UPSC Mains 2024 result out. IN or OUT?

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. 

WordleMastersaid

In recent days, I've noticed two types of people when it comes to preparing for the Mains exam. One set (we'll call them Group A) says, that Mains requires average content with good answer writing practice. They don't have the best content. If you read their answer scripts you'll find nothing special, yet you find some of them clearing this exam. The other group of people (Group B), are the ones who are usually in their senior attempts and who have gone above and beyond and prepared their own 1-2 pager notes for the entire syllabus, list of special keywords, written multiple tests etc. They, too, clear the exam, usually with very good ranks, but not always. We have seen many brilliant candidates (from forum community itself) not getting through despite their efforts.

And here lie aspirants like myself. This person who is very weak at answer writing, is struggling to complete the paper, or has not yet revised his own notes multiple times assumes that once he reaches the level of Group A, he will get through mains. He convinces himself that mains is easy, by following the perception built by Group A. But, slowly, a fear grows inside them, too. A fear of losing out to Group B. And, so they too end up collecting more value addition, nicer keywords, attending specialist module courses, current affair classes etc. This, of course, comes at a cost. 

And therein emerges a set of aspirants who are not even at the level of Group A but aspire to be like Group B. They are what I'd call half-baked goods. Not good enough to fight alongside Group B, and not even skilled enough to keep pace with Group A.

In my opinion, such candidates are the ones who do not stop and introspect. And they are a lot. And so they take a bite so big that they can't even chew it. And so they end up throwing up that unchewed bite onto their Mains paper, and then they wonder why they didn't get rewarded. Or if they do get rewarded for that big bite, they get it only after they have chewed and digested it all, which is only after a couple of attempts and when their head is slightly greyer than before.

So, in the opinion of the esteemed readers of this post,@Neyawn @Rashmirathi  @Ganesh_Gaitonde @tedmosby and others, do you resonate with the above line of reasoning? Will it be better to block out Group B from our minds, and try to become as good as Group A? Or is Mains really that difficult that we have to reach the level of competence of Group B, to even stand a chance at winning this race? 

I want to ask one thing: By doing answer writing, what exactly do people learn? 

How does answer writing lead to better marks? I just want you to ask this question. 

The idea behind answer writing is to

1. See how you are able to put the things you learnt on paper 

2. Whether you understand and address all parts of Q

3. Whether you write dense keywords oriented answers 

4. Presentation is neat or not 

5. Good Intro and conclusion 

6. Some value addition

7. Lastly, Time management 

Now, I might have missed some goals above but broadly I could think of the above. Let's Use common sense, is answer writing some magic pill that automatically boosts scores without application of mind? 

I mean people say do answer writing! And then? What exactly happens? Is it some spell that automatically makes you a great student? 

Whatever helps you in delivering above goals should be the path you must follow. Don't underestimate the power of short notes that higher attempt people make. If you see them just before the real mains, they can create a MASSIVE difference. If you have written Mains before , You must be knowing this. 

For essays, answer writing will help you hone your organic expression and write straight from your heart. 

Hence you must chose your path accordingly as per your strengths and weaknesses. I would suggest a Madhyama Marga of doing both. 

1. Prepare short notes for EACH topic (Base notes) 

2. Write answers from topper copies & compare answers (Exact same questions in 7-9 mins or 11-13 mins for now) 

3. Add some pointers that you feel are relevant. Don't add everything because you might have some value addition that a topper might not have. 

4. Also go for some real time based simulation near the Mains examination. 

Once you do the Vision Abhyaas kind simulation, you'll automatically understand what is needed and what is practical in those end days. You can't remember everything and everything gets reduced to keywords and basic common sense in GS. 

I just want all of us to use COMMON SENSE and ask the WHYs please! Don't run after some magic bullet that everyone talks of until you understand the reasoning behind it. 

The issue is we don't have handholding mentors. Even if there are some, a lot of people don't have good communication skills. In UPSC preparation, the role of mentorship is paramount but sadly we have a great deficit of it. You need constant feedback loops to keep the candidate in check and on the right path. People like me had to do everything through hit and trial and then maybe learn a thing or two. 

There is huge noise in the UPSC world. A method in the madness can make a huge difference. So keep talking to your mentors and even show your higher attempt seniors, your notes. Keep seeking that guidance again and again especially in this period where Mains has to be prepared.

For people who are giving Mains 2025, you have absolutely no time to kill. 8-10 hours daily right now is the path to success given that Mains is in August next year. Nothing should be left for post prelims days

We've discussed this as pointed by Ted above here: 

https://forumias.com/post/detail/Gaitondes-Den-1727638216?page=1

Also since it was your first mains, you must fill the content deficit. 

Dosto, I am out. 5th attempt, 3rd Mains! 

I did my best and I was so proud of the answers I wrote and the Interlinking I did in this Mains examination.  My UPSC Journey will end here for I believe I did my best in this attempt and I couldn't have done any better.

No 6th attempt for me! Probably, I will turn into a teacher or maybe I will continue my legal journey as a lawyer ! I will have to take that call soon

This is something I wrote on my telegram channel. I hope that it gives strength to at least some of you or anyone who has faced failure :

"I have got so many of my friends who were crying for me even when I am not at all crying. 

To all those who are in their higher attempts and have failed. I know a lot of you would not want to hear this. But I have a responsibility to say this 

1. It's absolutely foolish to keep working hard mindlessly after an exam that is RANDOM. I am telling you, some of you may feel like it's a post failure rant. But I am speaking this from a sense of responsibility. Even those who get in don't know what worked and what didn't. 

2. People like @tedmosby who are brilliant and hardworking may inspire you. But I hope you know that he doesn't have a single gap year and has successfully secured a job. He is just 26! I am so happy for him that he made smart choices. That's exactly how smart people hedge their risks. 

3. Most of you have entered this field only because of the AURA and hawabaazi. Hence, just be mindful and speak to the young who are in service as to how their life is. Meaningful life is far important than external validations 

4. What's the point? The point I am making is no coaching person will tell you to exit bluntly due to conflict of interest. 

The point is create backups, make money and you can contribute to your and other's well being. Ethical wealth creation is the biggest service you can do to this nation. 

5. If you get in by sacrificing your Twenties in a rut. Do you think it's worth it. The sunk costs of a brilliant candidate continuing into UPSC are far far far higher. Your life will be wonderful outside in other field. 

Don't think that in UPSC exam, X effort translates into X result. However outside this randomness, you can be fairly sure of your effort being rewarded and recognised. 

Eg: one of my friend who got into ISB (I have mentioned him earlier as he had failed the 2022 Mains and decided to discontinue UPSC) got a 33 lac placement this week. This shows how you're rewarded outside while the Randomness of UPSC may not reward your effort AT ALL. 

6. 99% will still stay here and keep giving attempts mindlessly. That's fine. It's your choice. My aim is only to tell you the costs of it. If you accept them, then wonderful. 

However to the rest 1% and all those who are brilliant ones who have full confidence in their abilities, don't let talent rot in ORN rooms. You WILL be rewarded outside. One can be 99% sure. But in UPSC, 99% failure is ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED. 

It's going to be a gamble. A lot will STILL think that the hardwork will get rewarded somehow. Yes it will be. Your critical abilities, perspectives and ideas will shine. But don't think the UPSC process will reward you. 

7. The ultimate message is: Take a backup. Do well and return back for attempts if you want. Don't sit and wait for UPSC to happen. Things will work for you even with a job if they have to. 

When I was in my earlier attempts, I felt this is yet another loser ranting out of failure. A lot of people reading this will feel the same and the loop shall continue. 

8. My responsibility is to make you aware of the risks. I inherently Will be rewarded from mentorship that I will offer in future. But that doesn't mean, we lie to young ones. 

Hence be aware of the risks. 99% failure is GUARANTEED. If you decide to stay, make sure other aspects of life : Health, alternate income, Parents, travelling, friends, love life are not sacrificed for the sake of 99% of failure 

9. Work like a Nishkama Karma Yogi and be a pragmatic pessimist (Like I was) so that failure doesn't push you into extreme depression. 

I would say being aware that you MAY fail no matter how much hard you work put in an exam where failure is guaranteed is not pessimism but realism! 

10. If anyone wants to know my answers, my Notes and my efforts, they are openly available on Youtube. I had recorded what I wrote the next day after GS 4 in my phone. 

You can see my telegram channel for my notes. 

11. Another final point is just because our luck didn't favour us doesn't mean it won't favour you. However it will always be randomness that will decide your fate. Again, If you're happy to accept it, wonderful! Go ahead. 

12. UPSC addiction will continue to addict people till the next 10-15 years till the point that the people from our generation who chose private sector jobs will appear more successful in their 40s and 50s in terms of material wealth as avenues for corruption will starkly decline in coming years 

To all the materialists out there : Be ready for the fact when you're posted in Gurgaon, your friend who nobody knows right now will drive a luxury car. And trust me nobody on the road is going to look at that Innova you sit in but it is going to be the Luxury car that will turn the heads. (Only Meant to deter the materialists, who may have wrong expectations from the IAS/IPS) 

To all those who are wise : Prefer work life balance, lesser money (if need be) and your family /friends above fame/ambition. Chose to spend time only on things that drive you and help you find meaning in yourself. 

The only reason one should enter this CSE exam is : To serve the nation, serve the people and make things better for others. Anything else may create troubles even if you enter the service ! 

13. Find a good mentor who can help you reach the "I COULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING ELSE BETTER" in the first few attempts itself. They won't only save your attempts but also your life. Right guidance is the MOST, MOST IMPORTANT thing in this preparation. 

Wishing you Nothing but SUCCESS (Fulfilling my responsibility to let the young ones know some realities like many others who walked this path before me) 

I have texted you in Personal. Since sharing TG link is against community guidelines 

The following is the YouTube channel : 

https://youtube.com/@mahirupsc

All the best Bhai :)