Jamir M Shaikh UPSC CSE Prelims Strategy

Tips for UPSC CSE prelims : 

JAMIR M. SHAIKH (AIR-18 IFS-2018)

Hello friends, I am writing following points which you can practice to get more answers correct in CSE prelim. These may not be 100 percent correct all the time but you can use as a last resort when you lack knowledge regarding topics. Do practice with these tips for at least 7 days so that it will come naturally to you during exam. To apply these tricks and thumb rules, practice only previous CSE papers because tricks will be applicable to only CSE papers and not test papers of any institutes. You trust these tips only after evaluating from your side. 

General procedure you must follow for each question-

1. Read each and every question without any preconceived notion or tagging that it is difficult or very easy.
2. Read each question with utmost care. Highlight important points just to understand question properly. Before going to options, read what have been asked to mark whether CORRECT/INCORRECT/FALSE/NOT TRUE etc. highlight these directions before reading question. And make sure that before selecting right answers you are again cross checking with those directions (CORRECT/INCORRECT/FALSE/NOT TRUE).
3. Read question again and again so that you will get exact understanding. Because most of the time due to stress and anxiety, we may fail to understand the exact meaning of question. So rather than saving 30 sec just get one answer 100 percent correct with this little caution.
4. Believe that every question of UPSC is easy and UPSC wants you to attempt it but only one condition is that you have to keep yourself alert and calm. This belief will help you to solve even moderate and difficult questions which other diffident students cannot do.
5. If any strong word/words (like the list given below) is/are coming in statement then please highlight and think over it. if you can cross check that fact then do otherwise just check whether statement is logical or convincing. If it is not then consider wrong. Because 99 percent such words are just HINTS given to you by UPSC to eliminate options. But still remember this may fail in 1 percent case. So use as per your skill and understanding. 
6. Highlight statistic / number / directions (NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST) if any…most of the time they are wrong. If you see the pattern in UPSC papers, these numbers and statistics are wrong almost more than 90 percent. So cross check with your knowledge or logic. If it fails to convince you then mark that statement wrong. 
7. If the statements are very mild/general (may/can/ought to) they are correct most of the time but condition is that they must be relevant to that question and logically correct also. So try to support these statements through examples in your surroundings (practical experience in daily life). 
8. Don’t think too much in detail for any question. Keep things simple. If you are more doubtful, you can mark even simple question incorrect. So don’t be much doubtful. 
9. For science and tech questions- one common pattern is that most of the time answer will be all of the above. So if statements are mild (can/ may) and not having strong words like RAPIDLY, DRASTICALLY, GRADUALLY, TOTALLY, SUDDENLY, COMPLETELY, LARGEST, AUTOMATICALLY ETC. and logical in the context of question (that’s why think examples to support statements from your day to day life), then go with all correct option. If questions are factual then it may be difficult to go with all of the above. But still don’t give up easily and use your logic as much as you can. Most of the time we lack confidence to take risk but one can take that if paper seems easy and your attempts are less than 80. If attempt is more than 85 then avoid such risks. 
10. Even for environment and geography question, if the statements are general and logical in the context of question then mark all correct. (That’s why read a question again and again you will get more clear understanding). 
11. In general if you are stuck between two options then read question again and again you will get many hints (like acronym, ministry, role of organisation, possible objective of scheme/programme/policy). I strongly believe that you stuck in two options mainly because you do not understand question. So go to question and apply your logic and reasons for each option in general. 
12. For history question, have fair idea about major events and happenings which were milestone in the freedom struggle. Read some popular or notorious viceroys and Governor Generals. Some popular freedom fighters and their contributions. (Especially if that freedom fighter or event related to him/her is in news recently). 
13. For economy questions- they are asking definition or application of terms/concepts which are in news for last 1 to 1.5 years. So read such terms in detail and ensure that you have conceptual clarity (ex. Legal tender; CAR; development; opportunity cost etc.). These questions look difficult superficially but don’t judge yourself without giving fair trial for such questions (like last year ‘Capital/output’ question). It is better to face such questions rather than outright rejection. Keep mind open and flexible in thinking. In case, any number or strong words in statement then you just cross check with logic rather than knowledge (like capital infusion gradually increasing for last decade; sudden increase in GDP or investment etc). This is the area where lots of students are not comfortable so just practice in the line as I explained. You will start getting many hints and your probability to mark them correct will increase. 
14. For Map question especially related to India, try to draw map and then solve, it will be easy to find out exact answer. For that, next 7 days do practice map daily at least 30 min with different themes like mountains, rivers, ghats, passes, lakes, Ramsar sites, Tiger reserves, NP, WHS, etc. for world map just visualise locations correctly and for that, do practice regions/ places recently in news. 
15. Always split question and read properly you will get hints for possible answers. 
16. Hold patience till reading all options. Don’t leave question in middle at least give one try. 
17. Questions which look difficult actually they are provided with hints (strong words, wrong numbers, wrong year, wrong facts etc.), so find them out. Many students get into stress and panic after seeing numbers and name of multiple organisations. In this case, just hold your anxiety and read question carefully, you can easily eliminate some options as many times irrelevant organisations and strong words will be there in options. And in such question if you eliminate one strong statement, you will get exact answer. 
18. Once you mark answer, please don’t change until and unless you are 100 percent sure or come to know that by mistake you mark wrong. But avoid logics if you have marked by giving earlier any other logic. 
19. Highlight units like km, sec, lakh, crore etc. and read them carefully. 
20. If the facts/ concepts you have never heard about popular programme/scheme/ organisation etc. then mark them wrong. 
21. If question is too lengthy like half page then read options first and then go to question. You will get fair idea and you can get answer easily. 
22. Write correct information at the side space if statement is incorrect so that you will get surety of answer (if you know then only write). 
23. If you don’t know exactness of statement then please avoid eliminating it in the first reading. 
24. If in the questions themes or any event has been asked with a year far back (more than 5 to 6 years back) then mark wrong if you are not exactly sure about that. Because UPSC is asking Current affairs of maximum 2 years back so too old data means hint for marking them incorrect. And when you mark that statement incorrect then 99 percent chance is that you will get direct answer. 
25. If question is negative in meaning its impact must be negative and vice a versa. For example- in excessive sand mining question (negative que.) of last year, impact of decreasing salinity is a positive impact (good for human consumption and use) so it is a wrong option. So read carefully and check the veracity of that statement. 
26. Don’t mark answers on OMR in your first reading. Mark only those answers in first reading which 100 percent are sure. After doing this, mark answers on OMR sheet very carefully. While marking answers on OMR avoid changing answers which you have marked in first reading. From second reading onwards mark answers on OMR directly. If you are able to attempt 80 plus it’s very good. 
27. Keep attempt between 80 to 90 questions if paper is difficult and you can cross even 90 if paper is simple. One has to take this call in exam hall on the basis of toughness of paper. 

List of some common words where one must be careful-

1. Only
2. Automatically
3. Very recently
4. Immediately
5. All
6. Completely
7. Totally
8. Entire
9. Steadily
10. Gradually
11. Rapidly
12. Readily
13. Predominantly
14. Avoiding
15. Instrumental
16. Leadership
17. Throughout
18. Exponentially
19. Entire
20. Words largest, first
21. Global
22. Greatly
23. Must

(you can add more words in this list)

Precautions-

1. Keep yourself highly positive and motivated in coming days.
2. Avoid self doubts of any kind. Try to give your best. But do not try to be perfect, because no one is perfect.
3. Whenever you will take any question to solve, don’t judge that question before reading. Treat all questions equally. Many times serious aspirant mark easy question wrong due to lack of alertness and anxiety.
4. Keep negative people and thoughts away from you.
5. Revise whatever you have read now. Don’t regret for not reading any material which maximum students are reading. Just make sure that all important topics you have covered.
6. Avoid comparison with your friends and competitors. This is your test and you cannot compare your strengths with others. Have a strong belief that you will qualify prelim no matter the level of toughness of paper.
7. Even in test papers if you have not scored beyond 100 still it is nothing to worry now because many toppers have been faced such things in the past. You May be one of them.
8. If you are getting more than 140 or 150 still don’t be overconfident. Overconfident students generally do over thinking and mark easy questions wrong.
9. Don’t discuss minute details of any subject as hardly it is being asked in exam. But have minimum idea and basic knowledge.
10. In 8 days focus on mental stability and health. So take good food and sufficient rest. Do mediate or little exercise. It will give you confidence.
11. Avoid new test papers and material. Just revise whatever you have read. 
12. Reach to exam centre at least 30min to 1 hour before with all required documents (hall ticket, photos, id proof mentioned in the form, page of instructions), food items like chocolate, walnuts, fruits, Tiffin, water bottle and stationary like black pens (3 to 4), exam board, whitener (in case if you have put small dot in circle by mistake, you can use in emergency), pencil etc.
13. Read all bodies/organisations in detail which have been asked in last 3 years of UPSC papers. Also read static questions carefully for last 8 years (since 2011 till 2018) papers as some questions have been repeated by UPSC earlier.
14. Avoid negative discussion on exam day in all possible way. Don’t talk about studies. It is better to speak less as more speaking creates unnecessary anxiety and stress. Minimum stress and fear is important but not much more.
15. Remember your roll number by heart and write it accurately on OMR. Don’t panic even if you fill wrong number just approach examiner, she/he will give new one or suggest some solution. 

Read this information multiple times and try to apply while practicing previous year papers of UPSC.

Finally it is your right attitude and strength of mind will help you more than knowledge to sail through this phase. You will get only 2 hours to perform so give your best shot. Don’t predict your success/failure or expected cut-off in exam hall. Maintain full focus on performance. Even the paper is difficult you will qualify if you have seriously put hard work in this exam. Let the UPSC judge you rather than any person/institute/even yourself.

All the best!!!