Prelims 2025 - Support Group

@Neyawn 

Prelims Score -

55 (2023) - 1st Attempt , 89-94 (2024) - 2nd Attempt; did not join SFG, despite giving entrance, costed me.

3rd Attempt—story so far

Joined MGP and writing mains test, also decided to do both phases of SFG this time. 

My friend and one of your FRC student asked me to meet you, but serious health problems and this string of failures never kept me confident enough to reach out to you. I will try my luck to meet you post completion of phase 1 of SFG. Till then, Ineed your POV on the following:

1. The SFG schedule mentions secondary resources that I did not follow, for instance, Ramesh Singh for the Economy. So should I stick to what I was doing and do it better or follow what is required?

2. How to handle remaining MGP, while going for SFGs daily?

3. Also, I have heard that last time you asked FRC students to complete Forum IAS toolkits twice; when should I start with those books: post-Feb or from Jan onwards? 

4. Last year I started prelims-specific prep in mid-Dec, but I observed my performance peaked at the wrong time around May, and post that, things went downhill only. How to avoid this pattern?

In my five years of engagement with UPSC, I've failed the prelims thrice(twice due to CSAT) and written mains twice(2020,2024). I've cleared GS cutoff by a good margin in four of my attempts and missed one by 2 marks. This is what I've learnt in my journey so far.

1) Static is king - in all of my attempts I've stuck to attempting 73-75 odd questions which has been my magic number. Why? Because I've made static my armour. I've revised it maybe more than 100 times in these five years and most of it has been in the first year itself and subsequently I only revise whatever I think is necessary. The credit to getting my static buisness in order goes solely to forum ias. In 2019 I joined forum pre and mains test series. Solved all their papers plus sfg as well and wrote all my mistakes in a book. Now I only revise those before prelims to get a clarity of the scope and breadth of static syllabus.

2) current is an ego train - no matter what you do and how much you do, you'll always feel like you're missing out on something which creates doubt and confusion during the D-day. I try and stick to one source and that too follow it only till December. Than preferable I read a yearly compilation of whichever institute that is the least in size. This covers most of the topics and is easy to revise plus gives an added boost to the confidence. This confidence equips me to attempt only those questions which I feel most confident in while reducing the attrition rates due to negative marking.

Also while attempting the paper, I always keep in mind what my father reminds me before every exam. He says "remember that you are a lion, not a power hungry one. A lion dare not kill an elephant just because its hungry." Just  guage what type of question(elephant or a gazelle) is in front of you and try not be overly optimistic about your abilities. Patience and keen presence of mind is what gets you through in the end.

Do not over complicate anything. Be busy, be sane !

@Neyawn 

• Respected sir,
  
  
  This is my 4th attempt.
  1st attempt - GS 52, CSAT 77
  2nd attempt - GS 79.45, CSAT Failed
  3rd attempt-  GS- 75, CSAT - 83
  
  ab tak 1 baar v prelims qualify nahi kar paya hu. Mai bahut hi umeed se SFG join kiya tha lekin SFG me mere marks 60 ke aasps aa rahe the aur ab wo marks aur v jyada ghatne hi lage hai.
  
  Mujhe samajh nahi aa rha hai ki mera prelims qualify karne ka approach kya hona chahiye.
  
  Filhaal mera approach --
  
  SFG ke timtable ke according padh rha hu, Current k liye SFG essential.
  Toolkit solve karta hu (only pyq , not practice book of toolkit)
  
  SFG karne k samay ek cheej realise ho raha hai ki yadi mujhe full length test attempt karna hua to uski strategy kya hogi??
  Mere kuchh doubts hain
  
  1- Kaise ek saath sare subjects ko prepare karunga ?
  2- Kya Toolkit ka practice workbook karna v jaruri hai ??
  3- SFG essential enough rahega Current affairs k liye ??
  4 - How to improve marks in SFG tests
  5- How to manage SFG with full lenghth test ??
  
  
  Sir please help !!

IFOS mains result came today, if any one who has cleared mains  and need guidance for IFOS interview, then you can dm me.

I have previously helped the students  who have cleared IFOS .

@Neyawn I have been scoring mostly above 100 in simulators with lowest being 98.67(simulator 7) and highest 129.33(simulator 6) , but my score in Abhyaas has been in the range of 86.20(Abhyaas 1) and 89( Abhyaas 2). Is this because I am a student of sfg ,current affairs and there is a similarity bias in the questions of simulator , or is there some other concern please guide.