Can you crack CSAT in 100 days? Yes!

As expected, the notification for Civil Services Examination, 2016 is out and the deadline for applying for the preliminary exam, CSAT, is May 27 and the test is slated for August 7. For various reasons, the aspirants are once again advised to apply for the exam, at once, i.e. without waiting till the last date.

As expected, the notification for Civil Services Examination, 2016 is out and the deadline for applying for the preliminary exam, CSAT, is May 27 and the test is slated for August 7

If the process of online application is completed in a day or two, the preparation-time left for CSAT will be nearly 100 days. The aspirants who are on the job of preparing themselves for quite some time or the repeaters will definitely find it comfortable in taking CSAT on August 7.

But, the first-timers may be under an impression that the time available for CSAT preparation is inadequate. But it is truly false. If the aspirant has determination, hardwork, strategic thinking and improving personality – cracking CSAT will, undoubtedly, be a cake-walk.

But, one should not forget that one should be a very serious contender from day one. For this, one need not burn the midnight oil, night after night, and spoil the health. A systematic preparation of ten to twelve hours a day, will amount to 1000 hours, in toto. That would be sufficient for the preparation of CSAT, even for the first-timers.

However, a proper and judicious planning and allocation of the available time to the subjects or the topics to be covered is very essential. Further, if they can sit for another two or three hours, additionally, for having an exclusive look at the material intended for Main Examination preparation; that will provide an edge in the second stage preparation.

Without waiting for the outcome of CSAT, if one can start preparation for Main Examination from the very next day of CSAT, the prospects of becoming a civil servant will be brighter.

Let us have a glance at the syllabus prescribed for CSAT.

CSAT Paper I - Preparation for General Studies
The content of General studies is vast and as such more wide coverage rather than intensive coverage is preferable.
The first paper under the new syllabus will be more or less like the current general awareness paper, with additional topics such as climate change and biodiversity.

Candidates will be tested on their knowledge of current events of national and international importance, Indian history, the Indian national movement, Indian and world geography, Indian polity, Panchayat raj, public policies and rights, economic and social development, sustainable development, environmental sciences and general science is the part of first paper.

General Studies (GS) has to be prepared on quite a different plane because the content of this paper is too spread out and because any issue, major or minor, can be asked objectively.

Traditionally, 10 + 2 level books of NCERT or any state education board had been covering a major part of the content but, these days, the items in news during the last one year or so, are being asked quite frequently.

Problems are generally faced in everyday science (by the candidates with social sciences background) or in mental ability or in the fundamentals of economics. The most important aspect for the preparation of GS Prelims, therefore, is to identify the loop-holes and plug them urgently.

Many of the aspirants prepare a subject in terms of "reading" (once, twice, thrice etc.) with or without underlining the important facts. It results not only in longer time of preparation, but also many important points may skip.

Also, even if they underline the highlighting points, most of them have the tendency to read the text in full while going for the subsequent readings.

It is, therefore, advisable that texts must be read once and all important points (likely to be forgotten) recorded separately so that they need not study voluminous texts again. This would save plenty of time and should result in greater efficiency.

Methodology for preparation
Study yourself from any good book preferably one topic at a time for about an hour. Thereafter, take ten to fifteen minutes for self assessment. These tests must draw questions from a large and specific knowledge-pool. Analyse results. For questions done incorrectly, refer to books to understand where you have gone wrong. Try to complete this exercise alone.

Thereafter retake test with a new set of questions. Once confidence develops, move to the next topic. This is active learning as you have yourself put in efforts to understand topics. You will start enjoying your studies and these concepts will be long lasting in your mind.

By:Sree Kumar G