30 Days to Mains
“I start early, and I stay late, day after day, year after year. It took me 17 years and 114 days to become an overnight success.” Lionel Andrés Messi!
Of the 13000+ aspirants who are eligible to write Mains, a good number must have given up by now, or started believing their own lies and excuses, will read better next time and make it. It’s the same cycle every time. 250 aspirants are really above the cut [Top 10 types], 1500 are really serious, the real competition is these 1500-2000 aspirants who are working hard in the right direction, they are the ones who will make it to the final list.
Believe in that hard work, the last 30 days, can do miracles.
Writing FLT vs reading, I will suggest writing FLT.
Try to emulate real mains timetable [at least twice] before Mains. [Essay followed by 4 GS papers Back-to-back then few days later optional FLT]
Writing for 6 hours a day will do miracles to your understanding of the exam, and will humbly remind of how much you remember and how not to study or how to study.
Get feedback from known people/mentors, [ there is an unlimited evaluation batch evaluating without even writing a single main], yes. Knowledge can come from any side, but experiencing it first hand gives insights.
Your accumulated knowledge will get you more marks when presented in simple language, and by addressing the core demand of the question. Then new knowledge and new sources. Don’t chase new, polish existing knowledge and expression.
There is no one way to write an answer, UPSC has no blueprint/ Model answers, you will be rewarded for originality and relevancy. Emulate a topper copy when it suits your style.
Don’t overemphasize only few papers, like optional and ethics, balance writing of all papers equally.
Do Smart work, so many toppers shared so much notes, etc. Use them effectively.
Don’t write for the sake of writing, have some objective targets [Deliberate practice] eg: I will use keywords, articles, maps. After writing tests check if you have crossed all the items, if you missed any, if so, why?
Above all past failures are not the benchmark for this year, don’t push yourself too much into stress and all to prove something to someone, don’t carry the baggage of failures and expectations, write with a calm mind, calm mind produces the best results.
The more you chase the result, the harder it gets, focus on the journey and be the best version of you. Respect the efforts of everyone, adjust accordingly and cruise a head. The last 30 can be the beginning of a wonderful life, a head.
Push yourself and believe in yourself, focus on the real goal, writing the best answer possible in real mains hall, that is all you can do.
Lastly, use model answers and PYQ efficiently, don’t just write tests and say I got 80/90 focus on every single mistake, learn, notice, observe and adapt.
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.
30 days is more than enough to make an impact on your mains journey.
I wish you more than luck !
@kalyanzz