How much time are you guys giving to the SFG process to score more? Needed an approximate idea to see if I am doing something wrong.
Anthro,MagnetWalker
I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS
Saint_1,GPS
Few pointers
1. There's no specific time as such, but to complete the reading list on an average takes around 3-4 hours, give or take half an hour.
2. I am losing around 3-4 questions, which I should have got correct,. Losing them, just because I am still sleepy while giving the exam and didn't notice subtle differences. In the past 2-3 SFG exams, I tried to reduce it to 1-2 questions, but still have to get better at that. If I am fully focused, I am sure I can get 2-3 more questions correct.
3. I have never read NCERTs till now. I was always under the assumption that NCERTs are written for Kids and reading standard books would suffice. This was a deep rooted belief, which took lot of effort to change. After sticking to the scheduled book list for 2 weeks, I realized there are many questions which I could have answered correctly in previous prelims attempts, if I had read NCERTs properly. (Quite a late realization after failing in prelims for 5 times - :))
4. Earlier, My prelims mock exams were like Hit or Miss. Say something like Rishab Pant's batting, On a good day, I would get many questions correct or many wrong ones with a disastrous score. Now, after giving 14 exams in SFG, I kind of got settled, I am able to leave questions which I am not sure, doing intelligent guess work and seeing through the question. This is probably something, which I was missing in my earlier attempts. I was a compulsive marker, marking not less than 95 questions. I have realized this doesn't work for me. I should learn leave questions which I have no clue about.
5. In all my previous attempts, I was very haphazard in my preparation. I read whatever used to catch my fancy at that point of time. Never had a plan, even if i had, it was way too humongous to complete. Last 20 - 25 days before prelims, I always had this feeling of - I haven't done enough this time also, have to attempt more to be on safe side. Adding to that, my productivity in the last 3-4 weeks was abysmal. I did everything, which could act as a distraction for revision and study. I wanted to change it this time, be more focused with SFG
I was in no mood to join SFG and was getting ready to follow the same haphazard pattern. Thanks to one of my close friend who joined SFG last year. He got IFS. Before SFG entrance, He called me at 11 pm and really persuaded me to join SFG. The discussion went on till 1:30 am. He said, after 5 prelims failure, it takes superhuman effort to clear prelims, and there's no escaping it. This line stuck with me and I was convinced to join SFG.
6. I am feeling very comfortable doing this systematic and focused study, no FOMO whatsoever. I really have a good set of tools which I use to study, which makes the process seamless ( Be it active recall, spaced repetition etc.) All these years, I was just beating around bush, trying to read the new fancy notes/material neglecting the core
I may or may not clear this attempt, but there's definitely lot less anxiety and more comfort. It's a feeling you have, when you know you're on the right track to achieve something you have decided. There's no glory in not clearing prelims for 5 times, but all these attempts, to put blatantly - I was just beating around bush. I haven't done what is required to do. I have done what I felt like doing, hoping somehow things will fall in place.
7. SFG has good quality questions, which I felt were on par with UPSC. This was something, which I never found in other test series. This is the probably the reason, I gave all the 14 exams conducted till now. Most of the time, I start a test series, and after solving few mocks, I realize that UPSC doesn't ask such questions. So I eventually shift to a phase, where I look at the question, guess the answer and then read the solution. There's no timing, no leaving of random questions and no educated guess work. Somehow, this pattern used to get replicated in actual prelims exam and I used to do blunders.
So all in all, it was a good decision to join and will stick to it! Planning to join L2 as well.
Will write some other day how sfg helped me, but right now points to note
1. It would take different amount of time for different candidate ( like how much time previously you have read the book with enormous attention)
2. Give quality 6 hour for per day syllabus.
3. Don't get disheartened by marks, fruits will be shown later.
4. In the break of 2 days, rest half a day and then do little bit mains part.
sjerngal,lord_voldemortFew pointers
1. There's no specific time as such, but to complete the reading list on an average takes around 3-4 hours, give or take half an hour.
2. I am losing around 3-4 questions, which I should have got correct,. Losing them, just because I am still sleepy while giving the exam and didn't notice subtle differences. In the past 2-3 SFG exams, I tried to reduce it to 1-2 questions, but still have to get better at that. If I am fully focused, I am sure I can get 2-3 more questions correct.
3. I have never read NCERTs till now. I was always under the assumption that NCERTs are written for Kids and reading standard books would suffice. This was a deep rooted belief, which took lot of effort to change. After sticking to the scheduled book list for 2 weeks, I realized there are many questions which I could have answered correctly in previous prelims attempts, if I had read NCERTs properly. (Quite a late realization after failing in prelims for 5 times - :))
4. Earlier, My prelims mock exams were like Hit or Miss. Say something like Rishab Pant's batting, On a good day, I would get many questions correct or many wrong ones with a disastrous score. Now, after giving 14 exams in SFG, I kind of got settled, I am able to leave questions which I am not sure, doing intelligent guess work and seeing through the question. This is probably something, which I was missing in my earlier attempts. I was a compulsive marker, marking not less than 95 questions. I have realized this doesn't work for me. I should learn leave questions which I have no clue about.
5. In all my previous attempts, I was very haphazard in my preparation. I read whatever used to catch my fancy at that point of time. Never had a plan, even if i had, it was way too humongous to complete. Last 20 - 25 days before prelims, I always had this feeling of - I haven't done enough this time also, have to attempt more to be on safe side. Adding to that, my productivity in the last 3-4 weeks was abysmal. I did everything, which could act as a distraction for revision and study. I wanted to change it this time, be more focused with SFG
I was in no mood to join SFG and was getting ready to follow the same haphazard pattern. Thanks to one of my close friend who joined SFG last year. He got IFS. Before SFG entrance, He called me at 11 pm and really persuaded me to join SFG. The discussion went on till 1:30 am. He said, after 5 prelims failure, it takes superhuman effort to clear prelims, and there's no escaping it. This line stuck with me and I was convinced to join SFG.
6. I am feeling very comfortable doing this systematic and focused study, no FOMO whatsoever. I really have a good set of tools which I use to study, which makes the process seamless ( Be it active recall, spaced repetition etc.) All these years, I was just beating around bush, trying to read the new fancy notes/material neglecting the core
I may or may not clear this attempt, but there's definitely lot less anxiety and more comfort. It's a feeling you have, when you know you're on the right track to achieve something you have decided. There's no glory in not clearing prelims for 5 times, but all these attempts, to put blatantly - I was just beating around bush. I haven't done what is required to do. I have done what I felt like doing, hoping somehow things will fall in place.
7. SFG has good quality questions, which I felt were on par with UPSC. This was something, which I never found in other test series. This is the probably the reason, I gave all the 14 exams conducted till now. Most of the time, I start a test series, and after solving few mocks, I realize that UPSC doesn't ask such questions. So I eventually shift to a phase, where I look at the question, guess the answer and then read the solution. There's no timing, no leaving of random questions and no educated guess work. Somehow, this pattern used to get replicated in actual prelims exam and I used to do blunders.
So all in all, it was a good decision to join and will stick to it! Planning to join L2 as well.
Some food for thought here
"I have never read NCERTs till now. I was always under the assumption that NCERTs are written for Kids"
Thats with humanities as a subject. And life.
There is a movie called The Lion King. You could see it very differently as a ten year old, as an 18 year old , as someone 25 and as someone say 40 years old. You will find new meanings as per your age. So goes with a lot of animation movies by Disney.
Similary, read the NCERTs ten years from now, and you will unconver a completely different meaning that you simply did not understand when you were younger. Thats a sign you are growing.
"Thanks to one of my close friend who joined SFG last year. He got IFS. Before SFG entrance, He called me at 11 pm and really persuaded me to join SFG."
I has awonderful kid walk in once. She has secured some service this year and may get IAS, not sure. When I asked her how come she took 4-5 years to just appear for the Interview, she said that it was her first Mains and first Interview. When she did not clear Prelims for 4 times, she said that "a friend in service called her and said that you join SFG and do it well andmain tere ko kagaz par likh kar deta hoon ki tera prelims clear ho jayega"
She was diligent and hard working, and did it well. When I last spoke to her, she had gained the will power that is needed to clear the exam ( or succeed in any walk of life ), had lost tons of weight, looked like a completely different person from her SFG days!
"Most of the time, I start a test series, and after solving few mocks, I realize that UPSC doesn't ask such questions"
I would still say that when once you have decided to do something, stick to the plan even if the plan is substandard. You could do wonders with a strong execution, even if the plan is inadequate. You would not do so well with a brilliant plan but poor execution.
When we write a Test, we have to let the Test judge us.
You are doing quite brilliant. The mindset is often more important than the skillset. Attitude beats aptitude.
Do well \m/
I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS
Few pointers
1. There's no specific time as such, but to complete the reading list on an average takes around 3-4 hours, give or take half an hour.
2. I am losing around 3-4 questions, which I should have got correct,. Losing them, just because I am still sleepy while giving the exam and didn't notice subtle differences. In the past 2-3 SFG exams, I tried to reduce it to 1-2 questions, but still have to get better at that. If I am fully focused, I am sure I can get 2-3 more questions correct.
3. I have never read NCERTs till now. I was always under the assumption that NCERTs are written for Kids and reading standard books would suffice. This was a deep rooted belief, which took lot of effort to change. After sticking to the scheduled book list for 2 weeks, I realized there are many questions which I could have answered correctly in previous prelims attempts, if I had read NCERTs properly. (Quite a late realization after failing in prelims for 5 times - :))
4. Earlier, My prelims mock exams were like Hit or Miss. Say something like Rishab Pant's batting, On a good day, I would get many questions correct or many wrong ones with a disastrous score. Now, after giving 14 exams in SFG, I kind of got settled, I am able to leave questions which I am not sure, doing intelligent guess work and seeing through the question. This is probably something, which I was missing in my earlier attempts. I was a compulsive marker, marking not less than 95 questions. I have realized this doesn't work for me. I should learn leave questions which I have no clue about.
5. In all my previous attempts, I was very haphazard in my preparation. I read whatever used to catch my fancy at that point of time. Never had a plan, even if i had, it was way too humongous to complete. Last 20 - 25 days before prelims, I always had this feeling of - I haven't done enough this time also, have to attempt more to be on safe side. Adding to that, my productivity in the last 3-4 weeks was abysmal. I did everything, which could act as a distraction for revision and study. I wanted to change it this time, be more focused with SFG
I was in no mood to join SFG and was getting ready to follow the same haphazard pattern. Thanks to one of my close friend who joined SFG last year. He got IFS. Before SFG entrance, He called me at 11 pm and really persuaded me to join SFG. The discussion went on till 1:30 am. He said, after 5 prelims failure, it takes superhuman effort to clear prelims, and there's no escaping it. This line stuck with me and I was convinced to join SFG.
6. I am feeling very comfortable doing this systematic and focused study, no FOMO whatsoever. I really have a good set of tools which I use to study, which makes the process seamless ( Be it active recall, spaced repetition etc.) All these years, I was just beating around bush, trying to read the new fancy notes/material neglecting the core
I may or may not clear this attempt, but there's definitely lot less anxiety and more comfort. It's a feeling you have, when you know you're on the right track to achieve something you have decided. There's no glory in not clearing prelims for 5 times, but all these attempts, to put blatantly - I was just beating around bush. I haven't done what is required to do. I have done what I felt like doing, hoping somehow things will fall in place.
7. SFG has good quality questions, which I felt were on par with UPSC. This was something, which I never found in other test series. This is the probably the reason, I gave all the 14 exams conducted till now. Most of the time, I start a test series, and after solving few mocks, I realize that UPSC doesn't ask such questions. So I eventually shift to a phase, where I look at the question, guess the answer and then read the solution. There's no timing, no leaving of random questions and no educated guess work. Somehow, this pattern used to get replicated in actual prelims exam and I used to do blunders.
So all in all, it was a good decision to join and will stick to it! Planning to join L2 as well.
looks like all prelims failed aspirant have same story/mistakes !! change attempt to 4 instead of 5 ..and friend IRS instead of IFS !! rest while reading this i felt reading my own disasters of last 4 years !!!
As hectic and hard as it may feel at the moment, it will only get better with time... Provided you do your job well that is, to study religiously.. And give your best efforts at whatever targets you keep for yourself..
Keet at it.. !!
You can do wonders !.
Hey, how has the Mains been? All good?
I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS
sjerngal,Few pointers
1. There's no specific time as such, but to complete the reading list on an average takes around 3-4 hours, give or take half an hour.
2. I am losing around 3-4 questions, which I should have got correct,. Losing them, just because I am still sleepy while giving the exam and didn't notice subtle differences. In the past 2-3 SFG exams, I tried to reduce it to 1-2 questions, but still have to get better at that. If I am fully focused, I am sure I can get 2-3 more questions correct.
3. I have never read NCERTs till now. I was always under the assumption that NCERTs are written for Kids and reading standard books would suffice. This was a deep rooted belief, which took lot of effort to change. After sticking to the scheduled book list for 2 weeks, I realized there are many questions which I could have answered correctly in previous prelims attempts, if I had read NCERTs properly. (Quite a late realization after failing in prelims for 5 times - :))
4. Earlier, My prelims mock exams were like Hit or Miss. Say something like Rishab Pant's batting, On a good day, I would get many questions correct or many wrong ones with a disastrous score. Now, after giving 14 exams in SFG, I kind of got settled, I am able to leave questions which I am not sure, doing intelligent guess work and seeing through the question. This is probably something, which I was missing in my earlier attempts. I was a compulsive marker, marking not less than 95 questions. I have realized this doesn't work for me. I should learn leave questions which I have no clue about.
5. In all my previous attempts, I was very haphazard in my preparation. I read whatever used to catch my fancy at that point of time. Never had a plan, even if i had, it was way too humongous to complete. Last 20 - 25 days before prelims, I always had this feeling of - I haven't done enough this time also, have to attempt more to be on safe side. Adding to that, my productivity in the last 3-4 weeks was abysmal. I did everything, which could act as a distraction for revision and study. I wanted to change it this time, be more focused with SFG
I was in no mood to join SFG and was getting ready to follow the same haphazard pattern. Thanks to one of my close friend who joined SFG last year. He got IFS. Before SFG entrance, He called me at 11 pm and really persuaded me to join SFG. The discussion went on till 1:30 am. He said, after 5 prelims failure, it takes superhuman effort to clear prelims, and there's no escaping it. This line stuck with me and I was convinced to join SFG.
6. I am feeling very comfortable doing this systematic and focused study, no FOMO whatsoever. I really have a good set of tools which I use to study, which makes the process seamless ( Be it active recall, spaced repetition etc.) All these years, I was just beating around bush, trying to read the new fancy notes/material neglecting the core
I may or may not clear this attempt, but there's definitely lot less anxiety and more comfort. It's a feeling you have, when you know you're on the right track to achieve something you have decided. There's no glory in not clearing prelims for 5 times, but all these attempts, to put blatantly - I was just beating around bush. I haven't done what is required to do. I have done what I felt like doing, hoping somehow things will fall in place.
7. SFG has good quality questions, which I felt were on par with UPSC. This was something, which I never found in other test series. This is the probably the reason, I gave all the 14 exams conducted till now. Most of the time, I start a test series, and after solving few mocks, I realize that UPSC doesn't ask such questions. So I eventually shift to a phase, where I look at the question, guess the answer and then read the solution. There's no timing, no leaving of random questions and no educated guess work. Somehow, this pattern used to get replicated in actual prelims exam and I used to do blunders.
So all in all, it was a good decision to join and will stick to it! Planning to join L2 as well.
looks like all prelims failed aspirant have same story/mistakes !! change attempt to 4 instead of 5 ..and friend IRS instead of IFS !! rest while reading this i felt reading my own disasters of last 4 years !!!
Ha ha! We shall overcome someday! Deep in my heart, I do believe it :)
Few pointers
1. There's no specific time as such, but to complete the reading list on an average takes around 3-4 hours, give or take half an hour.
2. I am losing around 3-4 questions, which I should have got correct,. Losing them, just because I am still sleepy while giving the exam and didn't notice subtle differences. In the past 2-3 SFG exams, I tried to reduce it to 1-2 questions, but still have to get better at that. If I am fully focused, I am sure I can get 2-3 more questions correct.
3. I have never read NCERTs till now. I was always under the assumption that NCERTs are written for Kids and reading standard books would suffice. This was a deep rooted belief, which took lot of effort to change. After sticking to the scheduled book list for 2 weeks, I realized there are many questions which I could have answered correctly in previous prelims attempts, if I had read NCERTs properly. (Quite a late realization after failing in prelims for 5 times - :))
4. Earlier, My prelims mock exams were like Hit or Miss. Say something like Rishab Pant's batting, On a good day, I would get many questions correct or many wrong ones with a disastrous score. Now, after giving 14 exams in SFG, I kind of got settled, I am able to leave questions which I am not sure, doing intelligent guess work and seeing through the question. This is probably something, which I was missing in my earlier attempts. I was a compulsive marker, marking not less than 95 questions. I have realized this doesn't work for me. I should learn leave questions which I have no clue about.
5. In all my previous attempts, I was very haphazard in my preparation. I read whatever used to catch my fancy at that point of time. Never had a plan, even if i had, it was way too humongous to complete. Last 20 - 25 days before prelims, I always had this feeling of - I haven't done enough this time also, have to attempt more to be on safe side. Adding to that, my productivity in the last 3-4 weeks was abysmal. I did everything, which could act as a distraction for revision and study. I wanted to change it this time, be more focused with SFG
I was in no mood to join SFG and was getting ready to follow the same haphazard pattern. Thanks to one of my close friend who joined SFG last year. He got IFS. Before SFG entrance, He called me at 11 pm and really persuaded me to join SFG. The discussion went on till 1:30 am. He said, after 5 prelims failure, it takes superhuman effort to clear prelims, and there's no escaping it. This line stuck with me and I was convinced to join SFG.
6. I am feeling very comfortable doing this systematic and focused study, no FOMO whatsoever. I really have a good set of tools which I use to study, which makes the process seamless ( Be it active recall, spaced repetition etc.) All these years, I was just beating around bush, trying to read the new fancy notes/material neglecting the core
I may or may not clear this attempt, but there's definitely lot less anxiety and more comfort. It's a feeling you have, when you know you're on the right track to achieve something you have decided. There's no glory in not clearing prelims for 5 times, but all these attempts, to put blatantly - I was just beating around bush. I haven't done what is required to do. I have done what I felt like doing, hoping somehow things will fall in place.
7. SFG has good quality questions, which I felt were on par with UPSC. This was something, which I never found in other test series. This is the probably the reason, I gave all the 14 exams conducted till now. Most of the time, I start a test series, and after solving few mocks, I realize that UPSC doesn't ask such questions. So I eventually shift to a phase, where I look at the question, guess the answer and then read the solution. There's no timing, no leaving of random questions and no educated guess work. Somehow, this pattern used to get replicated in actual prelims exam and I used to do blunders.
So all in all, it was a good decision to join and will stick to it! Planning to join L2 as well.
How are you finishing the reading list within 3-4 hours?
Few pointers
1. There's no specific time as such, but to complete the reading list on an average takes around 3-4 hours, give or take half an hour.
2. I am losing around 3-4 questions, which I should have got correct,. Losing them, just because I am still sleepy while giving the exam and didn't notice subtle differences. In the past 2-3 SFG exams, I tried to reduce it to 1-2 questions, but still have to get better at that. If I am fully focused, I am sure I can get 2-3 more questions correct.
3. I have never read NCERTs till now. I was always under the assumption that NCERTs are written for Kids and reading standard books would suffice. This was a deep rooted belief, which took lot of effort to change. After sticking to the scheduled book list for 2 weeks, I realized there are many questions which I could have answered correctly in previous prelims attempts, if I had read NCERTs properly. (Quite a late realization after failing in prelims for 5 times - :))
4. Earlier, My prelims mock exams were like Hit or Miss. Say something like Rishab Pant's batting, On a good day, I would get many questions correct or many wrong ones with a disastrous score. Now, after giving 14 exams in SFG, I kind of got settled, I am able to leave questions which I am not sure, doing intelligent guess work and seeing through the question. This is probably something, which I was missing in my earlier attempts. I was a compulsive marker, marking not less than 95 questions. I have realized this doesn't work for me. I should learn leave questions which I have no clue about.
5. In all my previous attempts, I was very haphazard in my preparation. I read whatever used to catch my fancy at that point of time. Never had a plan, even if i had, it was way too humongous to complete. Last 20 - 25 days before prelims, I always had this feeling of - I haven't done enough this time also, have to attempt more to be on safe side. Adding to that, my productivity in the last 3-4 weeks was abysmal. I did everything, which could act as a distraction for revision and study. I wanted to change it this time, be more focused with SFG
I was in no mood to join SFG and was getting ready to follow the same haphazard pattern. Thanks to one of my close friend who joined SFG last year. He got IFS. Before SFG entrance, He called me at 11 pm and really persuaded me to join SFG. The discussion went on till 1:30 am. He said, after 5 prelims failure, it takes superhuman effort to clear prelims, and there's no escaping it. This line stuck with me and I was convinced to join SFG.
6. I am feeling very comfortable doing this systematic and focused study, no FOMO whatsoever. I really have a good set of tools which I use to study, which makes the process seamless ( Be it active recall, spaced repetition etc.) All these years, I was just beating around bush, trying to read the new fancy notes/material neglecting the core
I may or may not clear this attempt, but there's definitely lot less anxiety and more comfort. It's a feeling you have, when you know you're on the right track to achieve something you have decided. There's no glory in not clearing prelims for 5 times, but all these attempts, to put blatantly - I was just beating around bush. I haven't done what is required to do. I have done what I felt like doing, hoping somehow things will fall in place.
7. SFG has good quality questions, which I felt were on par with UPSC. This was something, which I never found in other test series. This is the probably the reason, I gave all the 14 exams conducted till now. Most of the time, I start a test series, and after solving few mocks, I realize that UPSC doesn't ask such questions. So I eventually shift to a phase, where I look at the question, guess the answer and then read the solution. There's no timing, no leaving of random questions and no educated guess work. Somehow, this pattern used to get replicated in actual prelims exam and I used to do blunders.
So all in all, it was a good decision to join and will stick to it! Planning to join L2 as well.
How are you finishing the reading list within 3-4 hours?
This is my 6 th attempt. I have read static multiple times before and got notes ready for standard books. NCERT is a major challenge for me, and when you already know what you can expect in text, reading becomes much faster.
My predominant way of learning is auditory, so i use a software called balabolka which reads out NCERT or any pdf to me. I listen as well as read the lines at the same time, so if i find something important, i highlight in pdf itself.
As hectic and hard as it may feel at the moment, it will only get better with time... Provided you do your job well that is, to study religiously.. And give your best efforts at whatever targets you keep for yourself..
Keet at it.. !!
You can do wonders !.
Hey, how has the Mains been? All good?
Better than i expected it to be ..
But I feel like im suffering from the optimism bias.. It was my first mains and i dont really have a metric to judge my performance, so i dont really know..
But honestly, I dont think I could have done anything better except for my stupid time management in ethics which can backfire really bad..
Baaki, Fingers are crossed !!
As hectic and hard as it may feel at the moment, it will only get better with time... Provided you do your job well that is, to study religiously.. And give your best efforts at whatever targets you keep for yourself..
Keet at it.. !!
You can do wonders !.
Hey, how has the Mains been? All good?
Better than i expected it to be ..
But I feel like im suffering from the optimism bias.. It was my first mains and i dont really have a metric to judge my performance, so i dont really know..
But honestly, I dont think I could have done anything better except for my stupid time management in ethics which can backfire really bad..
Baaki, Fingers are crossed !!
If you have completed the paper, and if you have no major dissatisfactions you should look forward to the personality test. Especially if it was first Mains.
I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS
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