CSE 2021: Plan / Strategy / Daily Routine
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
Can you plz enlighten us regarding -
1. A brief timeline of prep
2. How many mocks you took (prelims, gs, essay, optional each)
3. How to make use of mains mock effectively
4. Revision strategy for each stage
5. CA strategy - should one go for classes or do CA on own. Whether to make notes or not?
6. Essay tips.
Thanking in anticipation
@AJ_ @Arrokoth hi frenz where to produce such scores for GS 2 and GS 4 from?
Specific questions:
1. How do you tackle social justice questions in GS 2 and make them look a little different from the answers in GS3/1?
2. What was your approach to case studies in GS 4?
3. How much diagram is too much diagram?
I’m hoping someone else also pitches in with ridiculous doubts so that I look less stupid in comparison.
The Sense of An Ending:
So, hello!
Writing this post on this thread because probably/maybe/perhaps you guys would know about us.
Who's us?
Me and @AJ_
What are we upto?
Tying up ends, so to speak. FC is coming up for both of us (three of us actually, @whatonly )and then IAS/IPS/IRS trainings start. So, basically THE career begins. And shoppings for the career begin much early.
So, we wouldn't be here. Not in the absolutely-sitting-at-this-site-constantly-refreshing way anyway.
Bhai kehna kya chahte ho?
That we would want to help as many people as possible before we leave this place. Try and help people sharpen their tools for Pre-Mains-Interview and lessen their anxieties.
Because once that training starts, we wouldn't be of much use on one-to-one interactions. And we, simply put, would hopefully be occupied by learnings about services, than to visit this place regularly.
We'd be leaving this space by 6th November '21.Till then, here to help. All the time.
Ask us things, worries, doubts and talk to us. We'd be happy to indulge.
So, finally, looking forward to talking to you guys if you would want.
@Arrokoth - Rank 124, CSE 2020
Pre Scores:
2019 - GS: 129.34 CSAT - 100.34
2020 - GS: 117.69 CSAT - 106.68
@AJ_ - Rank 16, CSE 2020
Pre Score:
2020 - GS: ~121 CSAT: ~140
Sir,
I scored miserably last time in mains 2020. I made diagrams and flow charts as I was suggested. Scoring adequately in mocks of GS but got poor marks in GS. I have attached screenshot of an answer and marks. I wrote similarly in exam. But result was opposite.
Please help me. Thank you.
THE_MECHANIC,JammuSir, if possible, zoom session kar lete hain where you can show us one of your GS 2 copy and explain what was asked in the question, how you figured out, what you wrote and why.
Similarly,@AJ_ Sir can do it for his GS IV copy.
I often see lot many topper copies but what needs to be looked for, I completely miss on this.
Q3: Ideally it should be a Feedback Loop something like this:
- Revise Notes
- Give Test/Brainstorm on Questions
- Understand Mistakes/Errors
- Add Content to Notes
Q4: For Prelims, I revised through Tests. I remember how in 2020 we had a discussion on "Active Recall" in Forum. That's the idea basically. I would give a test, mark mistakes + add these to my notes, revise notes and keep giving more and more tests.
For Mains:
- Cover Optional extensively.
- Brainstorm a lot of questions.
- Practice answer writing.
- Revise notes ~ 7-8 times or even more. Unlike Prelims where subconscious knowledge can help, in Mains you must have knowledge in a much more say "active form". This calls for more revisions.
Q5: Can do either. At the end it's about having 1-pager notes on important issues. To each his own.
Q6: Since I have a slightly low score, I'll instead try and give mistakes that can be avoided:
- Don't make essay look like a long GS answer.
- Essay should not be a "patchwork" of different dimensions. By this I mean to say, continuity and smoothness in Essay add a lot to the reading experience for the Examiner.
Q3: Difficult to say. But my guess:
- As long as diagrams are being used to enrich answers/explain better, I see no issue.
- If the examiner feels, diagrams are being used as "space fillers", then it might be an issue.
Anyways, it's difficult to actually put "too many" diagrams on Final Day. Also I read somewhere that one of the top rankers this time used 17 diagrams in GS 1.@Arrokoth Can you confirm/add to this pls?
1.how do you guys balance between finishing syllabus and writing mocks? If I focus on the former, I end up writing no questions and if I do the latter, I write extremely shitty answers and not even finish them on time..
2. How to handle that overwhelming feeling after looking at such a huge syllabus?
3. Despite reading society for 2-3 day, I still got almost blank while writing a mock, what should be done to retain it more and seamlessly?
4. Also, how to attempt paper within the allotted time span?
Specific doubt for@AJ_ .. How did you score so well in ethics? Had you prepared for those types of case studies before hand??? How yo tackle unconventional type of paper?
Q1: Maybe Arrokoth can answer this better. I think it's the general idea of content enrichment ~ better examples or case studies or best practices. Further, with more brainstorming, you'll be able to come up with better points.Q2: Case Studies are generally very mechanical, and there's not much of a problem if it stays this way.Broadly,- Stakeholder Identification- Ethical Dilemmas- ExamplesWriting Manner,- Use of clear subheadings- Use of diagrams/"clouds"/"pentagons"- Use of arrowsQ3: Difficult to say. But my guess:
- As long as diagrams are being used to enrich answers/explain better, I see no issue.
- If the examiner feels, diagrams are being used as "space fillers", then it might be an issue.
Anyways, it's difficult to actually put "too many" diagrams on Final Day. Also I read somewhere that one of the top rankers this time used 17 diagrams in GS 1.@Arrokoth Can you confirm/add to this pls?
Excellent! Thank you for this :)
Q1: Normally October can be used for quickly wrapping up the syllabus. Give maybe 10 days more in November. But post that the focus should be more on Practicing ~ Answer Writing + Brainstorming.
Q2: Your attitude in these 3 months should be that ~ it's a race against time. And when you have so little time, there's no time to be anxious. Also like with other exams, you're here to beat the competition, not the exam.
Q3: I would suggest you do Brainstorming a lot. The same "active recall" idea I mentioned in a post before. That ways you'd force your brain to come up with more and more points in less and less time. Along with this exercise keep revising your notes. Essentially,
To Avoid Blankness = Brainstorming + Revision
Q4: Practice using rigorous time controls at home, so that it is a smooth ride in exam. I started with 7 min/11 min for 10/15 M respectively. Gradually brought it down to somewhere near 6 min/10 min. At times I would write answers in 5.5/9.5 min too. This helps a lot. HOWEVER PLEASE MAKE SURE to adjust your bio-clock back to the actual timings closer to the exam.
sjerngal,MuffinHi@AJ_
Had a couple of queries regarding Maths optional.
1) Roughly what did you do in the 3 months between prelims and Mains?
2) For practice purposes, what do you think gives better return in the exam - practicing PYQs or Previous IMS test series questions? Or is there something else you'll recommend?
Step 2A: I used the following material to brainstorm:
- Vision Topper Copies
- Forum Topper Copies
- Lukmaan Topper Copies
- MGP Tests (unused ones)
- AWFG Tests
- Vision Tests (unused ones)
Step 2B: Wrote answers in:
- MGP Tests (NON-TEST MODE)
- Vision Tests (NON-TEST MODE)
Step 2A and 2B essentially went parallelly.
Step 3: Modify notes. This would mean:
- Add Examples/Ideas or whatever you can find.
- Identify Generic Markers/Dilemmas, as you rightly pointed out
- Add Diagrams, if need be.
Q1: For the 2020 cycle it was something like:June 2019 to January 2020 was Mains Preparation.January 2020 to May 2020 was Prelims Prep. Then exam got postponed.So remaining May and June ~ Maths/GS Mains Prep.Then as per cycle essentially.Overall timeline of entire prep would be slightly difficult to summarize.Q2: For 2020 Cycle:Prelims ~ 200+ MocksMains ~ around 10-12 before Prelims + 3 b/w Pre and Mains (Note ~ these were tests given in TEST MODE)Interview ~ 20+ MocksEssay ~ 5-6 Essays, half of which were b/w Pre and MainsQ3: Ideally it should be a Feedback Loop something like this:
- Revise Notes
- Give Test/Brainstorm on Questions
- Understand Mistakes/Errors
- Add Content to Notes
Q4: For Prelims, I revised through Tests. I remember how in 2020 we had a discussion on "Active Recall" in Forum. That's the idea basically. I would give a test, mark mistakes + add these to my notes, revise notes and keep giving more and more tests.
For Mains:
- Cover Optional extensively.
- Brainstorm a lot of questions.
- Practice answer writing.
- Revise notes ~ 7-8 times or even more. Unlike Prelims where subconscious knowledge can help, in Mains you must have knowledge in a much more say "active form". This calls for more revisions.
Q5: Can do either. At the end it's about having 1-pager notes on important issues. To each his own.
Q6: Since I have a slightly low score, I'll instead try and give mistakes that can be avoided:
- Don't make essay look like a long GS answer.
- Essay should not be a "patchwork" of different dimensions. By this I mean to say, continuity and smoothness in Essay add a lot to the reading experience for the Examiner.
@AJ_ can you pls tell us more about solving 200+ mocks for prelims. Like, in how many months? You gave 2-3 mocks every day?
For me 200+ mocks is huge task, that must require time and efficiency
I'm curious how did you manage giving so many mocks.
Thanks!
THE_MECHANIC,Muffin
Q1: For the 2020 cycle it was something like:June 2019 to January 2020 was Mains Preparation.January 2020 to May 2020 was Prelims Prep. Then exam got postponed.So remaining May and June ~ Maths/GS Mains Prep.Then as per cycle essentially.Overall timeline of entire prep would be slightly difficult to summarize.Q2: For 2020 Cycle:Prelims ~ 200+ MocksMains ~ around 10-12 before Prelims + 3 b/w Pre and Mains (Note ~ these were tests given in TEST MODE)Interview ~ 20+ MocksEssay ~ 5-6 Essays, half of which were b/w Pre and MainsQ3: Ideally it should be a Feedback Loop something like this:
- Revise Notes
- Give Test/Brainstorm on Questions
- Understand Mistakes/Errors
- Add Content to Notes
Q4: For Prelims, I revised through Tests. I remember how in 2020 we had a discussion on "Active Recall" in Forum. That's the idea basically. I would give a test, mark mistakes + add these to my notes, revise notes and keep giving more and more tests.
For Mains:
- Cover Optional extensively.
- Brainstorm a lot of questions.
- Practice answer writing.
- Revise notes ~ 7-8 times or even more. Unlike Prelims where subconscious knowledge can help, in Mains you must have knowledge in a much more say "active form". This calls for more revisions.
Q5: Can do either. At the end it's about having 1-pager notes on important issues. To each his own.
Q6: Since I have a slightly low score, I'll instead try and give mistakes that can be avoided:
- Don't make essay look like a long GS answer.
- Essay should not be a "patchwork" of different dimensions. By this I mean to say, continuity and smoothness in Essay add a lot to the reading experience for the Examiner.
Adding to this:
1. For 2019 cycle (Rank 276 then)
May 2018 to May 2019 - Pre yearly test series + Mains basics by myself (Vision CA + VAMs, other random google searches + Optional about 80%)
June 2019 to September 2019 - all out Mains
September 2019 to July 2020 (till my interview) - Interview prep + random readings + optional revision + mains enrichment + bakar
For 2020 cycle : 2 months Pre, 3 months Mains and 6 months of Interview (because of yet another delay)
2. For 2019: 30-40 Pre Mocks, 12 GS Mocks (+ daily answer writing on TLP) + 4 Optional Mocks + 7 Interview Mocks
For 2020: (solely because of time crunch) 15 Pre Mocks + 14 GS Mocks + 6 Optional Mocks + 5 Interview Mocks
(All these mocks are in test mode, I don't attempt them any other way)
3. Use mains mocks to add knowledge on unknown/less known things, and the examiner remarks which are consistent across mock evaluation. Scores are to be looked at but not worried about. Rest is the same as@AJ_
4. Basic idea is to "revise till you want to vomit". For pre - basic books, CA magazines, mocks in that order was revised. Same for Mains for me.
5. I didn't attend any CA classes, relied on monthly magazines + own research for examples, ideas and topper notes for further value addition. I feel it is important to point out that I have a slight photographic memory, so I don't make notes but just highlight and keep reading things - that works for me. But note making for CA (if taking classes) is to be directed towards having 1-2 page note per topic max.
6. My essay scores have been 134 in 2019 and 119 in 2020. So,
A. What works - have an emotive tone to the essay, create a continuity of thought, stop worrying about stuffing all dimensions that you can think of
B. What doesn't - a GS answer, a repetition of thought and a bad/small conclusion (less than 2 pages)
Please suggest, how to prepare current affairs for Mains 2021. I have read newspapers daily. Wrote insightsonIndia answers for 3-4 months.
Last year, i failed to write good answers even for questions on NEP 2020 and Jal Jeevan mission.
I am thinking of going through Vision Mains 365, is this a good option?
sjerngal,Q1: Maybe Arrokoth can answer this better. I think it's the general idea of content enrichment ~ better examples or case studies or best practices. Further, with more brainstorming, you'll be able to come up with better points.Q2: Case Studies are generally very mechanical, and there's not much of a problem if it stays this way.Broadly,- Stakeholder Identification- Ethical Dilemmas- ExamplesWriting Manner,- Use of clear subheadings- Use of diagrams/"clouds"/"pentagons"- Use of arrowsQ3: Difficult to say. But my guess:
- As long as diagrams are being used to enrich answers/explain better, I see no issue.
- If the examiner feels, diagrams are being used as "space fillers", then it might be an issue.
Anyways, it's difficult to actually put "too many" diagrams on Final Day. Also I read somewhere that one of the top rankers this time used 17 diagrams in GS 1.@Arrokoth Can you confirm/add to this pls?
Q 1. Social justice questions in GS 2 have a slightly heavier Governance tilt, not the case with GS 1 and 3. GS 1 is "why is the problem the way it is, what are its implications, some social solutions" type. GS 2 I think are "issues, what have been done for this issue, what remains to be improved" type.
Q 2 and 3: in complete agreement with@AJ_ , nothing to add.
Although, overdoing diagrams in GS 1 (at the logical, right places) seems to be working. People have gotten 110+ through this, among other things
Write your comment…
