[Results] Prelims 2020 Over - Gearing for 2021

·

Need some guidance or inputs regarding mains test series , I am planning to join a mains test series and start answer writing practice. Few questions regarding the same

1. i have gone through some reviews online and zeroed down to two test series 1. Vision and. 2. Forum. Can anyone who has taken them previously throw some light on pros and cons on both of them

2. when I checked vision ias mains test series, I could see almost 10 different schedules With different number of tests over there.. do all of them have different questions or how does it work

3. Forumias 2019 mpg has almost 42 exams.. this year they have reduced it drastically.. any specific reason

4. I

·

I just wonder, if it's happening on Oct 4, and someone got COVID positive in last week of September or first week of October and if it's his/her last attempt due to age restriction or whatever, what would he/she do?

It's a very probable case, unless UPSC comes out and makes an announcement about people, who might not be able to give exam on October 4, it's very unrealistic of it happening on October 4.

·

titanium17said
As aspirants, it will be in our interest if exams happen on the scheduled date. I don't see any benefits in exam postponement with respect to a candidate's selection chances. So, why people are not happy if HC has not intervened? I mean there are high recovery rates for 20-30 year olds and if you stay with family you can isolate yourself. Isolation again is anyways better for preparation. This is a narrow perspective towards the whole conundrum but do we have anything more important to think about than getting selected in services?

There are a billion things more important in this pandemic than to think about than getting selected in services.. Just to clear your doubt!!

·

@Pancake Can you post the telegram link of pizza

·

@dragon_rider Glad to see someone using ANKI. How long have you been using it?

There was a discussion on some other thread about Tools and Technologies, i tried to discuss about Active Recall, Spaced Repetition and Interleaved Study. and why we need to use it for UPSC, but couldn't find much audience.

Have you tried Super Memo 18, it's much superior than ANKI.

ANKI is based on Super Memo 2 algorithm and little rudimentary in approach, SM 18 is awesome.

DO try it !!!

·

dragon_ridersaid
@Kasturi22 Yeah I started using it only like two or three months back and slowly started to base my entire prelims preparation using it. I wish I started much earlier. I would be much more confident about the exam. Similarly i've just gotten into spaced repetition, active recall and so on. It's tough because you have to exert so much more mental energy but I feel like it's worth it. And no I haven't used Super Memo 2. I'll check it out.

Great. So, I have used ANKI for almost 2-3 years and had a good success with it. IRDAI - Grade A and NABARD Grade A. Currently, I am working as an Assistant Manager at IRDAI

It's good but not the best, as you are already aware of these concepts, such as active recall, spaced repetition and interleaved learning, check out Super Memo 18 software.

Check out these links

0. Master How to Learn

2. The Learning Scientists

3.Want to Remember Everything You’ll Ever Learn? Surrender to This Algorithm | WIRED

and i have some notes on ANKI - Check out the pdf - ANKI.pdf

Do let me know, if you need any help in understanding these concepts, happy to help. I have done a good amount of research on Meta learning, the science of learning. :)

·

@SergioRamos OK. First things first, do not try it for Prelims 2020. It's just 19 days. You really won't understand anything in such a less time. It took me more than 2-3 months to internalize the philosophy used by ANKI or Super Memo or Quizlet or any other spaced repetition softwares.

I'll give a very brief background.

So, when it comes to learning, most of the students adopt these 3 methods - Rereading, Highlighting and Summarizing. According to science, these 3 are the least efficient ways to study

What are the most efficient ways to study - Active recall, Spaced Repetition and Interleaved Study.

Just google - What works and What doesn't by Professor Dunlosky. You'll get a 6 page pdf in the first link. Read it, you'll understand the basic behind what i am saying

Now coming to these softwares, ANKI or SuperMemo - Super Memo was started by a Polish guy named Woz, He revolutionized learning with his Software called Super Memo. Just like Windows 95, 97 etc, Super Memo also got upgraded every 3-4 years and the current version is Super Memo 18

ANKI is a free software developed by some students and learning enthusiasts, and it uses the algorithm used by Super Memo 2 (Which is way back to 1992)

So Super Memo 18 is like AI, which adjusts according to your forgetting index and shows you the content.

I understand it's little complicated at the outset, but once you learn it, it's like a magic wand to remember things.

·

@Esha2020 Yes. It’s a paid software. But you can try earlier versions which are free

https://super-memo.com/supermemo18.html

·

@SergioRamos Yes, So as@dragon_rider has explained, it is very simple at the core. Efficient study methods include 3 things

1. Active Recall

2. Spaced Repetition

3. Interleaved Study

For example, Take Battle of Buxar. When we read it using normal methods like Re-reading, Highlighting and Summarizing, our retention tends to be very less. But if we use methods i mentioned above, you would frame small questions like

1. When did it take place

2. Who were the opponents

3. What was the result

etc

The goal is to frame questions which are as atomic as possible, and then trying to recall the questions. So far so good, but when you want to apply it to UPSC, how would you do that?

For UPSC, we have plenty of information to remember, and mind you, if you start doing such atomic questions for all the CA and Static syllabus, you will take more than 2-3 years, and it would lead to over burn, eventually, you would resume to the least efficient study methods (As most of the toppers have succeeded using the same, why try something else, which is leading no where else). I have been in this situation, ANKI is a software which helps, but it's applicability to UPSC is very limited. As mentioned by few people already, after a while they switch to Onenote etc

Now, at this point of time, I would like to introduce something called Incremental Reading. Combine Incremental Reading with above mentioned 3 methods, you will have a very good learning technique

To know more about what i am talking - Checkout this site - Masterhowtolearn.com

There are around 15-20 posts, read all of them, and then you will understand what is incremental reading

So, as of now Super Memo is the only software which uses incremental reading, which isn't a feature in ANKI

To give you an analogy,

ANKI - Remember

Super Memo 18 - Read + Remember

I recorded a video sometime back, about how i use SM. - https://www.loom.com/share/3175c622ceee45debc5d1e0aee0309eb

In incremental reading, I import my study material into the software and i read it incrementally and frame atomic questions as i read, where as in ANKI, you have to sit down and frame questions and make cards.

It's little difficult to explain from scratch in one post, and i wouldn't suggest you to try it now with prelims just 3 weeks away. Getting a good hold of all this incremental reading philosophy will take some time (2-3 months). So, after reading those posts which i mentioned, if you're still interested, DM me, i will explain in detail.

Here's what incremental reading is all about - https://help.supermemo.org/wiki/Incremental_learning

One more link explaining Incremental Reading in a simpler way - https://georgios.blog/orange-juice-analogy/

·

@SergioRamos You're welcome :)

I don't have a UPSC success story as of now, but yeah other competitive exams like IRDAI - Grade A, NABARD - Grade A and B, it really worked for me.

I gave first attempt in 2017, realising little, the value of revision and efficient study techniques. Eventually, i flunked in 2017 prelims. That got me interested in actually learning more about efficient study methods.

For 3-4 months (June 2017 - October 2017), I used these methods and could clear IRDAI - Grade A, NABARD - Grade A with just 2-3 months of preparation.

2018 and 2019, I was very much tied up with personal work and office stuff, I wasn't really sure whether I want to prepare again. Due to this lock down, got lot of time since March, so got back to prep mode.

Hopefully, if i clear UPSC this year, will definitely write series of posts on it, on how to use the software from scratch and basic philosophy behind it. I tried telling few aspirants about its impact, but as they say - Nothing speaks like success. You need to back your argument with a success story :)

·

@Freakhoto Definitely :)

I restrained myself from writing lengthy posts, as people would consider it another new fancy note making tool or something else. You need some success to showcase your study technique as an efficient one.

Yes, In IRDAI and NABARD, I had some success, but they're very specialist exams. All the regulator exams require 2-3 months of focused preparation and you're through. UPSC is a different beast altogether :)

·

iskoolsaid
vikhcu2073said
» show previous quotes
Kasturi22said
@SergioRamos OK. First things first, do not try it for Prelims 2020. It's just 19 days. You really won't understand anything in such a less time. It took me more than 2-3 months to internalize the philosophy used by ANKI or Super Memo or Quizlet or any other spaced repetition softwares.

I'll give a very brief background.

So, when it comes to learning, most of the students adopt these 3 methods - Rereading, Highlighting and Summarizing. According to science, these 3 are the least efficient ways to study

What are the most efficient ways to study - Active recall, Spaced Repetition and Interleaved Study.

Just google - What works and What doesn't by Professor Dunlosky. You'll get a 6 page pdf in the first link. Read it, you'll understand the basic behind what i am saying

Now coming to these softwares, ANKI or SuperMemo - Super Memo was started by a Polish guy named Woz, He revolutionized learning with his Software called Super Memo. Just like Windows 95, 97 etc, Super Memo also got upgraded every 3-4 years and the current version is Super Memo 18

ANKI is a free software developed by some students and learning enthusiasts, and it uses the algorithm used by Super Memo 2 (Which is way back to 1992)

So Super Memo 18 is like AI, which adjusts according to your forgetting index and shows you the content.

I understand it's little complicated at the outset, but once you learn it, it's like a magic wand to remember things.
Yeh saab kya hai? Am I really old and outdated? I was under the impression that it was possible to pass the exam with a Add-Gel pen and White Notebook. ;-)
the same words I was about to comment......... but restrained and tried to use it.

I used and found that it is good. even some part of the syllabus is doable using it in very less effort. YESSS.
So far revision is concerned and memorizing the facts, it has all the answers. But I think UPSC is beyond that. The analytical part + the mains preparation and the analysis of CA with mains perspective......... NOT MUCH.
#Personal_opinion
MUDDE KI BAAT :-
Kuch bhi karlo, padhna to padega hi!!!

Yes. studying is something you can't avoid. But with time constraints and resource constraints, you have to look for an efficient way to study.

For example, what advantages does Evernote or Onenote offer, compared to pen and paper. You can do with any of them, right? Same case!!

As i said earlier, you just need a success story to make others follow :)

·

@Monkey D. Luffy Wouldn't be much dude, may be in 20s or 30s. ANKI is predominantly used by Medicine students. Pre-made decks are available everywhere, I searched a lot for UPSC, but didn't find any.

Yes, collaboration would be a great thing, like pre made decks for History, Geography and other static parts would be great thing!

·

Monkey D. Luffysaid
@Kasturi22 Yes, Anki picked up among doctors mostly because of the pre-made decks they have. UPSC's factual data repertoire is somewhat similar but I strongly feel that most don't start simply because making the cards take a lot of time. So subjects like History with its chronology, Spectrum's appendix, Environment, Geography etc all can be converted into decks. People have already shared and while I have not gone through them as of now, a collaborative effort in this and even the active recall questions would definitely come handy. So let's see what others feel about this post-prelims.

Sure, we can do that! It's an ongoing process, but static part can be covered first, which really helps people who are just starting the preparation.

·

@Monkey D. Luffy So, when you say in ANKI, card making process is so tedious, even i felt the same.

I was able to use it for 3-4 months for IRDAI and NABARD, but couldn't do it for UPSC.

When i went further deep, i learned about Super Memo. The card making process which is so tedious in ANKI is super simplified in Super Memo. Imagine having all the benefits of ANKI with simple card making process, that's super memo for you. And that too with enhanced algorithm

Read this - https://www.masterhowtolearn.com/2018-10-28-why-i-switched-to-supermemo/

·

iskoolsaid
Kasturi22said
iskoolsaid
vikhcu2073said
» show previous quotes
Kasturi22said
@SergioRamos OK. First things first, do not try it for Prelims 2020. It's just 19 days. You really won't understand anything in such a less time. It took me more than 2-3 months to internalize the philosophy used by ANKI or Super Memo or Quizlet or any other spaced repetition softwares.

I'll give a very brief background.

So, when it comes to learning, most of the students adopt these 3 methods - Rereading, Highlighting and Summarizing. According to science, these 3 are the least efficient ways to study

What are the most efficient ways to study - Active recall, Spaced Repetition and Interleaved Study.

Just google - What works and What doesn't by Professor Dunlosky. You'll get a 6 page pdf in the first link. Read it, you'll understand the basic behind what i am saying

Now coming to these softwares, ANKI or SuperMemo - Super Memo was started by a Polish guy named Woz, He revolutionized learning with his Software called Super Memo. Just like Windows 95, 97 etc, Super Memo also got upgraded every 3-4 years and the current version is Super Memo 18

ANKI is a free software developed by some students and learning enthusiasts, and it uses the algorithm used by Super Memo 2 (Which is way back to 1992)

So Super Memo 18 is like AI, which adjusts according to your forgetting index and shows you the content.

I understand it's little complicated at the outset, but once you learn it, it's like a magic wand to remember things.
Yeh saab kya hai? Am I really old and outdated? I was under the impression that it was possible to pass the exam with a Add-Gel pen and White Notebook. ;-)
the same words I was about to comment......... but restrained and tried to use it.

I used and found that it is good. even some part of the syllabus is doable using it in very less effort. YESSS.
So far revision is concerned and memorizing the facts, it has all the answers. But I think UPSC is beyond that. The analytical part + the mains preparation and the analysis of CA with mains perspective......... NOT MUCH.
#Personal_opinion
MUDDE KI BAAT :-
Kuch bhi karlo, padhna to padega hi!!!
Yes. studying is something you can't avoid. But with time constraints and resource constraints, you have to look for an efficient way to study.
For example, what advantages does Evernote or Onenote offer, compared to pen and paper. You can do with any of them, right? Same case!!
As i said earlier, you just need a success story to make others follow :)
"As i said earlier, you just need a success story to make others follow :)"

#apna tym aayega

Definitely :)

·

Is there any way to know the prelims 2019 score without roll no

i lost it, i have only the registration id

·

Hey folks

I am moving to a new house and have UPSC books and ncerts.. which I wouldn’t be needing anymore.

I didn’t clear prelims this year.. not sure about giving it anymore. However,I have completely shifted my mode of study to online,, so I am planning to donate all the books to someone who needs them..

I am from hyderabad. I’ll be shifting on Friday. If you’re interested pls DM.

I stay in Gachibowli in hyderabad, you may drop in and pick up by Thursday.

books include

NCERT - geography, history, polity, psychology

baliyan notes

many standard books which you can see in the pic attached.

Click here to read full post

Write your comment…