How to approach Prelims: Strategy Discussion - Part 1 [Weekly Insta Open Thread Discussion with InsightsIAS Team] 7760 Views
Dear Aspirants,
As a part of the "Weekly Insta Open Thread Discussion With InsightsIAS Team" initiative, we are bringing Aditya Sir and Thanmay Sir to the forum discussions with you. The topic of discussion is How to approach Prelims: Strategy. This is part-1 of 2 part series. You can put all your doubts to the Team. They are happy to help you. We request you to utilize this opportunity to the best.
They will be available between 19:00 to 21 hrs on 16/01/2021.
We heartily welcome Aditya Sir and Thanmay Sir to the Discussions.
Regards,
Team InsightsIAS
Edit 1: Due to the enormous amount of participation from the aspirants, we are still pending with some queries unanswered. The Team will reply to all the queries by tomorrow afternoon. Thanks for your positive response.
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hello sir,i have been preparing for UPSC since past 2.5 years. i have failed in twor prelims. in 2020 i scored 88-90 (with different answer keys). i was a student of yearlong test series (prelims) in insights. i fail to understand where did i go wrong. can you help me devise a new strategy to overcome my shortcomings. It will be a great help.thankyou.
me along with 2 others solve 15-20 mcq's on daily basis. you can join if you will be consistent. telegram @breadspread
me along with 2 others solve 15-20 mcq's on daily basis. you can join if you will be consistent. telegram @breadspread
hello sir,i have been preparing for UPSC since past 2.5 years. i have failed in twor prelims. in 2020 i scored 88-90 (with different answer keys). i was a student of yearlong test series (prelims) in insights. i fail to understand where did i go wrong. can you help me devise a new strategy to overcome my shortcomings. It will be a great help.thankyou.
me along with 2 others solve 15-20 mcq's on daily basis. you can join if you will be consistent. telegram @breadspread
hello sir,i have been preparing for UPSC since past 2.5 years. i have failed in twor prelims. in 2020 i scored 88-90 (with different answer keys). i was a student of yearlong test series (prelims) in insights. i fail to understand where did i go wrong. can you help me devise a new strategy to overcome my shortcomings. It will be a great help.thankyou.
Hi, Pls text to us @Adithya_Insights
hello sir,
i have been preparing for UPSC since past 2.5 years. i have failed in twor prelims. in 2020 i scored 88-90 (with different answer keys). i was a student of yearlong test series (prelims) in insights. i fail to understand where did i go wrong. can you help me devise a new strategy to overcome my shortcomings. It will be a great help.
thankyou.
Hi Forgotten, Please go through following videos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi_STuN4N50&t=272s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvkOdpt0Y1E&t=882s.
Hi Sharath, please analyze previous year papers properly, you will come to know what to study and what not to study. Once you understand this, you will get clarity on the process. After that, solve test series.
Thank You.
Hi Pavethra, We want to know where exactly you are committing mistakes in Prelims - Knowledge or Skill Part?. Have you analyzed previous year prelims paper properly. How many times you have revised the syllabus? Pls let us know on this through telegram. Telegram Id - @adithya_insights.
Hi Pavethra, We want to know where exactly you are committing mistakes in Prelims - Knowledge or Skill Part?. Have you analyzed previous year prelims paper properly. How many times you have revised the syllabus? Pls let us know on this through telegram. Telegram Id - @adithya_insights.
Sorry for late post, but it's urgentSir i have completed my prelims syllabus one time but unable to do writing practice.So, should I start now or only focus on prelims.
Hi Riya,
I believe you have completed static and current affairs (atleast from Jun 2020). If that is the case, you please start exclusive prelims preparation from April 1st week. Now, focus on Mains - GS and Optional. Start writing answers.
Thank you.
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When is insights prelims exclusive program is getting finalized and made known to us ??Its getting delayed too much.Please tell at least tentative dates and some basic idea about its components
Classes will begin from first week of February.
Sorry for late post, but it's urgent
Sir i have completed my prelims syllabus one time but unable to do writing practice.
So, should I start now or only focus on prelims.
Sir can you tell tricks elaborately to solve the paper?
Hi Sanmeet, we will post a video/article on it.
Thank you for the reply Sir.. How to approach ethics paper and what can be the sources for it?
Hi TAM57,
History
1. Source: TN 11 and 12th Book, NCERT and Spectrum and practice questions. History Strategy -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeLdBtGXcn0&t=2062s
2. Notes - We don't suggest making notes for prelims, highlight the imp points in the books and revise it again and again.
3. Analyze previous year paper to understand the prelims process in a better way. Check videos of InsightsIAS Channel on Youtube.
Thank You
Can someone from the Faculty please address my issue as well?? I am commenting for the 2nd time now, I rely on Insights so your reply would be of great help for me!My Query :-Sir, This will be my 3rd attempt,in my previous two attempts I couldn't clear Prelims.In my First Attempt my scores were pretty less and in my 2nd attempt,my scores were no where near the Cutoffs yet it increased by around 40 marks from my 1st attempt.It is not that I am not practising Test Series,I am,I am a religious follower of Insights' plans like the 75 days plan,SECURE etc..My marks are poor in Test Series as well,How should i increase my Marks in The Real Examand minimise negative scores so as to clear it?Hope you can help me, Thanks!
Hi East Wind, sorry for the delayed response. We have to understand where exactly you are finding issue. Direction? Right Knowledge? Skill?. It would be fine if we exhaustively discuss about it. Please reach out to us Telegram ID - @adithya_insights
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Hi sir,My score in prelims test are not improving beyond 60s. I don't know how to tackle the preliminary stage.Pls guide me what I should be doing now about the static and dynamic part per se.Please help.
Hi,
1. At first understand, what to study, what not to study and how to study for the prelims - This will give you the direction and minimize the sources.
2. Scores hover around 60 due to knowledge deficiency - Try to revise maximum number of times.
3. Static - NCERT and Standard Book + CA - Insights Current Affairs Material.
Thank You
Dear SirDespite scoring fairly well in mocks (95-120), I failed to clear prelims in 2020. I constantly feel I am probably shooting in the dark at times. Is there an option to seek mentorship about strategy. While I can still solve mocks and insights quizzes with decent marks, I do feel somewhere my preparation is lacking but I am unable to figure out where.Please guide me through this.
Hi Swati, Please reach out to us - Telegram ID -@ThanmayMS. We will discuss about it.
Hi sir,
My score in prelims test are not improving beyond 60s. I don't know how to tackle the preliminary stage.
Pls guide me what I should be doing now about the static and dynamic part per se.
Please help.
Can I clear prelims 2021 if I start now
Yes, you can. Pls go through this video to strategize the preparation.
InsightsIAS is coming up with exclusive prelims programme in Feb 1st week. Go through this, if it suits, join it.
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How to focus and concentrate for long time?
When to start prelims mock test?
Suggest some tips on time management.
Sir, can you please tell me what should be my approach towards economics and history and their limited source for prelims?
Hi Pritha,
Economy
1. Analyze previous year paper, how to analyze - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi_STuN4N50&t=269s
2. Sources - Shankar Ganesh for basics, Current affairs compilation on Economy and few pages of Arthapedia.in.
History
1. Analyze previous year paper - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeLdBtGXcn0&t=2062s
2. Sources - TN Class 11 History, NCERT's, Spectrum
In addition to that, solve mocks.
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Can someone from the Faculty please address my issue as well?? I am commenting for the 2nd time now, I rely on Insights so your reply would be of great help for me!
My Query :-
Sir, This will be my 3rd attempt,in my previous two attempts I couldn't clear Prelims.In my First Attempt my scores were pretty less and in my 2nd attempt,my scores were no where near the Cutoffs yet it increased by around 40 marks from my 1st attempt.It is not that I am not practising Test Series,I am,I am a religious follower of Insights' plans like the 75 days plan,SECURE etc..My marks are poor in Test Series as well,How should i increase my Marks in The Real Examand minimise negative scores so as to clear it?
Hope you can help me, Thanks!
Hello Sirs2021 will be my 3rd attempt. I am preparing for upsc along with full time job. I hardly get 6 hours a day for studying. Please help by clarifying my queries below:-1. I am preparing for both IAS and IFoS. Since IFoS cutoff has always been a notch higher than that of IAS, it requires more number of questions to attempt in the paper. But if I attempt more questions and my accuracy is less, then I might miss both IFoS and IAS cutoff altogether. What should be my approach in this case?2. Since I am working, I don't get much time to prepare for mains. Though I was writing answers last year but considering the toughness of prelims, I have decided to focus on prelims solely from now onwards. Since I have not been able to clear prelims in my last 2 attempts, I have concerns for this attempt. However I am preparing my optional well and target to complete at least 80% before April. Will it impact my GS for Mains?Thanks in advance
Hello SSS,
As you are preparing for both Civil services and IFoS, it is better to dedicate completely for prelims preparation from the month of February. In meanwhile, try to finish Ethics paper by the end of January. Keep writing essay and ethics answers at least twice in a week or at least outline the structure of your answers so that after prelims your 500 marks is well prepared.
In terms of scoring high in prelims you should strategise on improving accuracy and eliminating of options as you have to attempt more questions looking at the nature of the questions asked in previous year papers.
You should analyse previous year papers to understand the relative importance of subjects and important topics within each subject.
Solve more number of questions to analyse your strength and weakness and work on them
All the best