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CSS Strategies For Beginners
CSS Strategies For Beginners
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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