| Name | S ASKER ALI |
| Rank in CSE 2015 | 167 |
| Total Attempts in CSE | 3 |
| Optional Subject | Maipuri Literature |
| Medium | English |
Education
| Class 10 percentage of marks | 98% |
| Class 12Percentage of marks | 87% |
| Graduation: College and marks | 67% Hindu College DU |
| Post graduation: College and marks | N/A |
| Any other course | N/A |
IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?
S ASKER ALI: Confidence, sincerity, consistency and dedication were the basic keys of my success.
IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?
S ASKER ALI: I focused more on relevant issues, revision, group discussion and content updation along with my close friends.
IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?
S ASKER ALI: I used to integrate prelims and mains preparation but near the pre, I focused on solving objective questions and current topics like environment which are expected to come in the exam.
GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)
| Study material / Guidance | ALS Notes |
| Basic Books | NCERT and Shankar IAS Academy book for environment. |
| Current Affairs | The Hindu Paper and online sites. |
GS Mains Preparation (Summary)
| Paper | Study Material/Guidance | Current Issues Source | Answer Writing Practice |
| GS Paper 1 | NCERT, Spectrum, Vision Notes | Newspaper and Vision Notes | Test Series in Byjus, ALS, Vision and GS Score |
| GS Paper 2 | Newspaper, Laxmikant for Polity, Vision Notes | Do | Do |
| GS Paper 3 | Newspaper, ARC reports, economic survey, vision current affairs | Do | Do |
| GS Paper 4 | Lexicon, Chronicle, Mohanty’s ethics book | N/A | Do |
IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.
S ASKER ALI: I joined test series at GS Score. I wrote around 30 test before mains exam.
IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?
S ASKER ALI: Quite often, I used to solve case studies with seniors and think a lot about them.
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?
S ASKER ALI: I came to know about the sources of information through online platforms, seniors and interview of successful candidates given in various magazines.
IAS Score: What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?
S ASKER ALI: You should make only relevant notes, that too only key points and without revision, notes making will be of no use.
IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?
S ASKER ALI: Whatever I did, I focused on quality and I tried to finish each day whatever I want on that 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?
S ASKER ALI: I focused more on points format but some time I adopted a mixed approach depending on the nature of the question.
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?
S ASKER ALI: Test series is crucial for maintain speed, revision, precision and forming a feeling of exam atmosphere before the real exam. I joined three test series GS Score, Vision IAS and ALS 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?
S ASKER ALI: CSE is not tough but the process is. Whenever I felt tired, I took rest for a moment and quite often I asked myself about the reason for preparing the exam and that answer motivated me.
IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.
S ASKER ALI: The Hindu newspaper, vision monthly magazine, yojna, GS score contemporary issues for mains.
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.
S ASKER ALI:
IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?
S ASKER ALI: This exam is about smartness, discipline, dedication rather than hard work, knowledge and intelligence. Prepare mentally first and then you should find a master key that suits your personality.
IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants
S ASKER ALI: Keep moving and ultimately you will find your path for which you are preparing today.
S ASKER ALI Mark sheet
| Paper | Marks |
| Prelims | 128 + 142 |
| Essay (Paper 1) | 144 |
| GS 1 (Paper 2) | 98 |
| GS 2 (Paper 3) | 64 |
| GS 3 (Paper 4) | 101 |
| GS 4 (Paper 5) | 90 |
| Optional 1 (Paper 6) | 122 |
| Optional 2 (Paper 7) | 116 |
| Written Total | 735 |
| Personality Test | 179 |
| Total Score | 914 |