1) Keep an Atlas with you whenever you are reading newspaper/Magazines. Mark all locations in India and abroad which are in news. For eg- Last month 15th NAM summit was held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Try to first locate Egypt in world map, then important rivers and other Physical Features of Egypt and then locate Sharm El Sheikh also. It would be very helpful if you can gather any other important fact about Egypt. Also try to remember name of its President and Prime Minister. (in fact write it on that page in Atlas). In this way over a period of 3-4 months, just by reading newspapers and using Atlas, not only you would be able to improve your Current Affairs but also you would be able to attempt questions on Geography. Also it would give you a better understand of International relations, since physical location is one of the most important factor in IR.
2) Just keep in mind always that You don't need to attempt 150 questions to clear prelims stage. You just need around 70-80 questions right to clear prelims. ( There is no unanimity on this cut off in General Studies - Some say 60 is ok and some institutes say 90, but from my experience i think if you get around 75 questions right you will clear it easily- Of course Optional marks would also be counted but we will discuss about its cutoff later). I would suggest you to focus more on Current Affairs, Economics (here also focus on current developments), Polity (it is getting more weightage day by dayin Pre and in Mains also it has significant weightage), Geography (follow above tip, it will help alot), Some important facts about Indian culture, society
Current Affairs - Hindu, Frontline, Competition Wizard Monthly Issues, Pratiyogita Darpan Monthly Issues, Competition Wizard Yearly Issue (it is must, dont miss on this)
Economics - Read Newspaper with focus on schemes launched by Government, try to remember Chairman of important Companies, figures about Indian Economy. Pratiyogita Darpan yearly issue would help you alot.
Polity - I liked Indian Constitution by DD Basu. For quick reference TMH guide Polity portion is also good
Geography - Try to remember as much as possible by Maps. Be it Power plants or wildlife sanctuaries and National Pard or be it Rivers or Mountains. I think NCERT from class 9th to 12th would be enough.
Buy India Yearbook also. You can download softcopy from this link http://www.publicationsdivision.nic.in/others/India_2009.pdf
3) No one is superhuman, atleast not most of us are. Everyone forgets things, everyone makes mistakes. Crux is don't be disappointed if you are forgeting things, don't be disappointed if you are making mistakes. This is part of learning. Only solution is work hard and work hard and have confidence on yourself. You have decided to appear for this exam. So just have belief on yourself that you will definitely clear this exam and I am sure you will definitely. There is no one in this world who can stop you from achieving your target if you have 100% determination and focus.
I hope these 3 tips would be useful to you. ALL THE BEST. In case of any other query please leave a comment on my blog. I would be more than happy to answer your query. And Please let me know if information on this blog is useful for you or not. Thanks.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
40 comments:
Congratulations Vinay!!!
Thanks for this blog, im preparing for 2010 with optionals History and Public Administration. As i'm doing self study i'm unable to streamline things in a proper way. Please guide me regarding preparation...
Hi Harika. You can read my previous blog to get an idea how to start preparation. As far as your optional are concerned I would suggest the following books to start with
Public Administration :
1) New Horizons of Public Ad : Mohit Bhattacharya
2) Public Administration : Avasthi and Maheswari
3) Indian Public ADministraton : Rajni goyal
4) Administrative Thinkers : Prasad and Prasad
I would suggest you to go once through last year mains and pre papers by Wizard Publication. Check out this website in case you dont have wizard magazines available in your city
http://www.alsiasacademy.com/website_content.php?heading_id=366
History
1) NCERT from class 8th to 12th
2)A WOnder that was India : AL Basham
3) Medieval India : Satish Chandra
4) Modern India : Grover and Grover
5)INdia's Struggle for Freedom : Bipan Chandra
Hi Vinay..
I am having PubAd(1st) and Geography as my optional
Actually This was my 2nd attempt and i was not able to clear PT itself. Facing problem with GS..
Now studying at home Wb..
will go by suggestion provided.
Thanks!!
Hi Munmun, First of all dont be discouraged by your previous failures. Have full confidence on your ability and hard work, you would definitely achieve success.
You did not tell me areas in GS where you are facing problem so i wont be able to give any direct suggestions.
But I would suggest you to look at this year pre paper again. Now you yourself try to analyze how many questions were asked which could have been answered, if you were a regular listener of DD News + CNN/BBC and have read newspaper regularly. I would say roughly 75 questions. So, I would suggest you to make it a habit to listen to news on a daily basis. Dont miss out on COmpetition Wizard Magazine monthly issues and yearly issues. It is really the best magazine for IAS preparation. THis time around 40 questions from asked from the yearly issue in Current Affairs portion.
Now, if you are from engineering background I would suggest you to spend some time on Mental Ability questions. This time around 15 questions were asked from that portion and difficulty level was also not very high.
SInce you have Pub Ad, I am sure you would have a good command on Polity Portion. Go through Indian Constitution by DD Basu in case you havent.
In case of any other difficulty feel free to message me.
Hey vinay,
This blog is really really useful. Whenever i try to look for useful info on how to start preparing for IAS prelims, what i usually get is a tonne of outdated junk on internet which doesn't lead me to anywhere. Almost all the time, the guidelines given are from a tutor's point of view rather than from being a student's which really hinders the start. You have really done a good job by outlining the "must things" which will be of great help to those who are about to embark on this journey...
I must congratulate you vinay on sharing your experiences and guiding the applicants and also on giving tips on one to one basis! The tips given here, if followed with sicerity and consistently, then it may prove to be really helpful for those who are competing for ias exams!
i suggest you to add a column regarding the different/experimental ways of attempting the paper.. also about time & stress management while preparing and attempting for an exam..as often it is observed that applicants know the answers but can't manage time in the examination hall..Also you may add a few tips regarding memory retention, as it might be cumbersome for one to remember all..and keep the applicants posted with the latest books and other useful informations..
wishing all the future ias officers, all the very best!! with best wishes!
bhawna
Hi Vinay,
I completed my engineering studies in june 2009 and now I have joined Microsoft as my first job.computer science are my majors and I am an IAS aspirant. During my school days I never find History, Geography and political Science interesting.But since last 4 years I am closely following current affairs and so political developments as well and I find it very interesting. As I am from engineering back ground and that too Computer Engineering so I have no option but choose both subjects that will be totally new to me. I am quite good as Physics but many times I heard that its not wise to go for a science subject. So I am planning to take
1. Physics & Psychology or
2. Physics & Public Adminstration or
3. Psychology & Public Adminstration
I want you to guide me keeping in mind my academic background and time I can devote( 3 hours a day, I guess) to it as I am working.
You can reply me at pardeep.itbhu@gmail.com
Regards,
Pardeep
Hi Pardeep,
It wont be easy for me to suggest you which optional to take bcoz it depends on your personal interest and understanding of subjects. I can just advice you that take Physics only if you are really very comfortable with it and before finalising it once go through previous year papers. Only very serious candidates generally take science subjects so mostly cutoff are higher in these.
As far as Public Administration is concerned, it is an interesting subject and in last 3-4 years, marking has been also very good in mains in Pub Ad.
About Pyschology, I dont have much knowledge. So, would suggest you to take advice from someone who has cleared IAS with Pyshology as his optional.
this is rally a nice initiative.
i will be appearing this year for the first time and will not appear if i will not clear this year itself.
my brother lost all his golden yaear 4 this dream and some how i wasnt able to clear. i want to finish his unfinished task.
i am from science background but going with sociology and hindi.
as i am just starting plz help me decide approach and study materials.
i hope with your consistent help and my effort i can do it in one shot.
Hi Naveen,
I wont b able to help you much in your optionals as i dont have much knowledge about them. But I would like you to go thru the syllabus thoroughly and also previous year papers.
For GS - in my previous posts i have already written how to start preparation. I think going thru that would give u a gud idea. But Naveen since you want to clear it in first attempt my advice would be that from today only you need to start preparation with full dedication. I would suggest you to first concentrate on GS and ur 2nd optional till December. SO that if you clear pre you dont find it too much to cover.
In case of any further query feel free to ask me. I would try to help you as much as possible from my experience.
But remember one thing clearing in first attempt is very tough but not impossible. What you need is 100% dedication, hard work, good strategy and last but not the least full confidence on yourself.
ALL the Best.
congratulations vinay...
thanks for helping us greatly.. ur postings are informative and valuable.thank you once again.
I have started my prep.. suggest me in preparing for g.s. and pub ad
@Raghav... let me know what type of help do u want..
Thank u vinay,
i am in a confusion on how to cover G.S. please suggest me a strategy to go with that.
And i am comfortable with Public Administration as my First Optional but, iam unable to decide on my second optional.
Suggest me the best optional to go with, as i hail from computer Science background..i am in favour of opting Geography what do u say?
@Raghav.. You can take geography as your second optional. About GS in my previous posts i have written about how to prepare it.. in brief i would say again tat read newspaper on a daily basis.. n do polity, geography, economics, history n quant part properly.. dont worry much abt science part..
Hi Vinay.
Thanx for this blog. I have maths background and currently in sofware development.I am preparing for IAS & UP PCS 2010 . I am in Gurgaon so it's really tough to get any coaching. Can i crack IAS exam without coaching.Sociology is my optional subject.I am facing problem to read Geography please suggest some methods to understand this subject. Thanx a lot again....
@ Prashant... It is definitely possible to crack IAS without coaching but make sure that you are regular with your preparation. For Geography I would suggest you first to have a look at last 2 year questions. After that let me know what particular section you are facing problem. I might be able to help you in a better way then.
Thanx for the quick response.This would be my first attempt since last two months, I am studying G.S. paper but I am bit confuse about my optional paper subjects. I have no guidance so please suggest.As i mentioned in my previous message that I have science background. should I opt Geography for Prelims exam ?. for main exam I am planning to opt Geography and sociology.I know , it's late but not to late so please suggest me sir.I will be very thankful to you.
Hi Vinay..
I am having PubAd(1st) and which subject i aspected to choose i will not sure plz give me some idea its my first attempt
and plz idea for preapration of books
@Prashant.. I think for pre Geography is ok.. but for mains u can take PUb Ad in place of Socio.. Pub Ad is very interesting and will also cover most of your polity in GS
@Vikash... Plz let me know about your background.. so that I am in a better position to help you out.. If you comfortable with Geography then it could be a good optional
Hi Vinay,
my background is BCA,
so plz help me you should better suggest to me and it's my first attempt,how to start preparing for IAS prelims, my first optional subject PubAd(1st)
and second what,
plz give me Idea For preparation of GS in pre.
hiii,
I wanted to take zoology as an optional subject. Can you suggest a few books for it?
Hi Vinay,
I have opted for Pub-Ad as my optional for PT. I am studying a book by Sharma and Sadhna. Can you please tell me what else I should study for the exam.
Hi Vinay!
I have choose pub ad and geography as optional. But issue is that there is no holiday between these two exam in mains. Will it a right choice
@Amit.. you will have to be mentally prepared for that.. But it is jst one of many things that you consider while finalising optionals.. but if u r comfortable with these 2 optionals .. go ahead..
Thanks vinay. What are your optional. And what is your result in this year IAS. Could you please also guide me for pub ad. What should be my main focus over this subject.
hi, this is rohit i am very much intersted for ias but i am confused currently i am in 3rd year of b.tech from computer science,i think this is right time to start preparing plz help me regarding subjects to choose,institute to join near panipat,and also if i don't crack upsc what else options are available to me.my email id is jain30121990@gmail.com
Hi vinay.i hav chosen History(1st) n pub adm as my optionals...i was thinking to subscribe for brilliant tutorials material,wil it help me to fully prepare for the exam...i am confused...or the books which you had mentioned earlier wil b enough...i wanted to start preparing quiet seriously..am from comp science background
@Bhawana - For History I would suggest do read IGNOU Notes and for Pub Ad you can purchase Vaji Ram Notes...
@Rohit.. I think this is the best time to start preparation. You can go for Public Ad and one engineering subject of your choice. WOuld suggest you to go through last year papers to decide on optionals. Dont have much idea about coaching institutes near Panipat. I liked Vaji Ram material so you can purchase that and start your preparation. ALso do sit for placements in your college. That would be your backup option.
Dear vinay
i reaaly need ur help on this .
see , my subjects are geography and management . my problem is
1. shd i take management as optional or not as it is not so scoring acc to trend.
2. do u know anybody who had management as optional and was selected in ias. if yes pleas let know.
. what are the books to be followed for management and geography .
please guide me
my email id is jatinsanehi at yahoo.com.
regards
HI, i was not sure whether i would complete my degree this year, so i din start preparing. but i finished it. so can i get through if i start preparing now?
hi sir my name is raja this year i want to attempt civils but i'm little bit confused on which subject i've to choose bcs this is my first attempt so can u plz help me on giving ur suggestion on which subject would be better to prepare well.
Hello, I have just completed my civil engineering. And i am planning for IAS 2012. But in my past, I have not been into GK, and i am too weak in it. So, according to your tips, is it possible for me to crack next year. I mean, is it that, i have never been into GK and reading, so if i just plan from today, will it suffice for the exam next year? Because i will be sitting back home, all into it's preparation.
Hey thanks a lot for this blog.I was doing coaching for IIT JEE,but could'nt get through it.I have qualified in BITS-PILANI.I am very much interested in civil services since my childhood.Please give some tips so that i can prepare for UPSC with simultaneous engineering studies.Kindly guide me so that from now onwards only I will start keeping little little things in my mind about IAS.
thanks!!
Hi Vinay!
Thanks for this blog its really usefull for the IAS aspirer . I gone through your profile felt interested to know your view on the question arised in me. I am Lecturer for MBA (Teach Finance and Marketing)in Bangalore and aged 28 years. I am getting interest to go for Civil Service exam now. Whats your opinion about starting preparation at this age where I have age relaxation upto 33years?.
i m not able to understand that which magzine should i read.please clear my confusion.
Post a Comment