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SFG Level 2 - We need your suggestions!

Dear All,

As we commence with SFG Level 2 with Entrance Test on February 17th, we want your opinion. All members are requested to submit their suggestions on the link below


https://forms.gle/qqiNXvoHwnj7orxG8



darkHorse9,Abhijeet_G_Ghuleand5 otherslike this
34.6k views

98 comments

With respect to the timing of 7AM, innthe first batch that we had , only people who had flunked came. Already suffering from some sorta depressiosn ( not the clinincal medical condition ) If any slack of time is provided, less people turn up. Make the time a comfortable 11am and no one turns up as by then most people are full of negative thoughts and faltu thoughts.

7am time was done so that we make people do something before any negativity - ideas, thoughts or persons - get them.


So the timing is not up for debate.


I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS

DM,Oshoand22 otherslike this
2.1k views

I have been reading all the suggestions. It's kinda nostalgic to hear from out 2018-2019 sfg students who are now officers about what can be done.

Just want to add one thing that having csat as optional ( like not even 5 questions ) , the problem is that ones who are not good with csat will leave it - but they are the ones who need it more than others. Most of the times we are not good at something is because we dislike doing it.

At this stage my calculation is that csat will be a major problem for most serious students if last year's csat pattern is repeated. And something has to be done in time to solve it.



I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS

DM,Oshoand11 otherslike this
2.3k views
Put expert teacher according to their subject . As single teacher discussing all the test . It looking like just reading the answersheet . Not benefitting from watching the classes
AryaStark,UK01and11 otherslike this
8.9k views

Sir I want to give two suggestions

1. We can take topics from two subjects simultaneously( will not make preparation boring)

2 . Test on alternate days ( will give sufficient time to digest content and revise efficiently)

Thanks you .


d0esn0tmatter,Purplesunbirdand5 otherslike this
9k views
Deleted

Please consider putting Saturday off because on Sundays, I have FLTs (including CSAT) and revision becomes unstructured on Saturdays and Sundays.  

Also, please provide the schedule for L-2 so that we can plan ahead.

d0esn0tmatter,Aditya_Mishraand4 otherslike this
8.4k views

If you have fully researched that these changes will help, these must be implemented. 

>Adding  5 questions will develop a discipline. You may have a different strategy for CSAT. Keep following it. Doing these 5 questions will not harm your strategy.

>Adding full length papers is a big YES. Exam is going to be in full length only.

>Please have better faculty for test discussion. They are below par when compared with the last year SFG. (Except polity as he is the same)

Discussion is not just about reading the solutions. Last year, they used to provide many insights about how to approach the exam. How to make use of SFG and what extra to do + how to deal with bouncers + when to take educated guesses.

UK01,Aditya_Mishraand4 otherslike this
8k views
Please do add simulators, as 
1) SFG provides a creamy layer group(intellect & not money) in UPSC preparation, and simulators help to gauge one's performace compared to effective crowd 
2) Gives reality check wrt overall preperation with all subjects combined --- which is different from daily focused subject wise approach 
3)₹ 1000/month for 2 months is below se bhi below cheaper than Compromising 1 yr thanks to 'couldn't find my name in the list' on prelims result day. And yes 26th may will not be a 50marker SFG, but FLT. (Some may have spent more than 1k on Valentine's itself)

Having said this, 
Some people do have a financial constraint, so keep it optional for these people 
And forum community(students) is mature enough to opt in for simulators if they have financial Bandwidth to bear 1k/month.

Do add CSAT questions on daily basis, Practise maketh wo/man perfect. 
2023 hallmarked that "GS Overshadowing CSAT is perfect recipe to think of another attempt"

Wrt changing schedule - it will be counter productive for students who sincerely followed SFG level 1 plan. (Bcz of revision timeline - last time laxmikant ke darshan 1st week of Jan me hue)
So please dont change the timeline, however do can change the number of days alloted -----tug out few from initial 3 subjects and plug it in for rest of the subjects viz history, geo, env, Scie & tech.... While keeping the sequence same)

Please do allow students to leave before 8AM @regional centres

UK01,Mukzyand4 otherslike this
2.6k views

Allow online students to be part of sfg as it would inculcate competitiveness among them too to improve rank in sfg ....


darkHorse9,Aditya_Mishraand4 otherslike this
8.5k views
I’m planning to leave SFG because of the following reasons:
1. I’m not able to finish analysis of the test (if I’m analysing the paper, I will have less time to prepare for next day)
2. Writing test everyday is not helping me cover PYQs and other necessary things that I should be covering before April end
3. Writing test daily is ultimately enabling me rush through the topics and I’m just finishing it for the sake of writing next day. 
4. My mind is getting tricked with the language of FORUM IAS where I will know which option to tick even if I’m not prepared 

The possible solution could be:

1. Conducting full length tests twice a week instead of daily half length tests
2.  One full length sectional test after the end of the syllabus of each subject.
3. Adding simulators between is a good idea 
4. Atleast 3-4 full length CSAT test could help 

How much time it is taking to cover syllabus or to do test analysis is very subjective - it depends completely on your current preparation level. If you are taking more time , means preparation in previous attempt was not done properly.

How is it defeating PYQ coverage given that 5 questions are from pyq only and anyone wanting that extra 5 questions correct can do so just by doing PYQs.

Flats are already being conducted once a weeek in test series.


I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS

DM,Oshoand4 otherslike this
2.1k views

All said and do whatever you find suitable for us.

My limited suggestion is, Please do not make any compromise on QUALITY aspect, even if it comes at charging extra whatsoever. 

People like me solely depends on your schedule and timely suggestions by@Neyawn Sir! Literally, this email series called SFG(1/n, 2/n...8/n) have acted like fuel in the midnight and pushed us to put in more effort. 

I'm not saying this just for the sake of it, I really mean it. Can Verify :)

Again, I'll repeat for the sake of it, please do not make any sort of quality compromise at any cost. One of the many reasons is, you're not known for it!


msquare,Northernlightsand4 otherslike this
2.4k views

Neyawnsaid

@Rashmirathi  Your take?

Hi sir 

Sir it’s very good decision to include FLTs (should be conducted on Sunday)in SFG program also inclusion of csat questions ( if possible limit these questions to maths and reasoning as all are English champions ) As fear of csat is real for many and it will help them solve adequate number of questions so that they are able to sail through it As said Fear is an illness , if we catch it and leave it untreated it can consume us so we have to face it .

Plz keep the timing same at any cost and quality of sfg should not be compromised.

As many like me only does SFG  as -

It’s difficult to swim against the tides.

But if we manage to do it,

Then we may find a shore that nobody has ever seen and that shore is clearing prelims with good margin 

UK01,msquareand4 otherslike this
1.6k views
@Rashmirathi Not everyone is english champion for sure (including me). And I would certainly want to focus on english comprehensions. Including CSAT questions in the GS tests is highly discouraging for people like me who want to give both GS and CSAT tests separately.

I don't understand the determination to cook khichdi here. When everybody is finding ways to make tests closer to UPSC pattern, we are discussing a deviation from it by mixing two different papers which require equal yet separate focus.

Anyways, I rest my case here. 




Ye bhi hai ,totally understand 😊🙏🏻

Thank you.

Then@Neyawn sir there can be a weekly csat test( as was the case earlier ) and inclusion of current affairs that too topic wise with every test like polity current affairs with polity sectional test 

There are 2 reasons why this is better than previous year plan.

1. I badly wanted the csat test to be compulsory but couldn't enforce as its a qualifying paper, so there was a huge fall in people coming in - thinking I don't need csat practice. This despite the fact that csat was getting tougher every year, and we were constantly saying in all sessions not to miss csat prep/ tests.

2. As exam comes closer, your own strategy is best strategy. The extra two days you get off for a week can be used for rest and doing any FLT - this must be done.



I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS

DM,Rashmirathiand4 otherslike this
1.5k views

1. Kindly include FLTs, atleast in the last 2 weeks of SFG 2

2. CSAT as a separate paper with the FLTs

3. Inclusion of Current affairs questions everyday

darkHorse9,msquareand2 otherslike this
2.5k views
My Suggestions for all questions in points:
1. Big yes for adding FLTs of simulators with 1K per month (Optional for students), that too should be on Sunday only

2. CSAT is like a game changer, so please includeminimum 10 CSAT questionsin every test, Marking scheme is upto you.
3. Schedule should be rearranged with givingEconomy, Environment, S&T, Agriculture in first monththen rest can be on Second month butHistory should be in the last 10 days of prog

Other suggestions:

1. Minimum 10-15 questions from Monthly CA should be there. and one month CA should be asked in two tests consecutively. 

2. Please sum up SFG Level 2 before 30-35 days of Prelims (26th may) so that revision can be done properly.

3. Discussion of Tests should be arranged from expert faculty like Polity was done (in SFG level 1), rest discussion  are not upto the mark.Economyshould be taken by the best expert faculty.

4. If possibleplease give Saturday as a revision day. [Make Prog with 5 days sectional and 1 Sunday FLTs(optional for people to choose)]
msquare,SpartanSKVand2 otherslike this
2.5k views

Respected FORUM IAS community,

7 am is perfect time and I request you to not change anything regarding test timings....

I request to have CSAT questions for level-2 minimum 10-15 questions everyday..

Inclusion of current affairs in test


Mukzy,msquareand1 otherslike this
2.4k views
Please allow online students for SFG also and keep the discipline mode on for the test mode to prevent cheating. RLG is more expensive and already feel demotivated without the zeal to be in top 50.


darkHorse9,msquareand1 otherslike this
2.4k views
Weekly 1 full length test (2hr )should be included in the schedule, it wil benefit us to develop the strategy to tackle real exam over the period of time.
DM,BattingBabaand1 otherslike this
2.2k views
Deleted

U can come up with SFG, SFG++ model for FLT case . 

Please provide faculties having expertise in subjects . Last your forums sfg discussion were the top notch . Every discussion had some Eureka movement but this year it's seeming that faculties reading answer from solution like "Alexa".

It's seems like forum don't have subject experts that's why one lady along two men forming Triad and discussing each and every subject.

Last year even history was took by 2 different faculties . S&T , env , geography , economics had different faculties this year it's not case.  

provide discussion with quality like last year or save the cost on them anyway nobody going to waste an hour watching discussion only  to read it from solution again. 


+1

Also, Please keep CSAT separately on Friday/Saturdays like last year. It'll be difficult for the concerned faculty to discuss the questions if it is clubbed with GS.

BattingBaba,Haryanaand1 otherslike this
2.2k views
Pleasedonot includeSimulators in SFG. Let the aspirants have the liberty to solve FLTs from differnt coaching centres. After solving SFG the pattern of Questions and options becomes fairly predictable in Simulators. This will develop a sense of false confidence by getting more marks.
Magnetoz,Tarzannand1 otherslike this
1.9k views
pls don't increase the SFG fees by including the simulators, or make it optional (with or without simulators).
Magnetoz,Ankita_Jaiswaland1 otherslike this
2.1k views
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