Scrolling through over here I saw a discssion thread for every year but didn't find one for the next year.
So, this thread is dedicated to the discssions regarding CSE 2024. Anyone planning to appear for the exam next year can join the discussion.
Looking at the level of paper and kind of questions asked this year, I believe we are going to need a lot of support from each other. Hopefully this thread will grow and help a lot of aspirants, both old and new.
We can do it.
12.8.2024
Where I stand today (writing the following down for myself):
- Optional:
SecAof Maths Optional (P1 and P2) over. Notes consolidated and organized on Notion. Sectional mocks given for both. - Solving ODE questions currently. Topics left to revise: PDE, CP&NA, VA, FD&Mech, S&D.
- Issues identified noted down in mistakes notebook.
GS:
- Given 2 mocks of GS4, 1 mock of GS1, 1 mock of GS2 and 2 mocks of Essay. Only GS3 mock left (Scheduled on 18th).
- PYQs brainstorming left for GS1, 2, 3 (Only partially done).
- Notes prepared properly but revision left.
What next?
- Completing PYQ brainstorming seems to be the way forward for now in GS along with answer writing and analysis.
- Need to consolidate notes and PYQs in GS. Mock evaluation seems pretty useless but the analysis videos & solution pdfs are a goldmine.
- Reasonably confident in Maths but I need to practice Modern Algebra daily. Need to start giving mocks for Maths every day after giving Abhyaas.
- Seems like a very difficult task for now. No idea if I will qualify Mains but I will strive to give my absolute best this time and leave rest to fate.
I will be back!
hello@Ganesh_Gaitonde @tedmosby Sir,This will be my 2nd mains and i write with more pressure which affects my legibility. I used and still using Hauser tech 5 though i tried others but did not fit well like Trimax,
I need help how i can improve my legibility in last one month as legibility remark on test copy is frequent denting my confidence, which pen should i go for which increase my font size or atleast increase the content readability.
thankyou
I will be back!
hello@Ganesh_Gaitonde @tedmosby Sir,This will be my 2nd mains and i write with more pressure which affects my legibility. I used and still using Hauser tech 5 though i tried others but did not fit well like Trimax,
I need help how i can improve my legibility in last one month as legibility remark on test copy is frequent denting my confidence, which pen should i go for which increase my font size or atleast increase the content readability.
thankyou
Hello friend, I use Pentel energel click. You can try Pentel energel without click too
Most people use V5 but I have had trouble with pen grip right from beginning
You should increase space between letters consciously.
Also don't fret too much over it. UPSC isn't as picky as these evaluators who don't want to give any deeper substantive comment that takes greater effort.
Be confident. Even I was too worried but in the end, I got low marks in Essay where my writing was very neat. Hence don't worry. Keep the confidence high till the clock strikes 5.30 on 29th Sept.
Also the evaluators are so stupid at times that even on a copy evaluated on say 15th Sept, they'll say : KEEP WRITING AND IMPROVING when mains is just 5 days away 😊
Oneof the evaluators told Ishita (Rank 1,2022) to improve her legibility. Just look at her copy and you'll see :)
Get feedback from your mentor and not the Evaluator. They'll calm your nerves better by looking at your copy.
Gaitonde’s Den: https://forumias.com/post/detail/Gaitondes-Den-1727638216
12.8.2024
Where I stand today (writing the following down for myself):
- Optional:
SecAof Maths Optional (P1 and P2) over. Notes consolidated and organized on Notion. Sectional mocks given for both.- Solving ODE questions currently. Topics left to revise: PDE, CP&NA, VA, FD&Mech, S&D.
- Issues identified noted down in mistakes notebook.
GS:
- Given 2 mocks of GS4, 1 mock of GS1, 1 mock of GS2 and 2 mocks of Essay. Only GS3 mock left (Scheduled on 18th).
- PYQs brainstorming left for GS1, 2, 3 (Only partially done).
- Notes prepared properly but revision left.
What next?
- Completing PYQ brainstorming seems to be the way forward for now in GS along with answer writing and analysis.
- Need to consolidate notes and PYQs in GS. Mock evaluation seems pretty useless but the analysis videos & solution pdfs are a goldmine.
- Reasonably confident in Maths but I need to practice Modern Algebra daily. Need to start giving mocks for Maths every day after giving Abhyaas.
- Seems like a very difficult task for now. No idea if I will qualify Mains but I will strive to give my absolute best this time and leave rest to fate.
[Update for myself (18.8.2024)]
- Maths: I think ODE and PDE are acting like South Africa [Chokers] of Sec B, mustering the courage to leave some sections in them now because time is less (Cauchy's method of characteristics is too long and some questions through the Charpit method are deliberately long). Need to accept that some questions in Q5 are made deliberately hard and time consuming. So just consolidating the other part.
- GS: Feeling quite lost in GS or maybe it's the exhaustion that has started to creep in. 13 hrs+ study time seems unsustainable. Also, I need to analyse my mock copies properly. The key to improvement lies there and not in giving more mocks mindlessly. I think I need to prepare a section wise strategy to tackle topics. A broad blueprint is ready but thanks to my optional, I am not getting much time to work on it.
- General: The problem for external validation is eternal but I think the only body which is capable to tell you whether you will qualify or not is UPSC itself. So maybe after all, just focus on the process. Do PYQs. Analyse topper copies. Mould your answer writing style.
Things will take time but it will happen.
In the end, my convergence is not uniform but it's important that I converge to my limit point and not diverge from it.
I will be back!