@thepolicydreamer Hey, sorry for the late response.
Disclaimer:I don't, by any stretch of imagination, claim to be an expert at this, but I'll share what I think went well for metoday.
Most importantly,I think what worked for me was staying calm throughout the exam. Had Set C. All the fuckall questions were loaded up front. I went through the first 20, marked only 4. Realised the same thing had happened in 2018 prelims. On analysis of PYQs of 2018 and 19, I had realised that it's impossible to make an assessment of the paper right then and there at the exam center. Those papers always seemed much easier in retrospect. With better application of mind, and in a calmer environment, I had found many questions which I wasted in both 2018 and 2019. Had read@Neyawn'spost as well, which said that it is impossible to make an assessment of whether the paper was tough or easy at the exam center. I stayed calm, and went question by question.
I finished with 55 questions in the first round. From experience, I knew that the luck based ones won't be the ones I rue, but the ones from the basics. So, I left even those which were bread and butter questions on which I had a little bit of doubt(Ulgulan)for later. I would remember them on the second reading probably. Last 20 questions were from Polity/MPLADS etc, and very easy. Under2 coalition and all could be done because "2 degree C" is the goal under Paris Agreement. So, I was pretty confident I got the entire last 20. That boosted my confidence.
Went back to the remaining 45. Did around 35 using logic. Such asQ. 28.Rural Road construction question. I knew Geotextiles could be used. So, I eliminated options C and D. Between Options A and B, I made a guesstimate that both Cold Mix Asphalt Technology and Hot mix Asphalt Technology probably won't work. That would be random. Copper slag sounded more reasonable. Went with Option A. SimilarlyQ. 11.Ghantasala, Kadura, Chaul. If they werecapitals of powerful kingdoms, would've come up in reading. If they were places ofexquisite stone art and architecture, again would've come up since we read like a fuck lot. Important Buddhist pilgrimage centres, probably not, because thrust was on Hinduism in Gupta era. Went with Option A.Q. 3as well on Ocean Mean Temperature. First statement, I eliminated by thinking 129 meters deep won't be 26 degree C isotherm. Seemed blatantly wrong to my geography novice eyes. Second statement seemed correct because it speaks of estimating Monsoon. Obviously this would be before Monsoon in June.Q.1.Statement 2 seemed like the odd one out. Eliminating any one option would lead anyone to the answer, and the most plausible statment was statement 2.
A few went wrong, such asQ. 26,steel slag. My logic was steel slag would have metallic impurities, hence why would someone use it in agri. Well, turns out I was wrong, and people do all sorts of random shit. You win some, you lose some. You take the bounty anyway.
Ultimately ended up at 97 questions. Scoring anywhere between 115-125. At the end of the day,I think the only difference from the last two times is that I made 6-8 less blunders than the previous 2 occasions.I didn't make them because I focused on my static books and went over and beyond them in certain topics like Buddhism/Jainism, etc (Q. on Paramitas). I focused on my concepts in Econ. My background in the banking sector helped. I memorised the basics, like G20 countries. Worked on Maps and important seas.(Q. 38)
I think we need to diversify our sources.A liberal reading of the internet on focus areas help. The PT365s of the world don't work anymore. Even the test series. That is just how it is.As@Neyawn said, we can only maximise our chances in this exam. I tried to do that in my own way, focused on what I thought was important, and that helped me ensure I didn't waste the bread and butter questions like I had the last 2 times.
Of course luck favoured me today.On another day, any of my guesses might have gone wrong. I'll be the last one to say one can prepare for this and be sure of it. I think I'll clear prelims this time, but I do not claim to have cracked the code of clearing prelims.These things worked for me this year.Staying calm and maintaining a positive attitude no matter the odds, not putting too much pressure on myself, and not following the herd seem to have worked for me this time.
I've been where you are, and can empathise with what you are going through. Just know that it's not all bad as it may seem right now, and that tomorrow is a new day. No point living for one special day of the year. Dust yourself off, and focus on the shit you need to do when you can get yourself up to do it. :)
Aapka kon sa attempt tha ye??
