10 Tips to Increase Your Prelims Score | UPSC

Oh Finally ! We are here at the dead end of the boat . It is raining cats and dogs outside . I am writing this post for all those Aspirants who feel this night is long . I cannot sleep .

BEFORE THE EXAM

FOOD:

SIMPLE IS THE BEST

EAT good food in the morning . Avoid Heavy food and do not eat non veg .
Carry water but drink like a Camel .
If you are going nervous and your hands are sweating – Carry Hand kerchief .
Wear cotton clothes ( prefer white clothes ) . #PositiveVibes.
Sleep Early Today . Get up fresh in the morning . Don’t solve any questions before the exam .
Avoid mingling with friends , neighbours , phone calls , best wishes and so on .

I want you to solve with a fresh brain 🙂

DURING THE EXAM

QUESTIONS:

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST QUESTIONS INITIALLY ?

There is nothing worse than leaving the OMR Sheet empty and returning home with a bus ticket !

People in Prelims Hall can really distract you from your goal . Everyone is worried about their own preparation , cut offs ( deciding before the exam itself ) , searching for friends you met during last prelims exam , which wastes your valuable time .

My personal advice for you is to look for:

A pen in a working condition
Examination board
Eyes on your goal and
An integrated mind and heart.

As you are skimming through different questions and options .There are certain keywords which are to be taken into consideration.

Keep this factor in mind before solving any question and narrow down which is/are the best question for you .The first thing you need to consider is how difficult the question paper is !

If you are a veteran or a fresher Sometimes UPSC may restrict you with 70+ questions.For those who aim to score good marks ; Attempting maximum questions with minimum risk should be the top priority.

TOTAL QUESTIONS:

HOW MANY QUESTIONS I SHOULD MARK ?

If easy question paper 80 questions is an ideal number . (Normal day ) .

If question paper is tough still I urge you to take extra risk and mark 72-74 questions at least. ( Storm )

Competition is high and it will be tough to clear cut off’s if you have marked few questions. It is better you take that extra edge and little more risk than before you have marked .

CONFUSED:

HOW TO SOLVE ? I AM CONFUSED !

Solve the question paper from middle . Do not attempt it from start neither from the end .Keep sufficient time for second and third iterations.

If you are stuck with any question , take a break and switch your brain to rocket mode by taking up next question . Do comeback once if you have time left.

CONFIDENCE:

I HAVE STUDIED BUT I AM NOT CONFIDENT !

Hey aspirant ! Trust yourself . You have come a long way . School , College , Tutorial and what not life experience you have had .

I think that is enough to solve . The only problem is you are not able to recollect required facts from memory at that point of time.

Here are some options you still have :

Try to read the question in Hindi
Try to explain those options to yourself ( Why you have chosen the option )
Check the grammar of the question . ( May be you can eliminate an option )

RECHECK:

CROSS CHECKING IS IMPORTANT?

Recheck the questions you have left . With all your knowledge/wisdom/intellect do not miss any question which you wanted to mark at last .

Recollect the mistakes you always did in test series at the end . Try to avoid them at the last moment .

10 Tips to Increase Your Prelims Score | UPSC

AFTER THE EXAM

DISCUSSIONS:

HUNT FOR ANSWER KEYS

Some aspirants search for Prelims answer key just after the PAPER-I . But they forget that to come to an appropriate solution they need analysis, a little research and critical thinking .

Leave it to ex-situ coaching institutions .Be prepared for in situ PAPER-II.

BACK TO PAVILION

You have to realise that this exam is just a part and parcel of your life . Not the life itself ! Whatever maybe the result of the exam . Feel free to contact our team and share your experiences .

We will be glad to assist you .

ALL THE BEST !

REGARDS,

TEAM IASbhai

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