Mains 2019 Preparation and Discussion Thread

@vvvikas0078212i think for above average answers they are awarding 75-80%. (from experience of anthropology)

@zombielandYes they do. Anything upward of 60% is possible for above average.

@RagsIf you have written answers more or less on the line of what himanshu sir has discussed, then they can be considered above average and then you can surely expect 140+ even after messing up those five 10 markers.

Eg- types of soils like chernozem, seirozem related to capillary action and hence basic soils then linking with fertility similarly podsols, letosols related to leaching and hence acidic soils then linking with fertility, also map. Using ecosystem principles in Web of life question like integrated whole, disruption etc. Hearth concept and relocation diffusion along with world map in linguistic hotspots. Tracing back regions to Arabs and classical geographers in introduction of natural regions also using formal and functional regions in differences. HDI question mention of pqli in its evolution, social well being, ihdi, gii, mpi etc in criticism. Post fordism in de industrialisation question with map. Isotims and isodapanes diagram also using israd, losch and spatial margins theory in weber criticism. Demographic transition diagram in ageing population question. Mentioning geography of peace book in rimland theory of spykman along with year 1945, scholars from which he got inspired like George simmels Alfred Mahan and a map of rimland with all relevant developments.

That's what himanshu sir had discussed as part of value addition in answers apart from the obvious core concepts which need to be mentioned as per the demand of the questions. All these will certainly make the answers above average and hence 70% marks in that question.

@Ragsthis topic should better be discussed in geography optional thread.

@Ragsbro in paper1 geo i left transpiration and hartshorne.
Sandspits i wrote something related to fluvial etc.
Amensalism i did well
So counting as wrong or maybe 2-3 marks
Rest of the paper i expect a decent marking
Last year it was all due to geo that i missed mains cutoff by 20 marks
Had 132 in essay n around 380 in gs

@Ragsaround 100

@vvvikas0078212Paper 2 is not so great, but OK for me. Will get around 135.
What about you. How much you are expecting in P1 & P2.

@RagsHard to Say. Paper2 went way better than 2017. Paper 1 almost similar or lesser.

Below is just one more possible way. It may not work for all.

420 is possible in GS papers, 100-105 in 1st 3 GS papers and 115-120 in ethics – because it is the easiest paper which can really fetch good marks if someone done well.
And 135 in Essay that takes score to 555. Now lets see Optionals -

Case 1: UR – Need to score around 260, then total would be 815
Case 2: OBC – 225 is also fine, that takes their score to 780. But if they want IAS, then need to score around 240 in optionals and little more in eassy.

@Rags"can really fetch good marks if someone done well" can be said for any GS paper, and Optional Paper too
Also I understand this is a hard time waiting for result but one must remember to sober up the expectations of marks..
One IAS told me once, itna socha mat karo. Bas kaam karte raho, the U in UPSC is unexpected/ unapologetic/ uncertain.. Best wishes

@vijay_on_missionnow it is 6days .....Kya ye ho skta h ??

@132_SIDvo minus me jaaega acter 6 days

@Biryanimafia_Do not dis-like it yaar. I'm just sharing my honest feelings

If we check toppers marks, they are getting 560 to 580 in GS +Essay. That too with very average score in Essay. Then, cannot we try for 540. Is it impossible?

@Ragsmany people get 300 plus in optionals and gs me itna bol nahi sakte

@sat_009
10-20 people will fall in above category out of 800 where they get almost equal marks in GS and optionals.

@Ragsyar toppers kitne hee hote hain? I mean couple of us may get 560+ in gs, essay and feature in merit list. But that's just few tens of people, rather than a average performance..
And bhai I dis-liked because there are multiple assumptions made in that post, which may throw off an aspirant who has written only 1 or 2 Mains.. No hard feelings
And bhai no it's not impossible to score that much. But it is quite impossible to predict that one will get 560/540, beforehand. Again, my best wishes to you.

@Biryanimafia_Really hard to wait for results for 75 days
Daily we do some experiments with predictions.

@Ragshardly 20 days left now

@vvvikas0078212How you are using this free time.

@vvvikas0078212december 2nd week most probably.