Tackling Mains – Last minute tips

We all very well know that Mains is the most crucial part of UPSC Civil Services Examination. This is the part of exam which decides your result majorly. And given the miserly nature of UPSC in giving marks, even 1 or 2 marks in UPSC can make a great difference in result.

                So it should be very clear that one must attempt Mains exam whole heartedly and positively. Many of us get nervous during Mains; it is natural. But don’t let this nervousness turn into anxiety or stress. Mains can be an enjoyable experience for you if you face it cheerfully. From my tryst with this particular examination, here are some tips which can be helpful.

1. Stay calm.

In the new pattern of Mains, everyone is on same footing, no matter how much you have read and studied. The real difference is made by the behaviour we show in those 3 hours of exam. I believe nothing helps you more inside the exam hall other than your calmness. Mains needs a lot of thinking and decision making inside the exam hall. And these things can be done efficiently only when you are composed. Many of us get stressed by seeing the difficulty level of paper. The paper is bound to be difficult, but it is the same for everyone. So just tell yourself that all the candidates are facing the same difficulty level and start writing. I repeat, your success in Mains largely depends on your calmness.

2. Be positive.

Stay in a positive company. In case some negative person is unavoidable, ignore him/her. Be very cheerful. Learn to laugh on our own silly mistakes. Take every paper as a new paper and attempt it optimistically. And remember, one or two bad papers can be counterbalanced easily in other papers. [ I got 63 out of 300 in Pub Ad I and 78 out of 200 in Essay. It didn’t matter in the end!]

3. Enjoy the process.

Well, this dialogue has been repeated many times but it really means a lot. Take every paper as a challenge, as if you have nothing to lose. Don’t be a cry baby. There are many deserving candidates who are craving to write Mains. Feel good that you are getting the opportunity to write it. Enjoy your time after the exams. Take good, healthy food. Listen music when bored. Go for walks after dinner. Crack jokes amongst friends. Try to relieve the stress positively.

4. Study less.

Yes, during the exam period don’t overburden yourself with study. Read and revise only those topics which are tough to remember. In remaining time just casually scan the notes or books. Don’t focus much on new topics at this stage. Even if you don’t revise some topic that is perfectly okay. But be cautious not to be totally casual.

5. Be punctual and organized.

Plan your travel to exam centre properly. Reach the centre well before the stipulated time. Be systematic in managing your time. Keep a spare pen instead of changing refills or filling ink during exam. Similarly keep a sharpened pencil ready in spare. In case of colour pencils, take only 3-4 colours inside the hall instead of handling 12 colours. Underline keywords immediately after that word/those words. Don’t waste much time in deciding which question to write first.

6. Cover as much paper as possible.

Try to write all that you can write logically. Write initial few questions carefully in good handwriting but after that focus on completing the paper. I would suggest not to fall in the trap of writing ‘few but good’ answers as nobody knows what is a good answer. Focus on maintaining writing speed in middle one hour. In the last few minutes, write only bullet points or draw flowcharts, but don’t leave any question unattempted unless you are totally blank about it. Be aggressive in this regard.

7. Write in a reader friendly way.

Again, this does not mean you must have beautiful handwriting. Write in such a way that the examiner doesn’t get irritated. Avoid too large or too small handwriting. Write with adequate spacing. Try to write first 2-3 answers in first hour to avoid scribbling on first few pages in last few minutes.

8. Stick to basics.

Basics are important in all aspects. Try to write the basic concept in all the answers. Even if you don’t know the answer well, write the basic information about it. Don’t neglect basics while writing qualifying language papers. Attempt them fully and seriously. Follow basic rules of examinations like using same pen, filling up information properly, giving title and boxes to diagrams etc. Remember: Whenever in doubt, stick to basics.

9. Give constructive suggestions.

End your answer on a positive note. Even if the question is about enlisting problems, write the probable solutions too. This is more important in Essay. Follow Constitutional values in your answers, especially in Ethics.

10. Keep a watch on time.

More than word limit or space limit, follow time limit. Calculate before exam how much time an answer deserves e.g. Six and half min. for GS 10 marker [6.5 x 25=165 plus 15 min. spare]. First few questions will take more time but try to end the answer in this stipulated time. Be careful about the answers where you know many points. Prioritize important points first. Remember that time management is a very crucial factor.

                 Mains is a test not only of your academic intelligence but also of mental fitness and emotional strength. We all have put huge efforts in academic parts. Now we just need to take care of the mental strength to face this interesting exam. This is a challenge. Take it with sportsmanship. Feel the excitement before the exam and transform it into enthusiasm, optimism and cheerfulness.