Arpit Gupta (AIR-54, CSE-21) Prelims, Mains & Maths Strategy
Hello Everyone,
I am Arpit Gupta (AIR 54, CSE’21). I belong to a small town Sahjanwa in Gorakhpur (UP). I have done my graduation in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Roorkee. I worked as Financial Market Analyst for 3 months then left my job in Aug’19. I started my preparation in Sept’19 with Mathematics as my optional.
My UPSC Journey:
I gave 2 attempts. I have done self-study and did not join classroom coaching for anything (No GS coaching, No optional coaching). In my first attempt in 2020, I could not clear Mains (i got 735, 736 was the cutoff in 2020). I also fell severely ill (due to chicken pox 20 days before my 1st mains). During my 1st mains, I had pneumonia, so I gave it in highly feverish condition. It was a learning curve as I understood that health was to be given topmost priority. I shifted back to home just after my 1st mains. I gave 2nd attempt in 2021 from my home. In this attempt, I cleared the exam with AIR 54.
Prelims Strategy:
Pretty simple. Read all basic books. Used PYQs as the reference to cover any topic (made it clear what to read in a topic). Booklist was similar to other toppers hence I am not mentioning them.
I would explain my approach for each subject through Polity. I picked Laxmikanth and completed its first reading. Went to PYQs. Saw what was asked and how were the questions framed. Picked the book again, with a highlighter and marked everything which I found on pattern of PYQs. Revised the marked portion. Gave a sectional test to see my hold on the subject. This approach is useful for every subject.
Now once you have done this for all subjects, you now know what is your strength area and weak area? You also know where you stand at the level of preparation (through the sectional tests).
After completing all these subjects, I went for the Full Length Tests (FLTs). You can use FLTs of various coachings. I found Vision, Forum, Next IAS as the good ones. I used to give open tests of almost 10 coachings to enable myself to tackle various types of papers..
Regarding mocks, I would say it is not important as to how many mocks you give, the key is the number of mocks you revise. I tried to revise all the mocks I gave and made a copy where I wrote all mistakes I had committed in 1-2 liners. This helped me minimize my mistakes.
My prelims mantra is – Minimize your mistakes through mocks and you will sail through.
Maths Optional Strategy (completing Maths with self-study):
Although the no. of days for each topic can vary, the rough distribution should be like this. Everyday you have to give 3 hours (can add another hour based on your convenience) to maths.
The Plan:
Start with Linear Algebra – Nearly 20 days (can be flexible since most of the engineers study this in college)
3-D Geometry – 25 days (focus on conicoids more because it is tougher)
Vector Analysis – 15 days (after understanding 3D figures, this part becomes a bit easier)
ODE+PDE – 25 days (Easy part hence must be covered properly)
Calculus+Real Analysis – 30 days (calculus is easy for most of the maths optional people, real should be covered in continuity)
Complex Analysis – 15 days (low hanging fruit)
LPP – 10 days (Easiest among all but prone to calculation mistakes hence practice practice & practice)
Modern Algebra – 30 days (toughest topic, but if you master it, it becomes the deadly weapon. In my 1st attempt, I was frightened of modern a bit, in my 2nd attempt, modern was my deadly weapon.)
Numerical Analysis + CP – 18 days (focus on derivation rather than mugging up. UPSC has evolved in this portion)
Physics Topics:
Statics and Dynamics – 25 days (Easy topics should be picked and mastered. Conceptual understanding is the key here. You can practice 20 problems and then fail to solve 21st here. Hence, concept holds the prominence.
Mechanics – 15 days (lagrangian+hamiltonian is the low hanging fruit here. Rigid body is a bit tougher and less chances of hitting the question present.)
Fluid Mechanics – 20 days (follow the themes of PYQ; conceptual understanding needed otherwise you will suffer)
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Now, this is around 8 months plan for completion of maths syllabus. It includes the tests & PYQs to be solved. PYQs must be a priority while you learn the syllabus. I know when we go forward in maths syllabus, we tend to forget things behind. So, once in a while simply look at what you studied previously. Note making is a personal choice. I followed Kanishak Sir’s notes. I studied all the topics of sir’s notes from books and then used his notes as primary reference afterwards. IMS notes (in my personal opinion) are not sufficient for the maths papers of 2020/2021. You have to cover books properly.
your optional should be given 3 hours (extendable upto 4) everyday. So, nearly 5 hours remain everyday. 1 hour can be reserved for the newspaper. Remaining 4 hours are for GS portion.
THE 8-MONTH PLAN:
1.Pick polity (you can pick any other, I am telling you my preference order). Go through at least 2 readings of Laxmikanth. Use a highlighter to mark important things. Now, go through PYQs, especially mains. You will find you can’t answer many questions 😅. That’s because laxmikanth doesn’t cover many issues from mains perspective. These have to be covered from Vision’s value added material (VAM). Use upsc syllabus to pick up the value added material and complete them in one go (make short notes as you have a good understanding of polity already after reading Laxmikanth). Try to solve all PYQs now. No answer writing, simply framing answer in mind.
2. Pick Geography now. Cover it from NCERTs. Use Rajtanil Ma’am’s lectures if you think you lack clarity in any concept. PMFIAS notes are also a handy source. Any thing remaining can be covered with Vision’s VAM (use upsc syllabus to find the portion which needs to be covered through VAM). Look at the PYQs. Here, you might be able to solve almost all of them. If you can’t, just google the concept and make small notes on it. Now, brainstorming on all mains PYQs is a must. Practice diagram of every concept you learn.
3. Pick Economics now. Read Sriram IAS’ notes or Mrunal Sir’s notes (as per your comfort). They both comprehensively cover the syllabus. Use VAM if needed. Go through PYQs and brainstorm.
4. Pick Environment now. Easy subject. From mains perspective, you need very less things to know. Try to cover issues from mains365 of previous year. Use VAM if needed. Look at the PYQs and you will find they are very general and easy to answer. But you have to prepare quality content. Theme based notes must be prepared (like climate change, air pollution etc)
5. Pick Modern History now. Go through Spectrum once. If possible, try to go through NCERTs to have a grasp of the story. From mains perspective, cover “events”, “personalities”, “contributions” (syllabus keywords). Make notes around cause, consequence, phases and features etc. Look at PYQs, you will find almost all of it is focused on the keyword I talked about (decoded this early in prep hence history was my stronghold😅).
6. Pick Art & Culture. Use Nitin Singhania and NCERTs selectively to prepare notes on S&T, coins, painting, archi, dance, music. There is no end to the syllabus here but you have to be selective because it is low yield topic in mains. Look at PYQs and you will curse yourself for even making those notes 😂
7. Pick Society. It is easy again because most of us know about society. Here, framework development and uniqueness of content with examples becomes key. Use VAM and search for good examples. See PYQs and prepare framework on dealing with society questions (much needed since the question is always abstract worded).
8. Now you can pick Internal security. Use Vajiram’s yellow book (found it really good). Make notes based on syllabus keywords. Look at PYQs and try to solve. Most of them are theme based so prep becomes easy.
9. Pick governance. Use VAM. Go through PYQs.
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All My Notes @ 1 Place
10. Now you can cover other remaining topics like disaster management, agriculture, sci&tech etc. Simply look at PYQs and prepare around it.
11. Topics like international relations which need only basic current awareness should be prepared between prelims and mains from mains365.
12. ETHICS : Go through Lukmaan’s notes. Read them 2 times at least. Before reading this, go through “Justice” series on youtube to understand basics of Ethics. This is the subject which gives low cost high benefit. Case studies can be practiced from various toppers’ copies available freely on coaching websites. Readin toppers’ copies is of immense benefit in Ethics. My scores of 105 & 106 in both attempts show that I have gained marks with minimal efforts in Ethics just by using toppers’ copies and Lukmaan’s notes. Time for each subject should be decided on one’s own. I would just suggest that no subject should go beyond 20-25 days because it creates monotony and reduces our interest thereby reducing our gains.
Answer Writing Strategy:
My answer writing strategy is pretty simple. Start writing some answers after you complete any one subject. I know the quality of answers would be ridiculous (especially if you are an engineer). But just write and try to see what you missed. Use toppers’ copies to see how they write differently. Inculcate from them the art of showcasing limited knowledge. After prelims join a mains test series. Try to give full length tests if it is your 2nd mains (in 1st mains you can write some sectional tests too, fully upto you). Focus on value addition. Learn data, facts, committees etc and sprinkle them in your answers. I would use any committee name (if i remembered the work of committee in any field) & use any general recommendation under the committee name. It looked attractive and made my answer a bit different. I had limited knowledge and less time for improving GS portion because of my optional Maths. But I used the time to add value to answers rather than learning too many things or topics.
You can contact Arpit as his Telegram Channel or at his Instagram Profile.
Maths Booklist:
1. Linear Algebra – Shaum/Krishna series
2. Calculus – Malik & Arora or any engg book
3. 3D – Krishna series/PNC
4. ODE – MD Raisinghania
5. Vector Analysis – Any engg book.
6. Statics & Dynamics – Krishna series
7. Modern Algebra – R Kumar (2 books – one of group & other of ring)
8. Real Analysis – Malik & Arora
9. Complex Analysis – Krishna Series
10. LPP – Watch any engg youtube channel and learn simplex, trasportation & assignment.
11. Numerical Analysis – Iyengar
12. PDE – MD Raisinghania
13. Mechanics – Krishna
14. Fluid – MD Raisinghania
Use Kanishak sir’s notes (AIR 1, 2018) to see what is in syllabus. Also use them as point of reference.
GS booklist:
GS 1 :
Modern – spectrum
Ancient & Medieval (for prelims) – NCERT
Art & culture – Nitin Singhania
World history – Google topics like 1st-2nd WW, integration of Germany &Italy, Industrial revolution.
Society – Mains365 of previous year & vision’s value added material
Geography – NCERT (9th to 12th). Minerals+industrial location – I didn’t study (it is a subject in itself so simply left). Remaining topics – cover from Vision’s value added material
GS 2 :
Polity – Laxmikanth
Governance – vision’s value added material International relations – mains365
Remaining topics – cover from Vision’s value added material
GS 3:
Economy – mains365
Environment – Vision’s value added material and mains 365
Disaster Management – Basics & NDMA guidelines regarding all notified disasters in news (google or any source)
Science & tech – mains365 (selectively)
Agriculture – Vision’s value added Remaining topics – vision’s value added
GS 4
PRELIMS:
Booklist remains the same for history, polity & geography.
Economy – Read basics from Sriram’s notes and current from any current affairs source (vision’s or forum’s or any magazines). You can go for Mrunal too if you want.
Environment – Can read Shankar IAS for basics. Cover current from any current affairs source (vision’s or forum’s or any magazines)
Science & Tech – Any magazine (try to understand new techs rather than mugging up facts here).
Balancing maths & GS between prelims and mains: Finally, the prelims is over. The day must have been tiring (I would go for a party after this 😂). I know the rush to match your answer with keys and the urge to maximise your marks (I would try to go for 1-2 keys and then stop, I trusted vision’s key which would come late so, I used to relax till then). But I would suggest you to please be patient and go for a party, the time between prelims and mains is really exhausting. So, coming to balancing Maths and GS, my time table has been like this:
1. Used to start 3-7 days after prelims in both attempts.
2. Maths was the first to be picked.
3. Used to pick P-1 syllabus and covered first 3 topics ( I know sab bhul chuka hoga😛 isliye easy utha lo, confidence aata hai).
4. Nearly 8-9 days for maths p-1.
5. Gave 2 tests for p-1.
6. Went for GS and would revise gs-1 & give a test.
7. Went for GS-2 and gave its test. Also, used to write on test for essay just after GS-2 or between GS1 & GS2.
8. Again, picked up maths and went for p-2.
9. P-2 took generally 12-13 days.
10. In the meanwhile i would keep studying few questions and frame answers in mind. Helped to maintain continuity in GS.
11. Again, gave few tests for p-2.
12. Used to write GS3 & GS4 after revision. Also, wrote 2nd essay test.
13. Now, more than a month time was already over and I got nearly 70-85 days in both attempts so had nearly half of the time over by this time.
14. I had gotten test copies and used to discuss them with friends ( a big shoutout to the group of 10 which was the biggest companion during this time)
15. The issues in all the papers including maths & GS were discussed. I am a firm believer of reviewing copies and incremental improvement.
16. The 2nd iteration would start and by this time mains 365 used to be available.
17. Went for maths and would again revise p-1 & p-2 and give tests.
18. Went for GS and tried to study mains365 & made additional very short notes for revision during the papers. GS1234 in succession were dealt with and tests were written. Used to write 2 more essay tests in between.
19. After all this just about 12-13 days would remain. It was pretty much stressful situation.
20. Prioritized maths & used to give as much tests of maths as possible in next few days (tests picked from G-20 google drive) to get complete hold of it.
21. Last 8 days were for GS only. Used to revise short notes & work on value addition in some areas (like unique data, unique recommendations of committee etc).
22. Last day before the essay paper, I enjoyed fully. 😜 Talked to all friends & used to chill. I did not prepare anything for essay, simply used to read toppers’ copies.
I hope I have given all the details about balancing both. I would recommend making small groups of 4-5 people with similar optional since mains preparation is a lot about discussing variety of questions and knowing each others’ approaches.
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