Mains Over - How should one Proceed for the Personality Test?

@Neyawn sir, how can first timers judge their mains performance ? And how to avoid the optimism bias or recurring pessimism ?

Also, can some braveheart gather the courage to frame the triads of three people sir has suggested ? 

Thank you for your long mail :)

I read it. It's wonderful to see you pull yourself from consecutive 4 prelims failure and write your first Mains. Whatever sincerity you have shown till now, try to continue it in some manner.

Abhi parhai chhor nahi deni hai. There will be a high tendency to completely leave studies, and get into something like poker, crypto,start up, partying etc. You need a 10 daysor so break. Take that. Get back to work after that.

1. No now. Whatever you have to do for Mains , you have do it now. You have the next 45 days or so for Mains improvement. That is enough time to improve your Mains.If you have not written Tests, finish off test writing for at least 2 subjects 2 papers each.

2. 45 days from Mains finish date ( assuming 60 days time for Mains result coming ), you get into full time Interview prep mode. Take your first mock if possible.

3. Read the newspaper. Keep reading the newspaper , the front page news and build balanced opinions on any issue. Simple, straight, to the point. When you get your Interview call, you should not have the problem of not having read newspaper.

4. Take your first mock immediately when you decide to prepare for the Interview . It will set you in the right direction. Many a times I have seen people taking mocks 1 week before actual Interview and losing confidence if some improvement is needed.

@NeyawnSir... My mains went well as per my expectations... I scored avg 100+ in MGP (Cohort 12) GS test (Variation from 95~118 in marks).. is there any co-relation b/w MGP marks and real UPSC marks.. I scored 360+ is all GS last time w/o writing a single mock...

For interview... which is correct time for the 1st mock ?

There is one telegram channel which has done a detailed analysis of how the board members have rewarded marks, standar deviation and stuff wrt their marks. I read all that and found interesting, but one questions still remains, how is it all helpful for a candidate?

You do whatthis dudedid.

So when he finished writing Mains, we happened to meet by chance, also because he had philosophy optional. 

He was working on two Mains papers, which he thought has screwed up ( it was true, he got double digit marks in philo Paper 1 ) , and finished off things in 40-45 days. Yoou get 2 months before the Interview call comes. When the date for result came close, you try to prepare for the PT.

In essense do not lose touch with studied. Do not "wait" for results. Study. For Mains subjects that are gone bad, and keep reading the newspaper.

Also, if you end up taking 1-2 mocks, you will not be a fool, even if things dont work out. You just have to not be the guy who wasnt prepared when destiny gave him an opportunity. 

1. Read the newspaper front page news regularly. If at all you get interview call, newspaper backlog should not be there.

2. You can take up any Mains course that you deem right including MGP. Finish off at least two papers before Mains, writing 2 tests on each.

3. I suggest you to take some/any classes for content addition. This does not strike at first but makes sense in hindsight. Like Paper 4 / CA etc. 

4. Don't burnout yourself, study steadily for like 6+ hours everyday.

@Neyawn I wrote this mains but I have some gaps in my optional. Would you recommend getting that rectified in the next month or so? How should I balance Optional/ Interview/ CA...

has everyone already started mock interviews here?

need some perspective 

thank you

The gap should be based on your preparation. After writing one Mains ( or even otherwise , when you think your preparation has matured ) , you do not need the handholding of an external plan. You can simply write the Tests at your convenience at a gap suitable to you.

It's a good idea. You deserve this break, you have earned it !

@Neyawnmy Mains was mediocre a. I am thinking to join Cohort 8 of MGP. Sir, can you recommend if my decision is good? Is it too early for me to decide? how should i proceed? I am thinking to make my next attempt as my last and dont want to take any chance. Can you please guide me through this?

I have created a telegram group. Please join.

Link: https://t.me/+IGgNqvul47gzNmFl

Can someone help me summarize what all we need to do as part of interview prep? Here are the things i understand so far:

1. Prepare my DAF, go through every topic/ section and back track questions that could be asked

2. Read newspaper, Prepare current affair topics (Question: I have never read any newspaper till date and totally relied on Dipin Sir's class for all CA, can someone please help understand what should be the reading methodology now, what should I focus on?)

We can have a good discussion there