UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam: 40 Days To Go, Here’s How To Make The Best Use Of It

The UPSC Civil Services Mains examination is scheduled to be held on 8 January 2021. The aspirants who have cleared the preliminary examination held last month are preparing for the mains.

Since the time between the mains and the prelims examination is very less, a candidates need to optimise their preparation strategy to get the maximum marks.

Somethings should be kept in mind. One is that no one is able to reproduce a 100 per cent of what they have studied in the answer-sheet. Therefore, it is not wise to spend all the time in pushing every little detail in the memory. Instead, the students should focus more on answer writing practice.

Also, the questions asked in the examination have a word limit (150 and 250). Therefore, even if one knows a lot on a subject, they will not be able to write everything without jeopardising other questions.

Candidates should also try and make a list of important topics, happenings in the last two years, and specifically practice answer writing on them.

A candidate should have a medium knowledge of all the subjects in the syllabus, but it is not advisable to start a new subject altogether. Cost benefit should be kept in mind.

It is important to remember that candidates have to answer 20 questions in 3 hours. meaning, there isn’t much time to think first and then write the answer. Basically, candidates will not be able to recall and copy paste material from their memory. That such questions come is even more unlikely.

So candidates should remember that they will have to write answers in their own words. In its notification, the UPSC itself clarifies that it is not looking for expert knowledge or great English language skills.

Candidates should focus on remembering key words (like basic structure, natural justice, drain of wealth, globalisation of indifference etc.) and using them write the answer in their own words. Wasting time and energy on writing like a newspaper columnist might cost the candidate their attempt.