If you want to achieve a job in Indian Administrative Services and want to do something in life, ask yourself have I achieved success, am I there yet? If no, then what are the things that could lead me to success? These are greatest thoughts to ponder, and I bet all those who succeed in life in some way or the other must have asked these questions to themselves at some point of time. Students often complain that they do not know where the time goes. Whether one is an executive, a student or a homemaker, everyone wants to achieve more in even a minute of the day. The key to success is Time Management and therefore it becomes important to squeeze out the most out of even a second.
Many youngsters around all of us can be seen spending their time in frenzy of activities like watching movies, playing games, gossiping, roaming around etc. Over here, we are not going to blame all of them, but yes, we are going to discus why these youngsters are not able to achieve more from their life. It is because they do not concentrate on the right things. With the over-accelerating competition in the arena of education, students need to understand that they are perpetually busy but it does not necessarily mean that they make optimum utilization of their time. And therefore students today are in great requirement of managing their time effectively.
You must have heard the child in your neighborhood saying he is busy; it is important to note here that 'Busy' stands for two kinds of people- those who are chaotically disorganized busy and calm effective busy. It is to be understood that the latter ones lend up themselves in something more productive as far as work is concerned. Enhancing the effectiveness is something that calls for some standard Time Management skills.
In order to manage your day, it is better to have a personal sense of time log; this will help you track how you spend the day. Divide each day for a period of two weeks into one hour intervals and write down what are you going to do in the two slots. Under them you can divide the activities and examine your time log. You may come to know that very little time goes into top priority works and more time is wasted in coffee breaks, chatting and receiving phone calls. Try to deduce the time spent on these ineffective activities or stop doing them altogether. After cutting down on these things you will find that your efficiency level is increasing and obviously the end results will be on your side. Also, just take a look at the following points, as these can prove to be helpful while u prepare:
• While preparing for a set of subjects in IAS syllabus, ensure that you would be appearing for a multiple choice question papers, where subjects such as History, maths and geography may prove to be highly scoring. Choose subjects whose preparation material like IAS Exam Material books, IAS Comprehension Test, reading material and guidance books are easily available in the market.
• Your General Knowledge will definitely pay in your IAS prelims examination which can be improved through keeping a tab on day to day happenings by reading newspaper, watching television news, etc.
• For all those who are lucky enough to clear IAS mains and reach interview stage, then bookish knowledge itself won't do. Mind alertness counts when somebody asks tricky questions on "how many steps you walked to reach the office?"
• Improving the personality is quite important as this will definitely be one of the criteria for selection. Physical and mental wellbeing is quite important for IPS.
• Try to enhance your communication skills as the civil servants must be proficient in at least one foreign language.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Tips for Choosing an Optional
A meticulously sought after planning and proper & timely guidance can enable an alert individual to clear the tough UPSC examinations. According to the UPSC aspirants, half of the battle is won right after selecting the right optionals for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) selection examination. Provided that optionals in each IAS preliminary and IAS mains examination determine a candidate's scoring pattern, questions asked in the final interview are based on the choice of optional subjects chosen. This makes the decision extremely difficult as well as critical.
There is a plethora of subjects to choose from, since students belong to varied streams of education, the subjects on offer include Science subjects that expands over Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology; Humanities subjects that expands over History, Political Science, Public Administration, Geography and Sociology and languages such as Hindi, English, Urdu and Pali. UPSC also offers subjects such as Anthropology, Psychology and Philosophy. Additionally, the more number of subjects make it more difficult for students to make choices in optionals.
Optional subjects are chosen on the basis of a number of parameters, on one hand there are optionals that are considered to be scoring where as there are others that are favored for their relevance to either General Studies papers or Current Affairs and essay questions whereas there are many who choose subjects for their defined set of topics asked and comparatively short type answers. Students feel that this bit of planning makes their choice of subject a success as there are combinations that have common IAS syllabus which reduces their workloads and improves their chances of scoring in civil services examination.
Likewise botany and zoology are two complementary optionals that have common syllabus as these prove to be advantageous for their future. The IAS syllabus talks about emerging issues such as genetically modified (GM) foods, cloning, biotechnology and environmental sensitization. However, students should also show their aptitude skills for the subject they choose as they require a fair degree of specialized knowledge. While preparing for the optional, it is advised to study first for the IAS mains paper and then prepare for IAS preliminary as this provides students an edge and then allow them to specialize in certain scoring areas.
There is a plethora of subjects to choose from, since students belong to varied streams of education, the subjects on offer include Science subjects that expands over Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology; Humanities subjects that expands over History, Political Science, Public Administration, Geography and Sociology and languages such as Hindi, English, Urdu and Pali. UPSC also offers subjects such as Anthropology, Psychology and Philosophy. Additionally, the more number of subjects make it more difficult for students to make choices in optionals.
Optional subjects are chosen on the basis of a number of parameters, on one hand there are optionals that are considered to be scoring where as there are others that are favored for their relevance to either General Studies papers or Current Affairs and essay questions whereas there are many who choose subjects for their defined set of topics asked and comparatively short type answers. Students feel that this bit of planning makes their choice of subject a success as there are combinations that have common IAS syllabus which reduces their workloads and improves their chances of scoring in civil services examination.
Likewise botany and zoology are two complementary optionals that have common syllabus as these prove to be advantageous for their future. The IAS syllabus talks about emerging issues such as genetically modified (GM) foods, cloning, biotechnology and environmental sensitization. However, students should also show their aptitude skills for the subject they choose as they require a fair degree of specialized knowledge. While preparing for the optional, it is advised to study first for the IAS mains paper and then prepare for IAS preliminary as this provides students an edge and then allow them to specialize in certain scoring areas.
How to Crack IAS Paper
Appearing for IAS and IPS through combined Competitive Examination for Civil Services Exam and recruitment into Indian Forest Service is not so easy. UPSC is a self prevailing government organization that ascertains that the recruitments are conducted on the basis of impartial examination pattern and therefore the notification for the examination is published in the employment news or daily newspapers so that each and everyone knows about its happenings.
The competitive Examination is conducted as per the following three steps:
Step I- Preliminary Examination
IAS prelims is written objective type examination and is conducted in the month of June every year with two following papers:
Paper I- General Studies paper with maximum mark 150 against 150 questions. The exam expands over two hours and questions are asked from six topics which are Indian History, Constitution of India, Geography, Economics, Science and Current Affairs.
Paper II- The second paper is an optional of student's choice which may include Political Science, Psychology, Economics, Physics, and Economics etc. This exam has maximum marks 300 against 120 questions and is two hour long.
IAS prelims are very competitive and therefore only highest scorers qualify for the second stage that is the Main Examination. It is quite interesting to note that the qualifying percentage is 10% in preliminary examination.
Step II- Main Examination
IAS Mains is a written examination which is a subjective or essay type format. This is generally conducted in the month of November/December. IAS Mains expands over nine papers:
Paper I & II- Language papers with maximum marks 300 each. One paper is English which is mandatory and the other is any Indian language mentioned in the eighth schedule of Indian Constitution. Passing these papers with a certain minimum percentage is necessary.
Paper III- This is a subjective type paper with maximum marks 200. Student can opt to write in either English or any other Indian language mentioned in the eighth schedule of the Constitution.
Paper IV and V- General Studies with General Knowledge and Current Affairs and maximum marks of 300
Paper VI, VII, VIII and IX- Two optional subjects, with two papers thereby making it four papers with 300 each and total marks of 1200.
Those who pass IAS mains are further reduced with a ratio of 1:10 to direct students to the next level that is Personality Test.
Step III- Personality Test
This is the final elimination stage and as expected the competition is highest at this stage. Candidates are selected with a ratio of 1:2 and therefore with 10 vacancies, twenty candidates are called for interview. These candidates are tested on their personality, social traits, teamwork and leadership qualities and their aptitude and skills that are usually involved in work.
After the personality test, the candidates have to also undergo a mandatory training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussorie as a probationary officer. This is the foundation course, after which specific job-oriented training is conducted separately by each service.
The competitive Examination is conducted as per the following three steps:
Step I- Preliminary Examination
IAS prelims is written objective type examination and is conducted in the month of June every year with two following papers:
Paper I- General Studies paper with maximum mark 150 against 150 questions. The exam expands over two hours and questions are asked from six topics which are Indian History, Constitution of India, Geography, Economics, Science and Current Affairs.
Paper II- The second paper is an optional of student's choice which may include Political Science, Psychology, Economics, Physics, and Economics etc. This exam has maximum marks 300 against 120 questions and is two hour long.
IAS prelims are very competitive and therefore only highest scorers qualify for the second stage that is the Main Examination. It is quite interesting to note that the qualifying percentage is 10% in preliminary examination.
Step II- Main Examination
IAS Mains is a written examination which is a subjective or essay type format. This is generally conducted in the month of November/December. IAS Mains expands over nine papers:
Paper I & II- Language papers with maximum marks 300 each. One paper is English which is mandatory and the other is any Indian language mentioned in the eighth schedule of Indian Constitution. Passing these papers with a certain minimum percentage is necessary.
Paper III- This is a subjective type paper with maximum marks 200. Student can opt to write in either English or any other Indian language mentioned in the eighth schedule of the Constitution.
Paper IV and V- General Studies with General Knowledge and Current Affairs and maximum marks of 300
Paper VI, VII, VIII and IX- Two optional subjects, with two papers thereby making it four papers with 300 each and total marks of 1200.
Those who pass IAS mains are further reduced with a ratio of 1:10 to direct students to the next level that is Personality Test.
Step III- Personality Test
This is the final elimination stage and as expected the competition is highest at this stage. Candidates are selected with a ratio of 1:2 and therefore with 10 vacancies, twenty candidates are called for interview. These candidates are tested on their personality, social traits, teamwork and leadership qualities and their aptitude and skills that are usually involved in work.
After the personality test, the candidates have to also undergo a mandatory training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussorie as a probationary officer. This is the foundation course, after which specific job-oriented training is conducted separately by each service.
How To Study For IAS And Preparing Notes
Preparing for civil services exam can prove to be a tough and unachievable task for all aspirants, but it is just the same as preparing for any other qualifying entrance which is held across the country today. For preparation, it is important to know the IAS syllabus of the optional subjects that you have opted; also you must have arranged the books for the same and must surely have made notes that may help u in long run to revise the IAS syllabus.
The notes you prepare must be written clearly as well as in a perfect order, so that you can refer to them in future. There are varied methods to prepare notes that include Linear Notes, Voice Notes and Pattern Notes.
Linear Notes- Talking of preparing linear notes, in this method, the study material is condensed in the form of headings and sub headings under which the most important points are jotted down. These kinds of notes can prove to be really helpful and making them is quite easy as while preparing linear notes from book, the material is already arranged properly in the book. However, there is one disadvantage of this method that while making notes, the students end up in copying the bookish language that proves to be fatal sometimes and defeats the purpose of condensing the matter at a single place.
The correct way to make use of this way is by using loose sheets in place of exercise book as it is easier to keep adding information. Leaving space in between of notes may help to integrate your notes with additional information in future. In order to make these notes look attractive you can utilize different colors, Fonts, capital letters, boxes and highlighting whenever necessary. This can draw your attention at certain content while preparing.
Pattern Notes- These kinds of notes are made as a pattern with the beginning of the topic written at the centre of the page. Just like the rays of sun, each line radiating out of the main idea is written in a brief way with the use of phrase or a keyword. This method can prove to be better than the linear approach as one can add more information without any hurdle of space. Also, the entire pattern can be seen at one go, without turning pages. Additionally, you can indicate links between different topics easily than the linear notes method.
One more plus-point of pattern notes is that it makes outstanding utilization of memory for revision as the aspirants keep jotting down points as they appear. And this makes it easier to remember as only phrases are used for making notes.
Voice Notes- Finally, talking of voice notes, this is a new method of preparing notes, as it requires a computer and internet connection. There are websites that offer clippings of classroom preparation for Indian Administrative Service, this way; you will be using your sensory organs which will help u remember this for a long time.
The notes you prepare must be written clearly as well as in a perfect order, so that you can refer to them in future. There are varied methods to prepare notes that include Linear Notes, Voice Notes and Pattern Notes.
Linear Notes- Talking of preparing linear notes, in this method, the study material is condensed in the form of headings and sub headings under which the most important points are jotted down. These kinds of notes can prove to be really helpful and making them is quite easy as while preparing linear notes from book, the material is already arranged properly in the book. However, there is one disadvantage of this method that while making notes, the students end up in copying the bookish language that proves to be fatal sometimes and defeats the purpose of condensing the matter at a single place.
The correct way to make use of this way is by using loose sheets in place of exercise book as it is easier to keep adding information. Leaving space in between of notes may help to integrate your notes with additional information in future. In order to make these notes look attractive you can utilize different colors, Fonts, capital letters, boxes and highlighting whenever necessary. This can draw your attention at certain content while preparing.
Pattern Notes- These kinds of notes are made as a pattern with the beginning of the topic written at the centre of the page. Just like the rays of sun, each line radiating out of the main idea is written in a brief way with the use of phrase or a keyword. This method can prove to be better than the linear approach as one can add more information without any hurdle of space. Also, the entire pattern can be seen at one go, without turning pages. Additionally, you can indicate links between different topics easily than the linear notes method.
One more plus-point of pattern notes is that it makes outstanding utilization of memory for revision as the aspirants keep jotting down points as they appear. And this makes it easier to remember as only phrases are used for making notes.
Voice Notes- Finally, talking of voice notes, this is a new method of preparing notes, as it requires a computer and internet connection. There are websites that offer clippings of classroom preparation for Indian Administrative Service, this way; you will be using your sensory organs which will help u remember this for a long time.
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