Tanushree Meena AIR 120 UPSC CSE 2021
My basic strategy was
1. I have to finish the papers on time.
2. I have to answer all the questions.
3. I need to write In a good handwriting.
4. I need to make significant value addition through maps, diagrams, facts, figures and examples in all my answers to make them stand out.
5. I need to have a clarity of thought and expression so that my answer sheet reflects my personality and thinking, the way my mental processing works.
This was the last Ethics test that I gave, 5th cycle of full length tests. I gave it almost a few days before Mains which was a little risky but it worked in my favour, since the score was a big confidence booster for me.
For essay I had made separate notes containing examples; quotations and famous personalities etc. I used them also for Ethics and Governance and vice a versa.
Final essay paper had both philosophical topics I was a little taken aback but since I had a flair for writing I could write decent essays.
The topics I chose were
1. Philosophy of wantlessness is Utopian, while materialism is a chimera.
2.History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce.
I would devote 15- 20 minutes for brainstorming the essay topics. Even while writing I would write with patience so that any new point or aspect that comes into my mind can be logically arranged in the essay and my essay doesn’t look hurried or haphazard.
I tried to ensure that all my paragraphs were completed within a single page and they did not continue on the next page. Further, I focused on making my essays multidimensional.
I would make notes throughout the year which I studied always and kept eliminating the unnecessary details. Further, I would read these notes and in the very end after giving 1 iteration of Mains tests I made short notes of the nites and all the topics in the syllabus, these were the nites which I would ultimately revise before the exam.
History Optional
Maps
I relied on Self Study History map material which is good but you still need to practise many new sites. So keep a tab on historical sites in news, mark them on a map.
Spectrum has released an Atlas of historical sites which is also good for dealing with unknown sites. However the atlas needs to be read selectively.
Ancient India
Readings: Old and New NCERT
Upinder Singh ( Yes that bulky book has to be read definitely)
I also referred to my graduation notes which were very comprehensive since I would complete almost all the readings suggested by my professor. I will upload my notes here.
But they shall only be used for reference because if you do not make your own notes there will be a sense of unfamiliarity which will make it difficult to read them. If you’re unable to make notes at least write down my notes in your own handwriting.
Medieval India
Readings: Old and New NCERT
Satish Chandra Part 2
Vipul Singh Part 1
Modern India
Readings : Old and New NCERT
Spectrum Modern India
Shekhar Bandhopadhyaya : From Plassey to Partition
India’s struggle for Independence and India After independence by Bipan Chandra ( only selective reading of the Post independence book. For the before independence portion I had already made notes of the book in my graduation year so referred to them again)
Modern India by Sumit Sarkar
World History
I followed my graduation notes while filling up the gaps with John Green world history videos and internet.
I never read any specific book for the same.
I joined the Test Series by Self Study History even though the tests were good the overall experience was not very satisfactory. I found them a little unprofessional since they constantly kept telling me not give any test during the mains week, thus negating my strategy. Even when I gave one test and sent it to them, instead of being professional and doing their job by checking the test, they themselves decided to not check the paper. This was quite different from how professional test series work for eg. Vision IAS and Forum IAS. They let the students decide their strategy and don’t doubt them.
So you can join the test series there but be sure of what you want. I wrote tests even when they said don’t write them because I was confident of what I wanted to do.
After Mains I started preparing Ethics; Essay and optional first. My strategy was to strengthen these 3 as they can really improve your score. This was accompanied with regular Newspaper Reading ( I read The Hindu) and watching the show Perspective right from a few months even before prelims ( so I was watching the previous videos). Further I kept reading my self made notes of GS.
I started preparing thoroughly for Mains after the Prelims result. I divided my time into slots:
GS 1 in 12 days
GS 2 in 10 days
GS 3 in 10 days
I had already prepared GS 4 during the 20 days after the Prelims exam and it’s result.
After finishing every paper I wrote a test so by November end I had written 1 iteration of tests for all GS papers and essay.
Thereafter in the month of December I wrote 3 more iterations of tests for all GS papers so during this my entire syllabus was revised 3 more times in December. In the last 10 days I gave 1 more iteration of test for GS 3 and 4 since I really wanted to improve my score and be prepared to my best ability.
I wrote the last 2 tests during the week Mains was about to take place.
In total I had given 18 tests
4 full iterations of all GS papers and 1 extra for GS 3 and 4 since I thought I needed to improve more in them. Specifically the speed part in GS 4.
Test series will only be helpful if you write it in a time bound manner and stop writing the second 3 hours are over. Initially you might exceed the time limit but with time you’ll be able to do better. It will only prepare you for the final day so don’t relax and don’t be laid back in giving tests. Be sincere.
The more you sweat in practise the less you bleed in war.
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This is how clearly I had divided the time for writing every answer. I tried to follow it while writing test series as a result I was able to do the same in the final Mains exam. You can even see I have made calculations to estimate the overall time I would devote. This is the sort of planning you need to score good in Mains.  |
This was my timetable after Prelims. I tried to follow it as much as possible. There were days when I didn’t follow it, but overall I guess I managed to follow it around 75-80%. |
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