quote – ‘Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars’. This is what I wrote on my whiteboard the night CSE 2021 Prelims results were declared. This stayed on one side of the board during my entire preparation of Mains. Yes, I severely underperformed in almost all papers and the most in Optional where the difference was a staggering 51 marks. Why did I do this? Because Mains plays a very important role in the final rank one gets in CSE. In 2021, I had also appeared in RBI Grade B exam but couldn’t make it to the final list. While initially I thought this was because the panel awarded me too few marks in the interview. However, the failure to be selected was because I had cleared the Phase II exam (a la Mains) by a hair. This made me resolve I’ll score enough in the written exam so that even the strictest interview marking would not stop me from seeing my name in the list. Hopefully, this will motivate you to rock your Mains. All the best!
Shreya Shree UPSC Topper Notes & strategy
These are my notes for Economics Optional Paper 1. Those expecting to write Mains in CSE 2023 or later are advised to use this only for reference and make their own notes. For those writing CSE 2022 Mains, do whatever is required to get that interview call this year.
P.S. In Development Economics, I referred to Kumar Anurag Sir’s notes in addition to my notes for greater clarity. You would be advised to do the same. In case of Public Finance, notes cover a lot of ground but it is not often asked in the examination. Use your discretion in preparing for that portion.
All the best!
This is for those candidates who like me are running pillar to post, fearful they won’t be able to complete the syllabus in time for mains.
P.S. Use your discretion. P.P.S. I used such an analysis only for Economics Paper 2. I’m not sure about the effectiveness for other papers.
My approach: I analysed last few years paper question wise and according to the strength of my preparation at that point as well as quality of notes and PYQ solutions in various areas identified the questions I could have attempted in that paper. These were highlighted with green, The others were highlighted yellow. Accordingly, my revision strategy put greater emphasis on my strength areas while preparing mainly the basics in rest of the topics. It also helped that my strength areas were the static portions which are slightly more predictable than the rest of the paper.
Please note that this strategy does have the potential to backfire if you do not keep in mind that the 10 markers also come from the areas you haven’t prepared.
Shreya Shree UPSC Topper Allocation list
Official confirmation of IAS. Congratulations to all fellow officers!
Happy Independence Day by Shreya Shree UPSC Topper
Hello all, 75 years ago, at about this same hour, our nation made its tryst with destiny. The midnight hour is here. It is time that all of you also make your tryst with destiny today. The nation is about to enter Amritkaal. We as students are already in the Amritkaal of our lives, with endless possibilities. Starting on this Independence Day, put in all your efforts to be free of regrets. Put in everything you have into this dream that you have all been seeing with open eyes. Toil as hard as you can. Write your own story. Be that citizen who was not just an aspirant but also the civil servant who is proud of her contribution in India @100.
Wishing you all a very Happy Independence Day!
Jai Hind!
Last minute Mains related tips by Shreya Shree UPSC Topper
Fire away any last minute Mains related doubts and queries. Will address them soon.
1. Time Management during paper
– while writing mocks, experiment different ways to approach the paper and figure out what works best for you. (sequentially, reverse sequence, etc) – keep an eye on the clock while writing. If you overshoot time in a question, ensure that you make up within the next few Qs – do NOT take any Q on your ego. If you can’t remember something, move on. Either write something else or move to the next Question. – Strategise the time you allocate to each Question. If there are Qs for which you have no idea, spend as little time on them as possible. Or leave them for the end and do whatever can be done in the time that remains after giving your best in the Qs you do know the answers to.
2. Presentation vs Knowledge
– Both are required in balance in the exam. – However, the time to expand your knowledge base is long gone. – Right now, one should work on presentation skills. – Handwriting: It is important, but not essential. Right now, the time to worry about handwriting is gone. – Some pointers for presentation:
— use tables for comparison, difference type of Qs — have some readymade diagrams based on concepts in each paper. Use them liberally. — Maps, wherever possible. — Innovative but simple diagrams. Eg. Draw a circle instead of writing about a vicious/ virtual cycle in detail. — Put headings in a box — Creative presentation – definitions etc in a box — Label your diagrams. i.e. Mention ‘Fig 1: Petroleum reserves in India’. These labels must be very specific. — Put diagrams in a box.
3. Last 20 Day revision Schedule
– I was giving Simulator tests in this period, except for the very last week. – Based on my self assessment, selectively revised the topics I was weak in. – I had chalked out high priority areas that I needed to revise in the end. These were based on my strengths and weaknesses. – Consolidate your resources for optional until 5th September. After that, focus completely on GS and Essay revision.
– More mocks vs More syllabus revision: Go for more mocks. Work on using what you have already revised.
Simulator Tests: – Cycles of 3 days – Day 1: 9-12 Essay – Day 2: 9-12 GS1, 2-5 GS2 – Day 3: 9-12 GS3, 2-5 GS 4 – One may also include Day 4 for Optional here
4. Approaching Unexpected Questions
These questions will always be there in the paper. Ideally, we need to answer all the questions with to the point answers, using appropriate diagrams and charts.
However, in case there’s a question about which one does not have any idea, it is recommended to *not* skip these questions.
Try answering them to the best of your abilities, using the peripheral knowledge on the subject. In case you can’t think of anything, move on to the next question for the moment. Come back and answer these in the end in whatever time that remains. This way, they do not eat into your time that could have produced better quality answers to questions you do know the answers to.
Shreya Shree UPSC Topper Name in Cadre Allocation list
