PORTAL

FORUM

CSE RESULTS

DAILY INITIATIVES

CLASSIFIEDS

DOWNLOADS

GETTING STARTED

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS

STRATEGY

YOU ARE HERE: HOME / STRATEGY / STRATEGY: 8 RULES TO FOLLOW IN YOUR CS MAINS EXAMINATION

Strategy: 8 Rules to follow in your CS

Mains Examination
NOVEMBER 2 8, 2 01 4 BY RAVISINGH

Read the question twice before attempting. Do not just glance through the

question, identify the only/single keyword you are familiar with , and go full throttle ,
centering your answer around that single term which you have are familiar with.
There are at least two to three keywords in every question. Identify them
Understand the demand of the question. A good way is to break the question

into parts and sub parts. Something that you realise only in your second or third
Mains, unless you joined a good test series. In CSM 2013, every question had at least
two to three parts. Take a look at the question papers here, and see for yourself.

Instead of jumping to the conclusion as to what the question is asking, which you normally form in
your mind by just reading the first one line of the question, have patience and identify the parts.
If it looks tough to you, it will be a tough question for many people.

Remember, success in Mains wont depend on who does the most elusive and unique
question, but on who doesnt miss the easiest and most common questions. You
succees by answering the simplest and most straightward questions, not by

answering the easiest ones.

Draw diagrams. Draw stupid digrams in paper. But draw anything. Draw

in pen. Draw rough, or draw well, like this. But try to push diagrams. Having said
that, not putting diagrams in not a problem, and people have topped the exam

without diagrams as well, but it is always better and safer. Who knows an impressed examiner may
just awrd you because of your diagram while not even reading your answer. P.S> dont over do.
Write stuff. Diagrams are supplementary, not substitutive of your answer.

Do not exceed world limit or time limit. You will have 7 minutes to answer a

ten marker. Alternatively, if you havent done 4 questions in half hour, suit up and
start writing faster, like, real fast. So that you do 9 questions in one hour, 17-18 in 2
hours and 25 in three hours.
If all the questions seem difficult in a line, chances are the portion of syllabus

which you may be weak at has been asked in a row. Fret not, turn to the last pages,
and start attempting from number 25. Even if you are able to answer questions in a
row, after 1 hour, I would recommend you to start working from 25 to 1

backwards. This is one strategy I would recommend even for the Prelims paper. It works! It helps
ensure that you dont leave questions.
Do not judge yourself during the exam. Write me an email if you want to know

why. (Dont actually.) Be confident. But more than that, be quick. Most people with
half your knowledge will make it. So all you need is nerves of steel , not more
knowledge. Even if you are not able to recall something, its alright. Most people will

miss at some questions, and sometimes even those who make it under 100 may just miss 10%
worth questions that they knew.
Follow the 7-5-3 rule. That is, give a question not more than 7 minutes. Write

about 5 points on it. And mention 3 dimensions Social, Economic,

Political/Geographical OR For / Against / Conclusion or What/Why/How depending
on the nature of questions. Thats all folks.

Like This Art icle? Share it :

Relat ed

Prelims Tips : The Exam Day

Dossier
August 21, 2015
In "ForumIAS Base"

FILED UNDER: STRATEGY

TAGGED WITH: MAINS, STATEGY

IFS Mains 2014 GK Question

Paper is out. What could be the
pattern of CS Mains 2014 GS
Paper?
November 22, 2014
In "Latest Updates"

Interview with IAS-2014 RANK

20: Aman Mittal
July 27, 2015
In "TopperSpeak"

Issue Debate #20 : Some of the Nobel prizes have

Issue
oft... Debates
Some of the Nobel prizes have often been seen
as political statements. Discuss. Suggested
reading: 1. http://www.businessinsider.com/apsvetlana-al...
Oct 10, 2015 8:11 PM
Issue Debate #19 : Discuss how Net Neutrality
issue ...
Discuss how Net Neutrality issue affects the
people who are yet to be connected, especially in
rural India and Africa. Discuss its effect on
entrep...
Oct 8, 2015 5:18 PM
Issue Debate #18 : Is the 'Environmental
Compensatio...
Is the 'Environmental Compensation Tax' a viable
economic counter to pollution? With whom does
the actual incidence of this tax effectively lie and...
Oct 9, 2015 4:20 PM
Issue Debate #17 : Discuss the Role and Relevance
of...
Discuss the Role and Relevance of NonAlignment in India's current Foreign Policy
Suggested Reading: 1.
http://foreignpolicy.com/2012/08/28/india-a...
Oct 7, 2015 6:35 PM
Issue Debate #16 : The Trans-Pacific Partnership D...
The Trans-Pacific Partnership - Discuss its
implications for India Suggested reading : 1.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/econo
my/foreign-...
Oct 6, 2015 3:55 PM

MEET US ONLINE

Search this website

RECENT COMMENTS

animeshshah on Newspaper Must Read

Articles of The Day 15 October 2015

xxbee on Did not clear Prelims What

next?

dips on Did not clear Prelims What

next?

vanijaz on Newspaper Must Read Articles

of The Day 16 October 2015

srikant2000 on Did not clear Prelims

What next?

sivaprakash on Did not clear Prelims

What next?

Pujar on Did not clear Prelims What

next?

santhu on Did not clear Prelims What

next?

santhu on Did not clear Prelims What

next?

kumar77 on Did not clear Prelims What

next?

List of im portant threads

Newspaper

Forum Rules

Forum IAS Portal

Downloads

T&C, Priv acy Policy

Categories

Discussion Forum

Work With Us

Classifieds

Free News-letter

Adv ertise With Us

Join us on Facebook

About Us

Join us on Twitter

Contact Us

RSS Feed for Portal

Send us a m essage

Com m ents on the Portal

Send us an e-m ail

IAS COACHINGS
IAS Coachings in Delhi

ForumIAS.com (MMXII) All rights reserved. Opinions belong to individual users Log in