UPSC Prelims Failure Analysis Book
UPSC Prelims Failure Analysis Book
Case 1: Knowledge-Rich but Skill-Poor – Rohan’s Overfocus on Content
Background:
Rohan, a B.Tech graduate, spent 1.5 years preparing for UPSC. He studied all NCERTs, standard books like Laxmikant, Spectrum, and Shankar IAS, and followed daily The Hindu newspaper.
Mistakes Made:
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Focused heavily on content collection but ignored MCQ-solving skills.
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Rarely practiced full-length timed mock tests.
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Spent too much time on reading but did not revise enough.
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Neglected mastering elimination techniques and intelligent guessing.
Result:
He scored 76 marks in General Studies – missed cut-off by 10+ marks.
Learning Points:
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UPSC prelims requires smart preparation, not just hard work.
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Practicing previous year papers and mocks under exam conditions is crucial.
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Test-taking strategy is as important as knowledge.
