PSIR - Strategy, resources & discussion
Hi peeps. Let’s do this!
1. Previous papers from 2009 (both papers are in the same PDF):here2. Topic-wise PYQs: here
3. Look for PDFs of books here: b-ok.cc, http://libgen.rs/, archive.org
4. Model answers from SR:here
5. OnlyIAS notes, if you need extra matter for a few topics:here
6. SR notes, typed:politicsforindia.com
@whatonly @AzadHindFauz and others , pls clear a few things for me. I am in deep dilemma right now , as the prelims is postponed , I was thinking of completing optional till july with like making complete notes and stuff and practicing pyq. Now Shubhra mam has come up with her test series and now I m thinking whther I should join her test series so that could give me directions , but I don't want myself overburdened with test series which in any way could hamper my prelims as well.
My simple question is specially to you@whatonly as you gave ur first attempt , what is more important a test series and practising more questions or doing syllabus completely and pyq at this moment.
P.S. keeping in mind the pathetic checking at SR. And should I go for previous test series available online..so that can attempt and check answers with answers available and after pre go for some test series.
P.S.S If someone can share or have some links of the previous year test series or this year test series do provide the link. I really see no point in wasting money for the pathetic checking of SR. I don't support this , but just to mention I am her tablet course student which she just rushed away in the end, had bad experience .
Please others do chip in .
Ash5Man,
@whatonly @AzadHindFauz and others , pls clear a few things for me. I am in deep dilemma right now , as the prelims is postponed , I was thinking of completing optional till july with like making complete notes and stuff and practicing pyq. Now Shubhra mam has come up with her test series and now I m thinking whther I should join her test series so that could give me directions , but I don't want myself overburdened with test series which in any way could hamper my prelims as well.
My simple question is specially to you@whatonly as you gave ur first attempt , what is more important a test series and practising more questions or doing syllabus completely and pyq at this moment.
P.S. keeping in mind the pathetic checking at SR. And should I go for previous test series available online..so that can attempt and check answers with answers available and after pre go for some test series.
P.S.S If someone can share or have some links of the previous year test series or this year test series do provide the link. I really see no point in wasting money for the pathetic checking of SR. I don't support this , but just to mention I am her tablet course student which she just rushed away in the end, had bad experience .
Please others do chip in and lend ur views in these times of confusion.
Let me clear this doubt for you. Do not worry about writing tests. Writing tests are of no use when your content is not ready. Stay calm and devote your time to prepare notes till July without second thoughts.
However, I would suggest you to get the test discussion videos of SR ma'am from someone who has joined her course. Watch these videos and observe how ma'am structures her answer.
Note-making + observation would do for now. Answer writing will take hardly 1 month if your content is ready.
Content is the king, always!
sstarrr,Jammu@AzadHindFauz Thanks for the advice. Even I thought the same , got little deviated when talked to fellow aspirant who wanted to give more tests.
I really dont know if anyone would be willing to share her discussion vedios. It was an online batch we had no whatsoever contacts between us.
If you have some of ur answer copies and you think they are some of your good copies , can you share them. I will try to learn from them and ofc from the answer sheets of the previous year toppers from GS score.
@whatonly @AzadHindFauz and others , pls clear a few things for me. I am in deep dilemma right now , as the prelims is postponed , I was thinking of completing optional till july with like making complete notes and stuff and practicing pyq. Now Shubhra mam has come up with her test series and now I m thinking whther I should join her test series so that could give me directions , but I don't want myself overburdened with test series which in any way could hamper my prelims as well.
My simple question is specially to you@whatonly as you gave ur first attempt , what is more important a test series and practising more questions or doing syllabus completely and pyq at this moment.
P.S. keeping in mind the pathetic checking at SR. And should I go for previous test series available online..so that can attempt and check answers with answers available and after pre go for some test series.
P.S.S If someone can share or have some links of the previous year test series or this year test series do provide the link. I really see no point in wasting money for the pathetic checking of SR. I don't support this , but just to mention I am her tablet course student which she just rushed away in the end, had bad experience .
Please others do chip in .
She had a similar structure last year as well when the pre got postponed. IMO it’s good business. Personally, I don’t think you should spend time on the test series right now. Focus on conceptual clarity right now. Work on PYQs for answer writing. One thing that helped me (take what I say with a pinch of salt given that I didn’t clear) was working on the same questions trying to improve my answers incrementally. It helped to really condense the concepts in your mind. I was able to do this for paper 1 last year and not for paper 2 and it showed in the exam hall.
Even though SR has pathetic checking, there aren’t many others available that give you a decent quality test series. Their model answers are good though, if that helps 🤷🏻♀️
sstarrr,Jammu@whatonly @AzadHindFauz and others , pls clear a few things for me. I am in deep dilemma right now , as the prelims is postponed , I was thinking of completing optional till july with like making complete notes and stuff and practicing pyq. Now Shubhra mam has come up with her test series and now I m thinking whther I should join her test series so that could give me directions , but I don't want myself overburdened with test series which in any way could hamper my prelims as well.
My simple question is specially to you@whatonly as you gave ur first attempt , what is more important a test series and practising more questions or doing syllabus completely and pyq at this moment.
P.S. keeping in mind the pathetic checking at SR. And should I go for previous test series available online..so that can attempt and check answers with answers available and after pre go for some test series.
P.S.S If someone can share or have some links of the previous year test series or this year test series do provide the link. I really see no point in wasting money for the pathetic checking of SR. I don't support this , but just to mention I am her tablet course student which she just rushed away in the end, had bad experience .
Please others do chip in .
She had a similar structure last year as well when the pre got postponed. IMO it’s good business. Personally, I don’t think you should spend time on the test series right now. Focus on conceptual clarity right now. Work on PYQs for answer writing. One thing that helped me (take what I say with a pinch of salt given that I didn’t clear) was working on the same questions trying to improve my answers incrementally. It helped to really condense the concepts in your mind. I was able to do this for paper 1 last year and not for paper 2 and it showed in the exam hall.
Even though SR has pathetic checking, there aren’t many others available that give you a decent quality test series. Their model answers are good though, if that helps 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you . The idea of brainstorming the questions always helps to tackle questions in the exam situation , my plan is also somewhat similar, completing notes and doing pyqs.
@sstarrr I'd say the same thing - understand the ideas inside out, make consolidated notes, and practice with PYQs before worrying about a test series.
Make sure that for every item of the syllabus, you have the material figured out, and unless you have everything concisely in one place available, I'd suggest that you make notes from all the sources for that topic in one place. I didn't do this part until after prelims even though I studied optional during the postponement, leading to a lot of panic and stress. After prelims you can make even shorter notes if you feel like it. The idea is to get it to a level where you're able to revise the whole syllabus at least 2-3 times in the 5 day gap between GS and optional papers during mains.
I agree with@DeekshitaP on doing the same PYQs multiple times thing. I only managed to do this for a few topics but it really helped for those (this too I did only after prelims but it would have helped to do it sooner). I think you can focus on PYQs right now as a way to make sure your concepts are clear and that you can express them coherently. I don't think you need to worry too much about getting these answers checked just yet. You'll notice the difference yourself between progressive answers you write.
I had joined the SR crash course after prelims. You're right about the paper checking. I could never make time to watch the videos or even read the model answers, so the only way it helped was that the questions were really good. Many came in the mains. Crash course notes are good too, if it doesn't become overkill. I was in a similar dilemma about test series, but ended up joining because of the lack of an alternative. So I don't have an answer to this question.
Last year some of us had made a telegram group to share answers among ourselves and review them. That's certainly better than SR checking. I think after you get the hang of answer writing, you won't even really need someone to review your answers. You'll be able to figure out a lot on reading them a couple of days after you write them. (However marks are not out yet, I still don't know if this style I figured out for myself worked well - so ek chutki namak.) Also, well selected toppers copies will help. I do think this can wait until after prelims though unless you really have time to spare.
Also if you haven't already and if you're able to make time I'd suggest make some notes for 2B now. You can always update after prelims. I again did this only after prelims and it was not fun.
All the best :D
Jammu,Topic-wise PYQs (until 2019): 
Topic-wise PSIR PYQs.pdf
@sstarrr I'd say the same thing - understand the ideas inside out, make consolidated notes, and practice with PYQs before worrying about a test series.
Make sure that for every item of the syllabus, you have the material figured out, and unless you have everything concisely in one place available, I'd suggest that you make notes from all the sources for that topic in one place. I didn't do this part until after prelims even though I studied optional during the postponement, leading to a lot of panic and stress. After prelims you can make even shorter notes if you feel like it. The idea is to get it to a level where you're able to revise the whole syllabus at least 2-3 times in the 5 day gap between GS and optional papers during mains.
I agree with@DeekshitaP on doing the same PYQs multiple times thing. I only managed to do this for a few topics but it really helped for those (this too I did only after prelims but it would have helped to do it sooner). I think you can focus on PYQs right now as a way to make sure your concepts are clear and that you can express them coherently. I don't think you need to worry too much about getting these answers checked just yet. You'll notice the difference yourself between progressive answers you write.
I had joined the SR crash course after prelims. You're right about the paper checking. I could never make time to watch the videos or even read the model answers, so the only way it helped was that the questions were really good. Many came in the mains. Crash course notes are good too, if it doesn't become overkill. I was in a similar dilemma about test series, but ended up joining because of the lack of an alternative. So I don't have an answer to this question.
Last year some of us had made a telegram group to share answers among ourselves and review them. That's certainly better than SR checking. I think after you get the hang of answer writing, you won't even really need someone to review your answers. You'll be able to figure out a lot on reading them a couple of days after you write them. (However marks are not out yet, I still don't know if this style I figured out for myself worked well - so ek chutki namak.) Also, well selected toppers copies will help. I do think this can wait until after prelims though unless you really have time to spare.
Also if you haven't already and if you're able to make time I'd suggest make some notes for 2B now. You can always update after prelims. I again did this only after prelims and it was not fun.
All the best :D
Yes to making notes for 1B and 2B beforehand, because it becomes far too much in that gap between pre and mains
whatonly,@sstarrr I'd say the same thing - understand the ideas inside out, make consolidated notes, and practice with PYQs before worrying about a test series.
Make sure that for every item of the syllabus, you have the material figured out, and unless you have everything concisely in one place available, I'd suggest that you make notes from all the sources for that topic in one place. I didn't do this part until after prelims even though I studied optional during the postponement, leading to a lot of panic and stress. After prelims you can make even shorter notes if you feel like it. The idea is to get it to a level where you're able to revise the whole syllabus at least 2-3 times in the 5 day gap between GS and optional papers during mains.
I agree with@DeekshitaP on doing the same PYQs multiple times thing. I only managed to do this for a few topics but it really helped for those (this too I did only after prelims but it would have helped to do it sooner). I think you can focus on PYQs right now as a way to make sure your concepts are clear and that you can express them coherently. I don't think you need to worry too much about getting these answers checked just yet. You'll notice the difference yourself between progressive answers you write.
I had joined the SR crash course after prelims. You're right about the paper checking. I could never make time to watch the videos or even read the model answers, so the only way it helped was that the questions were really good. Many came in the mains. Crash course notes are good too, if it doesn't become overkill. I was in a similar dilemma about test series, but ended up joining because of the lack of an alternative. So I don't have an answer to this question.
Last year some of us had made a telegram group to share answers among ourselves and review them. That's certainly better than SR checking. I think after you get the hang of answer writing, you won't even really need someone to review your answers. You'll be able to figure out a lot on reading them a couple of days after you write them. (However marks are not out yet, I still don't know if this style I figured out for myself worked well - so ek chutki namak.) Also, well selected toppers copies will help. I do think this can wait until after prelims though unless you really have time to spare.
Also if you haven't already and if you're able to make time I'd suggest make some notes for 2B now. You can always update after prelims. I again did this only after prelims and it was not fun.
All the best :D
Thanks a lot. I have started making notes of 2B. I do read articles during free time and make notes out of them. And thank you for that lukmaan telegram idea. They really put down some good articles which become helpful.
And I would see some topper copies to have somewhat clear understanding on to how to write an answer to develope the framework for even the PYQs.
I believe PYQs themselves work as a good test series , we get a lot of repeating questions on the similar lines in optional .
Thank you@whatonly @DeekshitaP @AzadHindFauz for all the inputs and these similar views suggest , I made a good plan, I just need to stick to it.
whatonly,Topic-wise PYQs (until 2019):
Oh. Thank you for this. :)
whatonly,@sstarrr I'd say the same thing - understand the ideas inside out, make consolidated notes, and practice with PYQs before worrying about a test series.
Make sure that for every item of the syllabus, you have the material figured out, and unless you have everything concisely in one place available, I'd suggest that you make notes from all the sources for that topic in one place. I didn't do this part until after prelims even though I studied optional during the postponement, leading to a lot of panic and stress. After prelims you can make even shorter notes if you feel like it. The idea is to get it to a level where you're able to revise the whole syllabus at least 2-3 times in the 5 day gap between GS and optional papers during mains.
I agree with@DeekshitaP on doing the same PYQs multiple times thing. I only managed to do this for a few topics but it really helped for those (this too I did only after prelims but it would have helped to do it sooner). I think you can focus on PYQs right now as a way to make sure your concepts are clear and that you can express them coherently. I don't think you need to worry too much about getting these answers checked just yet. You'll notice the difference yourself between progressive answers you write.
I had joined the SR crash course after prelims. You're right about the paper checking. I could never make time to watch the videos or even read the model answers, so the only way it helped was that the questions were really good. Many came in the mains. Crash course notes are good too, if it doesn't become overkill. I was in a similar dilemma about test series, but ended up joining because of the lack of an alternative. So I don't have an answer to this question.
Last year some of us had made a telegram group to share answers among ourselves and review them. That's certainly better than SR checking. I think after you get the hang of answer writing, you won't even really need someone to review your answers. You'll be able to figure out a lot on reading them a couple of days after you write them. (However marks are not out yet, I still don't know if this style I figured out for myself worked well - so ek chutki namak.) Also, well selected toppers copies will help. I do think this can wait until after prelims though unless you really have time to spare.
Also if you haven't already and if you're able to make time I'd suggest make some notes for 2B now. You can always update after prelims. I again did this only after prelims and it was not fun.
All the best :D
Yes to making notes for 1B and 2B beforehand, because it becomes far too much in that gap between pre and mains
For 1B , I would depend on the class notes , mam has mentioned some thinkers , which I feel are good to go in most of cases , along with polity mains365 is what I plan for.
For 2B surely would be reading artciles and making notes on some of the pressing issues.
whatonly,
whatonly,K03For 2B, I personally also used Dhananjay Singh Yadav's notes. He has a lot of quotes for each of the basic topics. I think they would be helpful in an introduction or conclusion. His notes can be found here: Optional | English, Agastya (home.blog). Also for Paper 2 in general, I would highly recommend the MEA website. Especially the speeches section and Distinguished Lectures.
Thank you. He does have some good quotes.
But in MEA section, the lectures and speeches are from 2019 , are you referring to those?
For 2B, I personally also used Dhananjay Singh Yadav's notes. He has a lot of quotes for each of the basic topics. I think they would be helpful in an introduction or conclusion. His notes can be found here: Optional | English, Agastya (home.blog). Also for Paper 2 in general, I would highly recommend the MEA website. Especially the speeches section and Distinguished Lectures.Thank you. He does have some good quotes.
But in MEA section, the lectures and speeches are from 2019 , are you referring to those?
Yeah the lectures are only till the end of 2019, but the speeches are frequently updated.
sstarrr,
Answer writing daily for psir will be starting from next week, those who are interested can check the schedule, that will posted over here by evening. They will take i guess 30 students. Also its a community of psir students, they keep posting discussions and stuff. See if it helps you.
Habitat Course .pdf Schedule for the above daily answer writing plan, is attached.
Had decided that would be spending June and July on optional . Make proper notes for all parts ( haven't done it yet) and join sr test series for answer writing practice . Also , give time for essay and write one every fortnight. (Coverage of 750 marks)
Now I'm confused after seeing AWFG 2.0 program of Forum . That would help in covering and note making of GS 2,3,4 . I would also be writing essay a fortnight. (Coverage of 1000 marks)
@AzadHindFauz @whatonly @sstarrr @dragon_rider and others , would be very helpful if you can provide some insights and give advice .
For info :
2 attempts
2019 : Pre didn't clear
2020: Pre cleared ; mains didn't clear
HeNeArKr,
Had decided that would be spending June and July on optional . Make proper notes for all parts ( haven't done it yet) and join sr test series for answer writing practice . Also , give time for essay and write one every fortnight. (Coverage of 750 marks)
Now I'm confused after seeing AWFG 2.0 program of Forum . That would help in covering and note making of GS 2,3,4 . I would also be writing essay a fortnight. (Coverage of 1000 marks)
@AzadHindFauz @whatonly @sstarrr @dragon_rider and others , would be very helpful if you can provide some insights and give advice .
For info :
2 attempts
2019 : Pre didn't clear
2020: Pre cleared ; mains didn't clear
I think it depends on how good/bad you think you did on each paper. From what I've read and seen, I think the most important papers to focus on are the Optional, Ethics and Essay papers. I feel like if I can score extremely high in these (which means having to put in that much work for those papers) and average marks at the very least in GS 1, 2 and 3 then I should be fine. My reasoning is that it's difficult to outscore others on GS 1, 2, and 3 whereas I feel it's relatively easier to outscore the competition in ethics, essay and optional. Since you've written mains once, I'm assuming you have at least a basic framework of notes for the GS papers and if you don't have a complete set of notes for optional, I would suggest you focus on optional over GS.
DISCLAIMER: I have NOT cleared prelims till now so take everything I say, not with just a pinch of salt, but with a whole bucketful.
Also@whatonly and@AzadHindFauz , could you guys share a list of topics on which you prepared for the essay if you have such a list?
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