MGP Request: Can we have handwritten model answers in stipulated word and space limit? In addition to current printed Format
MGP provides printed model answers. They are an excellent additional resource and come in handy in case of revision, content enrichment etc. However, they are bulky and often cross word limit, sometimes they are thrice as long as the word limit.
There are also good copies collection which gives fair idea about how peer writes.They also give good idea about what constitutes a good answer. Still they are not model answers!
I feel, ForumIAS can come up with polished, high quality answers which are written with leisure and repeated fine tuning in prescribed word and space in handwritten format. They can also include good flowcharts, maps, diagrams which can be replicated. If revised and internalized well, these can be aholy grail of a resourcefor aspirants. I know "model" answer is a myth, however, if something comes from a high table there is no harm in benchmarking against it.
Let's see how others including those within academy think of it...
Nayan_Kumar,Ri2raj
Believe me you, We are already working on this. We do have a prototype for it, but handwritten has the challenge that with more than 50+ Tests, it becomes challenging as for a human to write in Handwritten format will slow down things down.
For MGP solutions, we have three key requirements
One, It should be short and crisp so that it can be used for quick revision
Two, it should be such that it has more points than actual answer. If there are 10 points in the model answer, student will remember at least 5.
Three, some people will be basing entire preparation on MGP Question Papers and Solutions. They will do the entire syllabus coverage from there without reading books.
Reconciling all the three is a Herculean Task. Sometimes these are contradictory.Crisp and comprehensive.
So for MGP 2021 what we have done is
(1) introduced keywords in rectangular boxes - so that students know that they can simply write the keywords in the answers. And yet we have provided descriptions, so that first timers do not have a problem.
(2) Introduced Grey Boxes which are not part of the answer, so that people who haven't read the topic from the book , ( and don't want to ) can benefit from this. It can be ignored by people who have already studied for the topics.
Would you look at these and give us a feedback? You can do so privately.
What we are trying to achieve is that someone seasoned like you should be able to look at the keywords in rectangles and revise the answer in five minutes.
Matlab ye hai, ye hai, ye hai is answer mein.
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We can compress it within the word limit as well, but then complete freshers will have a problem. So we try to maintain a ratio of word limit X 2.5 for the typed out answers.
Let me know what you think and do provide suggestions how this can be made better. My concern is that in the end it should solve a problem. At least the problem of a substantial number of people.
I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS
Raillife,Pragya001
@Neyawn The rectangular boxes would be quite helpful to actively recall the whole points with only KWs. Please do consider using it in rest of the ongoing MGP 2020 tests as well.
Last year while taking a feedback, after the final results were out, one of last years students ( I think his username is MAMCMedico ) told me that he had three solutions before Mains - the big V, Form MGP and AWFG. In the end since he couldn't do everything he did AWFG answers because they were crisper and shorter, easy for revision.
As far as I can recall he got 52 or 62 rank last year, and barring 1 person, everyone in his group got through, and they had similar inputs. We had this in the mind, so the idea was to have a way where a experienced candidates can just look at the answer and get what they need, so as to reduce revision time to under 3-4 minutes. Hence these rectangles.
On the other hand, because some freshers expect and decide that they wont study the book ( and that number is significant ) they need long answers , this method tries to reach a balance.
I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS
Regarding the challenges,1. This year maximum number of questions a test can provide is 19x20+8x20= 540 and I can see questions for other lesser no. of tests package come from this question bank only. I have seen people with lesser lesser infrastructure, lesser man power and resources proving tremendous quality, handwritten question banks. And, I feel, with the amount of hard work ForumIAS puts in, such initiative can be materialised.2. This doesn't mean no solutions in current form. I am a tremendous beneficiary of MGP 2019 and AWFG 2019 solutions. Indeed, they are a valued resource. However, they, sometimes, lackreproduciblemaps, diagrams , charts. Maybe consider handwritten model answers as some answer which has been written withinfiniteresources, fine tuning, and attempts.If done with right intention, this will be crisp and comprehensive.3. It will add to tangibility of mentorship provided with the programme.This year too, I will be relying heavily on MGP Question bank. Happy to hear that we have a prototype for this, Let's hope everything works out well.
I have one question to ask you. Does it work if the handwritten solutions are a bonus and not the promised thing, and come a week later than the actual answers ?
Remember that our challenges will be evaluating answers of kids who will open the handwritten answer , copy the whole thing - sometimes in a prettier handwriting - and say why have I not topped the test when I have copied from the solution :P
This year we intend to award zero marks, but these things don't come without their own set of troubles.
( We have been working on it since past 2 months, and I didn't want to disclose this on a public platform as given our "thought leadership" to some extent ( chuckles ) in Civils prep , it will be emulated soon. )
I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS
@Neyawn The rectangular boxes would be quite helpful to actively recall the whole points with only KWs. Please do consider using it in rest of the ongoing MGP 2020 tests as well.
Last year while taking a feedback, after the final results were out, one of last years students ( I think his username is MAMCMedico ) told me that he had three solutions before Mains - the big V, Form MGP and AWFG. In the end since he couldn't do everything he did AWFG answers because they were crisper and shorter, easy for revision.
As far as I can recall he got 52 or 62 rank last year, and barring 1 person, everyone in his group got through, and they had similar inputs. We had this in the mind, so the idea was to have a way where a experienced candidates can just look at the answer and get what they need, so as to reduce revision time to under 3-4 minutes. Hence these rectangles.
On the other hand, because some freshers expect and decide that they wont study the book ( and that number is significant ) they need long answers , this method tries to reach a balance.
+1 for the Killer Combo of Big V+MGP+AWFG. I also ended up revising only AWFG, before mains, as questions were a lot direct, content was better organised, and they had excellent value added points. Even after mains, me and my friend try to go through AWFG before MGP tests.
We group always wondered how can there be this much difference between two papers, MGP and AWFG, even when same team is behind them ?
One of my friend then came up with conclusion that, Intension behind both was slightly different.
In MGP, they were focused on content building, making people learn structuring, and giving additional topics.
But In AWFG, approch was direct, they were looking for questions to be written in 1 hour and provision of a readymade resource.
Delay in provision.
This won't be a big issue.Yes, We can have them after a week or 10 days late. Even Good copies also have lag, haven't they
I really really hope this materialise soon, and best of luck for it.
I remember when I was in college, I was constantly handwriting text from presentations to make papers, it took me a long time to print it out, or I would copy it from a sheet of paper to the computer. Now I foundTypingService org , which transcribes anything very well because they do it manually and most importantly it doesn't take me any more time, I think you will find it useful!
Great thread with good inputs.
just here to appreciate the quality of questions MGP has been asking since last year.
Very analytical and in line with the commissions demands.
additionally, the model answers have evolved to have handmade diagrams (some geography tests). Presentation has also improved with tabular presentation seen.
keep helping the aspirant community. @Neyawn
AzadHindFauz,Nayan_Kumar
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