This
is an attempt to awaken the beginners to the ideas which are crucial in the
preparation for Civil Services Examination.
In fact we intend to focus upon some practical realities of the preparation.
Much has been written on how to prepare for the Civil Service Examination but
little attention has been given to the fundamental facets of preparation in the
beginning.
The beginners have varied perceptions about the preparation and a good number
of them are not aware of the realities of the same. They begin but on wrong
lines, they go astray and meet failures in initial attempts. It takes them a
year or years to be conscious of the realities and that too, at the cost of
some attempts. Some take attempts without preparation just to gain some
experiences because they do not have a good guide to suggest them that attempts
are precious and must not be wasted this way. This article has relevance in the
above-mentioned context.
All the beginners have a great problem when they embark upon the preparation
that is how to begin. We provide you step-by-step guidelines as regards how to
go in for the preparation for the Civil Services Examination.
1. Go through the syllabus of
the optional subjects — consider five things in selection of optional subjects.
i. The Subject interests you
ii. You have familiarity or
background
iii. Subjects (two optional
subjects) have common areas
iv. Subjects help you in
General Studies
v. You get proper guidance for
them (the most important)
2. Buy the booklets containing previous years' questions of those subjects,
both compulsory and optional, and go through them. Proper idea of the questions
will also help you decide optional subjects.
3. After doing all these you come to know all about the examination, the
subjects, the nature of questions and of course what you have to study. This
way you take the first step in the direction of preparation which is very
significant.
4. Study on the basis of the syllabus and previous years' questions. Just do
not finish topics, as this is eventually meaningless and make sure that study
enables you to write good and standard answers. This is essence of preparation.
5. Practice writing answers. Create answer formats of typical questions.
HOW TO SELECT
OPTIONAL SUBJECTS
New aspirants are usually in a dilemma in selecting the optional subjects.
After embarking upon the preparation, this state of dilemma is quite natural as
well. Impact of mixed opinions like opinion on the part of the friends,
seniors, teachers, coaching institute etc bewilder them and they are not in a
position to take a right decision. Above-mentioned opinions are at times
influenced by individual outlook, at times by wrong perception, at times by
personal experiences, at times by prejudice or bias and at times by vested
interests.
We are presenting some of these opinions which new aspirants come across
and which do not have any rational basis. We are presenting the explanation and
the rational basis related to such opinions as well.
1. Some subjects are very lengthy and their preparation takes a lot of
time. The truth is that the syllabus of almost all subjects is equally vast and
comprehensive. FPSC does not discriminate among subjects. The commission has
determined a standard for each subject and has incorporated all important
topics into the syllabus of each subject. All popular subjects selected by the
candidates like History, Sociology, Geography, Public Administration, Political
Science etc. have comprehensive syllabus.
2. Two such subjects (having lengthy syllabus) should not be chosen like
History & Political Science, Geography & Psychology, History and
Geography The rational view is that there are other criteria to select the
optional subjects for the syllabus of almost all subjects are lengthy.
3. Some subjects are more scoring like Sociology and Journalism or some are not
like Sciences and Literatures. The truth is that the Commission / Examiner does
not discriminate among subjects in giving marks. Fetching of good marks solely
depends upon one's performance, not the subject. One can get good marks in any
subject. The results of the Civil Services Examination every year too establish
the same fact. The only rational criteria for the subjects being more scoring
or less scoring are the stream they are associated with. Subjects associated
with science may be more scoring than those of humanities because of greater
objectivity. Likewise subjects from humanities may be more scoring than
literature.
4. One should not opt for subjects like Commerce & Accountancy, Economics,
etc. because candidates do not get marks in these subjects or candidates do not
qualify with these subjects. The truth is that one can opt for any subject,
provided one fulfills certain criteria. Basis of selection is not subject
rather performance in a particular subject.
5. One should give a serious thought to the selection of the optional subjects.
A wrong decision in the beginning might prove an obstacle in one's success.
There are a good number of candidates who were capable of qualifying but only
because of wrong selection of the optional subjects they eventually failed.
Optional subjects play a decisive and crucial role in qualifying Examinations.
Don't be in a hurry in selection, consider properly and give time to it.
There are certain rational criteria for selecting the optional subjects.
We are putting them forward in point form.
1. Every subject is good.
2. The syllabus of almost every
subject is equally lengthy and demand equal amount of labour.
3. The syllabus of all popular
subjects like History, Geography, Political Science etc. are equally vast.
4. One can get satisfactory level of
marks (required to make one successful) in all subjects through proper guidance
and adequate labour.
5. One may take into consideration
one's interests in the subject but this is not important. Success of many
candidates has proved it.
6. One might take into consideration
one's background in the subject.
7. One might take into consideration
the similarities of topics of subjects for example History and Political
Science, Commerce & Accountancy and Public Administration etc. This lessens
the burden of the candidates. This is an important criterion.
8. Go through the syllabus and previous
years' questions of the subjects, you are considering opting.
9. One might take into consideration
the fact that to what extent the optional subjects help a candidate in General
Studies. Subjects like History, Public Administration, Political Science etc.
play significant role in this context.
10. The most important criteria is the
guidance one gets in the subjects. Guidance makes subject / subjects easy and
enables candidates to write standard answers. Experiences of a large number of
candidates have established the truth that any subject is a good subject
provided one gets a good guidance for that subject. A good guidance does not
mean teaching of topics, rather teaching in such a way so that one comprehends
all the topics, one has adequate and quality content and more significantly one
is in a position to write good & standard answers - which is the essence of
the preparations.
HOW TO PREPARE
MEANINGFUL PREPARATION
One
has to perceive the meaning of real preparation. Real preparation does not mean
attending classes, procuring study material packages and finishing the
syllabus. Real preparation has an altogether different connotation - it has to
be a meaningful preparation. One needs to understand finer aspects of
preparation — that is, to develop comprehension of questions, to develop approach
to write answers, to practice answer-writing etc.
Meaningful and effective preparation which makes one attain qualifying
level subsumes various facets
1. Planning preparation
2. Formulation of strategy
3. Guidance for preparation of
compulsory subjects
4. Adequate & revised
study material packages
5. Analysis of questions
6. Expected topics / questions
for forthcoming examinations
7. Answer - formats
8. Information related to
strategy & approach
9. Information related to
approach to answer-writing
10. Series of Questions
11. Examination and evaluation
of answers.
REQUIREMENTS FOR PREPARATION
Success in Civil Services Examination calls for a holistic development. We want
to put forward some suggestions in this connection.
1. Study all
the relevant topics of various subjects, develop broader understanding.
2. Prepare topics on the basis
of the trends & nature of the questions.
3. Create answer-formats in
point form so that they prove handy in revising things.
4. Learn approach to writing.
Think over ways & presentation of answers. Take the help of some guides.
5. Practice answer-writing and
get them evaluated.
6. Develop a good language
& expression so that you might write good answers.
PREPARATION FOR OPTIONAL SUBJECTS
Preparation of the optional subjects calls for somewhat different orientation.
We are putting forward certain points below which are relevant in this context
:
1. First study
the entire topics of the syllabus just to develop ideas about them.
2. Develop conception about the
inter-connections and relation among the topics wherever required.
3. Pick up all relevant topics
from examination standpoint on the basis of the number and type of questions
put in the examination.
4. Prepare the relevant topics
taking into consideration the kinds of questions put or may be put in the
examination.
5. Take different kind of
questions into account is important in the preparation; for only on this basis
you will be competent to write good answers which is key to getting good marks.
6. Prepare notes in brief or
in point-form where topic or question is typical or intricate.
7. Try to learn approach to
write various kind of questions.
8. Practice answer-writing and
get them evaluated. For this purpose you may pick up questions from previous
years.
ABOUT WRITING
Without writing preparation becomes meaningless. Writing is in fact a part of
the total preparation. In Compulsory subjects, optional subjects and Essay
effective writing plays a vital role. We are giving below certain tips on good
writing.
Candidates should follow them and put them into practice.
1. Read standard books — collect standard information.
2. Express in you own language
— your answers should give impression that they are your creation.
3. Elements of bias or prejudice
must be absent from your writing.
4. When you critically
examine, you must examine a fact in the light of socio-economic-politico
circumstances — this would give your answer a moderate tinge.
5. Use effective language but
do not make it verbose.
6. Write a simple answer — do
not use very long sentences and paragraphs.
7. Split your answers in
various paragraphs — change paragraph when you shift to a new subject-matter.
8. Do not quote views,
opinions etc. frequently — at times you can quote from original work.
9. Give major points of your
answer in separate paragraphs and put all the minor points in one paragraph at
the end. — try to give as many points as you can.
10. You need not write a
lengthy introduction, you can even do without it write the main body of the
answer and a good and very effective conclusion — in the answers where you
analyze or critically examine you must write a conclusion.
11. While writing, make sure
your handwriting is legible — do not be under the impression that whatever way
you write the examiner would make all efforts to go through that — help the
examiners read your answers comfortably.
12. Your answer must not lose
coherence — points should be in order so that the whole answer presents a
balanced and integrated view.
13. Practice writing answers
of model questions and get them evaluated.
And finally a piece of advice, that is, hard and diligent work is a boon.
Develop a habit of sustained reading. Do study on a regular basis but be sure
that you are doing this on right lines
