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So lets put more effort in 300 M of Opt. Subject at the cost of G/S.
But that's wrong way cause its really tough competition and just
because you are ignoring G/S doesn't mean other serious candidates
are doing the same.
So Prepare G/S very well.
Recommended BOOKLIST
first is you get all of your weapons ready.
that's buy following books or get them xerox.
don't do like you buy one book now and once you finish reading it then
you go buy another book
(cause you'll waste time going to market buying every time. )
all your tools have to be on your table no matter when you want to use
it.
buy them all at once and then lock yourself in the room. and start
preparing
They don't ask direct questions from it much, but you need to
study it only for make your base concepts clear. (more on it
written ahead.)
I've posted Downloadable NCERT books here
Also this is not the ultimate list you can use different books- what
matter is you must be able to clear your concepts from the book.
and, Gone are the days when conventional stuff was being asked.
And you could answer almost all question from TMH G/S manual or
Brilliant's Material etc
Nowadays the questions are 'out of the box', + UPSC makes sure no
questions are asked from big coaching classes' material (read the
'avoid March-April Flood' topic below.)
Bottom line is
These mags or coaching classes don't write off something from sky,
Whatever they write they've compiled from newspapers, std
reference book And internet.
All they do is present it in a nice bullets and points , boxes and tables
format.
You can use any of it, It doesn't make much difference. The
requirement is you should be able to understand it and clear your
concepts.
Disadvantage is
1. These mags give lot data and facts so you feel happy but they
don't explain the basic concepts and principles
1. i.e in Geography special issue you'll hardly see any map.
So whatever you read- you'll remember for a fraction of
seconds only. Same way they won't explain in user friendly
manner- how monsoon comes and everything.
2. In Economy they always take "after LPG" (liberelisation
pvtzn-gloablisation ) disinvestment , FDI upto 100%
allowed etc etc but never talk of why LPG came? for that
you've read NCERT and if you don't then entire PT issue of
Economy won't get down in your long term memory. So
unless you're a B.Com,- DO refer NCERT to clarify the
basic economic concepts 1st.
3. If you are a science graduate then you can directly use the
PT special physics-chemistry,biology but you are an Arts
/Comm. Grad then you won't grasp much of it unless you
get some basics cleared from NCERT.
SO BEFORE You PREPARE FROM PT SPECIAL MAGS ISSUES
DO CLEAR YOUR CONCEPTS FIRST FROM NCERT.
That's it.
Refer the paper set and see what UPSC has been asking from each
topic and prepare accordingly from the books mentioned above.
Sometimes mags don't cover entire G/S in their cycle (of December to
April)
So you might need to find and buy the older PT special issues for
certain topics like Mental Ability , Chemistry-Physics, Ancient
Medieval India- so don't forget.
DO MAKE NOTEs.
Since G/S is so vast its not possible to make notes of everything but
at least do it for imp topic that you think you'll forget if you don't keep
revising.
And rest of the things are getting covered in your Current Affairs Diary.
Why make notes? And How to make notes? I've explained that on
this page.
Many people would advice you (especially this 'Faculties' & many of
those who did not clear the prelims) (I've not cleared the prelims
either- I failed in 2008's attempt )
"oh you are a arts grad? Ok then don't waste lot of time in Science
portion instead concentrate on Geography / History"
"oh you are a Science Grad? Ok then don't waste time in economy is
you can't understand- instead concentrate on Science portion"
"economy is worth only 5 marks in prelims so don't waste time on it."
Strengthen your strength and make sure your weakness is well hidden
Ie. If you like polity then make sure you are well prepared enough
that even on the toughest paper you can get 12/15 correct in polity ,
but if you are weak and uninterested in economic then at least
make sure you are not so dumb that you can't even answer
basic GDP/GNP/Inflation /CRR questions.
When the March end comes- you'll see a flood of material from Delhi.
(if you go to some coaching class OR studying in group) you'll notice
that all your friends are Xeroxing some imp notes that came from
some big classes of Delhi. Most people go greedy and stop their
routine preparation and concentrate on that imp thing only but UPSC
doesn't ask anything from it (just like they did not ask anything from
Vaji's Current affairs notes this time lol- don't waste your time AND
money on Xeroxing it)
And finally
if you feel that the question paper is hard- then its hard for the rest of
the India as well,
so if you can't answer something - chances are a lot others won't be
able to answer it either. (provided that you really have prepared good.)
So in that case by taking risk you're degrading your own score.
so don't get scarred in the exam hall. its all about walking in with
confidence and walking out with confidence - bluffing &
guessing ain't gonna help.
This isn't a sure shot strategy cause the only person that used it ,is
me, and I've not yet got my prelim 2009 result.
Previously I had given prelims in 2008 and I did not clear it cause I
was really poor in G/S. (Because I had done the mistakes in
preparation like most people do as explained above)
This time in my 2009's attempt I had followed this strategy I told you
This time I've answered 71/150 in G/S. lets see where it takes me.