How I scored 199 in GS1 (69th BPSC)

Strategy : During Exam
I began the paper with Data Interpretation (for which I had allotted 40-45 minutes) and was able to solve it in roughly 35 minutes. The key here was selecting the right questions – questions I was comfortable with. This helped me not just score 72/72 in this section, but also saved my 5 minutes which I was able to transfer to other sections.

After DI, I shifted to history attempting the 38 markers first, followed by 7/8 markers. The key here was prior preparation as this section sees a lot of PYQ repetitions. I focused on rote learning the repeated topics of this section including having already decided what diagrams to draw and what points not to miss in these topics. This prior preparation ensured that I don’t spend a lot of time thinking and planning my answers in the examination hall.

Current Affairs

I was lucky in this section as both the 38-markers (Manipur and UCC) were directly from the sources I had studied from.

Therefore even in this section I did not have to think much and the key was implementation of the content I had already prepared.

As far as the 7/8-markers are concerned where I was lacking content, I tried to –

1. Wind up the answer in 1.5 pages so that I can save time for answers I knew well

2. Focussed on adding as many relavant keywords I could come up with. For example, in the question on _AI in decision making_ I mentioned ‘Subhash Kashyap’, ‘LAARDIS’, ‘Bhasini’, etc. Similarly, in the question on Wage Report, I ensured that I use the words ‘Glass Ceiling’ and Gender Pay Gap’.

Strategy : Before exam
For preparation of the content in history section, especially Introduction and Conclusion, I relied heavily on internet and AI.
Making notes for it and revising from it reduced the time taken by me in writing during the exam.

For DI, I started practising questions every alternate day since 2.5 months prior to the exam which would translate into 40-45 questions. Initially, I used to practice solving it properly stepwise. Once, I got used to it I started solving it roughly but just before the exam I practiced solving it in steps again.

GS2 took more of my time before the exam for content preparation. I spent around 30% of my time studying for GS1 which was more about memorisation for me.

– From an English medium topper of 69th BPSC