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[Never-ending GS Syllabus] and your chances of success in civil service
exam
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Written for those who feel stressed about General studies and their chances of success in civil
service exam,

Weve 5 category of players for each topic- Let us take a topic for example:
Geography: earthquake, tsunami and volcano.

JBPS no0b guy /Lord Curzon:

He doesnt know the dierence between earthquake, tsunami and volcano. He lled the application
form just because his papa (or friend or relative) said and because it costs around 100 rupees only.

His Destiny:

We are not concerned.

Level 0 player:

He buys required books and magazines.

He reads them only once, and thinks hes done with the topic.
He spends majority of his time day-dreaming about how hell kick the bad guys and impress his
friends and family after becoming IAS/IPS/IFS.
In his heart, he knows he has to study more, but for some reason he cannot gather enough
motivation or desire to read the books.
He believes some divine force will intervene and help him get through the exam.
 Last month before exam, he is in deep stress, visits local bookstore to buy some quick-x
current aairs magazines or notes because he cannot go through the whole syllabus from the
original book-collection.

Destiny of Level 0 guy:

He may get lucky in a few very easy GK questions in prelims e.g. What is the use of Seismograph?
But hes doomed to fail in prelims anyways because we know every question in prelims, will not be
that easy.
So For most of the questions in exam hall, his facial expression is

ohyesIthinkIvereadthissomewherebutIcantrecallitrightnow!

Level 1 Player

His book and magazine collection is same as the Level 0 guy.

Only dierence is that he revises whatever he reads, so If you ask something from what he has
read, he can answer correctly 6 out of 10 times.
He knows what is Seismograph, what is Richter scale, can name a few recent EQ and Volcanos.
Knows the dierence between dormant and active volcano. Has laymans understanding about
how EQ, Tsunami and Volcano happen. Knows what is meant by Pacic Ring of re and so on.
He has rudimentary idea about the current-aairs related to the topic.
He is not an expert but at the same time, hell not appear totally dumb during a conversation
about Earthquake/Tsunami/Volcano.

His limitation

1. He sometimes fumbles in 4TF question (4 statements given and hes asked to identify the
correct ones), depending on his revision frequency. Because while doing revision he
concentrates only on the fact and data part, and doesnt pay close attention to the theory /
principles part.
2. He can only answer Multiple Choice Questions only, if you ask him to write 100 words on the
same topic, his pen will stop after 50 words.
 Destiny of Level 1:

Chances to succeed in prelims = 50-50

With every revision and practice of demo questions: His Prelim success chance increases
exponentially.
Chances to clear mains or nal selection=0%

Level 2 Player

He knows everything that Level 1 guy knows plus some extra knowledge : e.g. S and P waves. Has
deeper understanding about plate-techtonics and Seismic-zones. Can talk about Cinder-cones,
crater-lakes etc with examples. Can answer descriptive questions such as why some parts of India
are more prone to Earthquakes than the other parts (in 150 words.)
He revises more often than Level 1 guy, so If you ask something from what he has read, he can
answer correctly 9 out of 10 times.
He is less likely to be confused in the 4TF questions because he reads more thoroughly and pay
attention to description and not just facts.
For certain important topics, he may be maintaining his own hand-written notes.

Destiny of Level 2 Player

Chances to succeed in prelims = very good, almost 80% and upwards.

Post-prelims result, There are two types of L2 players:

Type#1: L2 Player without answer-writing practice for mains.

He ends up with

a. low score in mains, hence no interview-call

b. Even If he gets interview-call, he doesnt nd his name in nal selection list.

It is his reluctance to do writing practice for mains exam- So he may be knowing a lot but he is
always unable to express it properly in the given time and word limit. Thats why his mains score is
low and it ruins his chances of selection.
 Type#2: L2 player with answer-writing practice for mains

He gets Final selection in some group A or B service,

But his chances of selection in the top three jobs: IAS/IPS/IFS, are low because he lacks the nesse
of Level 3 players while expressing himself so his rank is around 200 or below.

Level 3 Player

Ranjikanth himself. He doesnt mind writing descriptive answers for practice every now and then.
For this particular topic Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Volcanos (ETV) he knows everything upto Level 2
plus He can cross connect topics and deal with descriptive questions and essays related to it, e.g.

1. ETVs impact on global economy,

2. Human activities as a cause for ETV,
3. Disaster Management in ETV,
4. Feasibility of setting up nuke-powerplants in ETV prone area, and so on.

Level 2 guy can also deal with above topics but sometimes he staggers while putting his ideas
because he is a little low either in quality content part or practice part.
Level 3 guy isnt a master of trivial details (dates and numbers) but still well versed in facts, and
global-current aairs for the given topic. He can put his ideas eloquently both orally and in writing
because

1. He reads from diverse sources and doesnt conne his reading to only one book or a class-
note.
2. Since he consults more than one book/source so he comes across more words and
sentences, hence he has better command over the language compared to L2 guy. Thats the
reason why he can express himself better.

Knowledge wise he is just a little above L2 but presentation wise his answer-content is far superior
both in terms of quantity and quality compared to L2.

Destiny of L3 Player

Most likely to get an interview call.

Even with bad-luck during interview, he can walk away with a decent group-A service.
With just a little good-luck on his side during interview= smooth selection to IAS/IPS/IFS.

Nowtothosefeelinghelpless

For each topic, you draw a line somewhere: e.g. For prelims, Im going to be prepared for
History upto Level 1, and for Polity Level 2.
To clear the prelims, You can aord to remain Level 1 in a many topics, provided that youre
Level 2 in a few big topics.
Being total ignorant about any topic = digging your own grave.
Being Level 0 guy in any topic= wasting your time. Either you give serious preparation for civil
service or do something else. Nobody is going to give you marks for oh yes I think Ive read this
somewhere but cant recall it right now
You dont need to become level 3 in any topic for prelims. Being Level 1 in majority of topics and
Level 2 in some topics, is more than sucient to clear prelims.
You dont need to become Level 3 in each and every topic for GS- mains. But If you want to
become IAS/IPS/IFS (Top in the merit list), then You must become Level 3 in a few selected hot
topics, and level 2 (with answer writing practice) in majority of the remaining topics before
mains and interview, else youll be washed out from the merit list.

For your optional subject,

Given the unpredictable scaling system, it is desirable that you become L3 in each and every topic
of the optional subject. That way your interview-call becomes immune to the uctuations in scaling-
system for the given year.

For General Studies (prelims)

Keep in mind that GS is not all about current-aairs.

There are lot of questions from the core (static) part too- like history, polity, science.
Same way GS is not all about a single topic (History/Geography)there are questions from diverse
topics.

So, If a particular GS question is tough, then it is tough- not just for you but for a lot of other L1 and
L2 players as well. So inability to solve some questions, doesnt mean youll never clear prelims. But
youll have to get at-least in that Level 1 category rst.

Tags: UPSC-Tips-Misc (http://mrunal.org/tag/upsc-tips-misc)

 Mrunal recommends

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So far 129 Comments posted

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=223609#RESPOND)

Abdullah Ismail
Excellent.. It helped me in telling my level. thank you sir

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=297268#RESPOND)

mrinal patil
Sir i m doing rst year engg.what kind of preparations can i do while
my regular studies

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-
YOUR.HTML?REPLYTOCOM=392514#RESPOND)

Prasad
Go through the news papers like The Hindu and Basic NCERT
books, From clss 6th to 12th.
Good Luck

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=232299#RESPOND)

priyanka singh
It has give me a direction.thanks a lot
 REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=271863#RESPOND)

sk
thanks, an eye opener

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=271864#RESPOND)

sk
is it compulsory to read a business paper alongwith the hindu?

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=279313#RESPOND)

ripunjai
Nice thread sir

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=287535#RESPOND)

ankit
sir, very nice explanation.
thanks a lot.

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=309962#RESPOND)

Bhanu
Really an Eye opener Great help in Introspection

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=332953#RESPOND)

raj
 Made me realize the quality and level of preparation needed,striving me to
complete the syllabusthanks sir.

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=340812#RESPOND)

lohith c
thank you very much sir im a beginner i think same as level 0 thinker u
made me realize about my level

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=361503#RESPOND)

DJ
You just said to read more books! I hear all the toppers to say keep their
sources minimum but to revise diligently. Whats that about?

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=366681#RESPOND)

Ravikumar
Hi Dj..Here, read more books doesnt mean that you should read all
books which are relating to that subject .it means that after studying
one standard book diligently .for better understanding refer or read
other books also which will enhance your thinking capability about
that topic or topics I hope you understand.

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=399316#RESPOND)

Ramdhari Maddheshiya
SIr I am going to complete my B.Tech. nal year in session 2016-17 form IIT
BHU , and i wish to prepare for IAS-2017.
I am fresher having no experience of civil service examinations. Sir can you
 please suggest how can i start my preparation. Also I am confused for
optional subject between public administration and geography. please
suggest. what roll does a coaching center play for the preparation.

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=400642#RESPOND)

vivek
thankyou sir,now I know my level and it will denetly improve my
capabilities.

REPLY (HTTP://MRUNAL.ORG/2011/10/NEVER-ENDING-GS-SYLLABUS-AND-YOUR.HTML?
REPLYTOCOM=405256#RESPOND)

Rajesh
Excellent !..I read rst time such important and very true factsThanks a lot
Murnal Ji.

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