Ranking high in UPSC can be quite challenging, considering the vast syllabus. However, just like any other examination, it is possible to perform well in UPSC with proper preparation. One of the common mistakes for UPSC aspirants is to channelize more time in studying, rather than on the quality of the preparation. Indeed, it is important to dedicate adequate time to prepare for the exam. However, you would also have to use the right learning techniques.
Here are four of the effective studying skills that you would benefit from developing.
- Staying up-to-date on current affairs
While bracing up for competitive examinations, you need to stay abreast with current news and events. Much of the UPSC syllabus revolves around general knowledge and current affairs. In the past, aspirants had to spend long periods going through many newspapers to gather the necessary information.
Digitalization has made this much easier by making public news available online. News apps such as Dainik Bhaskar can keep you updated on all the necessary events. By using such news apps, you can seamlessly access the news from anywhere, at any time. Moreover, news apps would provide you with updates much faster than a newspaper would.
- Studying in shorter sessions
Researches have consistently revealed that students can learn better through shorter sessions over some time than a single long session. This is simply because when you take study breaks, your mind would unconsciously absorb the knowledge you just gained from studying.
When you study for hours at a stretch, what you currently learn may overwrite what you learned just a while back, as your mind won’t get time to memorize. Ideally, you would benefit from studying not more than twenty to thirty minutes at a time.
- Concentrating on the studies
The ambiance around you plays a significant role in determining the quality of your studying. For instance, if you constantly hear the sound of a loud TV in the next room, it would automatically distract you. Get away with as many distractions as possible and create a peaceful environment before you start studying. This would help you concentrate better.
You might also want to avoid studying when you are sleepy. While it is nice to remain hard-working, studying with a sleepy brain would be a waste of time as your mind would fail to memorize the information effectively.
- Choosing the subject
UPSC examination syllabus covers multiple subjects for you to study. If you find a particular subject to be difficult and boring, take it up while feeling energetic and alert. You can study the easier subjects when you do not find yourself in the right mood to study something difficult.
Conclusion
While switching from one subject to another, take a break for ten minutes so that your brain can re-orient itself. Avoid studying similar subjects in a row as it would build up a feeling of monotony in your mind. In short, you would be able to perform better in the UPSC exam if you keep track of the news headlines and spend shorter but quality sessions on studying.
