Subscribe to ForumIAS

Can you share a few hacks that you use for notemaking?

So all of us use some hacks for notemaking. Some people use evernote, some use old pen and paper, some use A4 sheets and compile it at the end. What is the few hacks that you use for notemaking?

jack_Sparrow,md_aliand8 otherslike this
28.4k views

26 comments

Evernote+ a4
9.5k views
One note + A4
Potterhead Mallu ,
11.3k views

For current affairs …… complete it issue wise for instance one should have a note on climate change containg everything about it cop meetings, steps which India is taking etc

use Evernote and you can update whenever a new update comes  for instance in the above example if India changes it renewable energy targets etc 

sjerngal,
10.9k views
notion for notes making
Tetsuko,Rishabh_Sahuand2 otherslike this
11.3k views

A4 sheets + Evernote 

8.8k views

@Neyawn  sir i want to ask a question 🙋 ie how to get most out of MGP PROGRAM means I have facing a doubt that is

  1. Do i watch Answer discussion video after giving the test . 
  2. Or do i watch answer discussion video with my checked answer copy . 

Thanks. 🙏

Waiting for response sir. 

nerdslayer,sjerngal
10.8k views
old school pen paper
9.1k views
One A4 sheet for one chapter of NCERT.. at max two if the chapter is long. Would insert the sheets within the NCERT. Seperate notebook for current affairs..would jot down only topics that I seem to forget or expecting in exam. No digital.
9k views
I used google docs for every point in the GS syllabus. I find it more conducive than Evernote and Onenote which fragments your notes under different notebooks when eventually it has to be all compiled in one document that you can scroll through 
GaneshGaitonde,chamomileand4 otherslike this
10.8k views
Use of colors. 

Say if I'm writing "Disqualification of MPs on basis of imprisonment of 2+ yrs is NOT given in Constitution but in RoPA, 1951."

Then, I'll underline "NOT constitution" with RED and "but in RoPA" with Green/Blue.
Divyanshu,Hitking
10.8k views

@Neyawn  sir i want to ask a question 🙋 ie how to get most out of MGP PROGRAM means I have facing a doubt that is

  1. Do i watch Answer discussion video after giving the test . 
  2. Or do i watch answer discussion video with my checked answer copy . 

Thanks. 🙏

Waiting for response sir. 

This is for any Mains Test Series. This is what I have seen some people who have nailed the Civils with a Top Rank with Mains Test Series.

First, do not assume that Test Series is only for "Answer Writing Practice". It is also for a paced preparation for the exam. If you are a complete beginner, a good way to proceed would be to to first make a list of issues of topics from which questions can come from a topic. For example, if you have Polity - first few chapters, questins will be from Preable values, Basic Structure doctrine etc. They have to be prepared well and you can expect questions from those areas.

This is a competitive examination, and while for Prelims we read everything, for Mains, we have to focus on "issues" from which questions can be asked. You can use magazines such as Epic , and make one page notes on each isse and book it under Paper 2, 3 4 etc. You can expect questions comevered in magazines from Mains magazine in the MTS.

If at all you have teething problems, a good approach is also to see the question paper first , and make a lit of topics from which questions are asked and then prepare those topics. Preparing 20 topics is not an easy task, but if you do that, with over 10 tests and 200 topics prepared, you will be very well prepared.

When you prepare the topics, makes notes, and then attempt the paper WITHOUT looking at the notes. Answer writing has to be done from memory. If you try this for 4-5 papers, you will develop a knack for it.

Remember that there is a difference between someone who has written 12-15 tests and someone who is not.

Someone who has written let us say 12 tests, means 36 hours of answer writing. If the person studies at least 20 hours before each test, that adds up to 240 hours of focussed studying for the test. That will show in the paper.

And do not try to be perfect. Try making progress, that is more important.

I had a kid write 7 questions the first time I met him write the paper in the class. He improved with time, got Rank 13. When he got the rank, he was there at the center wearing shorts, he couldn't believe it ! :D

Start small, make it big.


I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS

GaneshGaitonde,EiChanand17 otherslike this
11k views

Super Memo 18- All the way.

Imagine a situation, where I have like 200 a4 sheets with 200 topics. With SuperMemo 18, I can do the following things.

1. Give a priority to each topic

2. Schedule the review of interval for each topic

3. Make active recall questions on those topics

So I wake up in the morning, open the software and topics which I have scheduled for the day show up one by one. I can edit, delete and update the topic and give a next review date. Say for example 5 days. Then, I go to the next topic, realize the notes is more than adequate, so i delete some unnecessary lines and feel the topic is easy and doesn't need to be revised in next 15 days. With the click of a button, I schedule the review after 15 days.

And the best part, all the topics are shown according to my priority. The topics which are of high priority are shown to me at the beginning when my mental energy is high, the least priority topics are shown at the last. And for suppose, if I am not able to review some topics allotted for that day, those remaining topics will be distributed across next few days so that my burden will not vary much.

It's called Incremental Reading. You involve the concept of spaced repetition and active recall.

It's the best thing I have stumbled across in this UPSC prep. It started with a question " how to effectively remember what you have studied", from there I kept learning more and more about this and fell in love with this software. 

EiChan,Divyanshuand6 otherslike this
10.3k views
I'll suggest something. Try Transno. I think it's way better than others. 
Brave,MachineGunJoe
10.1k views

Before preparing notes, decide which all areas/subjects you need to make notes. Personally, I think only optional requires extensive note making. For prelims, mnemonics should be used instead of writing down gazillion factual points.

Coming to making notes, I'd suggest an easier method, which is copy paste😅 This 'advanced method' requires a pdf of the text and a note making app. Works better on lap; if it's a tablet, then multi-tab functionality is required. Now straight off copy paste relevant analytical aspects of the text. The resultant note would be a collection of sentences very awkward to read. Now read it, underline and then high light key words (in the note app). Now jot down these key words into a flash card (an app also is fine), and revise using the cards as a self quiz/revision tool😅

SA,Foxtrotand2 otherslike this
10k views

Posted this on another thread..reposting here

Have a question..anyone here who has been using Evernote on tab for a while now? Did you face any issues with the app? Also would you recommend going for a paid subscription of it?..only for upsc prep usage.


Have been using onenote on laptop till now. Recently switched to a tablet.. found the Evernote app better than onenote's app...in terms of ease of use. Yesterday lost a part from my notes on Evernote because of some internet issues (app couldn't sync properly). This has never happened with onenote because it saves notes offline as well. Now I am a bit sceptical about continuing with evernote. 

A digital note making noob is seeking advice....

nerdslayer,
9.2k views

Muffinsaid

Posted this on another thread..reposting here

Have a question..anyone here who has been using Evernote on tab for a while now? Did you face any issues with the app? Also would you recommend going for a paid subscription of it?..only for upsc prep usage.


Have been using onenote on laptop till now. Recently switched to a tablet.. found the Evernote app better than onenote's app...in terms of ease of use. Yesterday lost a part from my notes on Evernote because of some internet issues (app couldn't sync properly). This has never happened with onenote because it saves notes offline as well. Now I am a bit sceptical about continuing with evernote. 

A digital note making noob is seeking advice....

Another digital notemaking noob this side. Found both of them inconvenient and would take a lot of time just figuring out how and what to do with the formatting and notes.
Moved to google docs and made notes like@ishitatri. It is basically the digital version of pen and paper format.
Also, while I was using evernote, it used to crash quite a lot. Whereas, the rest other apps were working just fine.


Muffin,
9k views
Deleted

Here are some of my thoughts: 

Hoping that it will help some of you. 

EiChan,
9.3k views

Here are some of my thoughts: 

  • UseSmall Pdf word converter to convert PDF into word doc. Word Docs aremore easy to manipulate.

    Example, you can convert any topper's typed notes, whichever you like and use them as base to make your own modified notes.

  • Rather than typing 10 bullet points on something, say features of Rule of Law, it would be better to turn it into a mindmap and pasting it along with your notes. Pictorial memory >Typing Memory.



  • Write  shorter and crisp sentences  in your digital notes. You will be gaining marks for your copy not your notes.  


    Liberally use +,-,% to shorten your statements.


    Example: The highlighted and the underlined sentence say the same thing but the highlighted one appears longer.



  • Make audio notes of the factsthat you want to mug up. A 2 minute recording of your own voice can help you mug up one page of factual info. Try it.

    I memorized the order of Sikh Gurus, Bhakti Saints and their individual achievement, using this. 


  • Flash notesare helpful in memorizing stuff accurately.Ankiis a incredibly great tool, if mugging up is not your forte.

  • It may appear slightly difficult in the beginning. Once you get comfortable, you can make playful notes to remember stuff. 

Example of a flash card, which did not harm any celeb.


  • Lastly,@Neyawn once suggested somewhere to print your notes, in the time of revision. It might appear costly or even beating the purpose of Online notes, but it helps in revision in crunch time.

  • Never pay a single dimefor Microsoft products. Google drive works equally beautifully. Microsoft exploits big time.

Hoping that it will help some of you. 

P.S The upper comment got broken somehow.

EiChan,Divyanshuand2 otherslike this
9.3k views
@chamomile Evernote used to be the best software up until their update by which they tried to integrate it with web application or whatever you want to call it. 
What you can do is, use Evernote Legacy which has a very simple UI, easy to use and doesnt crash unlike the updated Evernote.


chamomile,Muffin
9.2k views

Here are some of my thoughts: 

  • UseSmall Pdf word converter to convert PDF into word doc. Word Docs aremore easy to manipulate.

    Example, you can convert any topper's typed notes, whichever you like and use them as base to make your own modified notes.

  • Rather than typing 10 bullet points on something, say features of Rule of Law, it would be better to turn it into a mindmap and pasting it along with your notes. Pictorial memory >Typing Memory.



  • Write  shorter and crisp sentences  in your digital notes. You will be gaining marks for your copy not your notes.  


    Liberally use +,-,% to shorten your statements.


    Example: The highlighted and the underlined sentence say the same thing but the highlighted one appears longer.



  • Make audio notes of the factsthat you want to mug up. A 2 minute recording of your own voice can help you mug up one page of factual info. Try it.

    I memorized the order of Sikh Gurus, Bhakti Saints and their individual achievement, using this. 


  • Flash notesare helpful in memorizing stuff accurately.Ankiis a incredibly great tool, if mugging up is not your forte.

  • It may appear slightly difficult in the beginning. Once you get comfortable, you can make playful notes to remember stuff. 

Example of a flash card, which did not harm any celeb.


  • Lastly,@Neyawn once suggested somewhere to print your notes, in the time of revision. It might appear costly or even beating the purpose of Online notes, but it helps in revision in crunch time.

  • Never pay a single dimefor Microsoft products. Google drive works equally beautifully. Microsoft exploits big time.

Hoping that it will help some of you. 

P.S The upper comment got broken somehow.

Whats Anki?

3.9k views
Write your comment…