6. What to do with Geography optional, how to start etc etc.
Follow the below links

https://youtu.be/eNsc8finXmA

https://youtu.be/bLVlrLx8kHQ

7. What's this analysis of questions that everyone is asking about?

Okay, I'm breaking down to the basic level.
Suppose there's a question on tributaries of River Brahmaputra (2016), let's do an analysis.

Horizontal analysis

Since the tributaries of Brahmaputra is asked, tomorrow tributaries of any river could be asked. So your tip is 'Prepare all tributaries well'

Vertical analysis:

Brahmaputra tributaries is asked now. Tomorrow it's dams, it's source or any info about it could be asked. This is vertical analysis

How did it help me

In 2015 prelims there was a question on amnesty International because of Syrian human rights violations
In 2016 doctors without Borders was largely in news. I expected that this could be askes and prepared extensively. In 2016 this was indeed asked.

Analyzing PYQP will give you an idea about what to prep, how to prep, what to ignore, how to attempt questions etc.

8. What's the strategy if I didn't clear 2019 prelims.

Well, give few months for optional. Try to complete it before November. Put your heart and soul to complete the entire syllabus of optional.

In December subscribe to a test series and start following it diligently. Solve numerous question paper. Read and revise repeatedly. Six months is more than enough to clear prelims with right strategy and hardwork.

9. People writing mains, anxiety is natural. Don't worry about it. Instead focus how better can you present your answers. I have always said that it's jot about what you write but how you write. Focus on the how part to get good marks.

10. Certain myths breaking

A. Your coaching part in your success in 5%. It's your hardwork which is 95%

B. Subscribing to fancy or costly test series ain't gonna help you. Don't waste money thinking that test series will save you. If you've learnt to analyse the PYQP and prepare strategically then without test series you can pass.
If not then no test series will be able to help you. The push must be from you

C. Don't chase material. I've heard one person reading two newspapers and watching Current affairs discussion of byjus and raus and still unable to clear prelims. He was never meant to clear prelims if he chases so many sources without actually studying them. A friend of mine said, you can keep one step in twenty directions or twenty steps in one direction. You know in which of the above case there's
progress.

D. You decide what's best for you. Everyone is unique. Don't join a coaching program just because your study hall friend said you that. Think whether you really need it.

E. Understand how coaching institutes make questions. They've a set of students who've attempted the exam few times. And they've freelancers who've attempts prelims few times. They may or may not have cleared. Now these freelancers will create questions and send to the main person who'll then curate. This happens in most of the academies. In other ones there's internal R&D who does the work. Bottomline : NO TEST SERIES WILL EVER COME EVEN CLOSE TO USPC.

11. My mains experience

I improved my marks from 784 (787 Gen cutoff, 789 (808 Gen cutoff), 877 (784 Gen cutoff).

First attempt mistakes

1. Started answer writing only after prelims. Only aim was to complete the paper. Didn't focus on the no of points or presentation etc

2. Didn't complete the syllabus

3. Messed up with my essay

Second attempt mistakes

1. Didn't do time management in exam. Left some 50 marks

2. Geography optional qp was tough. Didn't knew answers (although attempted) for few questions

3. Messed up with essay (people scored 165+ in essay that year)

Third attempt

1. Focused a lot on time management. Was able to complete paper FULLY, writing in all pages end to end in 2 hrs and 50 mins.

2. Focused on improving my presentation

3. Understood the demand of the question well

4. Worked on essay part.

12. Mains strategy

1. Analyze all the PYQP to understand how questions are asked

2. Tune your prep. Whenever you read a news article think what mains question can be asked. And for that question what intro and conclusion will you write, what diagram will you draw etc

3. Make short notes of every topics in syllabus and update them with current affairs

4. Subscribe to a test series. Write a full length test every fortnight and 5 ques on a daily basis

5. Spend time in analysing toppers answers and model your answer that way.

6. Create a group who are very serious. Peer to peer learning will help

13. How did I keep track of my preparation?

For Prelims I had the strategy ready.

1. Analyze pyqp to understand how questions are asked.

2. Do a vertical and horizontal analysis. I've said about this already

3. Write tests. Analyse the performance

4. Read the syllabus again after the test

Track :

Subscribe to a test series. I used vision ias prelims test series. There'll be 35 nos. So I prepared along with the test series. The exam can be preponrd or postponed. So I decided in which dates I'll write them and studied accordingly. Once the test is written, I've made a excel in which I updated my marks.

This way it was easier to know where I'm going and where to improve.

Mains also similar strategy with more of self writing of answers

A lot of queries pending. I'll take up few tomorrow. Goodnight.

The magnificent LBSNAA

Have a dream to be here one day.