Planning studies until shifting to prelims preparation.

Many UPSC civils aspirants are asking me regarding the planning for next few days. As prelims for the year 2018 is also approaching and the studying for mains is also the pressing concern, it becomes essential to plan prudently. So here I am sharing few tips on how to plan and also some rough planning framework. Everyone should customize it as per own needs.

How to plan for coming days -

1. stocktaking exercise

• without knowing what you have done up till now, you cannot move ahead
• so take a piece of paper and write down what all topics you have completed from the syllabus
• make sure that this is written exhaustively to give a correct assessment of everything you have done
            e.g. GS 1- Modern Indian History from about middle of 18th century until the present -              a. read all the basic prescribed books
            b. past year questions analysis remaining
            c. not done any writing practice for this part etc.
• make this exercise for every part of the syllabus. you can either simply write it down or make a chart accordingly to give an easier view

2. Benchmarking

• now make some target date till when you will be preparing for mains like 20th January for that matter. The date will vary for everyone depending upon comfort in prelims, number of attempts etc.
• from the stocktaking exercise, you will understand your level of preparation
• then decide some benchmark as to how much should be completed for each subject till the target date 
• it should be borne in mind that 100% completion might not be possible during this period
• so prioritise as per your strong and weak areas and try to complete weak areas first so that after prelims you can go on revising those difficult topics.

3. Micro-planning

• now is the time to decide how to complete the topics until the target date
• you can allot the number of days to the subjects you have decided.
  e.g 2 days for environment, biodiversity and disaster management 
• also decide planning for writing practice as per your convenience
  e.g 1-hour writing every alternate day 

4. Compulsorily plan for the optional

• make sure that maximum coverage of your optional till the target date
• this is because in the prelims preparation you will be studying the topics which are relevant even for the GS in mains 
• but hardly the prelims preparation will be directly contributing to optional 

Given above are some tips and are subject to the personal level of preparation, strategy etc.

 According to me the rough framework can be as follow-

1. around 15th of January - target date and you can afford to study for mains until then.Those who are comfortable with prelims can stretch the preparation of mains until 15th of February or end of February.

2. But even for those who are comfortable or giving their 3rd or 4th attempt, it will be risky business to stretch mains preparation for long, given the uncertainties of prelims these days.

3. Important topics that must be completed or almost completed before starting the prelims preparation- 

                          a. at least one complete reading of optional with basic writing practice

                          b. the theory part of ethics

                          c. writing of some case studies from last year ethics papers

                          d. post-independence history as during the prelims preparation, this part will be                                        neglected
                          e. writing practice for current affairs based questions especially for GS-2 

It must be again reiterated that the above-mentioned tips and framework will vary for everyone. But you can certainly take a cue from this. I will be sharing some articles about the prelims preparation in few days. All the very best.