Last Minute Revision Strategy for Civil Services Prelims Exam
Every year, the UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination, which is regarded as one of the toughest exams in India. Only a few hundred students make the final list, despite the fact that there are lakhs of students that take the exam. With that said, only a dedicated sole with a smart yet intense preparation can crack it.
It is typical for aspirants to feel anxious just before the examination, even after several hours of revision daily. The fear of not having done enough studying sets in.Â
On that note, let’s discuss a few crucial last-minute tips that will help you revise properly and gain an edge on your year of preparation.
Avoid Anything New
Experts advise against adding additional knowledge to an already cluttered mind. The final few days are for revision. Adding new information at this point will just cause further confusion. Instead, go through your notes one more time. Around this time, numerous coaching centers issue year-long summary modules for current affairs. They’re all you’ll need at this point in your planning.
Study Topic-Wise
The UPSC Prelims questions are analytical in nature. This implies you’ll need to connect current-events facts with prior knowledge gained from a more in-depth study of relevant areas. By grouping current and static material under one roof, you can improve your analytical abilities while also making it easier to recollect throughout the exam.
Set Daily And Weekly Targets
Don’t seek to study everything at once. If you want to cover all of the material at least once, you’ll need a strategy. This is the best approach to go about setting daily and weekly revision goals.Â
For example, take eastern and western ghats of india in physical features and try to revise every static and current topic under this topic within a day or two. Then, let’s say at the end of the week, sit and go through all physical features topics in Indian Geography that the UPSC curriculum mentions. Revise everything you don’t remember clearly.
Attempt Topic-Wise Quizzes
Taking full-fledged mock tests at this level is not recommended because it takes up two hours of your time. Rather, as you finish each topic, try to solve previous years papers from that topic. Previous years papers are already classified by topic in most question banks. This permits you to put yourself to the UPSC’s standards and boost your self-assurance.
Use Mind Maps Diligently
For quick revisions, mind maps are quite handy. They allow you to connect themes, and because our brains are wired to remember visual memories, they are easy to recall in the exam room. Many coaching firms distribute mindmaps on various aspects of the UPSC syllabus. While rewriting, you can also make your own. In any case, use them to improve your retention power.
Furthermore, you can make a list of major rivers, mountain ranges, peaks, and important lakes in india for quick learning and revision.
Work on the UPSC Cut-Off
High preliminary exam results are a promising indicator, but they aren’t very useful. Don’t get disheartened by aiming for an 80 or 90 percent on mocks. The UPSC test is a common one, and the cut-off is significantly above average. Putting pressure on yourself to attempt more questions than you are comfortable with just increases the chances of receiving unfavourable feedback. Remember, all you have to do is get through the cut-off. Your mains exam will determine your rank months later.
Revise as much as you can, try to be cool and stress-free, and have faith in yourself at all times.