Mains 2021 - Strategy, Doubts, Resources etc
Hi peeps!
Prelims result will be declared in 2-3 weeks. We may make it, we might not. Speculations will continue till then.
This thread is for those who want to move on. For those deciding to focus on the next phase of their prep; perhaps the most crucial one. We have less number of days this time (only about 85 days left). Let's collaborate and make the most of this time.
Here are the links to previous year's threads. Do go through them. There are gems in there.
https://forumias.com/post/detail/Mains-2020-Doubt-and-strategy-discussion-thread-1601963441?page=1 - In the description of this thread, you'll find links to paper wise threads of last year plus some handy resources.
https://forumias.com/post/detail/CSE-2021-Plan-Strategy-Daily-Routine-1602556617 This is the 2021 daily routine thread
https://forumias.com/post/detail/CSE-2022-Plan-Strategy-Daily-Routine-1633964267?page=1 This is the 2022 daily routine thread created by@nerdfighter.
In both these threads, you are free to post your daily targets and hold each other accountable. Or just lurk there and be motivated by the effort people are putting in day after day.
https://forumias.com/post/detail/Anecdotes-Facts-Examples-for-GS-and-Essay-1634039128 - This thread is created by@sbhati.Do contribute your facts and examples there. We can together build up a collection more than enough to conquer Mains.
peterparker,Hello, good people of forum. I had a pretty bad mains last year, want to review my sources.
1) Society -
- 2020: prepared nothing besides definitions of regionalism, communalism etc and few pointers.
- Had difficulty with question on caste. so left it blank. Subpar performance on globalization and regionalism question
- 2021: Thinking about doing 12th NCERTS + Rushikesh Reddy notes.
- Any suggestions?
2) Geography
- 2020: did NCERTS only.
- Clueless on glaciers, desertification, forest resources etc questions.
- 2021: Still clueless, cant identify any other source than ncerts.
- Any suggestions?
3) Polity
- 2020: Did Laxmikant
- struggled with questions on speaker, evolution of RS, RPA process, functionality of local bodies etc.
- 2021: maybe some VAM or toppers notes...?
Please can you suggest mains specific sources for these subjects...
EiChan,Krritika
JohnButlerTrain,
Newton981,Apollo11
Hello, good people of forum. I had a pretty bad mains last year, want to review my sources.
1) Society -
- 2020: prepared nothing besides definitions of regionalism, communalism etc and few pointers.
- Had difficulty with question on caste. so left it blank. Subpar performance on globalization and regionalism question
- 2021: Thinking about doing 12th NCERTS + Rushikesh Reddy notes.
- Any suggestions?
2) Geography
- 2020: did NCERTS only.
- Clueless on glaciers, desertification, forest resources etc questions.
- 2021: Still clueless, cant identify any other source than ncerts.
- Any suggestions?
3) Polity
- 2020: Did Laxmikant
- struggled with questions on speaker, evolution of RS, RPA process, functionality of local bodies etc.
- 2021: maybe some VAM or toppers notes...?
Please can you suggest mains specific sources for these subjects...
Hello!
I maybe of help here. My scores for CSE 2020 are 93 in GS 1, 116 in GS 2
For Point 1 and 2:
1. You are correct in sources you've thought of in Society. Try to also start thinking on sociological lines for that portion. Look at test series questions and try to frame answers. Some aptitude can be developed from there too.
2. For Geography - those topics you mentioned were more in current affairs than NCERTs. You still have to use a mix of both for it.
3. For polity also, you may use VAMs - but be sure to crystallise and really reduce their volume in your head, have very tiny notes for them. If you want more, do the governance portion from Niti Aayog's India @ 75. Very handy source.
@Arrokoth what was ur sources of society ?
12 Sociology NCERTs + developing frameworks and aptitude for sociological answers (my optional isn't socio).
Added CA to all this.
EiChan,JohnButlerTrainHello, good people of forum. I had a pretty bad mains last year, want to review my sources.
1) Society -
- 2020: prepared nothing besides definitions of regionalism, communalism etc and few pointers.
- Had difficulty with question on caste. so left it blank. Subpar performance on globalization and regionalism question
- 2021: Thinking about doing 12th NCERTS + Rushikesh Reddy notes.
- Any suggestions?
2) Geography
- 2020: did NCERTS only.
- Clueless on glaciers, desertification, forest resources etc questions.
- 2021: Still clueless, cant identify any other source than ncerts.
- Any suggestions?
3) Polity
- 2020: Did Laxmikant
- struggled with questions on speaker, evolution of RS, RPA process, functionality of local bodies etc.
- 2021: maybe some VAM or toppers notes...?
Please can you suggest mains specific sources for these subjects...
Hello!
I maybe of help here. My scores for CSE 2020 are 93 in GS 1, 116 in GS 2
For Point 1 and 2:
1. You are correct in sources you've thought of in Society. Try to also start thinking on sociological lines for that portion. Look at test series questions and try to frame answers. Some aptitude can be developed from there too.
2. For Geography - those topics you mentioned were more in current affairs than NCERTs. You still have to use a mix of both for it.
3. For polity also, you may use VAMs - but be sure to crystallise and really reduce their volume in your head, have very tiny notes for them. If you want more, do the governance portion from Niti Aayog's India @ 75. Very handy source.
Your performance in GS 2 is amazing...
Which VAM you had referred for polity...?
Did you employ similar test series based approach?
JohnButlerTrain,
Hello, good people of forum. I had a pretty bad mains last year, want to review my sources.
1) Society -
- 2020: prepared nothing besides definitions of regionalism, communalism etc and few pointers.
- Had difficulty with question on caste. so left it blank. Subpar performance on globalization and regionalism question
- 2021: Thinking about doing 12th NCERTS + Rushikesh Reddy notes.
- Any suggestions?
2) Geography
- 2020: did NCERTS only.
- Clueless on glaciers, desertification, forest resources etc questions.
- 2021: Still clueless, cant identify any other source than ncerts.
- Any suggestions?
3) Polity
- 2020: Did Laxmikant
- struggled with questions on speaker, evolution of RS, RPA process, functionality of local bodies etc.
- 2021: maybe some VAM or toppers notes...?
Please can you suggest mains specific sources for these subjects...
Hello!
I maybe of help here. My scores for CSE 2020 are 93 in GS 1, 116 in GS 2
For Point 1 and 2:
1. You are correct in sources you've thought of in Society. Try to also start thinking on sociological lines for that portion. Look at test series questions and try to frame answers. Some aptitude can be developed from there too.
2. For Geography - those topics you mentioned were more in current affairs than NCERTs. You still have to use a mix of both for it.
3. For polity also, you may use VAMs - but be sure to crystallise and really reduce their volume in your head, have very tiny notes for them. If you want more, do the governance portion from Niti Aayog's India @ 75. Very handy source.
Your performance in GS 2 is amazing...
Which VAM you had referred for polity...?
Did you employ similar test series based approach?
Hey, so I had done all topic wise VAMs for 2019 Mains itself (my first attempt), and scored 90 then. This time focus was on higher level retention and addition of India @ 75 Report + ARC summaries for specific sub-topics (used GS Score for this) for governance along with newspaper examples.
Wrote 3 sets of GS 2 papers. Marks were 101 (Vision), 87 (Forum), 96 (Vision) in them. The point wasn't the score, but my time management and on the spot recollection.
On both these major counts, I think I could improve. Probably why the 116.
@TheSousChef this might be what you are looking for as well.
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