@Truthseeker9 I have given 5 civil and 5 Ifos prelims attempts (cleared IFoS this year-first time).SFG of forumias-helps to break the inertia built up over 5 attempts by getting up in morning and giving tests everyday. Rather than knowledge, you need mindset re-orientation. SFG helps in that.Also, I do not agree that without mocks you can clear. Please hear me out before bashing me for being mock-sympathetic. It is my personal opinion that since every serious aspirants (10,000 or so ) give mocks, you are inherently and automatically losing out the mind-game of confidence if you don't give mocks. Let me tell you what happens. Suppose you encounter a totally random question in the paper. Now, if you have done mocks and you still cannot attempt, you can be rest assured that no one else (or very very few) will be able to attempt. This momentary confidence gives you continuous boost in the exam, howsoever incremental. Your confidence remains intact, knowing full well that since you did mocks (AND REVISED THEM) this random question never came, so others also wont be able to do it. Positive mindset helps you attain atleast 10-15 marks more.But, complete opposite happens if you skip mocks. Random question starts giving you nightmares-what if this had come in papers of other coachings? OMG, other aspirants will be able to attempt it, I cannot. OMG, why did not I do mocks...........etc etc etc. You see the cynical negative spiral? This starts happening at that very moment. Now tell me, with this negative mindset, if even a world class top ranked experienced bowler like Bumrah also cannot stick to his line and length and keeps missing his toe-crushing accurate yorkers, how do you reckon you will perform? Your mind then automatically goes into damage control, you become over-cautious, over-think every question, start missing out the hints, and most sinful, you start marking basic, static questions wrong. All happened due to that simple logic-you did not do what your competition that year was doing.So, rather than for knowledge, it is more to remain alive in the competition that you should do mocks. Do of one coaching (that covers 80% of competition, because almost all coachings have a peer review among each other). If time permits, gather courage and do one more coaching. Thats enough to cover the mindset part.
I did SFG this year, and cleared IFoS prelims (GE). So, the strategy worked for me.
Can you please elaborate on sfg part how it can be integrated with prelims test series?
1. Make SFG the foundation. It is a very, very grilling schedule. You won't have time to do anything else. Stick to the schedule like a stubborn child. Do not, I repeat, do not skip the test. Thats a sin in case of SFG. Give atleast 90% of tests on time. ON TIME. (i.e. 7 am everyday). On the other hand, Freedom and flexibility in tests start operating against you, especially if you have given 4+ attempts. You need discipline and tight targets. I stuck to it like a child. Honestly.2. Make online errorbook alongside as you attempt everyday (of new knowledge, as well as incorrect answers). Keep on adding to it. Keep doing side by side revision of this online errorbook. Take its print out 15-10 days before prelims and REVISE REVISE REVISE the errorbook.2. If you have given 4+ attempts (sincerely), you only need to do SFG which is just before the prelims (the last stage, not the ones which start from november this year itself).3. I did 15 tests of IASBABA test series also. Thats the test series part. Couldnt do any more. I personally think SFG covers almost everything. Did not even touch test series of any other coaching. SFG tires you physically and that is good. You dont have time to waste.4. Lastly, PYQ are a MUST. 10 years PYQ are equivalent to 20 mocks. Even SFG doesnt match that.
Thank you for your inputs. It was really helpful.
