(Getting Started) Last Minute Revision Strategy For UPSC CSE Prelims Exams

UPSC has finally released admit cards and UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination is all set to take place soon. There is a lot of material aspirants now need to keep in mind and successfully apply in the exam. The last-minute revision strategy is the most important step in ensuring that you qualify. To that end, here are the top 7 tips you must follow to put your best foot forward this prelims –

No New Sources

The best advice we can give you is this – do not add new information to your already overcrowded mind. The last few days are meant for revising. Attempting to add intake new information at this stage will only lead to confusion. Instead, revise your own notes once more. Read the year-long recap modules for current affairs published by many coaching centres around this time. They are all you need at this stage of your preparation.

Study Topic-Wise

Questions asked in UPSC Prelims are analytical in nature. This means that you need to connect facts from current affairs with the background information you have from studying the related subjects more thoroughly. Revising current and static material by clubbing them under a common umbrella will help you enhance this analytical ability as well as make it easier to recall during the exam.

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Set Daily And Weekly Targets

Do not attempt to study everything at once. You need a plan if you are to cover all material at least once. For this, the ideal way to proceed in setting up daily and weekly revision targets. For example, take Ancient History and try to revise every static and current topic under this umbrella in 3 days. Then, at the end of the week, sit and go through all Ancient History topics and phrases mentioned in the UPSC syllabus. Whatever you cannot recall clearly, revise once more.

Practice Topic-Wise MCQs

Taking full-blown mock tests at this stage is nor advisable as it blocks 2 hours of your day. Instead, as you complete each topic, try to attempt PYQs from those topics. Most question banks already have PYQs sorted topic-wise. This allows you to test yourself by the UPSC standards and helps build confidence.

Use Mindmaps Diligently

Mindmaps are very useful tools for quick revisions. They allow you to interconnect topics and as our brains are conditioned to retain visual memories best, they can be easily recalled in the examination hall. Many coachings publish mindmaps on different areas of the UPSC syllabus. You can also create your own while revising. Either way, use them in order to enhance your retention power.

Work on the UPSC Cut-Off

High scores in the preliminary exam might be an encouraging sign, but they are not of much use. When taking mocks, do not get discouraged by aiming for an 80 or 90 percent. UPSC is a standard exam and the cut-off itself is well above average. Pressuring yourself to attempt more questions than you are confident only leaves more room for negative marking. Remember, you only need to clear the cut-off. Your rank will be decided months later by your mains exam.