In any competitive exam, understanding the nature of the exam is the most crucial phase. The preparation will be more focused when you know exactly what the examiner is expecting. At the same time, the competition is relative. You only need to be better than the other aspirants to get a final place in the merit list.
-A thorough analysis of the previous year's papers and the recent trends.
-Discussing elaborately with teachers, successful candidates and seniors.
-Carefully understanding the requirements of the exam as given in the notification.
The preparation should start only after having the basic idea about the exam. Later on, as you study, there should be a continuous analysis and comparison between your preparation and the requirements of the exam. This kind of assessment will help in being very focused and all the efforts can be channelised in the right direction.
-The candidates who qualify for IAS (say top 40) get marks in the range of 55-60%.
-To make it to the final list, a candidate requires 50-55%
-To qualify for the interview a candidate requires 48-50%
- catchy introduction
- diagrams
- graphs
- flow charts
- maps
- case studies
- contemporary touch and applicability
- Conclusion.
- what is inflation
- why should there be inflation, i.e., causes
- So what if there is inflation, i.e., impact
- If impact is negative, then naturally we should be doing something to reduce it, so what steps were taken and what happened
- If still inflation is there, then what's wrong with the steps taken
- How to control inflation , any suggestions by experts and recent developments.
So, to summarize, the following points should be kept in mind while doing preparation:
- It is a Second class exam which requires a satisfycing approach
- The focus should be on gaining basic clarity in each topic, which will come only through lots of logical questioning
- The whole syllabus should be completed
- More time should be spent on thinking about the topic and making innovations, rather than on reading too many study material.
- The previous papers should be thoroughly analyzed to understand the expectations of the examiner.
- The preparation should be focused and all the hard work should be channelised in the right direction.
The most important step in the exam is chosing the optionals. There is a need to be really cautious about the optionals. The main problem is lack of level playing field between the optionals. In fact, the result depends a lot on the optionals that we take.
- Availability of guidance – in the form of seniors who cleared with the optional, coaching, material, etc.
- Performance of the optional in the last few years.
- Time gap between the two optionals. Chose the optionals combination so that there is some time gap between them.
Some of the optionals which a majority take are: Anthropology, Geography, History, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology and Literature.
- availability of guidance, which reduces the efforts to a large extent
- the knowledge also helps in GS, Essay and interview.
- They are also relevant for an administartive career.
- There will be no guidance available. So, lots of time will have to be spent in understanding the requirements of the exam. Then, searching for the material. It becomes a trial and error process. All the energies will be spent on this, while you get exhausted when really studying. At the same time, you will also have to complete the huge syllabus of another optional and GS.
- Because of the above problem, it will take more time and more attempts. While, your friends in other fields go far ahead. So, both peer and social pressure starts. The exam is anyhow psychologically draining, if other pressures add to it , then it becomes unbearable. Finally, your goal of cracking the exam becomes impossible.
- You will have to do every thing on your own. Initially it might be fine. But the exam is of long duration. It becomes difficult to sustain the momentum on your own.
- Previously, science and engg. Optionals used to do very well. In top 20, there used to be 18-19 from
- do you have a senior who has cleared with this optional and who can guide you well
- do you have close association with professors who have good understanding about this exam.
- Are you clear about the requirements of the exam? Study the previous papers thoroughly and assess yourself
- Be clear about the books to follow. Don't do trial and error process. Do a focused exam oriented preparation.
- Be aware that you have to put double the efforts compared to other aspirants. This should always be on your mind.
- Do not neglect other optional and GS. Give equal importance.
- Form a group of aspirants with same optional. If you prepare in isolation, then there will be no flow of information.
Coaching
- helps in understanding the requirements of the exam quickly, so that the preparation is focussed.
- reduces the efforts in preparation, as subject experts teach the topics in exam orientation. Any how, the candidate has to prepare for atleast one new optional.
- helps in getting many contacts with co-aspirants which is useful for exam related information. Never prepare for this exam in complete isolation. In any complex situation, information plays the key role.
- do not merely go by the advertisements, nor the claims made in magazines or the interviews supposedly given by the toppers.
- meet the successful candidates and the seniors who have taken coaching from that institute.
- do not go by the advise of only one person. It is better to contact as many as possible and get a general opinion.
- meet the teacher personally,ask for their programme details, results,etc, and assess yourself if it is worth joining there.
The following data about the marks and the ranks will give a general idea about the efforts that are required. The marks and the ranks keep varying every year depending on the vacancies and the standard of the question papers.
In general category, the score should be above 1290 to get into IAS.
The actual ranks and the service placements can be obtained from the personnel ministry website. www.persmin.nic.in
The exam time table is almost the same every year. This information will be useful in selecting the optionals. But remember clearly that you interest in the subject should be the main criteria.
The exam sequence is as follows:
GS
Essay and English
Indian language paper
History
Mathematics, Statistics
Sociology, Anthropology
Geography
Engineering subjects
Political Science, Public Administration
Literatures
Physics
Commerce, Management
Zoology
Economics
Botany
Law
Philosophy
Agriculture, Veterinary Science
Psychology
Chemistry
Geology
Observe the following points:
- Long hours of study and lot of other sacrifices are needed. You should have a very determined mental make up and a never-say-die kind of spirit.
- The fortune favours the brave. So work hard with courage inspite of the failures. The final reward is bound to come. The luck factor does not help if you don't work hard to your full capacity.
- to err is human, but the one who rectifies is a champion. So, do lots of introspection as you progress in the preparation. This will help you in identifying the mistakes and rectifying them at the right time.
- Devotion and Determination are the keys to the success. Be ready to work hard. But at the same time, ensure that your efforts are channelised in the right direction.
- Plan your study and try to work it out within schedule. Set weekly targets and at the end of the week, do a self-appraisal.
- Patience and perseverence always pays. You should have the confidence and the killer instinct. Remember clearly that there are no shortcuts to success.
- there will be lots of temptation to give up the attempt, as you progress in the preparation. This is mainly due to the huge syllabus and the accumulating pressure. But be aware that these are the critical moments. You should face all these pressures with courage. Be determined to clear the exam in the first attempt.
A new aspirant should keep in mind the following points:
- first try to understand the exam. Gather information from various sources, analyse the previous years' papers, meet seniors and teachers, and think deeply about the exam and the way you should prepare.
- chose the optionals very carefully.
- Settle down in some place where you can study without disturbances, it is better to be isolated for a year during the preparation.
- select the coaching centers carefully after enquiring from various sources. Do not merely go by the advertisements.
- Do not be in a hurry to buy all the material available in the market. Be selective and chose only the best, based on advise of right seniors.
- Establish good relation with the teachers and make complete advantage of their experience.
- Remember always that you are going to have a tough period for next two years. So be well prepared for all situations. Keep working hard right from the beginning without any distractions.
- Believe strongly that you will clear the exam in the first attempt itself and do not compromise at any stage. If required work harder than ever before.
- Take care of your health aspects. It is better to learn 'Sudarshan Kriya' as early as possible.
- Do not be in a hurry to complete the syllabus. Go slow when you read new concepts. Do regular revisions.
- make writing practise a part of your daily routine.
- The current affairs notes should be prepared every day.
- The preparation should be started atleast a year ahead of the prelims exam.
- Do not give the attempt unless you are confident of qualifying for the interview. The first attempt should be the best one, so work hard with determination.
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