Psychology Optional

@Oasis @PSY @Kasturi22 These are topic-wise PYQs for Paper 2.

PYQs_P2_NEW.pdf

No. They are voluminous. I don't feel the RoI is worth it. For some sections, which are not properly covered in the standard sources, you can refer to them if you want to. But,, again, I would prefer to cover them from online sources as that will be more up-to-date and relevant. 

Since we are talking about it, if there are any topics/chapters that any of us is finding hard to cover from standard sources, we can list them out here and see if others know of better sources to cover those topics.

Yes. I have read his answers before. He has also mentioned sources to cover the topics that are not comprehensibly covered in Baron, like language and communication skills and so on. 

@Oasis @Todd_Chavez 

There's nothing we can do about CSAT (keys are bound to vary). We would have to accept that there will be no clarity for the next 40 days.

The best course of action is to move forward with the assumption that we will be in, otherwise if we squander these crucial days, the regret will haunt us forever, if we do clear.

I have not decided on the course of action as such (was taking a break of a day or two) but I feel the approach should be heavily based on PYQs and answer writing.

Analysing the PYQs (sorted by topic) would give us a list offocus areas and so we can prepare those areas first and augment what we read in books from further internet research on these topics (for recent studies, etc).

We can also prepare a list of important studies and experiments that can be used in our answers. There are some fundamental theories like those on attitude change and so on, which can be used in different answers, especially in Paper 2. So we can compile a list of such things as well.

Do let me know what have you guys planned! 

Congrats! I am also IN. 

Don't worry. You'll rock next year. 

Prepare for mains (at least optional) as if you were to appear this year. I did the mistake of wasting my time after 2019 prelims failure. 

This time there's even lesser time, so take a few days and get going. It was my 3rd attempt and had flunked my last two prelims, so I can understand what you might be going through. Feel free to DM me anytime, if you need anything. 

All the best! 

Thanks! 

The bets practice tests for Psychology are PYQs. Try to attempt those after you finish studying a topic. 

You can make notes for Paper 1 after going through one standard book (Baron, Ciccarelli, Passer & Smith, etc) and then keep on adding from NCERTs,  other books, internet search, PYQs, etc.

I am currently doing the same.

@Oasis No, I don't have pre-preared notes. I am currently going through a book and making notes out of it. I know it's time-taking, but then if we don't do it, how are gonna revise in the 5 day gap? That will make all the difference. 

If you have  read the books a few times, try to summarise the points under different headings, in short. But this works only if you can expand those keywords later!

I also have Jitin Yadav's notes with me. They are extremely concise, but expanding  them into a 200-250 word answer, if you haven't recently read the original text, might be a challenge. 

So, that's why I am reading the book and then noting relevant things down. After this is done, I'll add some pointers from his notes (he has compiled his notes from various soruces: Baron, NCERTs, Mukul Pathak notes, etc.)

What other option do we have? Making notes and then attempting PYQs seem to be the only feasible strategy right now. I am also feeling the pressure. Too little time, so much to do.

Thanks for sharing. Have watched this.

There's another interview of his on Enserio Education, which is more detailed. That's also helpful.

I won't be joining one. Will rely on PYQs and last year's tests (and model answers) of Enserio Education (Ankit Pathak), which he has uploaded on his website.

Thank you!

Your result was unexpected. Please prepare for mains for the next couple of months, so that in the next attempt (if you do intend to write) when you write mains, you're more ready than anyone else. 

All the best.

Thanks! 🙂

Are you appearing for Mains 2020?

Oh, ok. There is Mukul Pathak's test series (offline only) and then there is Ankit Pathak's test series (Enserio Education; online only). He had scored maximum marks in Psychology in 2017 but couldn't find his place in the final list.

Enserio has uploaded a few tests on his website. You can take a look. 

@wallflower1902 Others would be better disposed to answer that question as I haven't taken any coaching for psychology. 

There aren't many options available but the popular ones include Mukul Pathak's, Beautiful Mind, and Psyche Simplified.

You can contact people who are enrolled in these classes to get their feedback. 

If you are just starting out and do not have a background in the subject, why don't you try reading the NCERTs and/or a standard book first. This will enable you to make better decisions regarding the need of further classes or what to expect from them. 

@ForumIAAS You can do it from AK Singh's book or Mukul Pathak notes. 

There's no need. Go by the syllabus. If some topic or sub-topic isn't covered well in your primary textbook, then you can cover it from a Social Psychology textbook. Otherwise, reading 500-800 pages just for that section is overkill.   

@shobhnaraj2326544 The primary challenge is of quick recall, which will happen only if you revise efficiently in the 5 days gap b/w GS & Optional. This will happen when you have revised your base notes multiple time, and then made short notes out of them for quick revision (containing studies, examples, components of theories, etc).

Regarding your 2nd question, it's fine if you don't have notes for 4-5 chapters. It can be managed after Pre.

As for average marking, try to remain in top 10-15%. In my experience, average marks in psych are not good, unfortunately.