Mains 2019 Preparation and Discussion Thread

@madeyeRemember the Schrödinger's Cat experiment and keep preparing for interview.

Do examiners read the labelling of maps? Worried about the Myanmar border question as I have explained the entire first part via map, arrows and its labelling. Koi santvaana dene Wala hai?

@paranthapijjaI am personally against the idea of maps and flowcharts as I believe that for a 50-60-year-old examiner, the text is more comfortable than diagrams...but thats just me..do diagrams elevate scores?

@Rand_Al_ThorI am not at all sarcastic. All this happens only once in a lifetime.

@abhishek_pOh! I was under the impression that in recent years it has been paying rich dividends. But all this is toppers talk bakar. Personally, I used maps in paper 3 last year, I ended up scoring 90 marks (average from last year pov(?)) but just this irrational anxiety wrt this particular question.

@abhishek_prelevance mattrs! creativity certainly pays its dividend!

@paranthapijjaexaminer ko baat samj aani chahiyea bassjo marji kro..bc diagrams are overrated

@ranyo_asokabhai on seroius note, my answers are very average type, plus geography paper was a disaster. So, I am in for next year.

@paranthapijjaye to achi bat hai, agar neat draw kiya ho to he will be impressed. Most people put maps even where there is no direct need but for a question like border issues map is very relevant.

@madeyestill..stay positive..wish u the very best

People drawing maps were in all probability rewarded in the past. I didn't draw any in my previous attempts, but in my circle those who did had better scores. It definitely helps. But I was not able to draw maps or flowcharts even this year too.

Kisi ne poll kraye the score prediction ke liye... result kya tha uska ?

I know All India 2nd topper in GS in 2018. He himself told me ki he did not draw ANY diagram in any Gs paper, but yes his content was really good.. So all that matters is relevance and content.. Be it with simple text or diagrams.

@sat_009Yaar thoda neatness ka hi panga hai. Though I made the contours well and the labelling was relevant (as per vision discussion), it wasn't as neat as I wanted it to look.

@Yes_I_am_ingave in 2016. Missed interview call by 6 marks in 2017

@ranyo_asokaYes interview prep hi krna h..mine is last attempt anyway

@Yes_I_am_ings3 nd geo paper 1

how will ews affect cutoff, I am not from ews, both parents in govt job, what are chances that it may hamper cutoff for unresered general category students.
this is not debate about pros and cons of quota, i am neither for nor against ews quota, this is an objective debate to ascertain how many are availing benefit how it may impact chances of non ews general candidates.
My sister failed to take admission into b.ed distance despite 2 more marks than last year general marks cut off, becoz ews took many seats in general.
I just want to know peoples opinion on how ews will impact upsc cutoff

@sat_009I guess it might be at max 10-15 marks less. I also belong to UR

@sat_009https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/will-there-be-only-31-seats-for-general-category-in-civil-services-after-new-quota-1497753-2019-04-09