| Name | Ankita Mishra |
| Rank in CSE 2016 | 105 |
| Total Attempts in CSE | 3 |
| Optional Subject | Anthropology |
| Medium | English |
| Home Town City/State | UP |
Education
| Class 10 percentage of marks | 93.7 % |
| Class 12 Percentage of marks | 91.5 % |
| Graduation: College and marks, Passing out year | 75.2 % ( 2014 ) |
| Hobbies & Extra curricular achievements | 1) Cooking 2) Dancing |
IAS Score: Tell us something about yourself, your family, when and why did you enter this field of competitive exam?
Ankita Mishra: I came from a business family in UP bases in Lucknow. I decided give this exam towards the end of 2014 after my engineering. I entered the field because I felt that this service can give me an identity & social recognition as an independent woman.
IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?
Ankita Mishra: 1) Hard work 2) Writing Practice
IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?
Ankita Mishra: Prelims- 2-3 months are more than enough. Go through the standard books. Keep your sources limited & revise them as many times as you can. Test series are of utmost importance as through them you realize that what are the optimum number of questions that you should attempt to clear the exam. Moreover, they also act as a potent source of information, so it is very important to go through their solutions. And one can also make notes of the important points from the solutions.
2) Writing practise is a must take out 45 minutes everyday & practise at least 5 questions.
3) Write timed tests & be regular with them. Don’t wait for the time when you’ll be ready because trust me you will never be ready.
4) For Ethics try and bring some X- factor. Like you can its examples on case studies in 10 markers.
5) For Optionals– try and correlate the papers so in paper 1 – give examples from paper 2. In paper 2- give the name of some thinkers on theory from paper 1.
IAS Score:Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?
Ankita Mishra: It is more or less integrated only before 2-2.5 months . One has to inclusively give his time to prelims.
GS Mains Preparation (Summary)
| Paper | Study Material/Guidance | Current Issues Source | Answer Writing Practice |
| GS Paper 1 | · History ( Spectrum ) · World History (Vision Insight Secure) |
Vision + GS Score+ Insights Secure Vision + GS Score | GS Score |
| GS Paper 2 | Current | GS Score + Vision | GS Score |
| GS Paper 3 | Current Security ( IDSA ) | GS Score + Vision | GS Score |
| GS Paper 4 | Random | Random | GS Score |
IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.
Ankita Mishra: I did not actually prepare for the essay at all. But I don’t suggest the same for others. Practice at least 4-5 essays before exams.
IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?
Ankita Mishra: I tried to be as natural as possible. I didn’t memorized the definition of the key terms but wrote what they meant to me. I also tried to incorporate a lot of case studies & examples in my answers.
IAS Score:What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?
Ankita Mishra: Note making is a must. It must be difficult to make notes in the beginning but trust me they are your saviors in the exam as they help you in 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?
Ankita Mishra: It was a mix of both but mostly point format.
IAS Score: How far is it necessary to put extra focus on current affairs, through news paper and answer writing for approaching the examination? Which new paper did you follow?
Ankita Mishra: Current affairs in my opinion are extremely important. One can follow any current affairs magazine available in the market as they give you a holistic picture of the issue. Newspaper reading help you a lot in the interviews & gives you a deeper understanding of issues. I followed IE.
IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination? Do you think online classes/videos can help students especially of rural areas/ Tier II cities?
Ankita Mishra:
IAS Score: Your experience in IAS preparation journey with GS Score.
Ankita Mishra: My experience has been great especially for GS 4. Sir really appreciates natural style of writing and tries to bring out the best in you unlike imposing and standard model on you.