CSE 2021: Plan / Strategy / Daily Routine

| 4 year(s) ago

Hello 2021 aspirants. I thought it would be nice if we can share what we are doing and intend to do with one another here.

This could be a thread for discussing everything prep for 2021.

No one method fits all but to see the plans and progress made by fellow aspirants might help with the finer details of preparation and also keep one on track.

Moderator Update: This thread has crossed 1 million views and has thousands of comments slowing down the website. We are closing this and moving to the next thread

https://forumias.com/post/detail/Official-How-was-Mains-2021-Paper-Essay-and-GS-Discussion-1641542963#main_comment

jack_Sparrow,rootand121 otherslike this

6.6k comments

LetsGetThisBread .

commented 3 year(s) ago

It’s that time of the day (aka my favourite time, bed time). Done for the day:

polity

CSAT

Jan 2021 C/A

Budget

Mod India.

Its lovely to see everyone celebrating on the thread. A win for one is a win for all :)

TambourineMan,Archandand9 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

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Starting again, this time to the finish line.

Targets for tomorrow:
Finish Art & Culture Revision
Start Ancient & Medieval Revision (1/2)
Test Analysis
Mock Test
Finish Art & Culture Revision. Gave a mock test. Instead of Ancient & Medeival, I revised Budget & ES. No test analysis done.

Time spent studying - 8.25 Hours

Targets:
Start Ancient & Medieval Revision (1/2)
Test Analysis
SFG Revision (3 tests)
Mock Test
Disappointing day. Giving a mock is easy, the inertia to analyse it is real. Big backlog now. Was only able to give a mock and do history revision.

Study hours - 5

Targets:
Ancient & Medieval Revision (2/3)
Mock Test Analysis - Vision Budget & ES
SFG Revision (3 Tests) - Try to cover more

Hope tomorrow is better for all of us!
Did the history revision, finished analysing the test. Minimal progress on SFG revision.

Study Hours - 8

Targets:
Finish Ancient & Medieval Revision
Test Analysis - Vision Budget & ES
SFG Revision (3 tests)
Attempt a Mock Test

Trying to keep the prelims anxiety at bay by not thinking about it at all. Working so far but who knows what unintended consequences it might bring. Indeed, Ignorance is bliss!
Forgot to post yesterday.

Targets:
Finish Ancient & Medieval (this is taking far too long!)
Test Analysis - 2 mocks
Mock Test
Finished history, finally. Instead of one, I gave two mocks yesterday. However, test analysis took a lot of time. Only managed to do 50% of one test. Wasted a study slot and hence couldn't finish all the targets.

Targets:
Economy (1/4)
Test Analysis (0.5 + 1)
Government Schemes
Couldn't study in the first half and the productivity remained low in the second. Did manage to progress across all three but it isn't good enough when the exam is around 30 days away!

Targets:
Economy (2/4)
Test Analysis
Government Schemes
Mock FLT (If above three get finished!)
I did the test analysis, government schemes and gave a mock. Test analysis took a lot of time and that left very little time for economy revision. Although I did touch upon it for a couple of hours but that isn't good enough for the pace I'd have wanted. Will extend the timeline.

Targets:
Economy (3/6)
Test Analysis (2 Tests)
Government Schemes (If time permits)
Disappointing day friends. Finished one test and did a little bit of revision. Need to trim down the time taken to analyse one test. Today will be better.

Targets:
Economy (3/6)
Test Analysis (1 Test)
Government Schemes (If time permits)
Decent day today. Was able to revise economy well. I did government schemes and gave a new test instead of analysing a previous one. It was a good decision considering that it helped me get over some post vision FLT trauma!

Targets:
Economy (4/6)
Test Analysis (1 test)
Schemes (If time permits)

The prelims fear has started to trickle in, one more month to go!
I had been procrastinating since a long while about getting vaccinated. I had been infected with COVID earlier so had to wait 3 months. Finally got that done today and I'm feeling a little dazed. Anyway, I'm going to keep things light now, these targets shift to tomorrow.
Today was a tough day and yet I'm happy with how I tackled it. Post vaccination side effects made me lose focus and efficiency but the urgency of prelims ensured I didn't slack off. Was able to revise Economy, will still need at least two more days. Economy took a lot of time so I changed my plans and went about revising Indices once I was done with it.

Targets:
Economy (5/6)
Test Analysis (1 test)
Attempt 1 Mock
Schemes/Indices (If time permits)

Just read through the thread, seeing all the people struggle and keep fighting made me remember some lines I keep visiting in my bad days.

JRR Tolkein, "Fellowship of the Ring"

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”
Economy took a lot of time again, but I was finally able to finish the static portion. I'm changing a couple of things, will go back to Economy (only CA) after I'm done with Environment and S&T. Did about 50% of test analysis and a little bit of schemes here and there. Slacked off in the second half, not again! Tomorrow is sort of a bridge day, taking care of some loose ends.

Targets:
1 Mock
Finish Test Analysis
Finish June, July Vision CA (Push for August?)
Indices (if time permits)
Funny how all it takes is one score to shake things up. Alas, the mind is too fragile.

Gave a mock, finished yesterday's test analysis and almost finished June CA (90%)

Targets:
Finish June, July and August CA
Open Mock Test Analysis

Edit: Just realised Vision hasn't released August CA yet, will instead do Flora & Fauna
The bad day streak continues. Not as bad as it could be, but bad enough when prelims is so close. I finished June CA, almost finished July CA (90%) and didn't analyse the open mock. That'll happen tomorrow. Still, did give a mock test when I didn't want to do anything else and then went on to solve extra questions.

Targets:
Environment Revision (1/4)
Finish Open Mock Test Analysis
Finish July CA

Also, hoping that Forum conducts another open mock test so that I can redeem myself after the super rank today! 😂
Finished revision for the day and CA. Spent a lot of time on revision because I didn't want to stray off the revision schedule. That led to today being another day of not being able to make time for test analysis. Will do tomorrow.

Targets:
Environment Revision (2/4)
Finish Open Mock Test Analysis
Done with both of the targets. Not happy with the pace of revision, but I'll take it.

Targets:
Environment Revision (3/4)
Finish Test Analysis
Give a Mock (if time permits)
Today has been one big vicious circle. Didn't want to revise in the morning so gave a test, didn't get good marks so couldn't concentrate on revision later. Instead, I finished Medeival history PYQs. Struggled with Environment a little bit but mostly I'm going consider today a null day for the subject. Going to give another test now before I'm off to sleep.

Targets for tomorrow:
Environment Revision (3/4)
Finish Test Analysis - Economy
Most of the time was spent on Environment, which seems never ending. Went back to test analysis and indices/schemes in between but not much.

Tomorrow: Finish Environment Revision
The first half went well. Second half took away all the joy. Got to know something terrible about a person I used to call a friend and I let that affect me. Did sit to study but the concentration was sub par at best. Now is not the time. No more delays in deadlines.

Targets:
Finish Environment Revision (5/5)
GS Mock
CSAT Mock (if I'm bored and done with the other targets)
Start Polity Revision (1/3)

@sstarrr Great to hear that. Congrats! :D
Gave the GS Mock, finally finished Environment (almost!) and revised government initiatives in related spheres.

Targets:
Polity Revision (1/3)
Mapping
Finish the remaining bits & pieces
Did everything as mentioned above but I know that it was a low productivity day. A lot of what @sjerngal mentioned seems relatable to how today has been.

Targets:
Polity Revision (2/3)
Mock Test
Mapping

@Rashmirathi thanks for that lovely poem! My breadth of Hindi poems has long been limited to Dinkar, now it does seem that I've missed out on a lot! :)
Covered everything but again, at low efficiency. Sigh. The last vision open test was so arbitrary that you don't even want to feel happy about a decent score. It is just your luck in those papers.

Targets:
Finish Polity Tomorrow
Mapping (if one subject gets too boring!)

Finished the static portion. Will have to come back to bits of CA later. The mind keeps wandering in weirder places by the day. Seems like infinite things left to read and miniscule time left. In a way, it is comforting to see that I'm not the only one struggling with all of this. May the force be with us!

Targets:
Modern History (1/2)
Finish Polity CA (1/2)
Mapping - Ramsar Sites
Environment PYQ (1/2)

Edit: Added Polity CA to the list. Might delay other targets but let's try!
No such thing as a schedule left anymore. Just trying to pile everything on my brain and see where it takes me. Did everything except PYQs, will do them now until sleep comes. I feel awfully close to a burnout but I'm hoping I'll be able to delay it by 15 days, so the work continues.

Targets:
Modern History (2/3)
Finish Polity CA (2/2)
Mapping - Biosphere Reserves, Tiger Reserves, Protected Areas in News
Environment PYQs (as many as possible!)

Good to see everyone back here! Wishing you all a great result day, the winter is here but you're all White Walkers! :D

The day wasn't nice personally for me. Couldn't do a lot, has to be the last unsatisfactory day. Most targets repeat.

However, it has been great to see people from this community achieve their goals today. Super proud of everyone who's made it this year, your hard work has finally fructified. Hope the next year is kinder to the people who missed out. It will eventually happen.

Targets:

Modern History (2/3)
Finish Polity CA (2/2)
Mapping - Finish all protected areas
Environment PYQs (as many as possible!)

AJ_,balwintejasand10 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

Good Morning Friends

Targets for 25th September 2021

CA

Mapping

Bhakti & Sufi

Mock

MIH[2/3]

AJ_,Archandand7 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

balwintejassaid
Targets -
Art and culture - Singhania
Buddhism and Jainism
Enviro selective chapters - PMF IAS
July CA
Polity
PYQ Discussion
@sstarrr

Art and culture done

Buddhism and Jainism done

Enviro selective study from pmf ias done

PYQ discussion done

Test analysis done

July CA left

Polity couldn't be done as of now

TambourineMan,AJ_and9 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

Phantomsaid
Good Morning Friends

Targets for 25th September 2021

CA

Mapping

Bhakti & Sufi

Mock

MIH[2/3]

Lol...I am going to bed now. Bro any tip on how to fall asleep early as had to change the habit now?

BD,AJ_and9 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

balwintejassaid
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Phantomsaid
Good Morning Friends

Targets for 25th September 2021

CA

Mapping

Bhakti & Sufi

Mock

MIH[2/3]

Lol...I am going to bed now. Bro any tip on how to fall asleep early as had to change the habit now?

Few tips:
a) avoid digital screen in night specially 2-3 hours before your bed time.

b) shift your time gradually. Try to sleep at 2 then 1:45 , then 1:30 and so on. This way you won't have to struggle much in terms of adjustment.

c) It is just a matter of habit. Aap 2 baje tak study karte ho aur mujhe 9 baje movie dekhte hue bhi nind aa jati hai.

BD,AJ_and8 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

Vinay12said
24.9.21
Last fulltest - made mistakes in CA so gonna put more hours for that.
Today
1. Env, schemes of 6months CA (9-2pm)
2. Polity - till amendment revise notes
3. History - 1919-1931 revise ( till 5pm)
4. Full test 29(5-8pm)
5. Medieval - bhakti&sufi, Maps - south India rivers & NP

1. 3months done 3,4,5 done..

25.9.21

1. Full test 30

2. CA env 3 months

3. Polity, history 2 hr revision

4. Bedtime - medievalindia & maps (eastern india)

AJ_,Archandand6 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

Targets -

Polity chapters

Test and analysis

Vision July CA

Geography mapping

@Phantom Thanks, buddy!

AJ_,Archandand5 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

Targets for the day are-

Modern History-1919-1939, press ,education,peasants and working class

CA-S&T ,Agriculture,Environment

CSAT

@balwintejas -bhai you can try -non milk teas they are really good for sleep they have helped me

BD,AJ_and7 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

Hey All,

today

1. Revise mocks

2. Prelims tit bit

3. Mapping

4. CSAT

AJ_,Archandand5 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

@root , or anyone else, can we have a Prelims 2021 thread for discussion and other stuff??

BD,Rashmirathiand5 otherslike this

TambourineMan .

commented 3 year(s) ago

chamomile,Villanelleand8 otherslike this

BD .

commented 3 year(s) ago

My brain to me when i try active recalling of facts!

EiChan,chamomileand10 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

Have forum threads stopped opening from the last seen post or is it just happening to me?

TambourineMan,Rashmirathiand4 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

MikeWozniaksaid
Have forum threads stopped opening from the last seen post or is it just happening to me?

Yes! And this is very irritating.

@root please look into it.

MikeWozniak,TambourineManand4 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

MikeWozniaksaid
Have forum threads stopped opening from the last seen post or is it just happening to me?

yeah same here

Rashmirathi,

user_79106

commented 3 year(s) ago

Deleted

.

commented 3 year(s) ago

nerdfightersaid
.

part of the process!! don't fight it, you will be fine. it's all in the head

BD,Archandand4 otherslike this

LetsGetThisBread .

commented 3 year(s) ago

Good night doston. Managed to do:

Test

mod india

anc india

econ (1/2)

CSAT

Also started studying for an entrance that I have to give in 4 days. Ajeeb lag raha hain adhed umar m jake college ki taiyari karke. Literally the people at these entrances with me are so young I have no option but to act my age around them 😂

TambourineMan,Archandand5 otherslike this

commented 3 year(s) ago

.

THE_MECHANIC,

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