How to Remember so many dates / facts / names ..........??

India has 28 states - each state has a capital, a Chief Minister, a Governor, several rivers, dams, power plants, industries, art forms, historic places, power plants, minerals, flora, fauna .........and an infinite number of points to remember. It seems every thing is important for Civil Services. This leads to the focus of this article:

How to remember so many things?

Lets understand two important points first:

• It is very difficult to remember things in isolation. If you read list after list of facts, there is very little that you can retain.
• UPSC will not ask you facts but would test how you can apply those facts. You need to know more than just a fact to answer questions.

Now here is one way you can organize and retain more information than a list or a big write-up. I call it the web-of-knowledge. I recommend a three step process and explain it with an example.

Step 1. Go over the basics fast
Say, you just started studying history and you picked up the NCERT books. Go over them fast. Understand the most important things and do not waste time in cramming up the details. For example: Mughal empire - administration - art and architecture - key adversaries
Chola Empire -  art and architecture - key adversaries - note about their navy

Step 2. Link up the topics
You need to go over the same subject again. Pick a more detailed book and start laying out the subjects. Make connections between topics.
Administration in Mughal Empire - Vijaynagar - Mauryan - Vedic ................
Religion under Mauryas, Shungas, Mughals, Bahmani .................

Step 3. Mark the unusual highlights
Ashoka renouncing war, Chola navy, North and South Indian temple architecture, Tuglaq moving to Daulatabad, Akbar moving to Fatehpur Sikri

 Is it easy. Well, I must say 'no'. Its much easier to study one thing at a time and go over lists and lists. I believe nothing is easy when you talk about Civil Services. But, what I can say is that it will be effective.

Adaptive Learning and UPSC

Students today face an unprecedented challenge with regards to learning. There is a huge amount of information being created every moment. The students today are expected to know more and more about more and more and more subjects. That’s too many “mores”!

Let’s take the case of UPSC Civil Services. A candidate is expected to have an expertise in English, at least one Indian language, General Studies, and problem solving skills. The last two include History, Geography, Sports, Economics, Polity, Law, Mathematics, Reasoning……………… and so much more. There are some major questions that a student faces:

1.       How to plan their studies across such diverse subjects?

2.       What to study and what to leave?

Competitive exams like UPSC civil services are open to aspirants from all domains be it social sciences, technical, or professional. Unfortunately, the current modes of learning are uniform and static.

Does a History student need the same books to study for UPSC as a Math student?

Does a fast learner need the same course as a consistent learner?

The answer is no and to some extent students try and make arrangements for it on an ad hoc basis. What is needed is a system that:

1.       Adapts to the students background preparation

2.       Adapts to his learning speed

3.       Adapts to his learning style and time remaining for the exam

In short students today need an: ADAPTIVE LEARNING SYSTEM

There has been a tremendous amount of research in adaptive assessments and adaptive learning systems. Researchers have explored the learning needs, and learning behaviors of students to come up with intelligent systems that can adapt to students and help them Maximize their potential. Such systems are not just an electronic replication of books on the computer. They incorporate analytical intelligence engines that lay down the development path ahead.

Very soon adaptive learning systems would be available in India and that too for UPSC Civil Services exam preparation.

If you would like to know more about adaptive learning system for UPSC Civil Services you can email me at upscguide2011@gmail.com

How to Choose a Book for UPSC Civil Services

We all have faced this challenge: "What book/author should I choose for a subject?". For each exam and for each subject, there is a long list of books available. This article is not about the most popular author or the best book for a subject. This article is about how to choose a book that will help you the most in your exam preparation. Here are a few things you should consider while selecting a book:

Your prior knowledge about the subject: Educational Base

All of us have an educational base. We are looking for knowledge that will help us refine our understanding and build upon it. The standard of the book must suit your base. For example: if you are a science graduate, you may not find a beginner-level chemistry book much useful. Similarly, students who have studied certain subjects for their college education must choose books accordingly. 

Your time is important, a book that is too easy for you is not time-efficient, a book that is too advanced may not contribute to direct learning. 

Writing style of the author and your Reading Ability

I will confess, every time I have read Shakespeare, I have had to read a summary by another author. This is will all due respect to Shakespeare and other authors who write great stuff that I cannot comprehend due to my limitations. The best book is one that talks to you and you can relate to it. No matter how acclaimed the author or publisher is, if you cannot comprehend the content, you must move to a different author. 

Illustrations: Lists / Graphs / Maps

Its always easy to remember information that is presented visually. There is so much information to read, understand, and remember. I would always suggest a book that has more graphical information. However, this is not a standard thumb rule. We all know that remembering information from lists (capitals, currencies, presidents, rivers.... etc etc) is boring and tedious and a lot of times not useful. We need a balance of graphical information and its linkage to ideas that can help us remember it. 

Feedback from peers

There is a lot that you can gain from the feedback from readers who have already gone through a book. Ask people on the group study about their experience and suggestions about the book or the author. You will get different opinions. See the reasons for the opinions and you will be able to find the best book for you. 

Theory vs Practice Book

The answer to this question lies in this question: at what stage are you in your exam preparation?

If you have a very good educational base in a subject then you might want to choose a practice book over a theory book. For example: engineers may choose a practice book for math questions, and English major students may choose a practice book over a theory book. They would have covered most of the theory during the course of their college education and might want to practice directly. Also, how far away is your exam. The closer the exam - more the practice required. 

Practice books also serve as good benchmarks and provide you information about the status of your preparation. So you need a balance between theory and practice.

I will soon write about some popular books for UPSC Civil Services Prelims General Studies. 

Choosing Optional Subjects for UPSC Civil Services

Selection of optional subject for the UPSC exam needs a lot of thought. Some of the most common questions that come from students are:

* Should I choose the subject from my graduation course

* I want to choose a subject X but I am not sure if it has a high success ratio

* Should I use two different or similar subjects as optionals

Here are a few things to consider while selecting a subject for the UPSC Civil Services

• Choose a subject that YOU are comfortable with. Understanding of concepts in different subjects takes time and effort. If you pick a subject that you are comfortable with, it will automatically increase your efficiency.
• Check the availability of resources while choosing a subject. This even more important while selecting the optional language.
• If books, guidance, and support is available for the course then you save a lot of time.
• Test your knowledge level in different subjects while settling upon one. Anthropology, and Sociology might seem very similar till you get into the details. Take a test and see if you like way questions are asked in a subject and what are the expectations from the examinee.
• Ideally, one should choose a subject that you have studied for your college education. However, if you believe that for some reason, you are more comfortable with a different subject, go for it. However, ask yourself, “Do I know this subject better than the one I studied in college”?

Popular questions:

Q. What are the easy subjects for UPSC?

Well, the honest answer is, we are yet to find one.

Civil Services if a very competitive exam. You have to be the 'best of the best' to go through it. If a subject is easy, its easy for all and hence tougher the competition

Q. Which subject has the maximum selections / selection percentage / success ratio

I will put in a separate report on the selections and success ratios for different subjects and languages. However, these ratios should not be the only criteria for selecting a subject. Your level of comfort and level of knowledge is more important.

Preparing for the UPSC exam calls for a lot of determination, dedication , time management, patience, and planning. Apart from the daily preparation , one needs to do a self assessment by taking individual tests related to the topics.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are not as important as what lies within us.

Believe in yourself and your capabilities to become more confident. So take charge of your mind and think positive. Remember, you are what you think.

If you believe in yourself, you can do it !!

The 7 Step Plan for UPSC Prelims Preparation

So, you have decided to have a shot at the prestigious Civil Services. IAS and IPS are your role models and The Hindu is your favorite entertainment. But, how to start your preparation for the prelims is a question that's bothering you. Here is one way to plan it out:


Step 1. Review the syllabus
Have a look at the syllabus and identify all the subjects that you need to go through. 
Important Note: UPSC Civil Services is not like a university exam, the syllabus is more like a guideline and not a boundary that cannot be crossed. 
Take the syllabus as a guideline and not as a course definition. 


Step 2. Classify the syllabus and identify the ideal study material
Classify the syllabus into different subjects and topics. Identify good quality course material for each topic. I will post some good books for subjects and topics in another blog. 


Step 3. What cannot be classified
UPSC Civil Services have a very wide coverage. There are no boundaries on current affairs and general awareness. You need to develop, what I call a "Web of Knowledge" to excel in these areas. Link each fact with another fact and context. I think this topic will benefit from a more detailed discussion. 


Step 4. Map your abilities
There are three broad areas from the point of view of learning in UPSC Civil Service Exam:
a. Subject Expertise  - Example: History, Polity
b. Skill Development - Example: Quantitative, Reasoning, Verbal
c. General Awareness - Example: Current Affairs


Now do this exercise:
1. Classify all the subjects into these three areas, and in front of each subject, mark your comfort level 1. Very Comfortable 2. Comfortable 3. I can do it 4. I am scared


Always mix comfortable and not-so comfortable subjects in your study plan. This will keep you focused. Also, it will help reduce over-confidence or frustration. 


5. Syllabus - Abilities - Calendar
Sit with a calendar and count the number of days that are left for the exam. Allocate the number of days to each subject.


6. Goal Setting and Target Setting
UPSC preparation, for most aspirants extends over one year. Set realistic goals for yourself. More importantly, set targets for yourself. "I will review ABC over this week and go over XYZ within this month". Make sure your short-term targets are in line with the bigger plan. Give allowances in the plan for events like festivals or distractions like the world cup. More importantly, minimize the impact of these events to exceed your own expectations. 


7. Circle of Knowledge and Company of Confidence
Develop a good circle of friends with whom you can share and exchange knowledge. Study Groups are a good resource. If you can avoid distractions on the internet join an online study group. UPSCguide Group Study is very active and has hundreds of active members sharing their knowledge and experience. 
Most important, 'your confidence is your best friend'. You will need it all the time. Preserve it and build it.