Every year more than 15 different Government service exams are conducted by UPSC, SSC, IBPS, RRB, KPSC, KEA etc. These exams are conducted to fill above 50,000 vacancies. Many students attempt these exams with high hopes. Only few of the aspirants are successful. The successful candidates are not academically the best ones but they are the ones who are with passion and adequately prepared. In this write up I want to explore the strategies of right preparation for success in these exams.
The syllabus for most of these exams are Mathematics, Reasoning, English and General studies (subjects). The total number of questions vary between 80 to 300 marks with penalties for marking wrong answers. Marks scored by last selected candidates (cut off marks ) vary from 40% to 70% in different exams. Most of the unsuccessful students miss these cut off by just 3-4 marks.
There are interesting reasons for such borderline miss-up which are generalised from my efforts before joining Government service and coaching few students for success after VRS from service. I have also developed preparation strategies for various exams and interviews. (Recent results -march 2025- Mukkatira Disha Appaiah and Nellamada Biddappa cleared AFCAT written exam.)
The level of the questions in the above section came are class ten level. The brief details of contents and approach for these papers are as given below:
– Mathematics questions are phrased in a standard format which requires adequate practice to identify the problem logic – recollecting formulas – substituting data and quick simplification using arithmetic skills. To keep phase with time, strong practice of multiplication tables, formulas and methods are the best tools to complete the required number of questions in time. However mathematics is my favourite subject. I am confident to make any average student to love mathematics if they start working with me.
– Reasoning or mental ability paper consists questions on sequence, series, identity the next one or the missing one or the codes required. These require knowledge of Mathematics, English and General Knowledge to tackle questions comfortably. Students find most of these chapters easy while learning with continuous flow. But deciding answers in the exam becomes hard and builds pressure due to negative success. Preparing for this paper also requires solving adequate and several types of questions given in the study material to fetch required marks.
– General Awareness paper Usually has questions from class 10 level Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Constitution, History, Economics and Current Affairs. Syllabus is exhaustive. But good study material, regular preparation, focus on current events can have good coverage of this subject specific to each exam. But unless prepared well most of the questions in the exam look like those have come out of the blue.
– English has questions on Idioms and phrases, synonyms , antonyms, comprehension, sentence correction, jumbled sentences etc. Although all the topics look easy, in GK and English, considering negative marks, students must be careful before marking answers. Most of the students do guesswork, toss or mark the answers based on inky pinky ponky method. Practically questions are framed in such a way that making a pattern of correct answers or guess work should not work.
Usually the time duration to write 100 questions range between one hour to 2 hours. This means students should learn the knack to solve questions in less than a minute. To solve the questions of Mathematics and Reasoning within one minute requires quick mental analysis and calculations. Students use calculator and spreadsheets in their school/ graduation studies. Their logic is “Why should we strain our brain when there are technologies to do our job?“
On the face of it, the argument appears perfect. But practically a Fighter Pilot, a Captain of a ship, or an Army officer in war or an Engineer or any Government officer has to take decisions in split seconds in case of emergencies to prevent losses of lives or loss of national assets. They can’t reach for a calculator or other aids by which time the loss would have already occurred. The truth is that our brain is more powerful when adequately trained as compared with these gadgets.
It is evident that these exams are aimed to assess whether a candidate can be moulded perform to their peak potential, especially in an emergency situation and at times of stress. Hence the stringent timing and negative marking are adopted. The students who join these jobs are not super intelligent. Most of the super intelligent students take up IIT, IIM or IAS…These exams are designed for average students who have passion to elevate themselves to the required standards. So success is a mind game here.
Ideal practice to elevate one’s standards is a learning process called top down approach. That is what we learn in school that is tackling questions to answers logically step by step. Most of the students do bottom up style for competitive exams that is by copying the logic given in the study material (or online videos). It helps in solving the logic of particular problem but when the phrasing of the same problem is altered students will not be able to solve them.
Hence aspirants need to solve several questions top down that is from question to answer. Hence the preparation should be planned for long term (2 to 3 years) if self study. To acquire increased confidence in solving papers within time limit, as many model/ previous papers have to be honestly and strictly practised as if writing actual exams. This gives confidence and clarity before exams .
How many questions are to be attempted in competitive exams?
My suggestion is to attempt number of questions such that to score 10 marks above cut off marks. Example: If AFCAT average cut off score is 50%’, ideal scoring is 60% marks. (Attempting more questions creates pressure). To do this, selection of topics based on weightage in previous exams and ease to learn is the first task.second is in depth study of topic selected to the extent of confidence that “ you can ask any question” under that topic. If one can learn around 100 topics in each subject success is assured.
Is it necessary to join coaching classes?
It is observed that most of the selected candidates have joined coaching classes. There are large number of students take up coaching classes and have advantages of motivation, knowledge sharing, peer pressure and quick doubt clearance. One needs to score more marks than other students? Also due to competition among institutions, they put maximum effort for the success of their students. This is because successful candidates get more students to coaching institutes.
Also joining coaching classes is a wise choice for the students who are not familiar with the subjects or time available is short or if they are easily distracted etc. Many plan to take the help of online videos. Hundreds of learning videos are available online for free. Videos can help only if you know basics. Else it gives an illusion of knowledge but will not support your exam score to the extent of confidence it builds. Weather coaching or self study, students need to find an approachable mentor with knowledge of the exam and selection process, who can lift you up when you feel low.
Further joining a coaching can get at least 5% boost in marks, and it can shift the results to the right side. By any bad luck if you miss the cut off marks in your exam by 4 to 5 marks, it becomes very painful. Hence we need to put heart and soul in the process till we reach our goal. It is also wise to remember that success requires investment of time, knowledge and money ( fees, learning materials), since rat race will be at its peak any time.
Please give your opinion on this write up. For more information and coaching you can feel free to contact me at mobile no 9845013053.
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