[Official] ForumIAS SFG 2021 - Level 1 Details and Important Updates
Important Update : LIVE Session for SFG 2021 - Level 1 General Discussion and Way Forward - 19th January 2021 at 4:00 PM. (Click Here)
To check the instructions on how to write SFG 2021 - Test 1 :
Important Dates:
Date of Entrance Test 2 - 3rd January 2021 (10:00 AM to 11:00 AM)
End Date Registration for Entrance Test 2 – 2nd January 2021 | 5 PM
Please click on the link for instructions regarding attempting the Entrance test.
Result of Entrance Test 2 –4th January 2021
Commencement Date of SFG Level 1 – 7th January 2021
Syllabus of SFG Entrance Test - Candidates can expect 30 questions equally distributed across History, Polity, Economy, Environment and Geography. Further 15 questions will from Current Affairs of October, November and December months and 5 questions from CSAT.
SFG Level 1 Calendar: https://go.forumias.com/sfg21-calender
SFG – How it works
- Select Focus Group (SFG) is a small group of students who are selected by ForumIAS every year for coaching them to clear the UPSC Prelims Examination. Every single candidate selected and retained consistently in the group with Top ranks has cleared the Prelims examination in the past.
- 100 Students will be selected for the Select Focus Group, through the SFG Entrance Test, who will be required to report at 7 AM every day 6 days a week to write an hour-long test based on a pre-planned syllabus, followed by a discussion on the same.
- Candidates who are unable to make it to the SFG, will be maintained in a Reserve List, who can also write the tests. Candidates who couldn't clear the cutoff and are unable to make it into both SFG and RLG can register for the 2nd Entrance Test
- Tests are conducted daily and results are provided within 8 hours of test with Name and Rank list for candidates and parents to evaluate their daily performance. On the basis of rankles, about 50% of bottom performing students from SFG are migrated to the reserve list on a weekly basis, and an equal number of students from reserve list (RLG) are moved into SFG.
- The decision of the management in this regard is final and not subject to dispute. Please note that this migration is done not keeping in mind the overall merit list but moving away bottom 50% from SFG and picking up an equal number of people from RLG.
- Thus those who may be getting more than RLG students, but are bottom 50 in SFG will be moved to RLG.
- Every month, the bottom 20% or so non-performing students are eliminated from the program to maintain the quality of competition.
- All candidates writing the CSE 2021 are eligible to apply for the entrance test.
This year we introduce some changes as to how we conduct the SFG exam. Please note that changes that we bring are always in response to the examination pattern, the student feedback and our own learning with respect to how to best enable a serious candidate to clear the exam
Covid 19 Update:Keeping in mind the Covid situation, SFG – 1 entrance Test and the SFG program will be conducted in the online mode only for the year 2021. SFG – Level 2 may be conducted offline as per government guidelines and this decision will be taken at a later date.
This year SFG will be conducted in two levels as below:
SFG Level 1 (Foundation)
The SFG Level 1 is for beginners, freshers, first-timers, or simply those who have not cleared the Prelims examination ever before. The objective of the SFG Level 1 Program is three things
- Students know the basic books and basic concepts back and forth
- Students complete coverage of the syllabus through self-study
- Students are thorough with previous years papers
- Students develop the discipline and time management skills that are needed to clear the exam
The SFG Level 1 Tests will have book based / text-based / notes-based tests. By the end of SFG Level 1, you can expect that your coverage of the syllabus is complete, and you have done previous years questions well.
SFG Level 2 (Advanced)
SFG Level 2 is for people who have completed the reading and revision of the basic books and are now ready to take on the exam. The objective of the SFG Level 2 is as below
- Developing problem-solving skills for solving analytical, conceptual and thought based questions.
- Developing skills to solve questions based on the application of the reading that they have done for Level 1
- Mastering the art of handling questions from unknown areas and applying concepts from their wider reading which is relevant for the Civil Services Prelims Examination.
- Developing time management skills, and being through with the syllabus
- Providing a reliable, time-bound framework for revision just before the examination.
Current Affairs:
SFG Level 1 will provide coverage of current affairs from January 2020 to November 2020.
SFG Level 2 will have complete current affairs relevant for the Prelims examination 2021 integrated into the course.
CSAT:
CSAT tests will be integrated with SFG Level 2. There will be no CSAT tests in SFG level 1.
Application Procedure
- Admission to the SFG and RLG are based on the rank of the candidate in the merit list of the SFG Entrance Test. Students can apply for the program by registering for the Entrance Test by paying a fee of Rs. 500+ GST. Candidates can register by visitinghttp://academy.forumias.com
- The candidate must appear for the entrance test on the designated date and time, subsequent to which he/she will be admitted to the Select Group or the Reserve List.
- The candidate must pay the monthly fee as per the group he/she is allocated.
Note: Admissions to the SFG / RLG Group will only be on the basis of merit position of the candidate in the entrance test. Entrance Test will be held on 23rd December 2020. Candidates must register for the SFG Entrance Test by visiting the website http://academy.forumias.com before12 PM, December 22nd.
No admission will be granted to the candidate without appearing for the Entrance Test.
Fee Structure and Details:
- The course duration is of about two months and fees is charged on a monthly basis. Fees for the full duration of the program cannot be paid at one go.
For students selected in SFG- Rs. 1300 + GST (18%) per month. For Payment,Click Here.
For students selected in RLG- Rs. 1900 + GST (18%) per month. For Payment,Click Here.
- Fees are to be paid once the candidate is selected for the program. A fee of Rs. 118 is to be paid additionally for the I-Card by all students.
Wishing you Success,
Always
ForumIAS Academy
Request you to please include CSAT questions as well in the daily SFG tests as promised.
i dont think its a good to include csat....already there are lots of burden to complete the syllabus
apart from completing the syllabus you need to do swot anylasis of yesterday paper check the solution
and thn revesion
Messileo,DesiJonSnowRequest you to please include CSAT questions as well in the daily SFG tests as promised.
+1
@forumiasacademy Just a suggestion, 1-2 additional questions of csat can be incorporated in the test. These will be in addition to 50 questions and will not be counted in main score. Will greatly help in csat practice
Please do consider.
yes nice suggestion
BASSICK,
- Helps you in being disciplined.
- Helps a lot in completing the syllabus , standard books and current affairs both.
- You get a lot of practice of giving tests, so that helps in elimination of options as well as devising your own strategy( a very big plus point
Cons:
- Because of rush of completing the syllabus, sometimes quality is compromised and you just study from test perspective overnight.
- Revision takes a backseat, as it is very hectic as you can see from schedule no doubt.
@Neyawn ... Today's test marks demotivated me. I thought by joining SFG , I will get a boost, however by seeing below 50 ( though I am accepting I did not revise fully all the chapters due to work commitment), I was demotivated a lot. And this thought lingered since morning that will I be able to clear prelims or not in my last attempt.
Bro, don't think so much. Try to do your best. You have two options, to write the test or to not write the test.
If by not writing the test you feel more motivated then what is the point? There are lakes of motivated people who are appearing but not actually studying .
Just focus on daily studies. I start studying at 11pm and write the test at 7am and sleep after that. In between watch some videos for break. At least I am studying for 5 hours. It is better than doing anything have wasted 3 months already since lockdown.
Request you to please include CSAT questions as well in the daily SFG tests as promised.
+1
@forumiasacademy Just a suggestion, 1-2 additional questions of csat can be incorporated in the test. These will be in addition to 50 questions and will not be counted in main score. Will greatly help in csat practice
Please do consider.
@forumiasacademy Please do consider something with regards to CSAT. Some of us here need to give tests on csat regularly. It can be in any format. Either a separate 1 hour ppr or additional questions in the SFG ppr....like anything that would suit the majority (who are willing to give CSAT). Some of us aren't really confident with regards to aptitude (due to both background & lack of practice) & it would be terrible to clear ppr 1 with a back in CSAT. This has been bothering me since a while.
Integer,
Han! My mistake...thanks
Any initiative to discuss test doubts? Maybe a 3hr live chat with a faculty every week. SFG 1.0 had this system after every five tests. Non-addressal of genuine doubts for conflicting questions makes the preparation very incomplete.
Please address this issue
@forumiasacademy Can you please address this?
Yes abhishek, we will get this done on Sunday. Kinda webinar :D
Let me alert the team .
p.s. Your persistence ! LOT TO LEARN !
When can we have that webinar? Maybe by the upcoming weekend? (by that time, polity tests will be over and we can have one session on all polity tests' doubts)
Please confirm
Any initiative to discuss test doubts? Maybe a 3hr live chat with a faculty every week. SFG 1.0 had this system after every five tests. Non-addressal of genuine doubts for conflicting questions makes the preparation very incomplete.
Please address this issue
@forumiasacademy Can you please address this?
Yes abhishek, we will get this done on Sunday. Kinda webinar :D
Let me alert the team .
p.s. Your persistence ! LOT TO LEARN !
When can we have that webinar? Maybe by the upcoming weekend? (by that time, polity tests will be over and we can have one session on all polity tests' doubts)
Please confirm
@K_H_Abhishek After all discussion here, We asked the faculty to take classes with the purpose of value addition, which we think is being done currently. Is there a scope of doubt removal classes after the 3 hour videos on each test? Just want to clarify.
Because faulty may not be happy taking additional classes on the same things he has already discussed in the class. Doubt session must have queries that went unresolved in the discussion classes. So we will need that clarification from the students end.
Any initiative to discuss test doubts? Maybe a 3hr live chat with a faculty every week. SFG 1.0 had this system after every five tests. Non-addressal of genuine doubts for conflicting questions makes the preparation very incomplete.
Please address this issue
@forumiasacademy Can you please address this?
Yes abhishek, we will get this done on Sunday. Kinda webinar :D
Let me alert the team .
p.s. Your persistence ! LOT TO LEARN !
When can we have that webinar? Maybe by the upcoming weekend? (by that time, polity tests will be over and we can have one session on all polity tests' doubts)
Please confirm
@K_H_Abhishek After all discussion here, We asked the faculty to take classes with the purpose of value addition, which we think is being done currently. Is there a scope of doubt removal classes after the 3 hour videos on each test? Just want to clarify.
Because faulty may not be happy taking additional classes on the same things he has already discussed in the class. Doubt session must have queries that went unresolved in the discussion classes. So we will need that clarification from the students end.
Thank you for your prompt response.
I watched the first video to address my doubts about the test, and it did not. For example: Test 1 -Q22: FC can be argued to uphold fiscal federalism too;Q43: states actually do not have power 'to amend' the constitution. The 50% ratification rule is to get their consent, and the consent is not amendment, and so on.
There were some such doubts (maybe 5% of the questions or less, every test) that needed some clarification. But I totally understand your point. If more people here think such a doubt clearance session is necessary, you may consider this. Else, I'm ok to look for other ways to clarify my doubts.
@ForumIAS-Academy Just a suggestion - Most of the doubts are addressed through the class that are being conducted. Post that if anyone has any doubt, you can probably create an excel sheet/thread for the same where queries can be posted within a specific time limit - for instance a day or two after the video is uploaded.The queries can be answered in written format by the faculty or a small video on the same can be made available.Having another webinar session for one test after a 3 hour video would be extremely time consuming, but FOMO won't allow to miss it.!
Yes,
Basically that is the concern. Because then students who don’t have doubts will also attend for the fear of issuing out. Then some people will skip the videos and just come fro doubts session and we will have invented a new problem.
the Excel idea is good.
Integer,Conceptual doubt from Test 3, Q 14
On the federal significance of Vidhan Parishad: While I was about to mark that only RS has federal significance I remembered that 1/3 of legislative council members are elected by members of local bodies like municipalities. And the state legislature does control what functions get devolved to the third tier, so there's a significance here. Any thoughts?
ssver2,@iskool I think it is not about "amounts to" ... say .. if the motion of thanks passes LS and doesn't in RS .. now do you think it amounts to collapse of Govt ?
In my opinion this option is wrong, it should be only LS
see its not possible that motion didnt pass in RS it has to pass even without a majority. this is our constitution. what RS can max do ? https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/motion-of-thanks-in-rs-heeding-the-spirit-of-the-amendment/article8342674.ece
so :)
Conceptual doubt from Test 3, Q 14
On the federal significance of Vidhan Parishad: While I was about to mark that only RS has federal significance I remembered that 1/3 of legislative council members are elected by members of local bodies like municipalities. And the state legislature does control what functions get devolved to the third tier, so there's a significance here. Any thoughts?
I had the same doubt, but then I felt that when we talk about federalism in India we talk in Centre-State terms
WRT motion of thanks question, can someone please clarify why is it either house? All the sources i have seen mention lok sabha and not either house.
Additionally, this question is repeated from sfg polity test 4 of Feb batch. In the answer explanation of this test also it mentions only Lok Sabha. While the answer explanation in current test 3 is different.
In the explanation video, sir has mentioned that since govt has majority in LS, it will obviously be passed. However, going by this logic, even budget or No confidence motion will always be passed in LS. Then how does their defeat amount to defeat of govt. Moreover the govt is responsible to LS only not Parliament.
Please clarify! :)
ssver2,Porus
ishitatri,This is from sfg test feb batch. Kindly clarify if i am missing out on some info . Thank you
TheEnigma,
Write your comment…
