Category: IAS Topper’s Interview

This page is dedicated to IAS Toppers. Here we have published IAS toppers interview, IAS toppers blog, success story of ias toppers, IAS preparation tips and strategy from IAS toppers.

IAS Score

Learning from the mistakes, Aparajita IAS Rank 40 CSE 2017, 3rd attempt, History Optional

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It’s not always possible to walk on right track. .. but most important part of it is to learn from your mistakes. ..!!!

So it’s better to learn from other’s mistake! !!

IAS Score

IAS Topper Bipasha Kalita CSE 2017 Rank 41, Topper from North-East States

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Name Bipasha Kalita
Rank in CSE 2016 41
Total Attempts in CSE 4
Optional Subject Anthropology
Medium English
Home Town City/State Guwahati, Assam

Continue reading “IAS Topper Bipasha Kalita CSE 2017 Rank 41, Topper from North-East States”

IAS Score

IAS Toppers Strategy, Ankita Mishra Rank 105, CSE 2017, 3rd Attempt

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Name Ankita Mishra
Rank in CSE 2016 105
Total Attempts in CSE 3
Optional Subject Anthropology
Medium English
Home Town City/State UP

Continue reading “IAS Toppers Strategy, Ankita Mishra Rank 105, CSE 2017, 3rd Attempt”

IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Interview 2016 – 2017: K. Dinesh Kumar IAS Rank 06 with Pol Science Optional

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Name: Kothamasu Dinesh Kumar
Rank in CSE 2016: 06
Total Attempts in CSE: 01
Optional Subject: Political Science

Download Topper’s Test Copy

AIR 6 Dinesh Kumar Political Science Test – 1

 

AIR 6 Dinesh Kumar Political Science Test – 2

 

AIR 6 Dinesh Kumar Political Science Test – 3

 

AIR 6 Dinesh Kumar Political Science Test – 4

 

AIR 6 Dinesh Kumar Political Science Test – 5

 

AIR 6 Dinesh Kumar Political Science Test – 6

 

AIR 6 Dinesh Kumar Political Science Test – 7

 

AIR 6 Dinesh Kumar Political Science Test – 8

 

AIR 6 Dinesh Kumar Political Science Test – 9

 

AIR 6 Dinesh Kumar Political Science Test – 10

 

IAS Score

IAS Toppers Interview: Suman Sourav Mohanty Rank 9 CSE 2016

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Name Suman Sourav Mohanty
Rank in CSE 2016 09 in CSE 2016/ 413 in CSE 2015
Total Attempts in CSE 4
Optional Subject Public Administration
Medium English
Video 1: Preparation strategy for GS & Essay
Video 2: Preparation strategy for Public Administration 

 

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 83.66
 Class 12 Percentage of marks 82.55
Graduation: College and marks 75.55
Post graduation: College and marks
Any other course Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?
Suman Sourav Mohanty: Faith in my goal, hard work, strategy for every stage of exam.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?
Suman Sourav Mohanty: Divide the syllabus into various parts and getting facts, current development for each part and revision.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?
Suman Sourav Mohanty: It was separate as prelims is intensive whereas mains is extensive. However certain portions such as economic survey, history, art & culture, current affairs were same for both.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance GS Score and various coaching test series
Basic Books Bankimchandra, NCERT, GS Score material
Current Affairs IAS Baba, insight, the hindu, gs score current analyst, GK today
Test Series GS Score, Insight

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 NCERT, IGNOU Hindu, IAS Baba, GS Score, Insight GS Score Test Series and Old Questions Workbook for GS Paper 1
GS Paper 2 Laxmikant, Gist of ARC Report of GS Score, Puri Sir Notes, Chookalingam sir IR IAS Baba, Insight, Hindu GS Score Test Series and Old Questions Workbook for GS Paper 2
GS Paper 3 Economic Survey, Yojna, Kuruksheta IAS Baba, Insight, GS Score Contemporary Issues Notes GS Score Test Series and Old Questions Workbook for GS Paper 3
GS Paper 4 Lexicon, S. K. Mishra Sir Notes, Manoj Sir Case Study Workbook, GS Score Ethics Terminology GS Score Test Series and Old Questions Workbook for Part 1 and Case Study

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.
Suman Sourav Mohanty: Writing Test Series in GS Score, practicing multiple topics, dividing syllabus of essay and linking to current affairs.

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?
Suman Sourav Mohanty: Use of quotations, ethical thinkers, examples in case studies.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?
Suman Sourav Mohanty: Old questions, toppers interview, books from bookshops.

IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?
Suman Sourav Mohanty: Don’t make lengthy notes rather focus on short notes which are easily revisable.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?
Suman Sourav Mohanty: Only point format.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.
Suman Sourav Mohanty: IAS Baba, Insight, GS Score QIP Notes, Business Standard, The Hindu

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?
Suman Sourav Mohanty: Have faith on your dream and do not leave them.

IAS Score: Your experience in IAS preparation journey with GS Score.
Suman Sourav Mohanty: Awesome, I would give all my credit to GS Score for guidance, type of answer writing, personal feedback by faculties. Specially Manoj Sir and Ashutosh Sir.

Suman Sourav Mohanty Mark sheet

Paper Year 2016 Year 2015
Prelims 136 128
Essay (Paper 1) 143 136
GS 1 (Paper 2) 131 91
GS 2 (Paper 3) 106 93
GS 3 (Paper 4) 126 95
GS 4 (Paper 5) 116 95
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 155 209
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 144
Written Total 917 637
Personality Test 168 173
Total Score 1085 810

 

Download Suman Sourav Mohanty Test Copy

Marks in Essay (UPSC): 143

AIR 9 Suman Sourav Mohanty Essay Test – 5

 

AIR 9 Suman Sourav Mohanty Essay Test – 3

 

AIR 9 Suman Sourav Mohanty Essay Test – 2

 

AIR 9 Suman Sourav Mohanty Essay Test – 1

 

Marks in GS-1 (131), GS-2 (106), GS-3 (126), GS-4 (116)

AIR 9 Suman Sourav Mohanty Mock Test – 3

 

AIR 9 Suman Sourav Mohanty Mock Test – 2

 

Marks in Ethics (UPSC): 116

AIR 9 Suman Sourav Mohanty Ethics Test – 4

 

IAS Score

IAS Toppers Interview: Sidharth B Rank 15 CSE 2016, Political Science Optional

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Name Sidharth B
Rank in CSE 2016 15
Total Attempts in CSE 2
Optional Subject PSIR
Medium English

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 88.2
 Class 12 Percentage of marks 87.8
Graduation: College and marks Mar Athanasius College of Engg – 73.4
Post graduation: College and marks N/A
Any other course N/A

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?
Sidharth B: Keeping the GS preparation as simple as possible. Investing more time and effort in optional subject.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?
Sidharth B:  Prelims: I tried to cover the topics as broadly as possible. Basic books are the bedrock – Laxmikant (Polity), NCERTs (history, geography, art and culture), Shankar’s Environment etc
Mains: I stuck to the syllabus. Used basic books for each topic – NCERTs, Laxmikant, Vision/GS Score notes, ARC 4th report (Click Here to Download Summary of ARC Reports). Key is to identify the correct basic book for the relevant topic. This can be obtained from previous toppers’ book lists.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?
Sidharth B: The integration largely happens in case of GS1 – because that’s where sources overlap considerably.

However we must note that the requirement in prelims is to increase the breadth of knowledge. There is a lot of information to cram. Especially in topics like environment, art and culture etc.

In mains on the other hand, some basic knowledge of all topics is required. However the questions in mains tests our analytical skills and our ability to connect they syllabus to what we read in newspapers. This requires a different approach.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Shankar’s environment
Basic Books Laxmikant Indian Polity, NCERTS – history (6-12), Ancient India RS Sharma, Geography (11th, 12th), Fine Arts NCERT, NIOS
Current Affairs GS Score, Vision IAS
Test Series GS Score, Vision Ias, CL
Any other

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Piyush Choubey sir’s and Shubhra Ranjan ma’m’s notes
Basic Books Brian Nelson – Western pol thought, Andrew Heywood – pol ideoloigy & global politics, Baylis and Smith – Globalization of World Politics, Peu Ghosh – International Relations, OP Gauba – Pol theory IGNOU material for comparative politics
Current Affairs Think Tanks like  ORF, Carnegie ; The Hindu ;
Answer Writing Piyush Choubey sir test series, Shubhra ma’am test series
Any other

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?
Sidharth B: I tried to make my own notes from ARC and other sources.
Wrote down definitions of words like neutrality, impartiality, objectivity – along with good examples so that if a question came, i had ready made answers
Answer writing practice is key. Also I read answers of candidates who scored well in test series (Click Here to download IAS Toppers Test Copy). Referring to model answers helped me get new ideas which i incorporated in my own answers. This helps especially in case studies.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?
Sidharth B: I used to read articles from the web sites of Think Tanks like ORF, Carnegie, IDSA. I also used to read books whenever i found time.
I used to watch Rajya Sabha TV, John Oliver’s show on YouTube and documentaries too. All this helped me in my exam.

IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants
Sidharth B: Notes are only as good as u can revise them. I made copious notes for gs – especially current affairs and ended up not reading vast majority of it. I eventually relied on Vision CA summary.
So i ended up wasting a lot of time preparing notes.
My suggestion is to keep notes short, crisp & precise so that one can go back and revise them before mains.
In case of prelims note making has far more important. Here also, in case there are news items that catches one’s attention, it would be better to take it down in a short and precise form.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?
Sidharth B: I never managed time in a scientific manner. My preparation was unstructured. I did try to make a daily schedule. I followed it only for 1 month or so.
There were days when I prepared for more than 12 (or even 14 hours ) a day. However such days were few and far between them. I may have averaged less than 8 hours a day through the course of my preparation. I had a wide variety of sources of entertainment to keep me relaxed.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?
Sidharth B: In PSIR – i used a paragraph format majorly and points only when necessary
In GS – point format was given precedence over paragraph.
It was evolved through trial and error, after I got feedback from test series.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?
Sidharth B: Test series is extremely vital in both cases.
In prelims, I took nearly 30 tests before the actual exam. I improved my speed, accuracy and way of attempting questoins by keeping a close track of my perforamance. I used to set parameters for performance and do an analysis in an excel sheet to track progress
In mains – for optional subject i took shubhra ma’ams and piyush sir’s tests. they helped in time management.
Getting feedback helped me improve my performance both in PSIR, GS

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?
Sidharth B: My preparation was unstructured. I kept myself entertained in a lot of ways. YouTube was the gateway to most of my entertainment – be it documentaries, sitcoms, music, tennis etc.
Hanging out with friends, long chats and phone calls also lifted my mood in case i felt low.
I did not end up spending long hours in most of the days, although I used to come back into that mode at least for about 7-10 days every month.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?
Sidharth B: Exam is fair to everyone as far I as know. Everyone is given the option to choose their optionals.
In fact, most of topics in GS is from humanities background.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.
Sidharth B: Read the Hindu . VisionIAS and GS Score Summary was very important. RSTV shows like BIg Picture, India’s world, State of the economy etc
Web sites of think tanks like – IDSA, ORF

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.
Sidharth B: InsightsOnIndia, iasscore.in, studydhaba.com, Mrunal.org

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?
Sidharth B: Keep your gs preparation simple. dedicate more time and energy for optionals.

IAS Score: Your experience in IAS preparation journey with GS Score.
Sidharth B: It was a wonderful interview session at GS Score, where I got important feedback. I tried to rectify the shortcomings to the best of my abilities. I did get 198 for interview, which is a good score
I had subscribed to Piyush sir’s test series and video lessons and subscribed Shubhra ma’ams to get the best of both world’s.
Piyush sir’s approach towards the subject gave me a new perspective on how to study this subject. It helped me immensely in scoring 164 marks in Paper 1. I also referred to his notes extensively. I extend a big thank you to him.

Sidharth B Mark sheet

Paper Marks
Prelims 147
Essay (Paper 1) 153
GS 1 (Paper 2) 104
GS 2 (Paper 3) 109
GS 3 (Paper 4) 102
GS 4 (Paper 5) 113
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 164
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 128
Written Total 873
Personality Test 198
Total Score 1071

 

IAS Score

IAS Topper Interview 2016-2017: Rank 26 Mallika Sudhir IAS Prepraion Strategy

  • by IAS Score
Video 1: IAS Preparation Strategy 
Video 2: Preparation strategy for Ethics 

 

Name MALIKA SUDHIR
Rank in CSE 2015 26
Total Attempts in CSE 4
Optional Subject History
Medium English

 

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 81.2%
 Class 12 Percentage of marks 75%
Graduation: College and marks Daulat Ram collage, D.U. 53% B.A.(Horns) History
Post graduation: College and marks JNU CHS M.A. (History) CGPA – 5.75/9
Any other course M.Phil (History) JMI 70.1%

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?
MALIKA SUDHIR:

  • Repeated Revision.
  • Consolidating whatever one has read.
  • Test Practice

 

IAS Score:  What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?
MALIKA SUDHIR:  Prelims: Focusing on important topics after analyzing previous year paper
Mains: Note marking in brief.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?
MALIKA SUDHIR: Special focus on prelims separately of basic reading for prelims helped in mains also.

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.
MALIKA SUDHIR:  GS Score (Ethics + Essay test series) and Writing Practice.

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?
MALIKA SUDHIR: Read IAS Score tests and thinking line given on Ethics Workbook. Practiced answer writing in GS Score test series.

IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?
MALIKA SUDHIR: Note Marking helps in consolidating and come handy at the time of revision, Provided notes are brief.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?
MALIKA SUDHIR: By following a plan, every day To Do Lists

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) Of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?
MALIKA SUDHIR:  Both Paragraph and point format in GS and Paragraph format in optional.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?
MALIKA SUDHIR: Test series are the only way of getting a feel the exam, also it helps in developing confidence.
I Join test series at GS Score and vision, The comments given by Manoj Sir in my Ethics and Essay copies were very helpful.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?
MALIKA SUDHIR:  I took frequent breaks, Listened to music and talk to my family and friends who were a constant source of strength

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?
MALIKA SUDHIR: Humanities of social sciences students need to focus more on prelims while mains may be relatively easy.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.
MALIKA SUDHIR:  Topical compilation on iasscore.in, GS Score contemporary issues material and news papers.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.
IAS Score, Study IQ Education (Youtube)

 

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?
MALIKA SUDHIR:  Never ever lose your confidence. That is the most precious thing. Remember the phoenix and a sher__
““ Girte hain shah sawar maidan e jung mein,
Wo tifl kya girenge jo ghutno ke bal chale”

IAS Score: Your experience in IAS preparation journey with GS Score.
MALIKA SUDHIR:  Manoj Sir’s guidance through his in-depth remarks on test helped me reassure myself about by writing ability and helped me improve where I was lacking

Mallika Sudhir Mark sheet

Paper Year 2016
Prelims
Essay (Paper 1) 147
GS 1 (Paper 2) 118
GS 2 (Paper 3) 97
GS 3 (Paper 4) 113
GS 4 (Paper 5) 117
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 131
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 170
Written Total
Personality Test 171
Total Score 1064

 

Download Topper’s Test Copy

Marks in Ethics (UPSC): 117

AIR 26 Mallika Sudhir Ethics Test – 4

 

AIR 26 Mallika Sudhir Ethics Test – 3

 

AIR 26 Mallika Sudhir Ethics Test – 2

 

AIR 26 Mallika Sudhir Ethics Test – 1

 

Marks in Essay (UPSC): 147

AIR 26 Mallika Sudhir Essay Test – 3

 

AIR 26 Mallika Sudhir Essay Test – 2

 

AIR 26 Mallika Sudhir Essay Test – 1

 

IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Interview 2016: Manuj Jindal IAS Rank 53

  • by IAS Score
Name Manuj Jindal
Rank in CSE 2016 53
Total Attempts in CSE 3
Optional Subject Management
Medium English

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 72%
 Class 12 Percentage of marks 57%
Graduation: College and marks 86%
Post graduation: College and marks N/A
Any other course N/A

Manuj Jindal Mark sheet

Paper Year 2016 Year 2015
Prelims 135 155
Essay (Paper 1) 158 90
GS 1 (Paper 2) 108 101
GS 2 (Paper 3) 111 84
GS 3 (Paper 4) 127 100
GS 4 (Paper 5) 108 89
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 130 143
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 151 108
Written Total
Personality Test 165 162
Total Score

 

Download Topper’s Test Copy

Marks in Ethics (UPSC): 105

AIR 53 Manuj Jindal Ethics Test – 1

 

AIR 53 Manuj Jindal Ethics Test – 2

 

Marks in Essay (UPSC): 158

AIR 53 Manuj Jindal Essay Test – 2

 

IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Interview 2016 – 2017: Shashank Chaudhary IAS Rank 130, First Attempt

  • by IAS Score
Name SHASHANK CHAUDHARY
Rank in CSE 2016 130
Total Attempts in CSE 1
Optional Subject MATHEMATICS
Medium ENGLISH

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 90.2
 Class 12 Percentage of marks 88
Graduation: College and marks IIT DELHI 2014, 6.84 CGPA
Post graduation: College and marks NA
Any other course NA

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?
Shashank Choudhary: Perseverance, Hard work and practice.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?
Shashank Choudhary: Prelims- Solved 100 questions per day from 2 months before examination.

Mains- Focused on answer writing and made optional my strong point.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?
Shashank Choudhary: Yes

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.
Shashank Choudhary: Wrote 15-20 essays and got them checked , learnt from the feedback.

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?
Shashank Choudhary: NO. Just do not leave case studies for the end.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?
Shashank Choudhary: I followed material suggested by previous years’ toppers.

IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?
Shashank Choudhary: Should be in your own words and reduce them regularly so that you have less pages to revise by the time you reach mains.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?
Shashank Choudhary: Planned my study and made weekly targets.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) Of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?
Shashank Choudhary: Mostly points which I learnt from mock test series of GS score.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?
Shashank Choudhary: Solving questions is very important for both prelims and mains. Mock tests help to train mind in order to think in examination hall.
Prelims- Vision and Vajiram test series
Mains – GS Score

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?
Shashank Choudhary: I took small breaks every 2 hours of study. Also, watched motivational videos and read about previous years’ toppers and their struggle. I changed the subject whenever I got bored. I studied 3 different subjects on a usual day to break monotony.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?
Shashank Choudhary: Your mains answer sheet does not have your profession or background written on it, thus it does not matter where you come from as long as you put in hard work.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.
Shashank Choudhary: Newspapers and summary articles on GS score.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.
Shashank Choudhary: Insightonindia, gsscore, mrunal, iasbaba.

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?
Shashank Choudhary: Have clarity of thought while preparing, put in extra effort to get good results.

IAS Score: Your experience in IAS preparation journey with GS Score.
Shashank Choudhary: GS Score mains mock test series helped me to improve my answers.

Shashank Choudhary Mark sheet

Paper Year 2016
Prelims 126
Essay (Paper 1) 144
GS 1 (Paper 2) 110
GS 2 (Paper 3) 102
GS 3 (Paper 4) 106
GS 4 (Paper 5) 101
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 161
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 143
Written Total 867
Personality Test 165
Total Score 1032

 

Download Shashank Chaudhary’s Test Copy

AIR 130 Shashank Chaudhary Mains Test – 5

 

AIR 130 Shashank Chaudhary Mains Test – 7

 

AIR 130 Shashank Chaudhary Mains Test – 12

 

AIR 130 Shashank Chaudhary Mains Test – 8

 

AIR 130 Shashank Chaudhary Mains Test – 11

 

AIR 130 Shashank Chaudhary Mains Test – 3

 

AIR 130 Shashank Chaudhary Mains Test – 4

 

Marks in Ethics (UPSC): 101

AIR 130 Shashank Chaudhary Ethics Test – 6

 

AIR 130 Shashank Chaudhary Ethics Test – 1

 

AIR 130 Shashank Chaudhary Ethics Test – 10

 

IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Interview 2016 – 2017: Brij Shankar IAS Rank 274, 5th attempt, 4 Interview

  • by IAS Score
Name BRIJ SHANKAR
Rank in CSE 2016 274
Total Attempts in CSE 5 ( 4 TIME QUALIFIED FOR INTERVIEW)
Optional Subject PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Medium ENGLISH

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 85.8
 Class 12Percentage of marks 86.6
Graduation: College and marks SVNIT,SURAT (7.98)
Post graduation: College and marks NOT APPLICABLE
Any other course NOT APPLICABLE

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?
Brij Shankar: Faith in my abilities and perseverance was key to my success. As you can see that it took success a long time to come my way, keeping myself motivated year after year especially after three rejections in final stagewas very challenging. At the end of the day optimism and faith in the justice of almighty pays.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?
Brij Shankar: Integrated approach for both on prelims and mains helps in GS preparations. Self-made short notes on contemporary topics from newspaper are very important for last minute revisions at both the stages. For mains a lot of answer writing practice is required which one can get through test series.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?
Brij Shankar: Integrated approach is must for reducing burden of vast syllabus and optimum value addition during preparations.

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.
Brij Shankar: I enrolled in GS Score test series for essay and referred to model essays. Yojna magazine is also very helpful in essay preparations.

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?
Brij Shankar: I enrolled in GS Score test series and attended post-test discussion for GS-IV. It helped me a lot during writing answers in main examination.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?
Brij Shankar: Mostly from the interview of successful candidate. Also all teaching institute provides a list of standard reference materials.

IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?
Brij Shankar: Please do make short notes. It will help immensely during answer writing in mains. It will also reduce your revision time.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?
Brij Shankar: It was difficult to manage because of my job. But I tried to utilize whatever time I got to prepare and make notes. Google drive and other such things are very useful in making short notes from newspapers. I also took about 2 months leave before main examination.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format)of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?
Brij Shankar: It was both mix of paragraph and point format. It generally followed the Introduction-Body- Conclusion style of answer writing. I developed my writing style by making notes from newspaper and reading the answer sheets of good candidates.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?
Brij Shankar: Since I am a working professional so I use to get limited time for preparations. So, long hours of study were not the case for me. But my job helped me in breaking the monotony.
Watching movies, listening songs and doing physical exercises also helps during preparations.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?
Brij Shankar: I am not aware of any such trend. But from personal point of view, I am also a full time working professional with HPCL. Good job gives you confidence and financial security if you are not from a very well off family background. Another advantage is that Job helps you better in coping with failures. But on other hand, at times it becomes difficult to manage both job and preparations.
I don’t think this exam is difficult for humanities and social science background especially after change in CSAT pattern post -2014. Most of the engineering and medical graduates are appearing with humanities optional. Every year there is substantial number of qualified people with social science background.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.
Brij Shankar: Newspaper, RS TV debates and internet.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.
Brij Shankar: Mrunal.org, Iasscore.in, Forum IAS, IAS Baba

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?
Brij Shankar: Friends my only advice is that if you are motivated to crack this exam then don’t get dis heartened by some failures. Learn from your mistakes and appear next time with improved strategy and knowledge base. Luck do play its part but only for those who are good enough and for that you need to work very hard.

IAS Score: Your experience in IAS preparation journey withGS Score.
Brij Shankar: I have taken Essay and GS Paper-IV test series at GS score and it helped immensely in GS preparations. My performance in GS Paper-IV is decent. I had also referred to Current affairs notes of GS score for interview.

Download Brij Shankar’s Test Copy

AIR 274 Brij Shankar Ethis Mock Test – 2

 

AIR 274 Brij Shankar Ethics Mock Test – 3

 

AIR 274 Brij Shankar Ethics Mock Test – 1

 

AIR 274 Brij Shankar Ethic Mock Test – 4

 

AIR 274 Brij Shankar Essay Mock Test – 1

 

AIR 274 Brij Shankar Essay Mock -2

 

IAS Score

IAS Topper Interview 2016-2017: Rank 306 Shashank Shekher Singh IAS Prepration Strategy

  • by IAS Score

Name Shashank Shekher Singh
Rank in CSE 2015 306
Total Attempts in CSE First Attempt
Optional Subject Sociology
Medium English

Shashank Shekar Singh Mark sheet

Paper Year 2016
Prelims
Essay (Paper 1) 135
GS 1 (Paper 2) 104
GS 2 (Paper 3) 111
GS 3 (Paper 4) 107
GS 4 (Paper 5) 124
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 165
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 110
Written Total 856
Personality Test 154
Total Score 1010

Download Topper’s Test Copy

Marks in Ethics (UPSC): 124

AIR 306 Shashank Shekher Ethics Mock Test – 2

 

AIR 306 Shashank Shekher Ethics Test – 3

 

AIR 306 Shashank Shekher Ethics Test – 1

 

IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Interview 2015: Jasmeet Singh Sandhu AIR 03

  • by IAS Score

Name: Jasmeet Singh Sandhu
Rank in CSE 2015: 03
Total Attempts in CSE: 04
Optional Subject: Literature of Punjabi Language

Education:
Class 10 percentage of marks:  89.6%
Class 12 Percentage of marks:  86.4%
Graduation: College and marks:  85.22% IIT Roorkee

Strategy for IAS Preparation

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu: Simplicity in preparation, multi-dimensional answer writing, preservation.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu: I divided the topic into sub-topics & prepared points on them. I made this summary & kept on revising it.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu: Both the preparation were integrated. I just attempted pre-mock test series extra for prelims part.

IAS Score: How did you prepare for prelims.
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu:  I have already written in brief on quora in March about my Preparation Strategy. Click Here to read that post.

IAS Score: How did you prepare for Mains General Studies.
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu: Same answer.  Click Here to read that post on quora.

IAS Score: How did you prepare for Essay.
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu:  I prepared from puneet gulati’s blog on Anay Dwivedi’s bog & Sagar Upadhyaya’s blog.

IAS Score: Did you adopted any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu: Click Here to read my post on quora.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu: Same answer.  Click Here to read that post on quora.

IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu: Divide the topic into sub-topics & make short points on each sub topics and revise this again and again.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu: I got selected in 4th attempt. So, time was never an issue. But my advice to all aspirants is that be focused on what you study & don’t be worried about the syllabus left.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu: I started off with the introduction in para, the body was in point format. In the conclusion, I mentioned recommendations in para/point format.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Jasmeet Singh Sandhu: I never joined test series. But I extensively discussed various test series with my friends who helped me a lot to frame answers.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu: My parents, friends game me a lot of support. I always maintained a positive spirit & was never disheartened by my failures.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu: I beg to differ. I think it is more case of how one prepare. It has a level playing field for working professionals & non working people and both the humanities & sciences are at the same level.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu:
http://www.insightsonindia.com : for secure compilation & daily current affairs.
http://iasbaba.com : for monthly magazine
http://iasscore.in/ : for prelims current affairs and mains contemporary issues material
http://mrunal.org/

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?
Jasmeet Singh Sandhu: Be positive, never loose spirit & continue to work hard.

Marks in CSE 2015

Essay (Paper 1) 139
GS 1 (Paper 2) 120
GS 2 (Paper 3) 100
GS 3 (Paper 4) 111
GS 4 (Paper 5) 109
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 120
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 125
Written Total 824
Personality Test 190
Total Score 1014

 

IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Interview 2015: Siddharth Jain AIR 13

  • by IAS Score
Name Siddharth Jain
Rank in CSE 2015 13
Total Attempts in CSE 2
Optional Subject Mathematics
Medium English

 

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 96
 Class 12Percentage of marks 91
Graduation: College and marks 7.34, IIT Roorkee
Post graduation: College and marks N/A
Any other course N/A

Strategy Discussion

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Siddharth Jain: Group study, smart notes making, focus on particular mark fetching, subjects, maintain proper mental health.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Siddharth Jain: Prelims: Given many tests of different test series, analyze the area from where upsc is asking questions, cover basics properly.

Mains: Answer writing practice through many tests, follow minimum material.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Siddharth Jain: I followed integrated approach for both prelims and mains preparation.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance
Basic Books NCERT
Current Affairs VISION IAS, THE HINDU
Test Series Many test series
Any other N/A

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 Vision, mrunal, ncert Vision, mrunal Insight
GS Paper 2 Do do Do
GS Paper 3 Do do Do
GS Paper 4 GS Score N/A Do

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary)

Study material / Guidance
Basic Books Followed IMS Notes
Current Affairs
Answer Writing
Any other Written Test Series

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Siddharth Jain: Every week essay practice, joined classes under vikas ranjan sir.

IAS Score: Did you adopted any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Siddharth Jain: S. K. Mishra Sir classes and test series at GS Score. Mrunal Video, specific focus on case studies.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Siddharth Jain: NCERT, Mrunal, Vision IAS

IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Siddharth Jain: Make good notes and if possible make soft copy notes.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Siddharth Jain: Make a time table and follow it judiciously.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Siddharth Jain: Paragraph and point format I used both. Answer writing practice: Insight and Test Series

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Siddharth Jain: Test series is very important. I joined vision ias and synergy test series.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Siddharth Jain: Mediation, group study, music and physical exercise.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Siddharth Jain: No, I don’t think so.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

Siddharth Jain: Vision IAS, murnal, gs score, the hindu, insight.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Siddharth Jain: Mrunal .org, Insight

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Siddharth Jain: Keep some backup.  Focus on some specific paper for rank/marks fetching and get at least average marks in others.

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants.

Siddharth Jain: Choose the right optional and keep a backup.

Mark sheet

Paper Year 2015 Year 2014
Prelims 128
Essay (Paper 1) 142 68
GS 1 (Paper 2) 103 91
GS 2 (Paper 3) 82 82
GS 3 (Paper 4) 97 68
GS 4 (Paper 5) 99 116
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 114 94
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 154 145
Written Total 791 670
Personality Test 187
Total Score 978

Click Here to Download Topper’s Test Copy of CSE 2015

IAS Score

IAS Toppers Interview: EESHA PRIYA Rank 75 First Attempt

  • by IAS Score
Name EESHA PRIYA
Rank in CSE 2015 75
Total Attempts in CSE 1
Optional Subject public administration
Medium English

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 94
 Class 12Percentage of marks 82
Graduation: College and marks 83 (Btech)
Post graduation: College and marks N/A
Any other course Senior Engineer at Larsen &Toubro

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

EESHA PRIYA: Planning , Focus and Hardwork

 

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

EESHA PRIYA: I tried to merge my preparation for prelims and mains. Referring limited number of books , reading each book 5 times helped..I preferred IGNOU, National open school materials along with online websites like pib.com , prs.in etc

 

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

EESHA PRIYA: No..it being my first attempt, I integrated the preparation.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance
Basic Books NCERT Class 11 , 12 old and new ones Laxmikant for polity, Shankar IAS for ecology, Sriram IAS for economics, GC leong for geography
Current Affairs Online supplements of GS SCORE , IAS Score Current Affairs E-Magazine

 

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 GS SCORE Contemporary Issues / SRIRAM IAS GS Score
GS Paper 2 GS SCORE Contemporary Issues / SRIRAM IAS/ Chronicle GS Score
GS Paper 3 Economic survey Summary/Chronicle Magazine GS Score
GS Paper 4 Lexicon Chronicle Chronicle magazine GSSCORE

 

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary)

Study material / Guidance
Basic Books Sapru admin thinkers and public policy, mohit bhattacharya..entire series, Arora and Fadia
Current Affairs Newspapers
Answer Writing SELF
Any other Not taken any classes for pub ad but Ashutosh Pandey Sir 4 Days Pub Ad Marks Augmentation Classes were very useful for me. Helped a lot in preparing my notes.

 

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

EESHA PRIYA: I enrolled in for the online test series @ GSSCORE…Manoj sir’s remarks on d answer sheets helped me improve.

 

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

EESHA PRIYA: No….just that I attempted d case studies first to get ample time to think

 

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

EESHA PRIYA: I searched materials as per requirements of syllabus ..along with previous years questions in mind.

 

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

EESHA PRIYA: Mark important points in books….compile them precisely in d notes.

 

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

EESHA PRIYA: Tried to curtail wasting time, gave up social networking sites…divided the time into revision hours and fresh topics to study…writing essay on weekends etc.

 

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

EESHA PRIYA: I stuck to the point format. Enrolling in a test series helped my develop proper structure and style for writing.

 

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

EESHA PRIYA: Test series for prelims helped me get accustomed to the MCQ format in a time bound manner. Enrolling in a mains test series helped me develop proper structure and style for writing.

GK Today and SRIRAMS IAS for prelims

GSSCORE for mains

I found all the tests very useful in developing conceptual clarity and analytical thinking.

 

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

EESHA PRIYA: A strong internal Motivation is very important to maintain zest and vigour during preparation. 100% Focus helped me maintain my tempo and avoid distractions. Talking to parents and friends helped me break monotony.

 

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

EESHA PRIYA: I guess working professionals r more successful because they r accustomed to long working hours, performance targets and delivery during stress. Making CSAT qualifying has reduced the advantage that engineers had..But analytical skills and application based approach desired by UPSC is inherent in science subjects.

 

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

EESHA PRIYA: Newspaper -The hindu and Indian express, online sites , Civil Services Chronicle etc

 

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

insightsonindia.com

iasscore

prs.com

pib.in

mrunal.com

 

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

EESHA PRIYA: Devote yourself totally towards this exam , Maintain Self Confidence that you can crack this exam…and above all Have faith in GOD that he will definitely reward your efforts one day!

 

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants

EESHA PRIYA: Develop a habit of reading the Hindu…early on…if you are planning to appear in CSE someday…Dedicated hard work is surely rewarded!

 

EESHA PRIYA Mark sheet

Paper Marks
Prelims 126 PAPER1
Essay (Paper 1) 140
GS 1 (Paper 2) 114
GS 2 (Paper 3) 91
GS 3 (Paper 4) 104
GS 4 (Paper 5) 94
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 113
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 114
Written Total 770
Personality Test 165
Total Score 935

Download test copies of EESHA PRIYA

IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Interview: IAS Rank 89 Sumant Sahay, 137 Marks in Essay

  • by IAS Score
Name Sumant Sahay
Rank in CSE 2015 89
Total Attempts in CSE 4
Optional Subject History
Medium English

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Sumant Sahay: Perseverance, revision, answer writing practice and optimum use of internet to augment the books.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Sumant Sahay: A time bound coverage of syllabus and revision as per the decided plan

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Sumant Sahay: yes

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Sumant Sahay: I took essay tests at GS Score.

Download Test Copy of Sumant Sahay (137 Marks in Essay)

IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Sumant Sahay: Notes should be crisp, concise and in your own language. It should be reduced to a size so that whole syllabus could be skimmed through in 2 days.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Sumant Sahay: By sticking to the decided schedule

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format)Of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Sumant Sahay: A combination of Paragraph and point format. Horses for the courses.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Sumant Sahay: The most important thing that a test series does is that it synchronizes your answer writing to 3 hour time frame and weed out obvious mistakes.

  1. Essay test series at GS Score
  2. GS test series at Vision IAS

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Sumant Sahay: Read novels, watch movies, go out for a vacation

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

Sumant Sahay: Newspaper and internet, Mrunal.org

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Sumant Sahay:

Mrunal.org

Iasscore.in

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Sumant Sahay: Stick to the schedule that you make, by schedule I don’t mean 8 hours a day or so. A time frame should be decided for a topic beforehand and try to finish it in that.

Sumant Sahay Mark sheet

Paper Year 2015
Prelims 123.67+167
Essay (Paper 1) 137
GS 1 (Paper 2) 99
GS 2 (Paper 3) 83
GS 3 (Paper 4) 93
GS 4 (Paper 5) 95
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 120
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 118
Written Total 745
Personality Test 187
Total Score 932
IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Interview 2015: Rakesh Kumar Minhas AIR 91

  • by IAS Score

Name:    Rakesh Kumar Minhas
Rank in CSE 2015:   91
Optional Subject:  Medical Science

Education:

Class 10 percentage of marks:  93%
Class 12Percentage of marks:  85%
Graduation: College and marks:  65% Baba Farid Univ. of Health Science
Post graduation: College and marks Govt. Medical College (Patiala) MS (Surgery)

 

Marks in CSE 2015

Essay (Paper 1) 141
GS 1 (Paper 2) 81
GS 2 (Paper 3) 72
GS 3 (Paper 4) 101
GS 4 (Paper 5) 101
Optional 1 Medical Science (Paper 6) 124
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 133
Written Total 753
Personality Test 179
Total Score 932

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Rakesh Kumar Minhas : Consistent hard work, blessing of my elders.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Rakesh Kumar Minhas : Stick to the syllabus, be analytical, smart study.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Rakesh Kumar Minhas :  Always integrate.

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Rakesh Kumar Minhas : Regular reading of yojna, kurukshetra + use of facts-figures.

IAS Score: Did you adopted any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Rakesh Kumar Minhas :  GS Score material is self sufficient. Write from your heart, follow your intuition. Write tests to develop your answer writing skill.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Rakesh Kumar Minhas :  Know the full syllabus, read relevant topics from newspaper & notes.

IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Rakesh Kumar Minhas :  Notes making helps revise faster. It should be done in point format.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Rakesh Kumar Minhas :  Study most of the day. 4-5 hrs on weekdays and 7-8 hrs on weekends. Test yourself regularly.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Rakesh Kumar Minhas :  Point format. It helps the examiners read answer quicker.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Rakesh Kumar Minhas :  It helps in time management and helps increase the speed of yours thought process. I had joined  GS Score test series for mains.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Rakesh Kumar Minhas :  Maintain your fitness and health. Take breaks.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Rakesh Kumar Minhas :  No, the syllabus is same for everyone. Anyone with the right approach can crack it.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

Rakesh Kumar Minhas :  Newspaper and GS Score contemporary issues material.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

www.bbc.com
www.mrunal.org
www.iasscore.in
www.forumias.com
rstv, lstv, youtube videos,

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Rakesh Kumar Minhas :  Determination will get you to your goal.

Click Here to Download Topper’s Test Copy of CSE 2015

Click Here to Read blog on “Perception and Reality Related to Ethics paper” and watch a brief session on Ethics Case Study by Manoj K Jha

IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Interview: Jonnalagadda Snehaja Rank 103

  • by IAS Score
Name Jonnalagadda Snehaja
Rank in CSE 2015 103
Total Attempts in CSE 4
Optional Subject Commerce and accountancy
Medium English

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 86.3
 Class 12 Percentage of marks 93.8
Graduation: College and marks B.Com, IGNOU – 67.38
Post graduation: College and marks
Any other course CA

 

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: Consistency, smart work and perseverance along with a tinge of luck

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Focused on learning the concepts and for prelims emphasis was on minute details whereas for mains it was building opinions based on the concepts studied.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: Prelims and mains preparation was integrated.

IAS Score: GS Preparation for Prelims Summary

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: I followed the basic ncerts for both prelims and mains. Apart from them I referred the following:

Polity-Lakshmikanth

Envt- Shanker institutes book on envt

History- Ancient India – RS Sharma (NCERT)

Modern India – Bipin Chandra (NCERT)

Geog- NCERT of class XI and XII and Goh chang Leong

Economics- Eco survey and mrunal sir videos

Culture- Spectrum

Current affairs- the Hindu and vision compilations, civils prep.com, insights, GS Score PT Current Affairs compilation

For mains, I followed the same books and worked on more issue based analysis. I referred GS score summaries for mains and personality test.

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Apart from the above mentioned books:

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 World history-Norman lowe

 

The Hindu, vision, insights, civils prep La excellence mentorship program in hyderabad
GS Paper 2 Aspire material The Hindu, vision, insights, civils prep La excellence mentorship program in hyderabad
GS Paper 3 Eco survey, Aspire material The Hindu, vision, insights, civils prep, gs score contemporary issues La excellence mentorship program in hyderabad
GS Paper 4 Lexicon, Subba Rao book for ethics La excellence mentorship program in hyderabad

IAS Score: Optional Subject Preparation (Summary)

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: For paper 1:

Accounts- ICAI study material

Audit- ICAI study material

FII- ICAI study material

FM- Rustagi

Tax-TN Manoharan book for ipcc students

Costing – ICAI study material

For paper 2: I followed rankers notes and supplemented them with current affairs related material.

OB/OT- Chabbra

HRM-VSP Rao

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: There was no specific strategy for essay. I used to ensure that the essay had various dimensions such as constitutional, political, socio economic and historical perspectives included.

IAS Score: Did you adopted any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: Preparation wise, I followed lexicon book for basic definitions and referred Subba Rao book for case studies. In the exam, I used to attempt case studies first. GS4 needs a free flow of thought and does not require bookish knowledge.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: I followed the standard books and one newspaper every day. I tried to analyze questions based on the previous year question papers and tried to understand the nature of questions and the relevant material for the same.

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: I was not good at making notes. I used to highlight points in the books itself. However the key is to summarize the information in such a manner that it helpful for a quick revision.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: I used to make a schedule of topics to be covered for the month and then simplified it for weekly preparation. I used to ensure that I revised the topics the next day before I started a new topic. In a week, one day was reserved to finish revision of that particular weeks topic and any pending topics. There was always time for enjoyment also J

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: In the previous attempt, I wrote in paragraph format and I realized it didn’t fetch me lot of marks in GS. This year, I changed the answer writing style to point format. I used  intro, points and conclusion. Tried to draw flowcharts where possible. Tried to underline the key terms.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: I feel test series is important as it gives an idea about our preparation levels. For prelims it gives a lot of practice and also identifies the areas which we failed to cover while preparing. Regarding mains, it helps in time management and also identify whether we are able to write few points for every question asked. Definitely it’s not that these questions will come in the mains exam, however it is for our practice and for our benefit. I joined La Excellence test series for this year preparation.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: There was continuous encouragement and motivation from friends and family. This helped me maintain my tempo. Hanging out with friends, watching movies and talking to them did help me in taking a break J

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for  Contemporary Issues.

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: I referred GS score contemporary issues and vision compilations.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Jonnalagadda Snehaja:

Mrunal website

Civilsprep.com

Insightsonindia.com

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: Try to correct the mistakes and focus on basic books and materials. Be open to suggestions and feedback. Don’t lose hope and give it your best. There is an element of luck and hence be prepared for everything. Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants

Jonnalagadda Snehaja: Don’t enter into this field thinking that ill just give one attempt or 2 attempts and then leave it. One needs to keep in mind before entering that it needs 3 years of your time. 1 year of preparation is a must. One might be able to crack it in the first attempt itself and one might take some more time. However at any cost, give your best and be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. Always introspect and have that self assessment. Avoid same mistakes in attempts and always try to improvise. Be ready to accept suggestions from seniors and teachers. Have a strong back up plan so that even if the UPSC journey is not successful there is something to fall back upon.

Jonnalagadda Snehaja Mark sheet

Paper Year 2015 Year 2014
Prelims 122 94
Essay (Paper 1) 124 154
GS 1 (Paper 2) 94 70
GS 2 (Paper 3) 66 85
GS 3 (Paper 4) 93 64
GS 4 (Paper 5) 99 112
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 124 89
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 123 142
Written Total 723 716
Personality Test 206 165
Total Score 929 881
IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Interview: Rank 145 Preeti Yadav, 146 Marks in Essay

  • by IAS Score
Name Preeti Yadav
Rank in CSE 2015 145
Total Attempts in CSE 3
Optional Subject Public Administration
Medium English

 

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 80.2
 Class 12Percentage of marks 74
Graduation: College and marks 77
Post graduation: College and marks N/A
Any other course N/A

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Preeti Yadav: Persistence and Revision

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Preeti Yadav:

→ Focus on syllabus.

→ Analysis of last year question papers

→ Solve as much mock paper as possible for prelims. It will cover all relevant topics.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Preeti Yadav: Yes integrated. In first attempt focus till prelims was on prelims pattern. But in this attempt I tried to cover GS syllabus in integrated manner. This can be done for whole syllabus except GS 4 and few selected portion of other papers.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Took coaching in 2012 from Vajiram & Ravi. Mock Test of various institutes.
Basic Books NCERT for geography, economy history and few chapters of biology & chemistry.

Polity- Laxmikant

Environment- Shankar IAS

History- Bipin Chandra, Spectrum

Economic Survey, IYB

Current Affairs Newspaper: TheHindu, Indian Express

Magazine: Chronicle, Yojna, Kurukshetra, Vision IAS  (quite helpful)

Channel: RSTV, LSTV, AIR

Compilation: GS Score topic listing and compilation was very handy to cover all topics.

→ The focus during prelims preparation should be to cover the syllabus in its breadth.

→ A lot of energy can be better utilized if proper analysis of previous year questions is done. It gives clear picture as to what areas need more focus and effort.

→ Try to solve as many tests as possible and learn from mistakes. Try different methods while taking test and decide best suited one for the final day.

 

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 NCERT + Bipin Chandra + Spectrum + CCRT Contemporary Issues Classes at GS Score + Newspapers + Magazines + RSTV/LSTV Test Series at GS Score
GS Paper 2 Laxmikant + GS Score Material Test Series at GS Score
GS Paper 3 NCERT + Ramesh Singh + Sriram IAS Notes Test Series at GS Score
GS Paper 4 Lexicon + ARC Test Series at GS Score

 

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Class Notes of GS Score. Crash course by Ashutosh Pandey Sir at GS Score. ARC Reports
Basic Books Paper 1: Sharma & Sadana, Prasad & Prasad, few topics form Fadea & Fadea

Paper 2: Arora & Goyal

Current Affairs Extract selected news from newspaper, polity section of magazine, google the topics.
Answer Writing Answer writing is very necessary. Join any good test series and learn from mistakes pointed. I joined GS Score and Lukman Test Series.
Any other Make a small notebook to write any trivial mistakes, current affairs etc and revise it daily. 4 Days Marks Augmentation Class by Ashutosh Pandey sir helped me a lot in increasing my marks in Pub Ad this year which I was lacking in previous years.

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Preeti Yadav: Vas reading for gs paper helped me. Yojna and books by Amartya Sen

Strictly followed  correction and suggestion by Manoj K Jha sir in GS Score Test Series.

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Preeti Yadav: Tried to incorporate real life examples and to analyse case studies in the light of practicality as well as rational thinking.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Preeti Yadav:

→ Internet: there are various blogs and website which can help.

→ Coaching

→ Fellow aspirants

→ Focus should be on government publications, standard books, NCERT and notes of successful candidates.

→ Do confirm from at least 2-3 sources before including new source in your preparation so that wrong decisions and wastage of time and effort can be avoided.

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Preeti Yadav: As GS is quite vast it is not advisable to make notes for each and every topic, better is to make notes of selective topics which need revision many times. Notes of current affairs is necessary. Use mind maps.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Preeti Yadav:

→ By setting targets for the day.

→ Make some time table and try to stick to it.

→ Take some time for relaxation too i.e. by watching motivational video or hobbies.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Preeti Yadav:

→ Depending upon nature of question, both paragraph and point or mixed format can be used.

→ Focus should be to give apt answer while including multiple dimensions. Test series can help out here.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Preeti Yadav: The purpose of test series is to streamline the preparation by timely analysis and course correction. If followed regularly it can help a lot. I joined test series in GS Score, Synergy and Lukman IAS.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Preeti Yadav:

→ First and foremost thing is to develop genuine interest in course ( GS, current affairs etc.) and try to learn not only for exam but take it as an opportunity to enhance your overall personality.

→ Have some good person (family members, friends etc.) who can share and boost your confidence when you are low.

→ Watch motivational videos on youtube.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Preeti Yadav: I don’t think any such generalization is true. This exam requires dedicated effort and patience. Whoever follows the basics his/her chances of success are equally good irrespective of background.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

Preeti Yadav: I joined GS Score classes for contemporary issues. It covered all the relevant current affairs topics along with their comprehensive coverage very well for mains as well prelims.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Preeti Yadav:

Mrunal

forumias

Iasscore

Insightofindia

→ PIB

→ RSTV

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Preeti Yadav: Have faith in your abilities and give your best. Never loose hope, as hard work with persistence always pay off. There will be hurdles but focus on what you want to get, nothing else.

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants

Preeti Yadav: Do your best, help others and get help from others. Inculcate those qualities which are expected from a future IAS officer will really help you during preparation esp. interview.

All the best…

Preeti Yadav Mark sheet

Paper Year 2015 Year 2014 Year 2013
Prelims 128.66 + 121.66
Essay (Paper 1) 146 118 123
GS 1 (Paper 2) 99 87 53
GS 2 (Paper 3) 89 82 58
GS 3 (Paper 4) 102 65 88
GS 4 (Paper 5) 87 96 80
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 104 92 96
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 104 55 65
Written Total 731 595 563
Personality Test 187 124
Total Score 918 687

Click Here to Download Topper’s Test Copy of CSE 2015

Note: We have uploaded video of  4 Days Marks Augmentation Class by Ashutosh Pandey sir on our youtube channel.
Click Here to watch those classes. It may help you.

IAS Score

IAS Toppers Interview: Asim Anwar Rank 149 with Management Optional

  • by IAS Score
Name Asim Anwar
Rank in CSE 2015 149
Total Attempts in CSE 4
Optional Subject Management
Medium English

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 83%
 Class 12Percentage of marks 85%
Graduation: College and marks B.E. (Computer Sc) from PES Institute of Technology, Bangalore. Marks: 73%
Post graduation: College and marks PGDM from IIM Calcutta (CGPA: 6.5/9.0)
Work experience Worked as an investment banker for six years prior to writing UPSC

 

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Asim Anwar: Proper planning, perseverance and most importantly, enjoying the preparation journey without too much of stress or worry about outcome.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Asim Anwar:

  • Complete the entire GS mains syllabus (including GS4 concepts), at least a month before prelims. This will ensure that you will focus on writing practice and not waste time trying to research new stuff just a month or two before mains.
  • For prelims, try an extensive approach to study material. Since questions can come from anywhere, you never know which book may help you answer a tricky question, especially from areas like ancient history and culture.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Asim Anwar: Integrated approach works best, especially when covering the topics common to both. If the static syllabus of prelims is well covered, then GS Mains becomes a question of just revision and updating the current affairs.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance
Basic Books NCERTs (mainly 11th and 12th) – for Geography, ancient history, Laxmikanth Polity, Bipin Chandra (Struggle for Independence), Economy by Ramesh Singh, Economic Survey
Current Affairs Newspapers: The Hindu, Mint (selective reading of editorials)

Monthly current affairs of Vision IAS

Compilation of GS Score

Any other Regular scanning of online sources: prsindia.org, insightsonindia.com, iasscore.in, mrunal.org

 

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary)

As my optional was management, I mostly revised what I had already studied during MBA, with selective focus on few topics that are tested frequently as per previous year trends. Due to its wide coverage, it is not possible to start from scratch andread every standard book (listed below) on each topic cover to cover.

Study material / Guidance
Basic Books Standard books from my MBA studies for each topic: Robbins (OrganisationBehaviour), Kotler (Marketing), Brearley Myers (Finance), Levin & Ruben (Statistics), Porter (Strategy) etc.
Current Affairs For economic issues: same as GS 3. Some key corporate developments from business newspapers (eg. Mint) to supplement answers with current examples
Answer Writing Practiced writing a few answers for previous years questions
Any other Some select articles from Harvard Business Review

 

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Asim Anwar:

  • Having a good reading habit from the beginning covering diverse areas is the only long term strategy that works for essay.
  • A strong hold on current issues (political, governance related and economic) is the key to generating ideas for the essay. For thematic issues (eg. Education, rural development, healthcare, agriculture etc), last 12 months issues of Yojana magazine are a good source to find ideas in a single place).
  • Creating a coherent structure and flow of ideas during the essay is more important than raw content. For this, I would suggest practicing at least 4-5 essays from diverse topicsbefore the mains and getting it evaluated by peers.

 

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Asim Anwar:

  • For the theoretical concepts, I glanced through a book by SubbaRao et al. This was only to developing an understanding and a vocabulary in the topics.
  • Used examples liberally: From personal experiences or from the lives of well known personalities
  • Apart from this, I practiced case studies from mock papers and tried to analyse them from multiple perspectives

 

Here, I should add that I am grateful to Late Sri SK Mishra sir (GS Score) from advising me on the approach to this paper on the occasions when I had an opportunity to meet him.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Asim Anwar: The basic books (mentioned earlier) need to be read multiple times for a hold on concepts. As an addition, one can read information online, or in magazines etc. As I did not attend classroom coaching, I relied heavily on standard books based on the advice of senior aspirants.

 

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Asim Anwar: One should make notes if he/she is in the habit of doing so. I did not make extensive notes from the books. I preferred underlining the key points for revision as I read them.

For current affairs, I made short 4-5 line summaries of the newspaper editorials (if relevant) for quick revision at a later date.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Asim Anwar: As I was working (or in training) most of the time, I did not have the luxury of long hours of preparation. I preferred breaking down the time available into small bits, of say 30 minute each, and focused on completing a concept or a section within that time.

No topic can be completely covered to one’s satisfaction. It is best to set a limit to the number of hours dedicated to each topic (depending on weightage), and move on to answer writing practice (for mains) at the earliest. There is no point in doing Phd level research on any topic for GS.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Asim Anwar: I have always preferred writing in points. This way, you can clearly express your arguments especially on opinion oriented questions and makethe examiner’s job easier.

Most questions in GS papers consist of sub-parts. I focused on writing, say 2-3 points on each sub-part and then writing a small link paragraph to introduce my answer to the next sub-part. That way, the flow of the answer is maintained.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Asim Anwar: Test series are very important in my opinion, especially for mains. You hardly get 8-9 minutes per answer, so practicing answer writing in an exam environment will help identify if one is bringing out the ideas most effectively within the word and time limit.

I had subscribed to the GS Score and Vision IAS GS test series and found both quite useful.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Asim Anwar:

  • I never treated the exam as an end in itself. It was a question of balancing preparation with regular work and family life. During preparation in my first two attempts, I worked as a banker (got 486th rank in CSE 2013). In my last attempt, I was in my IRS training during all three stages of the exam.
  • Never spend days focused on getting mastery over any single topic. Once you have covered a concept or two, move on to another subject (eg. optional) to break the monotony.
  • It is equally important, in my opinion, to develop an inquisitive mind by reading general books (that may not appear to be strictly as per ‘syllabus’), watch TV debates (which have more content and less decibel valueJ) and engage in discussions with other serious aspirants.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Asim Anwar: The exam provides an opportunity for people from all backgrounds to showcase their strengths. Students from humanities background have an edge in GS topics with a writing style more suited to subjective analysis (which students from science and engineering may lack). Similarly, working professionals may fall short on factual knowledge, but will make it up with clarity of thought and maturity that will be reflected in opinion oriented questions and in GS-4 case studies.

 

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

Asim Anwar: Apart from a daily reading of the Hindu, a few supplementary sources for contemporary issues were: PRS India monthly policy review (available on prsindia.org), Vision IAS current affairs monthly compilation and also write-ups on GS Score website.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Asim Anwar: Many sites have useful information and articles from successful candidates etc. It is not possible for a candidate to cover all of them in detail. I personally referred to the following, at various points of time during my preparation period:

 

 

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Asim Anwar:

  • Never say die: I knew that once I have prepared satisfactorily, getting a decent rank was just a matter of time. It may just take one or two extra attempts for everything to fall in place.
  • Enjoy the journey: If not, you can never sustain yourself in this marathon. Dedicate some time to pursue hobbies etc, which will help you at the interview stage.

 

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants

Asim Anwar: Be clear of the reasons for entering this race, and the overall success probability. Out of the nearly ten lakh candidates who apply every year, less than 300 candidates can be considered successful in terms of getting the top service of their choice. So be prepared for the long haul. In case you don’t get what you desired, take it as a positive learning experience and move on. After all, luck plays a huge role in the final outcome.

Asim Anwar Mark sheet

Paper Year 2015 Year 2013
Prelims GS: 125;
CSAT: 191
GS: 84;
CSAT: 172
Essay (Paper 1) 128 98
GS 1 (Paper 2) 90 58
GS 2 (Paper 3) 65 68
GS 3 (Paper 4) 88 78
GS 4 (Paper 5) 97 105
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 130 82
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 111 94
Written Total 709 583
Personality Test 209 206
Total Score 918 789

 

IAS Score

IAS Toppers Interview: Amit Suresh Tolani Rank 151

  • by IAS Score
Name Amit Suresh Tolani
Rank in CSE 2015 151
Total Attempts in CSE 6
Optional Subject Sindhi Literature
Medium English

 

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 78%
Class 12Percentage of marks 77%
Graduation: College and marks 62%
Post-graduation: College and marks
Any other course CA

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Amit Suresh Tolani: To reach a destination, step1 is to start-ACT upon it. There is NO substitute to Hard work

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Amit Suresh Tolani: Divide the whole syllabus in smaller milestones in the form of different subjects and complete one subject at a time; solve questions of past exams (I did for past 15 years) and then get to next subject.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Amit Suresh Tolani: My strategy was to secure prelims first and then initiate to focus on Mains. However, I started the preparation of my Optional along with my preparation of Prelims.

For prelims, I completed the basic books and solved more of objective type questions (from both past years papers and insights on India Test papers)

For Mains, I focused more on Newspapers and solved Vision IAS and Synergy test papers.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Polity : Laxmikant (special focus on Tables & boxes)

Modern History: Spectrum (special focus on chapters summary &

Economics: Shankar Ganesh

Geography: NCERT (6-12)

Mapping: World Map K. Sidhartha (Focus on Asia & Physical Map), Prem Patel-Indian Map

Environment: NCERT Biology-12thStd (Ecology section-special focus on tables & summaries) + Shankar IAS. (priority to NCERT because it will develop basic concepts)

Basic Books
Current Affairs The Hindu Newspaper + Vision IAS Current affairs

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 World History-Old NCERT;

Geo/Indian History/Culture-source is same as prelims

Vision test series (2 years)
GS Paper 2 News Paper-special focus on International relations Secure Mains-InsightsonIndia.com
GS Paper 3 News Paper-special focus on International Economics & security

Economic Survey

CBSE booklet on Disaster Management

Secure Mains-InsightsonIndia.com
GS Paper 4 S. K. Mishra Sir Class at GS Score, Jawahar Book depot – MNM series book on Ethics 2 case studies every day

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary) – ‘Sindhi Literature’

Study material / Guidance Paper 1:

Grammar book –An intensive course in Sindhi

‘Sindhi Itihas’ by BherumalMihirchandAdvani

‘Sindhi Sahitya and adabjitarikh’ by DrLekhwani

‘Sindhi Sahitya jo Itihas’ by DrJetley

Paper 2:

1st hand reading of all books mentioned in UPSC syllabus (Will be issued for free by ‘National Council under Ministry of HRD for Promotion of Sindhi language; contact details available on its website)

Basic Books
Current Affairs
Answer Writing Min 2 Pages of Answer writing everyday

Test series guidance under DrBhojrajLekhwani, Pune

Any other

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Amit Suresh Tolani: At least 1 Essay each Sunday for the practice; Compare with others in order to improve. *Do NOT neglect essay at any cost because if the student is well prepared in essay, he/she will get high marks but if not prepared, marks will be substantially low. Eg: Marks may range from 90(low)-140(high)

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Amit Suresh Tolani: My strategy was to focus mainly on the case studies. I used to solve 2 case studies each day from insightsonindia.com and compare my answers with others and jot down the good points or examples from other’s answers.

Students should collect the examples of important personalities. This they can use them in the answers.

For eg: Integrity & Courage – Ex CAG Vinod Rai

For Efficiency & Professionalism – Mr ShriDharan (MetroMan)

For Probity & Uprightness – Ex IPS Officer Dr Kiran Bedi

For Knowledge without Values – Mr RamalingaRaju-Satyam Scam

For Knowledge with Values – Mahatma Gandhi

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Amit Suresh Tolani: ToppersBlog: Superman returns; Gaurav Agarwal, RachitRaj, Mrunal.org

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Amit Suresh Tolani: Always make short summary notes as they helps to- Register the information mentally (as we put in proactive efforts to prpare the same) Quick reference

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Amit Suresh Tolani: I used to study in 2-2.5 hour slabs and small tea breaks. When bored, I used to solve objective type questions or watch something entertaining to refresh myself.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Amit Suresh Tolani: My answer writing style was Point form.

I used to break the question into 2-4 headings to be able to write answers accordingly.

For Eg: In 2015, Que in Geo (paper 1) -‘Explain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean currents. How do they influence regional climates, fishing and navigation?’

Break of the ans for this ques will be in 5 parts-

  1. What are Ocean Currents?
  2. Factors responsible?
  3. Influence on Climate?
  4. Influence on Fishing?
  5. Influence on Navigation?

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Amit Suresh Tolani: VERY important part of preparation for both Prelims & Mains because it shows us the mirror of our preparation level. It happens many times with students that they complete the book but still do not score in exam. Here the test series are of special relevance because these help students to assess how well he/she has understood and learnt the subject not just completed the books. It helps us to NOT be over confident.

For Prelims, I suggest previous years questions and Insights on India test papers

For Mains, Vision IAS Test papers.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Amit Suresh Tolani: My friends were sincere upsc aspirants who helped me in my highs and lows.

Break the syllabus in short milestones.

Keep yourself entertained to avoid monotony and breakdown.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Amit Suresh Tolani: Absolutely NO; your sincere efforts are required irrespective of your background/caste/creed/academics/skills etc. One has to slog in some or the other way.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

Amit Suresh Tolani: The Hindu, insightsonindia.com & mrunal.org

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Amit Suresh Tolani:

insightsonindia.com

mrunal.org

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Amit Suresh Tolani: Work Hard & Give more and more tests.

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants

Amit Suresh Tolani: Have faith in yourself!

Amit Suresh Tolani Mark sheet

Paper Marks
Prelims GS-132

CSAT-105

Essay (Paper 1) 118
GS 1 (Paper 2) 99
GS 2 (Paper 3) 87
GS 3 (Paper 4) 102
GS 4 (Paper 5) 95
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 131
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 137
Written Total 769
Personality Test 149
Total Score 918

 

IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Interview: Dr.Ravindra Goswami Rank 152

  • by IAS Score
Name Dr.Ravindra Goswami
Rank in CSE 2015 152
Total Attempts in CSE 2
Optional Subject Medical science
Medium English

 

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 84
 Class 12 Percentage of marks 84
Graduation: College and marks MBBS,65%
Post graduation: College and marks
Any other course

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: Hard work and smart work to have an edge over the syllabus.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: For prelims I solved 10000 questions ,3 times before prelims along with NCERT and The Hindu.

For mains, writing maximum number of answers and essays before mains.I wrote almost 30 essays between pre and mains.

For this I took help of GSSCORE online test series for essay and paper 4,along with daily practice of Insightsecure questions.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: It was integrated fully from beginning.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Mrunal for economy and Geography,Insightsonindia test series
Basic Books NCERT,Laxmikant for polity
Current Affairs The Hindu, Mrunal, Insightsonindia, GS Score Compilation

 

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 Internet, Mrunal, insightsonindia, nitin singhania notes for art and culture The hindu, mrunal, insights insightsecure
GS Paper 2 Internet, laxmikant The hindu insightsecure
GS Paper 3 Mrunal, insights The hindu insightsecure
GS Paper 4 Subbarao, GSSCORE material The hindu GSSCORE online test series, insightsecure

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: Wrote 30 essays between pre and mains.

Maintained separate register for quotes and event tracking.

Took guidance from GSSCORE online test series and Manoj Jha sir provided necessary critical analysis.

IAS Score: Did you adopted any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: In Last attempt I failed miserably when I got 84 when average was 100, so I decided to take this paper more seriously.

Firstly I started taking daily notes from The Hindu about ethical aspects involved in day to day news, I also joined online test series from GSSCORE and wrote regular test at home but in time bound manner, Here I am really thank full to Manoj Jha sir as his reviews initially seemed bitter to me but ultimately he provided honest feedbacks which I was lacking in my answers. His mantra to make answers close to reality was my mantra for this whole paper.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: Internet and toppers interviews

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: It is highly individualistic and do the cost benefit analysis by yourself to take the right strategy for you.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: Time management was key to me as I was a working Doctor, I used to give myself target before going to sleep and used to try to stick to them in next day.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) Of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: It was mix of both, the idea is to communicate well, I used a lot of diagrams in optional and GS1.

Also introduction and conclusion were essential part of my answers.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: Yes they are useful to give you a real feel of exam and time management is what they tell us the most.

For pre  I joined Insights test series.

For mains I took online test series at GSSCORE (GS4 and ESSAY) and VISIONIAS (ESSAY)

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: Constant boosting of self by talking to family members.

Usually I didn’t study on Sundays,

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: No I think that everybody has to pass through same level of competition. And one has to master over humanities also to get decent score.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: The Hindu.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Dr.Ravindra Goswami:

Mrunal

Insightsonindia

IAS Score

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Dr.Ravindra Goswami: Work Hard and take the failure as an opportunity to improve yourself.

 IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants

“Believe in yourself ,then only you can claim belief of UPSC”

Dr.Ravindra Goswami Mark sheet

Paper Year 2015 Year 2014
Prelims 275 270
Essay (Paper 1) 126 116
GS 1 (Paper 2) 107 91
GS 2 (Paper 3) 68 72
GS 3 (Paper 4) 95 58
GS 4 (Paper 5) 100 82
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 137 137
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 136 121
Written Total 769 677
Personality Test 149 160
Total Score 918 837

 

IAS Score

IAS Toppers Interview: RISHAV KUMAR JHA Rank 162

  • by IAS Score
Name RISHAV KUMAR JHA
Rank in CSE 2015 162
Total Attempts in CSE 2
Optional Subject MAITHILI
Medium ENGLISH

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 98
 Class 12 Percentage of marks 78
Graduation: College and marks NIT SURATHKAL (6.7 CGPA)
Post graduation: College and marks NA
Any other course NA

 

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: Hard work and smart work. Besides, consistency and faith in oneself is also important. You have to believe that if someone can do it, you can do it as well.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: I first started with the basics, viz. Laxmikanth, Ramesh Singh etc. Then, I completed my optional and side-by-side tried finishing the GS syllabus for mains. This way my preparation was streamlined and I never felt any burden. I would make short term goals of 15 days and execute my plans accordingly. The hugeness of GS syllabus will be felt only if the preparation is haphazard and piece-meal. One should always keep the prelims and mains schedule in mind and prepare accordingly.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: Most of the base which needs to be covered for mains forms the core syllabus for prelims. So, I started with basics, then moved on to mains preparation and then before prelims, devoted around a month exclusively for it. So, the preparation was integrated but organized according to the schedule of the two exams.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Self-study
Basic Books Laxmikanth, NCERTs, Ramesh Singh, Shankar for environment.
Current Affairs Hindu, GK Today, Vision monthly booklets

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 Self-study mostly from books No current issues in this paper Vision test series and self-practice at home
GS Paper 2 Mostly from internet and booklets Hindu, Yojana, Mrunal, PRS, Insights Same
GS Paper 3 Mostly from internet and books Same along with Economic survey Same
GS Paper 4 GS Score S K Mishra sir notes Current issues already covered in papers 2 and 3 Same

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Surendra Raut sir (Prabodhan IAS)
Basic Books Syllabus books
Current Affairs No current affairs in this optional
Answer Writing At coaching and at home
Any other

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: I firstly went through the strategies of toppers, viz. multi-dimensionality, flow between paragraphs, catchy introduction and conclusion etc. Then I mugged up some quotes by inspirational figures like Gandhiji, Swami Vivekananda etc. Then I wrote down a few essays at home and tried to get them cross-checked by a third person. During mains, I tried to finish the first essay within 1.5 hours and do justice to both the essays.

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: I firstly joined the classes at GS Score by S K Mishra sir and tried to imbibe the strategies laid out by him. Unfortunately, h fell ill and couldn’t continue with the classes. But, I continued with his strategies, viz. preparing for case studies along with the preparations for the questions in this paper. His overall talisman for this paper was to make our views legal, rational and ethical. I followed this path quite sincerely.

 

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: I went through the strategies of numerous toppers and followed the trial-and-error method to find out what suited me most.

 

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: Notes-making is absolutely important. One, it helps one to save time and effort while revising during exams. Two, it helps one to develop answer-writing skills of one’s own. I made hand-written notes from weight-losing sources like Hindu, Yojana, random internet articles etc. But I would never make notes out of books which need to be read cover-to-cover like Laxmikanth. I personally think it is a wastage of time and effort.

 

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: I would plan my studies for the next 15 days and execute them efficiently. So when my target would seem to be in reach, I would take a break and not exert any undue pressure on myself. My typical day would start at 11 in the morning and go up to 4-5 in the morning. There was no strict schedule but I would not waste much time. I would rather sleep or watch a good movie when bored.

 

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) Of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: This is a sticky issue. Usually, body should be written in points and intro-conclusion in paragraphs. But there are questions where we can’t just write in points. Directives are very important to follow. They make differences to make or break your selection.  I developed this style with continuous practice and self-correction.

 

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: Test series is not important for prelims as there is no issue of answer-writing and the number of probable questions is infinite. For mains, I joined Vision. One of my friends had joined GS Score and I would write answers from his papers at home only. I sincerely found these test series as extremely beneficial as there were a lot of questions in mains which had already been asked here and also because practicing answer-writing helped me to develop my own tempo and style.

 

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: I maintained my tempo through efficient planning and even better execution (at least that is what I tried). I would watch good movies or listen to music to break my monotony. There were days when I wouldn’t feel like studying at all. I would just sleep off or do anything other than studying on those days.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: I have been completely unemployed since my graduation in 2014, so I have broken the first myth. As I am not a humanities student, I cannot comment on the second part. However, I feel that this exam should, in fact, be difficult for non-humanities people given the syllabus of the exam and the kind of preparation required.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: The Hindu, Yojana, PRS, Iasscore free downloads, GK Today, Mrunal, Insights, LSTV and RSTV

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Mrunal.org

http://iasscore.in/downloads-content.php,

http://www.prsindia.org/,

lstv website,

rstv website,

insighofindia

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: Don’t lose heart. The more perseverance you show, the more sweeter your success will taste.

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants

RISHAV KUMAR JHA: Enjoy the process. The things you learn during this phase will change you as a human being. Competition is tough and seats are limited. So, no matter you fail or succeed, you will always remember this phase. Life gives us many chances, we have to grab just one.

 

RISHAV KUMAR JHA Mark sheet

Paper Marks
Prelims 148 (GS)
Essay (Paper 1) 135
GS 1 (Paper 2) 102
GS 2 (Paper 3) 84
GS 3 (Paper 4) 113
GS 4 (Paper 5) 76
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 122
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 119
Written Total 751
Personality Test 165
Total Score 916
IAS Score

IAS Toppers Interview: Vakul Jindal Rank 174

  • by IAS Score
Name Vakul Jindal
Rank in CSE 2015 174
Total Attempts in CSE 3
Optional Subject Physics
Medium English

 

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 95
 Class 12Percentage of marks 90.6
Graduation: College and marks B.Tech.(Computer Science)(IIT Delhi)

CGPA-9.12/10

Post graduation: College and marks N.A.
Any other course

 

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Vakul Jindal: Civil services is an exam which requires hard work and patience above everything else. It is a process which teaches a person many things. I enjoyed the process because it gives you an opportunity to learn so many things which you otherwise won’t and which make you a better person.

 

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Vakul Jindal: I didn’t do any special preparation for Prelims. I think the preparation for Mains takes care of Prelims. There are some topics like Polity and History which form a large part of GS paper in Prelims in which there are many things like dates, article nos., amendments etc. which can be revised in the last few weeks before prelims which can increase your score.

For mains, it is very important to focus on the optional, and particularly in science optional (physics in my case) because the syllabus is too lengthy. In my opinion, the return on efforts is much more in optional than GS.

Of course, one has to cover the syllabus of GS but one needs to know the amount of time needed to be devoted to every topic. Because time is always limited and you have to cover everything reasonably well. The time to be devoted to each topic depends on the individual and I can’t prescribe any fixed formulae.

Paper 1 has the most lengthy syllabus, so it has to be given more time for static part. For paper 2 and 3, once I covered the basics, the newspapers kept me updated. Most of the questions in paper 2 and 3 are related to current affairs and are analysis based, newspapers were the most important for them.

Paper 4 can give very good returns for your efforts, so it is advisable to give sufficient attention to this paper.

 

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Vakul Jindal: I didn’t do any separate preparation for Prelims, so it was integrated in my case.

 

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 NCERT, Bipin Chandra, Vajiram notes, Synergy and Vision Test Series
GS Paper 2 Laxmikant, Newspaper, Notes of Vision and Vajiram
GS Paper 3 Newspaper, NCERT, Notes of Vajiram
GS Paper 4 Ethics Online Class at GS Score GS Score Ethics Test Series

 

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Vakul Jindal: There is no separate preparation required for essay in terms of content. But I joined GS Score essay test series for Essay which helped me a lot in terms of writing style and presentation. Manoj Jha sir has been a big help in my preparation.

 

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Vakul Jindal: I think doing answer writing and case studies is the best strategy for paper 4

 

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Vakul Jindal: I got to know the standard sources from the successful aspirants, seniors and people preparing for the exam.

 

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Vakul Jindal: Every person has their own way of studying. I didn’t make notes as I personally don’t find them very helpful. It is a personal choice.

 

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Vakul Jindal: I was preparing full time for the Mains as I hadn’t joined IRPS till mains in which I got selected last year. But I made sure that I find some time for some exercise and relaxation always.

 

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) Of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Vakul Jindal: I wrote in a mix of paragraphs and points. I developed this style keeping in mind the advice of successful aspirants and teachers and the need to communicate in a limited space and time.

 

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Vakul Jindal: I think the Test Series are very important in the process as they help you in developing the ability to express your knowledge and ideas in the given space and time. I joined vision and synergy test series for GS. GS Score’s test series for ethics and essay.

 

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Vakul Jindal: It is very important to maintain your motivation and drive in the process. It was the prospect of making a difference in the lives of people and the fact that I had left a very lucrative career in Computer Science that kept me going.

I usually broke the monotony by going out, watching movies etc.

 

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Vakul Jindal: This exam is not difficult for Humanities and Social Science students and there are many examples of successful candidates from these fields.

 

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

Vakul Jindal: Newspapers were the main source to prepare for contemporary and current issues.

 

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Vakul Jindal: I occasionally referred to mrunal.org and insightsonindia.com

 

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Vakul Jindal: I would advise them to work hard and give it their best. Try to be calm and patient. This exam is not the end of the world. There are many other opportunities in life which come in a person’s life. Being calm will only enhance their performance.

 

Vakul Jindal Mark sheet

Paper Year 2015
Prelims 158.66, 186.51
Essay (Paper 1)  121
GS 1 (Paper 2)  88
GS 2 (Paper 3)  76
GS 3 (Paper 4)  94
GS 4 (Paper 5)  71
Optional 1 (Paper 6)    137
Optional 2 (Paper 7)    131
Written Total   718
Personality Test   195
Total Score   913

Click Here to download test copy of Vakul Jindal

IAS Score

IAS Toppers Interview 2015: Rank 187 Rohan Botre, 113 Marks in Ethics

  • by IAS Score

Name Rohan Botre
Rank in CSE 2015 187
Total Attempts in CSE 4
Optional Subject Public Administration
Medium English

 

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 80%
 Class 12Percentage of marks 81%
Graduation: College and marks Civil Engg 78%
Post graduation: College and marks Civil Engg (Purdue University, USA)

 

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Rohan Botre: Consistency and proper planning.

 

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Rohan Botre: Answer Writing, Practice maximum questions.

 

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Rohan Botre: Yes, it is always better to integrate your prelims and mains preparation.

 

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance
Basic Books Spectrum (History), NCERT, Nitin Singhania (Culture), G Clenong (Geography), Shankar IAS (Environment), Laxmikant (Polity)
Current Affairs Websites iasscore, insightofindia, idsa.org, iasbaba etc.

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 Prepared it with prelims syllabus Newspaper, Insight, GS Score Material Lukman IAS
GS Paper 2 Newspaper + Internet Newspaper, Insight, GS Score Material Lukman IAS
GS Paper 3 Newspaper + Internet Newspaper, Insight, GS Score Material Lukman IAS
GS Paper 4 GS Score + Lexicon N/A GS Score

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary)

Study material / Guidance
Basic Books Niclolas henry, Mohit Bhattacharya, Harvard University online lectures, Fadia & Fadia, Laxmikant, ARC Reprot
Current Affairs
Answer Writing
Any other

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Rohan Botre: Wrote some practice essay before mains exam, kept language very simple.

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Rohan Botre: Answer writing + clear understanding of different concepts.

 

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Rohan Botre: Internet was the source for general reading.

 

IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Rohan Botre: Notes should be prepared for optional. I didn’t prepare any specific notes for GS.

 

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Rohan Botre: I used to study for 7 hrs. a day. 1 hour newspaper reading and 6 hours for study.

 

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format)Of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Rohan Botre: Mixed: introduction, then some relevant points and a concluding paragraph.

 

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Rohan Botre: Very useful for both prelims and mains. I joined lukman ias test series for mains and practiced 1500 questions for prelims.

 

 

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Rohan Botre: I used to study for 6 days/week. One day used to be given for relaxation.

 

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Rohan Botre: Not at all. People for humanities just need to prepare in a much focused manner.

 

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for  Contemporary Issues?

Rohan Botre: Online article and some websites like iasscore, iasbaba and insightofindia.

 

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Rohan Botre:

http://www.insightsonindia.com/

http://iasscore.in/

http://mrunal.org/

http://www2.isda.org/

http://iasbaba.com/

Harvard lectures for public administration.

 

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Rohan Botre: Keep consistency, plan 1 year before prelims.

 

Rohan Botre Mark sheet

Paper Marks
Prelims 116.34
Essay (Paper 1) 129
GS 1 (Paper 2) 106
GS 2 (Paper 3) 82
GS 3 (Paper 4) 100
GS 4 (Paper 5) 113
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 116
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 110
Written Total 756
Personality Test 154
Total Score 910
IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Interview: Rank 548 Ashish kumar senapati, 109 Marks in Ethics

  • by IAS Score
Name Ashish kumar senapati
Rank in CSE 2015 548
Total Attempts in CSE 2
Optional Subject Public administration
Medium English

 

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 84.4%
 Class 12 Percentage of marks 72%
Graduation: College and marks B. tech (8.5 cgpa)
Post graduation: College and marks N/A
Any other course N/A

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Ashish kumar senapati: Strong determination towards the goal and staying happy so as to take huge burden effectively.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Ashish kumar senapati: Integrated study for both pre & mains conceptual clarity about the subjects from NCERTS & practicing questions for both pre and mains.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Ashish kumar senapati: It was integrated though pre requires more conceptual clarity & main requires comprehensiveness & analytical ability.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Vajiram & ravi , GS SCORE , lukmaan for optional.
Basic Books NCERT , Laxmikant , gcleong.
Current Affairs Vision ias, gs score compilation, news paper

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 Ncert , spectrum , normas lowe Gs score Gs score
GS Paper 2 Optional paper- 2 , gs score Gs score , vision ias Gs score
GS Paper 3 Eco. Survey, tmh Gs score, vision ias Gs score
GS Paper 4 Lexicon, gs score

 

Gs score Gs score

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Vajiraam & ravi coaching for pub add
Basic Books m. bhattacharya, fadia &fadia, goyal & arora , arc
Current Affairs News paper , vision ias gs score
Answer Writing Lukmaan test series
Any other

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Ashish kumar senapati: Writing practice for essay at gs score.

IAS Score: Did you adopted any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Ashish kumar senapati: Done test series at GS Score.

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Ashish kumar senapati: It should be concise as it will help for quick revision before the main exam.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Ashish kumar senapati: Equal division of the time for gs and optional .

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) Of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Ashish kumar senapati: It was a combination of both paragraph & point according to the demand of the question . after joining test series I analyzed the demands of question & developed the skill .

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Ashish kumar senapati: Its very useful as it compels students to study & perform well. It also makes revision. I joined gs score test series for gs, ethics and essay.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Ashish kumar senapati: Watching movies , listing songs talking with friends.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Ashish kumar senapati: This is an equal platform for everyone. But to get success one needs to be focused & determined he/ she should enjoy the process of hard work.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for  Contemporary Issues.

Ashish kumar senapati: Gs score material , vision ias & news paper.  insightonIndia is also a good source.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Ashish kumar senapati:

Mrunal

Iasscore.in

insightonIndia

PRS India .

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Ashish kumar senapati: Stay focused be determined , take the challenge &enjoy the process.

Ashish kumar senapati Mark sheet

Paper Marks
Prelims 120
 Essay (Paper 1) 137
GS 1 (Paper 2) 89
GS 2 (Paper 3) 72
GS 3 (Paper 4) 99
GS 4 (Paper 5) 109
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 105
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 125
Written Total 736
Personality Test 143
Total Score 879

 

Download Ethics, Essay and GS Test Copy of Ashish kumar senapati

 

IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Strategy: Rank 374 Rahul Narwal, 110 Marks in Ethics (GS Paper 4)

  • by IAS Score

Name Rahul Narwal
Rank in CSE 2015 374
Total Attempts in CSE 4
Optional Subject Zoology
Medium English

 

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 76%
Class 12Percentage of marks 73%
Graduation: College and marks 74%
Post graduation: College and marks N/A
Any other course N/A

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Rahul Narwal: Persistent efforts, removing the fear of failure from within and giving exam not to prove anything to anyone.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Rahul Narwal: For prelims: concentration on basics, focus on current affairs + not reading the things haphazardly.

For mains: focus on linking the concepts, having basic understanding of every topics.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Rahul Narwal: Till July preparation was integrated but before 20-25 days of prelims focus on prelims but it all depends upon individual.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance GS Score, Vision Current Affairs
Basic Books Geog- NCERT, Environment- ICSE, Economy – Mrunal, Polity – Laxmikant
Current Affairs The Hindu, GK Today Site, IAS Score Site, Vision IAS Monthly Magazine

 

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 NCERT World history, Geog- Spectrum GS Score GS Score
GS Paper 2 Polity – Laxmikant, Indian Governance- Laxmikant ARC Report Summary GS Score
GS Paper 3 Indian economy by Mishra and Puri, Security issues from net. GS Score
GS Paper 4 Notes of GS Score, Lexicon, Meaning of terms from net GS Score

 

Optional Subject Preparation (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Invertebrate / vertebrate + kotpal zoology – P. K. Verma
Basic Books By Reema mathur + Evolution Notes, Diagram Practice
Current Affairs From Net + Youtube channel of zoology

 

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Rahul Narwal: Write 10-15 essay, have a basic understanding of essay concepts (social, economic etc.) + reading 2-3 newspaper daily. Have a look on thought of Dr. Ambedkar and Gsndhiji etc.

 

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Rahul Narwal: In case studies write answers in multi dimensional manner. Start giving solution from basic level + understanding the meaning of easy terms mentioned in syllabus. Answer writing.

IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Rahul Narwal: Personally I didn’t make notes, but notes making if done by aspirants then revision becomes easier.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Rahul Narwal: Point format in this attempt. In earlier attempts I used to write in paragraph form and once read the strategies of Ira Singhla madam, there she helped about writing answer in point format.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Rahul Narwal: Test series judge you and your preparation. I joined essay and ethics test series in GS Score, and valuable inputs helped me to find fault which I was regularly making. Too many test series should be avoided.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

Rahul Narwal: GS Score compilation, newspaper, IDSA sites, Yojna, employment news.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Rahul Narwal:

Unacademy

Mrunal

Quora

IDSA

PIB

Rahul Narwal Mark sheet

Paper Marks
Prelims 99
Essay (Paper 1) 125
GS 1 (Paper 2) 82
GS 2 (Paper 3) 82
GS 3 (Paper 4) 98
GS 4 (Paper 5) 110
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 113
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 121
Written Total 731
Personality Test 160
Total Score 891

Download Test Copy of Rahul Narwal

IAS Score

IAS Toppers Interview: Chandan Kumar Rank 373, Strategy for Ethics and Essay

  • by IAS Score

Name Chandan Kumar
Rank in CSE 2015 373
Total Attempts in CSE 03
Optional Subject Law
Medium English

 

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 85.8%
 Class 12Percentage of marks 88%
Graduation: College and marks ISM Dhanbad, CGPA: 7.6
Post graduation: College and marks N/A
Any other course N/A

 

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Chandan Kumar: Hard work and consistency. I took help of teachers whenever I felt the need of.

 

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Chandan Kumar: I read newspaper everyday without exception. Mains preparation was based on news analysis mostly. Also after completing syllabus, I solved a lot of question of test series.

 

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Chandan Kumar: I didn’t prepare for prelims separately. The only extra thing I did was that I solved around 6000 MCQs from many test series, noted down the concepts, facts in a notebook and revised them again and again. Doing just that gave me 138 in paper 1 in prelims.

 

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance
Basic Books Bipin Chandra, laxmikant, TMH manual, RS Sharma etc.
Current Affairs Newspaper

 

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 Basic books, Bipin Chandra, NCERT etc. Newspaper Byjus, Vision IAS and practice test of many test series.
GS Paper 2 Laxmikant, also I had law optional Newspaper, legal news magazine Do
GS Paper 3 Sanjiv verma book, Eco survey, GS Score compilation etc. Newspaper, Eco survey, Insightofindia Do
GS Paper 4 Relied on material given by GS Score and Guidance of Manoj Sir Awards @ ministry of personal website, The Hindu Test Series at GS Score

 

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Nirvana IAS
Basic Books Ashok Jain books, Nirvans IAS Notes, VN Shukla, Bangia, M N Shaw
Current Affairs Newspaper, legal news magazines, online subscription
Answer Writing Wrote class test at Nirvana IAS, also practiced at insightofindia website.
Any other N/A

 

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Chandan Kumar: I took help from Ramashwamy Sir, who taught me the basic framework. Beyond it what really helped was reading newspaper daily, reading classic fiction and practicing about 25 essays before actual exam.

 

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Chandan Kumar: Yes taking clue from GS Score classes, I decided to count number of dimensions that have to be incorporated in case studies. Also, I went through the documentaries/ award list at ministry of personal website and used these examples in my answers.

 

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Chandan Kumar: Through previous toppers interview mostly. but I made sure to limit the number of resources for each subjects.

 

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Chandan Kumar: Notes making definitely helps. But the notes should be very brief. There is no point in copying sentences from your book into your notebooks.

 

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Chandan Kumar: I slept for 7 hours everyday. I never compromised on basic necessities like sleep or talking to home or light entertainment. But beyond that I devoted all the time that was available to this exam.

 

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Chandan Kumar: There was no fixed pattern. In general if I have too much content or I am running low on time, I write in point format.

I had practiced sufficiently so that in exam hall I did not worry about the writing style.

 

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Chandan Kumar: Test series are very helpful. Even the best athlete will fail to  win a race if he has not been practicing. The same in the case with this exam.

Prelims: practiced at home with MCQs of different test series.

Mains: GS Score for Ethics, Vision IAS and Byjus for all GS papers. Also I practiced questions on iasbaba and insighofindia website.

 

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Chandan Kumar: For me sleep, coffee and talking over phone with my parents are the best source of getting recharged.

 

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Chandan Kumar: I think it is not really the case. When I was working, I found it difficult to take out sufficient time for practicing test question as needed for this exam.

 

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

Chandan Kumar: I read newspaper everyday without fail. Self – made notes are always the best notes. Additionally I went though news compilation by different sources to ensure that I am not missing any important news.

 

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Chandan Kumar:

Iasscore.in for compilation and notes downloads on different topics.

IAS Baba for current affairs

Insightofindia for answer writing.

 

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Chandan Kumar: Keep yourself motivated. Reading extensively one day and then taking bunk another day does not work at all. It is the consistency that gets you into the toppers list.

 

Chandan Kumar Mark sheet

Paper Marks
Prelims 138
Essay (Paper 1) 144
GS 1 (Paper 2) 87
GS 2 (Paper 3) 85
GS 3 (Paper 4) 92
GS 4 (Paper 5) 91
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 117
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 115
Written Total 731
Personality Test 160
Total Score 891

Download test copy of Chandan Kumar

IAS Score

IAS Toppers Interview: Ananya Sinha Rank 259, First Attempt

  • by IAS Score
Name Ananya Sinha
Rank in CSE 2015 259
Total Attempts in CSE 1
Optional Subject Law
Medium English

 

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 94%
 Class 12Percentage of marks 96.75%
Graduation: College and marks 64.7% Shri Ram College of Commerse
Post graduation: College and marks 61% Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
Any other course N/A

 

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Ananya Sinha: Success is getting what you aim for… I haven’t achieved my aim so far. However, as far as cracking this examination goes, I feel that there is no substitute for consistent hard work with a focused approach.

 

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Ananya Sinha: Prelims: Practiced as much MCQs and test paper as possible because more or less, every candidate has the same sources of study.

Mains: I don’t know about strategy but I know where I lacked. I lacked answer writing practice in Mains.

 

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Ananya Sinha: My preparation for prelims and mains portion of the examination was integrated and I linked it particularly with newspaper and daily govt. reports.

 

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance
Basic Books Laxmikant, economic survey, budget, ncert for history and geography, XII bio, Shankar ias for environment.
Current Affairs Hindu, Indian express and any good monthly magazine. GS Score Prelims current affairs classes and material was very helpful for me at last time of my PT preparation.

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 NCERT, Bipin Chandra The Hindu Biggest loophole and mistake of my preparation
GS Paper 2 Laxmikant for Polity, Governance ARC The Hindu Do
GS Paper 3 Summary reports, Datt & Sundaram + TMG on security issues+ ARC on disaster management The Hindu Do
GS Paper 4 Various thinkers + few case studies + Michael sandel videos on youtube Do

 

Optional Subject Law Preparation  (Summary)

Study material / Guidance
Basic Books Law – Stake + S. K. Mishra, Pillai (crime), Bangia, Avatar Singh (conhacts), M. P. Jain

 

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Ananya Sinha: No preparation. I worked mostly with material that I had acquired during my mains exam preparation. Again a mistake.

 

IAS Score: Did you adopted any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Ananya Sinha: I can’t comment on any strategy for paper 4 as I scored 72/100 –  one of the lowest.

 

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Ananya Sinha: In my opinion summaries of government reports are the most reliable sources for facts and figures. We have to focus on issues that are current and link them with our preparation. All the other reading material is fairly common to almost all aspirants.

 

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Ananya Sinha: No advice as I never made notes.

 

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Ananya Sinha: Time management was one of my strengths in this preparation as I completed law in June 2015 and wrote the examination in Aug – Dec 2015. Focus on few key sources and do them multiple times. Utilize every moment effectively.

 

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Ananya Sinha: If you get bored then watch videos or solve papers.

Again – Can’t comment on writing style as I didn’t writhe any answers.

 

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Ananya Sinha: Test series are absolute must for this examination now as they help develop precision and pithy answer writing. I didn’t join any for mains. For prelims I did gs score and vision ias test series.

 

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Ananya Sinha: All work and no play makes jenny a dull girl. Always find time to do what you love. It maximizes your efficiency in the rest of the time.

 

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Ananya Sinha: I am a humanities background student. I had humanities right from 11th – 12th. In fact, I feel that subjects like history, political science, economics, etc. should be a cake all for students with humanities background. I took humanities in +2 because I aspired to write the civil services examination. Also most professional and working people take up subjects which are humanities subjects.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

Ananya Sinha: GS Score contemporary issues, vision ias monthly magazine and The hindu.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Ananya Sinha:

Insightofindia.com

Iasscore.in Downloads

Rstv videos

 

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Ananya Sinha: Those who dare to fail are the ones who achieve greatly. If you have achieved thing in your mind, you will achieve it in reality as well so long as you are committed to your dream. So just go on.

 

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants.

Ananya Sinha: Just believe in yourself and work towards your goal.

 

Ananya Sinha Mark sheet

Paper Marks
Prelims
Essay (Paper 1) 133
GS 1 (Paper 2) 100
GS 2 (Paper 3) 72
GS 3 (Paper 4) 100
GS 4 (Paper 5) 72
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 120
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 110
Written Total 707
Personality Test 195
Total Score 902
IAS Score

IAS Topper’s Interview: Shejole Shruti Ramrao Rank 690

  • by IAS Score
Name Shejole Shruti Ramrao
Rank in CSE 2015 690
Total Attempts in CSE 4
Optional Subject Anthropology
Medium English

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 82
 Class 12Percentage of marks 70
Graduation: College and marks B.D.S Nair Hospital Dental College 64%

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: Dedication , perseverance , optimistic attitude and rectifying the lacuna in the previous attempts.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: I always integrated the general studies syllabus for both prelims and mains. Focusing on prelims before two months of prelims.

Divided the syllabus according to subjects and covered the maximum dimensions possible with in depth analysis for mains.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: Yes I always integrated the general studies except the last two months before prelims I focused more on prelims.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Newspapers Hindu , Indian Express, Business standard
Basic Books Ncert of geography, history, lakshmikant , g c leong
Current Affairs vision ias monthly booklets supplemented with GS score current affairs class and notes

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 Culture from nitin singhania notes, ancient history-old ncert, modern history-spectrum, world history-mrunal site, geography-ncert plus mrunal site, society-newspapers analysis G S score Contemporary Issues Class and Notes G s score test series
GS Paper 2 Indepth analysis of polity and IR issues of newspaper and current affairs. Social sector schemes through ministry sites and newspaper analysis. G S score Contemporary Issues Class and Notes G S score test series
GS Paper 3 Economic survey, economic issues in depth analysis, internal security through IDSA site, environment and science tech through newspaper. G S score Contemporary Issues Class and Notes G S score test series
GS Paper 4 GS Score ethics notes N/A G S score test series

Optional Subject Anthropology Preparation  (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Lack of proper  holistic material for cse needs the paper pattern of anthropology now changing towards more analytical. So need of in depth studies.
Basic Books Books like nadeem hasnain, Pnath supplemented along with muniratnam reddynotes, sosin maam class notes
Current Affairs Ministry websites, current affairs happenings vis case study example.
Answer Writing Joined L2A class test series. It was really helpful to improvise the content quality and to frame proper structure to answers.

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay?

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: Practiced essay writing regularly and discussed it with friends. Trying to cover the maximum dimensions possible in the topic and trying not to go out of context in essay.

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: Tried to show ethical dimensions by supporting it with constitution, preamble, dpsp along with human rights.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: Tried and tested material in my previous attempts. I focused more on revising the topics rather than multiple sources reading.

IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: Make short and crisp notes of everything. It helps in quick revision before exam.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: Divided the time in time slots. Prepared schedule of week in advance for optional and general studies.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: Combination of  both paragraph and point wise. Introduction and conclusion in paragraph format and middle content through points, various sub headings supplemented along with flow chart and diagrams. Developed the answer writing style through practicing answers at home and test series.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: Test series are extremely help full because it helped me to cover the entire syllabus on time and helped me in answer writing and finishing each questions with quality content. I joined gs score test series.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: I always kept optimistic attitude throughout the preparation phase. I also pursued my hobbies like cooking and dance.it helped to release the stress. Also constant motivation from family and friends.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: I don’t think so. I think candidates from all background have been successful in CSE.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: Newspapers like hindu , indian express, gs score booklet and vision ias monthly current affair booklet.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: insights on india and ias baba are really helpful.

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: Keep working towards your goal despite failure. Always remember failure are the stepping stones for success. Always be optimistic and positive.

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants.

Shejole Shruti Ramrao: Don’t regard failure in cse only parameter to judge you and prove your mettle. The entire process of preparing for cse makes the personality overall developed with broad vision. It will definitely benefit in life in some way or other.

Shejole Shruti Ramrao Mark sheet

Paper Marks
Prelims 117
Essay (Paper 1) 119
GS 1 (Paper 2) 104
GS 2 (Paper 3) 82
GS 3 (Paper 4) 90
GS 4 (Paper 5) 85
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 114
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 118
Written Total 712
Personality Test 146
Total Score 858
IAS Score

IAS Toppers Interview: Kirodi Lal Meena Rank 248

  • by IAS Score
Name Kirodi Lal Meena
Rank in CSE 2015 248
Total Attempts in CSE 3
Optional Subject Anthropology
Medium English

 

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Kirodi Lal Meena: Believe in yourself. Find the inner strength.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Kirodi Lal Meena: As syllabus is very wide stick to standard books. Make/Get notes for vague topics like internal security, disaster management etc. Save detailed study for optional.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Kirodi Lal Meena: Did not divide prelims and mains preparation but prelims require more factual memory so one month before prelims focus on memorizing little details whereas after prelims focus on answer writing.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance
Basic Books NCERT for Geography, Economy, History, Culture and few chapters of Biology & Chemistry.

Polity- M. Laxmikanth

Environment- Shankar IAS

History- Spectrum

Economic Survey, IYB

Current Affairs The Hindu

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 NCERT + Bipin Chandra + Spectrum Test Series at GS Score
GS Paper 2 Laxmikanth + GS Score Material The Hindu, RSTV Test Series at GS Score
GS Paper 3 NCERT + Sriram IAS Notes The Hindu, Mint Test Series at GS Score
GS Paper 4 GS Score Notes Test Series at GS Score

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Coaching
Basic Books P Nath for Physical Anthro, Nadim Hasnain for Indian Anthro.
Current Affairs Newspaper, Ministry Websites
Answer Writing

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Kirodi Lal Meena: Joined GS score test series. Write, Read, and Write again. When you read your own essay you will realize how bad or good it is. So introduce those missing points and write again. Cover all dimensions of given topic (as I learned at GS score test discussions). Avoid grammatical errors.

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Kirodi Lal Meena: Test discussions at GS score helped. Include real life/ historical examples. Do case studies in the light of practicality.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Kirodi Lal Meena: Relied on sources mentioned by senior friends. Newspaper and a few official websites were the standard sources for basic information.

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Kirodi Lal Meena: This is highly individual choice. Many will write on margin of books. Other will prepare soft copies. It is advisable to have limited things to read just before exams so better to make/get notes.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Kirodi Lal Meena: Set targets and stick to them. Devote certain hours to current affairs sources like Newspaper/News Analysis on FM/RSTV programs.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) Of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Kirodi Lal Meena: Para-points-para. Earlier had habit of writing complete thing in para format but changed to new pattern to save time.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Kirodi Lal Meena: Test series help you judge your standing. In case of prelims it helps in finding out missing areas. For mains it helps strategize your attempt at paper in terms of length of answers.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Kirodi Lal Meena: Had personal commitments to motivate. Going out with friends once in a while helps. Watch documentaries/sensible cinema/read books/visit family to break monotony.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Kirodi Lal Meena: I don’t think any such generalization is true. This exam requires dedicated effort and patience. Whoever follows the basics his/her chances of success are equally good irrespective of background.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

Kirodi Lal Meena: Regularly updating newspaper info with RSTV programs. Daily dose of News Analysis on Radio. Online Notes published by GS Score just before mains for revision.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Kirodi Lal Meena:

iasscore.in

mrunal.org

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Kirodi Lal Meena: Seek guidance to dispel doubts and find right pace to continue preparation. Do not bother about everything that everyone says.

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants

Kirodi Lal Meena: Believe in yourself and evolve your own strategy and you will make it for sure.

Kirodi Lal Meena Mark sheet

Paper Year 2015
Prelims 106
Essay (Paper 1) 146
GS 1 (Paper 2) 92
GS 2 (Paper 3) 77
GS 3 (Paper 4) 95
GS 4 (Paper 5) 97
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 110
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 126
Written Total 743
Personality Test 160
Total Score 903

Click Here to download test copy of Kirodi Lal Meena.

IAS Score

IAS Toppers Interview: Anupam Rank 221

  • by IAS Score
Name Anupam
Rank in CSE 2015 221
Total Attempts in CSE 3
Optional Subject Sociology
Medium English

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 89%
 Class 12 Percentage of marks 80%
Graduation: College and marks 84%

 

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Anupam: My teachers guidance, regular 5-6 hours study, revision of syllabus several times and patience helped me in achieving success.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

Anupam: I studied basic books for both Prelims and Mains along with a monthly current affairs magazines and relied on internet for latest updates.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Anupam: I integrated prelims and mains preparation as syllabus overlaps to some extent and it saves time for revision.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance
Basic Books Standard syllabus books for each subject like history of Bipin Chandra , polity of Lakshmikant etc and coaching classes notes
Current Affairs Any monthly current affairs magazines and internet
Any other Sir S. Nagpal( senior Bureaucrat) helped me a lot during this journey. I am really thankful for his constant support , motivation and guidance.

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 Basic books and coaching study material Monthly magazines and internet GS SCORE test series
GS Paper 2 Do Do Do
GS Paper 3 Do Do Do
GS Paper 4 Do Do Do

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Upendra’s class notes for sociology
Basic Books Haralambos ,ram ahuja and Anthony giddens
Current Affairs Internet
Answer Writing none
Any other

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Anupam: I practiced only 2 or 3 essays before final essay. I would suggest not to follow this strategy. Do practices as many essays as you can .

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Anupam: Its entirely different subject and specially one should focus on learning from day to day ethical issues for case studies. I practiced by writing 20 or 30 case studies before exam.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

Anupam: I adopted diverse reading on different topics from internet, magazines and books  and made summary of  them for future revision. After going through the whole syllabus  for 2 or 3 times one can easily understand the requirement of this exam and can compile different topics of syllabus at one place .

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

Anupam: Notes making are very crucial for quick revision of entire syllabus and also helps in remembering important data and facts .

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

Anupam: I had enough time for preparation as I was not working/job during  preparation.  So there was ample time available for reading and revision.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) Of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Anupam: It was mix of both paragraph and point format. However, when I was running behind the time I preferred only points format. I followed general writing style – introduction-body-conclusion . I joined GS SCORE for answer writing and it really helped me in improving my writing skills.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Anupam: Test series benefits a lot. It helps in revising entire syllabus within specific time period. It also enhances speed of answer writing and one learns from mistakes by writing tests only. I joined GS SCORE for general studies  and found it very helpful.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Anupam: Routine walk, yoga and following my hobbies helped me in being stress free.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

Anupam: This exam gives chance to everyone to succeed no matter what is the background of the candidate . Hard work, patience and dedication can bring success to anyone despite any trends .

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for  Contemporary Issues.

Anupam: Newspapers , monthly current affairs magazines and internet are really helpful for covering diverse topics of contemporary issues.

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Anupam: Internet really boosts the performance of a candidate. I would suggest candidates to go through Wikipedia for any topic , govt websites for various polices and schemes, PIB, websites of coaching institutes like GS SCORE , gktoday , mrunal’s blog etc

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants. What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Anupam: I would like to quote swami Vivekananda  “ Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached .”  Never loose hope and work hard.

Anupam Mark sheet

Paper Marks
Prelims 112.3
Essay (Paper 1) 127
GS 1 (Paper 2) 93
GS 2 (Paper 3) 76
GS 3 (Paper 4) 114
GS 4 (Paper 5) 93
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 131
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 99
Written Total 733
Personality Test 173
Total Score 906

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IAS Score

IAS Toppers Interview: Rhea Joshi Rank 425

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Name Rhea Joshi
Rank in CSE 2015 425
Total Attempts in CSE 3 (Did not clear prelims in previous attempts)
Optional Subject Law
Medium English

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IAS Topper’s Interview: Abhinav Agnihotri Rank 302 CSE 2015

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Name Abhinav Agnihotri
Rank in CSE 2015 302
Total Attempts in CSE 4
Optional Subject Sociology
Medium English

 

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 89%
 Class 12Percentage of marks 80%
Graduation: College and marks 78%
Post graduation: College and marks N/A
Any other course N/A

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IAS Topper’s Interview 2015: Rahul Gupta Rank 306

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Name Rahul Gupta
Rank in CSE 2015 306
Total Attempts in CSE 02
Optional Subject Chemistry
Medium English

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IAS Topper’s Interview 2015: Govind Mohan Rank 245

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Name Govind Mohan
Rank in CSE 2015 245
Total Attempts in CSE 04
Optional Subject Philosophy
Medium English

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IAS Topper’s Interview 2015: Sharat Chandra Pawar AIR 632

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Name Sharat Chandra Pawar
Rank in CSE 2015 632
Total Attempts in CSE 2
Optional Subject Anthropology
Medium English

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IAS Toppers Interview: Nagender Bhukya Rank 733

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Name Nagender Bhukya
Rank in CSE 2015 733
Total Attempts in CSE 3
Optional Subject Anthropology
Medium English

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 88
 Class 12 Percentage of marks 94
Graduation: College and marks JNTU Campus Hyderabad. 70% in Electrical stream.
Post graduation: College and marks N/A
Any other course

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IAS Topper’s Interview 2015: Akhil Goel AIR 251

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Name Akhil Goel
Rank in CSE 2015 251
Total Attempts in CSE 2
Optional Subject Mathematics
Medium English

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 88%
Class 12Percentage of marks 90.2%
Graduation: College and marks NIT, Allahabad (Got 9.02 CPI)
Post graduation: College and marks
Any other course

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success? 

Incremental study over the period of time. Constant evaluation of my progress through test series and amending any faults that prop up.

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

I decided to fix my material for each subject and revised the material multiple times. In addition, I read newspaper “The Hindu” regularly and a monthly compilation of current affairs to remain in contact with the current issues.

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenerio?

I did integrate my prelims and Mains preparation for few subjects like Economy, Geography, Indian History and Culture. There were few topics which I covered after prelims like International Relations, Internal Security, World History etc. I covered Ethics and Essay completely after prelims.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Spectrum for History, Geography and Economics lectures from Mrunal Youtube channel, Polity from Laxmikant, Environment from GK Today Pdf, Culture from Nitin Singhaniya notes and GK Today Pdf.
Basic Books NCERT from 6th to 12th for History, Geography. Macroeconomics
Current Affairs The Hindu newspaper. Monthly compilation from any institute will work for prelims (I followed Vision IAS monthly compilation).
Any other

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 Spectrum, Mrunal lectures for Geography, Nitin Singhaniya notes on culture, Vision IAS compilation for World history and Post-Independence India. Not needed for GS1 GS Score Test series
GS Paper 2 Laxmikant GS Score compilation released after prelims for Polity, IR, Social Issues GS Score Test series
GS Paper 3 Mrunal Lectures for Economy, Random articles online for Environment and disaster management GS score compilation for Economy, S&T, Environment and Internal Security. GS Score Test series
GS Paper 4 GS Score material and guidance from Manoj sir Not Applicable GS Score Test series

Optional Subject Preparation (Summary)

Study material / Guidance IMS institute study material
Basic Books
Current Affairs
Answer Writing IMS Test series
Any other

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

I took Essay Test series in GS Score and Vajiram to get 2 different evaluation for my essay.

IAS Score: Did you adopted any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

I focused primarily on not leaving a single question in Ethics and for this I did answer writing practice a lot through test series in GS Score.

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard? 

I did most of the general reading online and read articles topic wise. I searched for the topic and read various articles related to it.

IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants? 

Making notes is personal choice. I tried to make notes of newspapers initially but didn’t find it useful. As most of the study I did was through PDFs, I generally highlighted important information in the PDF itself. So, making notes depend on personal comfort.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

I gave maximum time to my optional which was Mathematics, it required lots and lots of practice. I started preparation of prelims before 3 months and did not touch my optional in that period. After prelims, I again gave about 2 months for Maths, in between I was writing answers for Ethics. After 2 months, I started finishing GS syllabus and simultaneous answer writing for GS. Mathematics test went till it was 10 days left for mains.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) Of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

In GS papers, I tried to follow point format in maximum questions.

For Ethics I followed paragraph format for questions and point format for Case-studies.

Point format comes naturally to me as I am an Engineer. But for Ethics questions, you need to elaborate a statement most of the time which can’t be described in points, so I followed para format for such questions.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

Test series are of utmost important in both the stages. I did not formally join test series for prelims but took some test papers from friends from multiple institutes and practiced them.

In mains, I wrote about 40 test papers before appearing in the mains exam as my writing speed was slow. I joined GS Score test series for GS, Essay and Ethics. I also joined an Essay test series in Vajiram and 2 test series for Mathematics in IMS institute, one before prelims and 1 after prelims.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Yes, it is tough to maintain tempo and whenever things didn’t go well and I couldn’t study for a day or 2 thinking about the failure, I had to motivate myself saying that nothing will happen if I didn’t study. In such situations, I created a time table for the next 15 days and tried to follow that strictly.

To break the monotony, I always studied 2 subjects simultaneously and whenever I got bored with one, I switched to other.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

I think the professionals or the working people have been exposed to externalities a bit more. This helps them connect things comparatively easily. Having said that, Humanities people have almost gained expertise in their optional subjects which make them a tough competitor to beat. This year example of topper from Humanities background prove this point. So, ultimately it boils down to who has given extra effort and understood the extent of competition better.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

I followed The Hindu newspaper and contemporary issues PDFs released by GS Score for each subject was very helpful

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

Online resource is very useful these days for civil services. Following are the sites I regularly followed:

http://iasscore.in/ for contemporary issues and reading articles.

https://www.youtube.com/ for Mrunal Videos and Rajya Sabha Big Picture episodes.

http://www.gktoday.in/ for environment related material

Many other random articles were read online.

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Keep calm and just focus on the process rather than the result. Constantly evaluate yourself to see where you stand in the crowd and work accordingly.

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants

Please choose the path of civil services wisely. It is a tough terrain to pass through. Please have a backup option ready in case you are unsuccessful. My backup option was to go back to IT sector and work as a software developer.

Mark sheet

Paper Year 2015 Year 2014
Prelims Expected 115 (Yet to be released by UPSC) 194 (Did not clear prelims)
Essay (Paper 1) 110
GS 1 (Paper 2) 97
GS 2 (Paper 3) 65
GS 3 (Paper 4) 96
GS 4 (Paper 5) 87
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 142
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 133
Written Total 730
Personality Test 173
Total Score 903

Click Here to Download Topper’s Test Copy of CSE 2015