1. OneNote- when I began looking out for an app I found EverNote to be complex and didn’t have much time for learning its working. Found OneNote to be simple and easy to use. Since then been using it.
2. LiquidText- It’s good for PDF’s, highlight and make comments over it. I prefer it for any NCERT pdf, Economic Survey etc
3. Books (default app for IOS)- for newspaper pdf, books I read, 2nd ARC etc. I find the interface simple and convenient for Apple Pencil for making notes on the sides.
Tagging@rashiv
It took me five minutes just to find your profile , as I was searching for rishav and it wasnt showing any results. At first I thought you blocked me or something!
Haha, I’ll consider it as a win now that you know the exact name
I use a mix of Evernote, Notability and Physical notes. (Sorry for the lengthy post.)1. Evernote: I dump in it everything which I find relevant. For that I use Evernote’s web clipper (Only in laptops). But to organise everything, I divide everything in 3 levels: Stacks at the top level, then Notebooks and then Notes. Again each note is divided into 3 different levels using tags.For example: I will have a stack of notebooks named Current Affairs. Then notebooks for months like January 2020 etc. Within each Notebook, there are notes. Now each note will be tagged with 3 different categories of tags. For UPSC, I have made tags for each level i.e, @pre, @mains and @interview. Then the tags for each topic of mains syllabus such as /GS1.01 for Art&culture topic of GS1, /GS2.01 for polity part of GS2 etc. After that, one more tag for subtopic such as :amendment within topic polity.Now let’s say, I have an article which is important for pre, mains, interview, optional, essay and Centre-state relations and related to devolution of powers. Then my tag would be @pre, @mains, @interview, /essay, /optional, /GS2.02, :devolution of powers. [It may seem complicated at first, but once you get a hang of it, it will be much easier].2. Notability: I use it for making notes, annotating pdfs, newspapers, rough work, attempting test papers etc. In short, everything which can be done with pencil. Each divider contains notebooks. For example, GS1 would contain subjects like Art and Culture, History, Society, Geography.3. Physical notes: I have made folders for each major topics of syllabus such as history, society, geography, polity etc. My final notes go in these folders.
Kinda curious, how long did it take you to finalise the ‘tag system’ on EverNote ?
Tagging@rashiv
It took me five minutes just to find your profile , as I was searching for rishav and it wasnt showing any results. At first I thought you blocked me or something!
Haha, I’ll consider it as a win now that you know the exact name
Just curious, what does the name mean?
It’s a combination of my parents first name
Usually I prefer pen and paper to make physical notes but I also use some basic apps to supplement my preparation digitally. Some methods/apps that I use are:-
#Notes(iOS)
I use this to save links of articles that I feel are good or important.
I read physical newspaper(The Hindu). Whenever I find something important like an article or editorial, I visit The Hindu site, copy paste the article’s link and paste it in notes. I do the same for important contents derived from PIB,PRS. Some samples are:-
#Podcast(inbuilt iOS)
This I use to learn things without studying in actual. I use it while travelling or running or working out at gym. There are several channels which can be useful for learning additional things. For example, on every Friday, on the Hindu’s Oped page, there is a section called Parley. The Hindu has a podcast channel too specifically for this Parley thing. Rather than reading it on paper, you can directly listen to it on the podcast. The podcast’s recording is copy-pasted on the Oped Page.
#Other App Store apps that I use:-
P.S.- After reading several posts on this thread that how many of aspirants are using apps like Evernote/OneNote to make digital notes, I am trying too to get my hands on OneNote. It will take some time for me to get accustom to it though!
From the above I sense that you prefer having the entire newspaper article in your notes (links of good articles + on OneNote). In this light, wanted to ask, what do you perceive as the advantage of this approach as compared to making notes from an editorial article (and not having the entire article in the notes) ?
Others can answer too if they want.
Usually I prefer pen and paper to make physical notes but I also use some basic apps to supplement my preparation digitally. Some methods/apps that I use are:-
#Notes(iOS)
I use this to save links of articles that I feel are good or important.
I read physical newspaper(The Hindu). Whenever I find something important like an article or editorial, I visit The Hindu site, copy paste the article’s link and paste it in notes. I do the same for important contents derived from PIB,PRS. Some samples are:-
#Podcast(inbuilt iOS)
This I use to learn things without studying in actual. I use it while travelling or running or working out at gym. There are several channels which can be useful for learning additional things. For example, on every Friday, on the Hindu’s Oped page, there is a section called Parley. The Hindu has a podcast channel too specifically for this Parley thing. Rather than reading it on paper, you can directly listen to it on the podcast. The podcast’s recording is copy-pasted on the Oped Page.
#Other App Store apps that I use:-
P.S.- After reading several posts on this thread that how many of aspirants are using apps like Evernote/OneNote to make digital notes, I am trying too to get my hands on OneNote. It will take some time for me to get accustom to it though!
From the above I sense that you prefer having the entire newspaper article in your notes (links of good articles + on OneNote). In this light, wanted to ask, what do you perceive as the advantage of this approach as compared to making notes from an editorial article (and not having the entire article in the notes) ?
Others can answer too if they want.
The markings of different colours on OneNote are the actual points that I would have jotted down in my notepad had I gone for precise notes making. Saving the entire article to read at a later period helps in staying with a flow in which the editorial is actually formatted . I also refer to some articles when I practice answer writing specially for those questions which are kind of vague in nature.
The editorial which you see on Onenote is a very holistic editorial in my opinion.(The editorial was dated 10/06/2020). This editorial was a complete package, it talked about problems, had data in it, had international angle, and also a way forward, a perfect sample on how to meet the demand of UPSC. So that is why I saved this entire article.
When revising or referring, it is good to have a background of the article too to maintain the flow and have a context in the back of mind. I have this liberty because my reading speed has increased. I give a casual reading to the unmarked portion/s and a focused reading to the marked portion/s whenever I refer to these saved articles.
p.s- copy-pasting an article from a pdf reader to OneNote is a matter of snapping fingers, in short, too easy. It is just that the marking thing takes time, equivalent to the time spent on penning down the same or maybe a few minutes more.
So to summarise:-
1. It helps you in answer writing
2. Helps you engage in ‘smart reading’
3. Becomes fodder points for the topic as well
Those are substantial gains, you make a good case for this strategy of yours. Will try to incorporate
@rashiv Since you are a student and a good one, just few things. Whatever issues are being done in the class - at least the CA one, don't do anything extra in those. It will be fully covered.
If you find anything related to Pol Sc, you must do it. If you find good articles on some off topic issues, which you find enlightening, do keep it.
Make sure you are very clear what you are investing time on. Also focus on the keywords and new ideas which can actually be incorporated in an answer.
Thank youu, will follow the said advices and incorporate them in my strategy
