Post-test analysis of my mains:
Essay - wrote the one on Empires in first part. But i feel my interpretation was a bit offbeat than what most coaching classes suggest. I clearly wrote the thesis and scope to clarify my interpretation and tried to defend it well too. If my interpretation is rewarded, i would score good. Else, that may prove to be a blunder.
GS1: Wrote all answers, except twister - as there was no point bluffing in that question
GS2: Wrote all answers - except last question - could write ~2 pages (last 1 page left blank)
GS3: Wrote all answers - except life products question
GS4: Section A was good (didn't write dimensions of ethics - as i forgot what to write!). Section B case studies (not upto the mark, but wrote all - last case study - wrote in big handwriting - still reached 3 pages only)
Optional: (PSIR): Had studied keeping in mind that i will choose more questions from section A in both papers. Ended up choosing more questions in Section B in both papers, as there was at least 1 question in question sets of Section A which i was not so sure about - so, had to make that choice. But I think, i did justice to the papers.
Overall assessment: Wrote decent answers. Since this is my first mains, i don't know how much UPSC's marking differs from coaching mocks where i scored above 100 with similar type of answers. However, i improved too - as in mocks i missed out on conclusion many times, while in real exam - i made it a point to write good conclusions in all questions. Further, i wrote adequate number of points, drew maps wherever i could - as per demand of the question. Also, could complete the papers on time with slightly above average content (but again in mocks, I always felt i wrote average content, but after seeing the same paper again - i felt it was good enough. Hope this happens for the real mains too).
However, there is a feeling that i could have done much much better, with more revisions (but many would feel the same). But can't do anything now - as the deed is done. Hope, the results are in favour. Confused what to do in the interim period, till the results come.
How did you interpret the empire topic?
I did it based on innovation
In a dilemma between IFoS and CAT 2024. Both on the same day.
Would appreciate clarity on:
1. How is the IFoS as a service?
3. Any inputs on CAT vs IFoS?
3. Pros and cons of going for CAT after a 2 year break. I'm an engineer (GEM) from a tier 1 college.
Thanks in advance.
Same conundrum and similar profile. DM if you want
@Averageaspirant @ScarredEngineer My friend with a similar background
(Tier 1 College, GEM) appeared for CAT 2023 and scored 99.15 percentile but still didn’t get any interview calls from the IIMs. This time, he's focusing on IFoS. I was facing this similar dilemma and decided to go for IFoS too. Hope it helps!
Had appeared for CAT last year instead of IFoS because did not want to study for forest last year.
This year - would be writing IFoS mains (although have filled form for CAT too)
@tedmosby bhai ye wala thread ekdum dead ho rakha tha to socha thoda masala lagaa du, kuchh discussion to kare log
Baat toh sahi hai. Post-Mains time kaisa Jaa Raha hai sabka?
studying for IFoS but not that efficiently
I can only imagine how you are studying post-Mains bhai. I didn't fill IFoS because I knew I would be damn exhausted post-Mains and also ab strength nahi bachi hai kuch toofani karne ke liye. Also tired of the Pre-Mains cycle honestly.
I still remember studying Analytic Geometry just when Pre got over. I didn't even feel like studying anything but started studying irrespective of what I felt. I think Jul 1, 2024 will be etched in my memory for causing a lot of "upsets" that day. Most of my friends who wrote 2023 Mains with me were not in the list this time. I felt bad. Surprisingly, I found many first attempters this time and also some people who were giving their first Mains. Idk what the trend is at the national level but certainly ye mujhe thoda odd laga tha.
Anyways with the Mains result coming soon we will again have some upsets. Again, some deserving candidates would be out of the list. Again vohi bakkar and frustration about Mains marksheet not being released sooner. I remember my rants after Mains 2022 and 2023 results ab toh naa energy hai aur na hi utna hu utna involvement. Mehnat toh iss baar utni ki hai jitni shayad pichle 6 yrs mai nahi ki thhi. Accepted a lot of my mistakes and tried improving on them.
Looking back to the kid who started UPSC prep on his own in Dec 2017, I have come a long way. Toh ab jo hoga dekhi jayegi.
Last year too had qualified for IFoS but was in no mood for studying; and world cup bhi tha. So wrote CAT instead (considerably lighter prep wise). This year, will be writing IFoS and quitting the cycle if do not qualify either mains.
They are better things than this honestly. Also, studying for pre is quite a bore.
Regarding qualifying for mains; most of my circle who wrote mains last year are writing this time too. After paper 1 I thought it would be borderline but upon calculation, ache hi bane.
studying for IFoS but not that efficiently
I can only imagine how you are studying post-Mains bhai. I didn't fill IFoS because I knew I would be damn exhausted post-Mains and also ab strength nahi bachi hai kuch toofani karne ke liye. Also tired of the Pre-Mains cycle honestly.
I still remember studying Analytic Geometry just when Pre got over. I didn't even feel like studying anything but started studying irrespective of what I felt. I think Jul 1, 2024 will be etched in my memory for causing a lot of "upsets" that day. Most of my friends who wrote 2023 Mains with me were not in the list this time. I felt bad. Surprisingly, I found many first attempters this time and also some people who were giving their first Mains. Idk what the trend is at the national level but certainly ye mujhe thoda odd laga tha.
Anyways with the Mains result coming soon we will again have some upsets. Again, some deserving candidates would be out of the list. Again vohi bakkar and frustration about Mains marksheet not being released sooner. I remember my rants after Mains 2022 and 2023 results ab toh naa energy hai aur na hi utna hu utna involvement. Mehnat toh iss baar utni ki hai jitni shayad pichle 6 yrs mai nahi ki thhi. Accepted a lot of my mistakes and tried improving on them.
Looking back to the kid who started UPSC prep on his own in Dec 2017, I have come a long way. Toh ab jo hoga dekhi jayegi.
The cycle is also pretty long and difficult to quit if u are writing mains. Window for decision making is quite small; even more so if u are appearing for interview.
@tedmosby Is there any correlation between the marks scored in MGP and the actual marks in the UPSC Mains exam?
last yr GS 1 - MGP - 88/ Exam - 79; GS 2 - 81/102
Urs?
