Busting some UPSC exam myths
Some mistakes, ‘hacks’ and ‘shortcuts’ to avoid while preparing for the civil services exam.
The challenging Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is spread over an entire year,
divided into three extremely competitive stages, in which anything can
go wrong at any stage leading to one’s failure.
This must sound
scary to over seven lakh aspirants who will be sitting for the exam.
While beginning their preparation, many students have partial knowledge
about the exam, its nitty-gritties and preparation strategy. Confused by
half knowledge and filled with fear, many of the students start
believing in myths floating around. Here are some things aspirants
should avoid.
Myth: IAS officers/aspirants should know everything about every topic/subject under the sun.
Reality:
No, they do not. But since this is a generalist exam, they are supposed
to be generally well read, with a balanced outlook towards issues.
Moreover, the syllabus of the exam is huge, covering many subjects. So,
an IAS aspirant is generally much more aware than others. What is
required is a general understanding of the topic and conceptual clarity.
The exam does not require one to be an expert in a topic, rather,
aspirants should have general awareness and analytical skills.
Myth: I need to remember a lot of facts to clear CSE.
Reality:
No, the exam does not test factual knowledge at all. It tests your
understanding, conceptual clarity and analytical skills. However, some
facts are considered to be the basis of building perspective, which are
important to know. So, you should know a few basic facts such as size of
the GDP, demographic data, and so on, but it will be easier to remember
them once you understand their significance.
Myth: You need to be a topper throughout to clear the exam.
Reality:
Although being a topper helps, it does not guarantee you success in
this exam. What is required is general awareness, logical reasoning and
good writing skills. If you can develop those, you can clear this exam
even if you had a second division in Class X or XII. Yes, you might have
to explain in the interview as to why you scored less, but it is not
held against you if you have a valid reason.
Myth: You cannot clear the exam without the help of a coaching institute.
Reality: Wrong. In the new era, one can make use of
various great resources, such as mobile apps and websites. Coaching
centres do have a study plan that they enforce on you, but it cannot
guarantee success and they charge an astronomical fee, which many
aspirants cannot afford. It is important to first understand where you
stand and how much you need to improve. Once you know your study
objectives, you can decide between self-study or joining a coaching
institute.
Myth: Writing skills cannot be improved, so one should read now and directly write in the exam hall.
Reality:
This is one of the biggest mistakes one can make. Writing at home and
writing in the exam hall are two entirely different scenarios. There is
so much pressure in the exam hall that you can find it hard to think
about new points. So, if you do not practice, you would not be able to
finish the paper on time. Writing skills improve slowly, hence, it is
more important that you practice regularly. Consistent writing practice
helps in honing articulation which leads to better expression, and,
ultimately, better marks.
Myth: You must attempt more than 90 questions to clear prelims.
Reality: This is not true. Another myth that has
been made popular by some of the ‘hacks’ and ‘shortcuts’ floating in the
market is that if you attempt more questions it is easier to get more
marks. It doesn’t work like that. To attempt more number of questions
correctly, one needs to have a certain level of “intuition”. And that
level of intuition comes from years of reading and internalising
information which helps in creating links between topics.While a
well-read person may attempt a disproportionately large number of
questions and still manage to get them correct, not everyone can do it.
So, one should attempt only those questions one is reasonably sure of,
and not because someone gave you a hack. You need to practice and figure
out a strategy that works well for you.
Myth: One needs to study 16 hours a day to clear.
Reality:
Let’s face it. No one can study for 16 hours per day for an extended
period and not crash. Moreover, it is not the hours that matter, rather
the quality. So, you have people who clear by studying for four to five
hours a day alongside a job, and people who have studied for 12 hours
per day continuously for months. You must find your balance.
Myth: You need to read many books on a single topic to gain absolute “mastery” over the subject.
Reality: First, “mastery” over any subject is a
super ambitious target, in case of UPSC exam. Second, it is always
better to understand a single book in great depth rather than reading
multiple books to understand a topic. Also, even though you have read
and understood something, it takes time to get internalised as you are
going to study many new topics. If you don’t make notes and revise, you
might not be able to retain them effectively. If you genuinely
understand a topic and want to expand your knowledge and/or build more
perspective, reading more books can certainly help.
Myth: One must read standard books from cover to cover and make notes on every topic in the syllabus.
Reality:
Absolutely not. Apart from NCERTs and some books, nothing is required
to be read cover to cover. Though reading and acquiring knowledge is
almost always helpful, it is far better to adopt a topic-wise approach.
Break down the syllabus in keywords and try to cover them from relevant
sources and books. Also, making notes is important. But they shouldn’t
become an end-in-themselves. They should aid in your understanding and
help in effective revision. Making a mind map is far better, and so is
scribbling on the margins, than making traditional notes.
To sum up, we know you face a daunting task. But
we hope that you’ll enjoy the learning experience instead of becoming
anxious and burning out. Focus on the mantra of “Read, Revise,
Internalise.” It is also important not to blindly follow any advice that
is doled out to you, including this one.
The writer is head, UPSC exam preparation community, Gradeup.
Source: The Hindu, 22-01-2016