How to crack civil service exams Part 2

Hope you have loved the toddler steps 1, 2 and 3 in earlierpost. In case you didn’t it may be time for you to leave for doing something good. If not lets continue.

The  ncert, the headlines are just the beginning. Now you have to expand the knowledge. We will see how the knowledge can be made little more advanced.

Step1 : Start seeing magazines. There are magazines like yojana, civil service chronicle, civilspedia, kurukshetra etc. At this step just take all these in hand and see the pages. We are checking if they have left any blank pagesJ. Just try to read a few lines here and there. The best place to see them is a book store or a library. Don’t jump start and subscribe for 2 years since you will get 20% discount. In this step you have understood that there are many magazines which are writing about national, international matters and that the authors write thousands of words on each matter.

Step2 : Seeing books. The best way to see (not to buy) is to meet a senior who is trying for civils or library. Touch the books which you have heard from fellow aspirants or heard from topper interviews. Check how it weighs!. If the book doesn’t harm you , then read a few lines. See if it goes inside your head or is it making circles above it.

Step3: Internet. Yeah, the name would remember you of social networking and other things pleasurable. But now were are here for it. Internet is known to be a source for studying too. Dont wait for all the pornnn in the internet to dry , before you start studying. In toddler steps you have seen the syllabus. Take it back, and search a few topics you saw in that. Eg: Biodiversity or population. See what internet has to say and what Wikipedia has to say in particular. The Wikipedia can give you a good introduction to some topics (NOT all topics). See if the information makes you happy or sad.

How was steps 1, 2 ,3 in this page. Did it go well with you?. The journey has just started. If you are okay with steps 1, 2, 3 in this page then its time to sit down and have little thought.

What you gotta think?

Which magazines i saw has written matter and not rubbish? Which is the magazine that i can cover/afford/available?. Are the books too heavy for me? Would social networking eat my time while browsing?

Think and if necessary repeat steps 1, 2, 3 to get a clear view. Ask your friends, search online, ask toppers to have a clear idea. Now after this exercise you must be able to

1 choose atleast 2 magazines which will be useful to you

2. Choose few books which you are going to read

3. Browse internet a bit and see for information that is useful.

In case it doesn’t work out for you even after repeated trials, then again it’s time to say ZULLe’( a term in my local language used to indicate that i am quitting the game)

How to start studying for civil service exams?

After hearing all about the civil services, a question remains in the mind of aspirants. How to study for civil services?. The long list of books and magazines are not useful for a humble beginner. I would elucidate some steps which might be of help

Step1 : First see the syllabus. Dont panic and don’t worry. Just see it as you are watching a art film. Do not be excited or desperate seeing the jargons. It is to make you aware of what is actually civil services.

Step2: Start reading newspaper. The newspaper is something in which the happenings of past things occur. For the ultimate newbie, start with the headlines. At first even headlines can be heavy. Just see it. You don’t need to read all headlines. Start reading national, international headlines. Don’t read all the local politics, or the fashion page; the upsc isn’t interested in knowing if bebo is size zero or johny has 6 packs.

Step3: Start with ncert books. The ncert publishes books which are easy to read and these books do not cause indigestion even for the ultimate newbie. Start with the ncert books of geography, civics, etc from standard of ninth. If the single letter class text make you feel silly, then go for the tenth standard books.

The above three steps are the first steps for creating a big stairway. When an aspirant asks – how do i start – the answer is slowly. Start slowly, start with headlines (national, international headlines), ncert books, and seeing syllabus (without fear).

Many aspirants keep on asking, how to start a thousand times. Instead of keeping on asking, go and start. See if its for you. If its not, there is nothing to be worried. There are unlimited number of jobs and options in life. Don’t start with dialogues like , “ i will do this or die”. Those are for loosers. Start with “ I would try this, see if it suits me; else bye bye”.

If you have found the toddler steps 1, 2 ,3 interesting then you have passed the KG section in UPSC. Game abhi bhi baaki hai dosth.

Now you can move on to the next step. Which i will cover in another post.2

Most common mistakes made by UPSC IAS Civils aspirants

The upsc exam winner here explains the common mistakes students make. She makes a near complete list of mistakes students make. Her advice regarding books and optional selection needs to be listen over and over again.Also listen to her advice on the aspirants who take repeated attempts but fail.

"Process of self correction" that's the golden words in her tips.

Another video where subbulaxmi explains her views on essays and interview

She points out clearly on selection on the essay topic. She also talks on which essays "to write" and "not to write" and "how to write".