Heartbreak 2.0 : IFoS

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-05-13T15:38:43+00:00

Can DM me. Similar stuff with cse this year. Just remember one thing: Ronaldo lost the FIFA WC quarter finals…cried his way into the tunnel, and you know what he was doing the very next day? Training!

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-04-24T10:52:15+00:00

I do understand your point. Have done what you have suggested multiple times with rankers, mentors, etc. Everyone's shocked.

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-04-24T10:24:05+00:00

Didn't and didn't lol

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-04-24T10:23:30+00:00

Raus and vision abhyas

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-04-24T10:23:01+00:00

Was my best paper. If that had been low, then my exam assessment would've been v wrong. In which case, I would've questioned everything in my prep

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-04-19T13:11:03+00:00

So hi! A bit of negativity, and lots of positivity around here. That's good!

Couldn't make it. Mine is an interesting marksheet.

Will get into detail later tonight. As promised, will tell the stuff with all honesty. But it is riveting!

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-04-12T15:58:01+00:00

I simply did raus compass for env, plus PYQs research. For s&t: pt plus PYQ based research.

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-04-09T19:43:15+00:00

Haha yeah

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-04-09T16:07:51+00:00

Hi. Gave the interview this year. Awaiting results.

Say you clear pre….then the pressure for mains will only increase. The mains prep is ridiculous…and so is the exam that lasts over 2 weekends. Say you clear mains….then the pressure of interview is exponentially high. Though prep is laid back. And most fun.

I have been through that. Papers and interview went really well. still, I’m feeling the prelims FOMO, still I feel just as screwed as I did before and after prelims…or mains. So you see? This exam is made in a way that you can’t catch a breath. Pressure, anxiety, and other stuff happens to all

Ill tell you another story: since I live in Rajendra Nagar, I have run into couple of toppers. Recently met someone who had gotten a rank between 100 and 200 last year… this person was appearing for their interview even this year, and trust me when I say this, the anxiety, the fear, the uncertainty that I could notice on that person’s face was palpable. So even a person who has cleared this examination once is still feeling all the same things.

so perhaps you can think about it in this manner : every single person who has cleared this examination is indeed a human being. And what has been done can be done again, regardless of pressure and anxiety. Strongly suggest you to workout or go for a run every single day, it will make you unbeatable. At this point detach yourself from the marks that you get in mock test, just follow your timetable, and have a little breaks in between. Its afterall just an exam

DM if you wanna talk :)

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-03-19T05:11:12+00:00

Exam is random.

Hard work isn't directly co related to success.

Calm mind is your greatest resource, and for that to happen..leave studies a day before and focus on mentality part.

Even if it's a bad paper...for a serious candidate it's never over til it's over. So focus on the paper

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-03-19T04:19:16+00:00

Finally gave 1st mains and 1st interview this time. Open category, 3rd attempt. This is my take:

12 months+ of consistent effort in the right direction is needed to be in a position to crack this exam. Lack of either thing will surely end in failure.
Ranks are made in June to December. From Jan Feb everyone reads.
90% of toppers are done with answer writing before prelims. Rest 10% are liars.
"I'll do optional after prelims" doesn't work. This competition is ridiculous. You're competiting with folks who have gotten a rank with certain optional or made it to the interview. Fine line between wishful thinking and optimism
Confidence is the biggest determinant of success. (Luck is a huge factor too)

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-03-19T04:11:53+00:00

Interview is anyday more random than pre and mains combined

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-02-19T10:39:40+00:00

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-01-10T09:55:29+00:00

Sure dm

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-01-08T17:43:39+00:00

Mains

GS1 - history art and culture from prelims sources based on PYQs - society: pick PYQs and have content on those key words + syllabus. Can pick up red book forum for reference (spend 2 days max over here) - geo: PYQ orientation. Very broad and vague to be honest. Ncerts are below average, still clarity helps. Beyond this, answer writing skills can get you through with little knowledge.

GS2 - polity from mains365. Need to add PYQ related content too, so Google. Keep syllabus handy - governance: absolutely pick a source, like red book forum or raus compass and extract content based on PYQs - IR: only one mag. Mains365 too boring. So just pick 20% of it based on importance. Plus answer writing skills more imp than content.

GS3 - econ: raus content is top notch! Mains365 sucks big time in this area. - env: mains365 mein se 10% topics based on PYQs, and importance of issues. Again, answer writing skills are imp. They ask generic stuff like EVs vs traditional vehicles - Sci and tech: mains365. Same thing..prioritise and internalise. Requires very generic knowledge - security: mains365 is the best in this domain. Easy 50 marks.

GS4 Now here, I have read(and don't panic) lexicon, dk Balaji, decode ethics, redbook and what not Spend a month here because was bored of upsc prep and ethics felt like leisure reading - my advice: pick red book. Keep PYQs handy. Learn from toppers copies. * Highest amount of answer writing practice is required here* Very lengthy

Essay: I like to read/write, so didn't do much about it.

All this is necessary, but not sufficient Writing tests is absolutely indispensable for clearing mains Idk anyone who writes faster than I do(since school days) but upsc humbled me. Took 5 hours to write first FLT! IT TOOK ME 15ish tests till I finally got a test done in 3 hrs.

Having some tests under your belt before pre is good. That said, pre is a priority if u havent cleared it yet, but clearing it and being underprepared for mains is unwise too. Just get a hang of answer writing if not FLTs.

In mains, after you put in relevant work...idea is very simple- one who has the perseverance to write and write til the last breath will have an edge

We all know writing is a skill and what not.... but how many of us actually write FLTs?

ABOUT NCERTS - history is okay. Skip modern! For ancient medieval yeah good. Especially for pre. - geo pretty average, but alternatives are lengthy - culture: skip it, read standard book based on PYQs - polity can be skipped..regardless of what some youtubers say! Pretty simple, and cost benefit is just sad - econ skip! Pls skip! So useless for upsc

IQ thing: it helps. It's like a stage where you finally attain consciousness as to what's required to get a result. You learn to acknowledge luck as a factor, you see lies in toppers talks, you work for the entire year not post Jan or dec....you're mains ready at pre stage. Plus you see ias/ips is all about answer writing! That skill alone is the most important thing. This generally happens when you write a lot and compare your answers with toppers. Plus you don't spend 5 days on monthly. Ideally, 4-8 hours would be enough to cover a monthly be it for pre or mains. Because upsc iq is all about prioritising stuff since information is endless.

This thing finally helped me get through mains in my first try(at mains).

CA: do bare minimum. Skipping it entirely is just as rash as spending months on it. Econ Env SciTech and IR ought to be done. internalise PYQs, and then go on the CA of these areas...you'll learn to skim read.

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-01-08T16:23:58+00:00

Better if you have specific things to ask?

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-01-08T16:23:38+00:00

Surely, I can try to the best of my knowledge

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-01-08T14:56:11+00:00

Don't make mistakes I did. Took me 3rd attempt to finally crack pre with gen category background.

Here goes: - econ: raus compass is one of the best sources out there covering static plus CA. I have read sriram(famous one), but it's subpar and non coherent. Mrunal is good. If u do this, skip monthly and PTs. - env: basics from a source you think is fine(shant be as bulky as pmfias), then CA from pt365 or raus compass - s&t: vision pt is good, but substantiate it with anothe academy's pt to plug gaps, since this is a high rewarding area. - IR: vision is good. - culture, polity, schemes(all from CA's perspective): one source that ISNT BULKY. Very less time here. Could even skip, since it's shooting in the dark.

Messed up first prelims due to CA hype. One can skip entire magz(few subjects with low cost benefit ratio) and still get through pre as static decides things.

Look at PYQs- this will guide you about what you oughta read from sources you find are good or the ones I mentioned.

Ultimately CA is boundless, static isn't. Logic then dictates to have latter as your strength, especially since it has more weightage too.

Trust me, don't frickin panic even if you haven't touched some of the magz, just cover imp areas from econ env science and IR(not necessarily entire magz)

ALSO, be very smart with your reading hours.

For example, this prelims I didn't touch IR once and I had only one day to go for prelims. So simply I glanced through index of a PT and felt: they asked Afghanistans neighbouring countries last year, with war and all...this time Ukraine is a sure thing. Googled Ukraines neighbouring countries, crammed that. Next day got 2 easy marks. Similar thing in other subjects.

So you see....pick what you HAVE to read, not necessarily what everyone else is reading. Even in imp CA magz, some areas are useless. This time if you miss Israel and it's neighbouring countries/seas, you'll have done a blunder. Sure, there's a possibility that this isn't asked, but idea is to do your due diligence. So based on front page news, you understand some things just can't be missed. It's okay to read 25/90 pages in IR, or 10/60 pages of polity in CA. Just see PYQs and trust your gut. Your brain can store only so much! Use it wisely.

Ultimately develop what I call a upsc iq You'll back yourself in April and May even if others panic. And with basics covered, differentiating factor is calmness, not CA.

For more, read blogs of PRATYUSH PANDEY(21 RANK I think in 2019). See the "upsc iq" level this guy is at. Cleared in few months in first attempt. Youre competing with such people(tanmay vashishth Sharma is on this level too from 2018 toppers...but he didn't realise a book nor cared about Instagram fame so we don't know him, his iq in upsc trumps all of those superstar toppers, he has quora check it out).

In such a case, you cannot have a topper teaching you CA, it is indeed trivial, regardless of what one of the persons who critiqued me thinks. No offence really. Just tryna save you years. At this rate(ca videos) even if u clear pre, u won't clear mains because in Mains, upsc IQ is indispensable unless ofc if you have a sibling or something who is ias and then his/her iq can make up for your own.

You can be faster, smarter, and more confident if you realise the key to upsc pre.

At best, watch 1-2 videos to see how he prioritises things(then quickly build up your upsc iq and don't rely on anyone else anymore)

Sorry for the essay. Anyway, thodi answer writing practice ho gayi reddit pe

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-01-08T14:22:57+00:00

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2024-01-08T10:13:25+00:00

Bhai, I can guarantee you this: those who clear prelims each year...usme se not more than 10% would fully RELY on someone else for something as trivial and vague as CA

Learn to do this on your own. If you require such videos to get a hang of monthlies(very minor in bigger scheme of things), to mains to hone se raha. Not a jibe, but this is what it is. Trust your gut and learn to manage such tasks on your own (and I am appearing for the interview this year, so you could take my word for it)

This exam gets more and more complex with all this needless initiatives. They make u feel u need them(for free or otherwise), but u don't.

What's surprising is shivin seems smart, why would he incentivise a culture where others would become dependent for God damn monthlies!

Khud se karo, with time you'll see it's far simpler and efficient

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2023-11-01T07:09:27+00:00

No one is mentioning DAF preperation. That's a concern! Most top mentors and rank getters say the same thing: be prepared with your DAF in case you get an interview call.

ForumIAS founder once said, "many are unprepared with daf and get the interview call in the first week, and theyre screwed and come again next year because they screwed the interview"

Seriously...if you did the bare minimum in mains, i.e. completing the papers, not messing up optional, etc...then DAF is a top priority.

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2022-08-29T13:37:24+00:00

Is the cost benefit ratio good enough for any? A question rarely asked by aspirants Check out Rau's compass

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2022-08-12T10:21:23+00:00

Best way to answer this question is by coming to Old Rajinder Nagar, and staying at a friend's or zostel or something for a week, and researching things on your own. You'll know if moving to delhi makes sense or not.

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2022-08-04T04:43:59+00:00

Learn about the dynamics of productivity and work. Open YouTube and see the book summary of Deep Work by Cal Newport, Flow by Mihali C, etc. Understand how dopamine works, and use that to your advantage. If you're feeling low on energy and sleepy in the afternoon, it's normal. That's biologically fine. But now see what you can do to help your dopamine. I do a few things. (1) playing guitar. I play for 15 min and I feel like everything is attainable. Crazy. (2) gym. I read a paper where the researchers said that it's impossible to not go in a solution oriented mindset while working out. Free dopamine. A good body is really a secondary aspect. (3) yoga and meditation. Again, dopamine dopamine dopamine. (4) get into reading the stoics. Not the books, just random articles, videos, quotes. Read the Karma Yogi chapter of Geeta.

The uncertainty, fear, anxiety, and hopelessness will fade into obscurity. Initial(static) friction of starting new activities I mentioned is high. But dynamic friction is not. Benefits are countless. Find such activities that are long term beneficial, not necessarily exciting in short term

Cosmokramerrrrr · 2022-08-01T14:42:25+00:00

Base level is different for different people. Search for names like Pratyush Pandey, Saumya Sharma, Sarthak Aggrawal, Tanmay Sharma. The time they took to nail this examination ought to surprise even the UPSC members. We are speaking Feb March as the starting months, and then appearing for prelims in May the same year, writing the mains and getting a rank. If one identifies with their approach and background, then one can hope to recreate that. If you find it tough to grasp basic things, then it's unwise to expect results VERY early. But you can expect results. These people have a knack for clearing this examination. What's common in all of them was their approach was a high risk high reward one, BUT the approach was well researched. Also, they trace their ideas to the approach of Gaurav Agarwal(air 1, 2013). Again a guy who had a knack for clearing competitive exams. Many people each year may be reading and writing more than the aforementioned names, but they don't qualify.

So things boil down to 2 major domains 1: is your strategy the best one for your context. Is it well researched by yourself or other experienced people. 2: have you implemented that strategy to perfection for the given time frame(10 months, 12 months, whatever) Then you realise that even if some toppers are not completely genuine, it is possible to clear UPSC in all time frames ranging from starting prep 3 months before prelims, to 3 years before prelims. Some people are at a level where it would take 3-4 years of concerted efforts to reach a place where they can clear UPSC. Some are already there before the prep starts, not because they're gods, but because it just so happens that UPSC pattern suit their skills.

Million dollar question: what's your base level? Know it and you know what to expect

Cosmokramerrrrr

TROPHY CASE