Last 5 days (improved from 2 prelims failures to AIR 7)
The last 5 days mindset is what matters the most and is what will push you over the cutoff.
Based on my experiences of 2 failed prelims and 1 final prelims cleared, I will try to share what I have learnt.
Mindset for last 1 week:
Focus on revising static subjects. Prioritise polity, geography and economy over other subjects. Revising here means to revise the important themes in static (based on PYQs)
Do not read anything new in this one week. Rather, focus on strengthening what you have learnt earlier.
Solve pyqs in year-wise format to get accustomed to the upsc language.
Exam hall mindset:
- Be mentally prepared for bouncers. Do not look at them as problems, but look at them as levellers. It will be difficult for all people.
- Instead, focus on maximising scores on basic questions from the static you studied.
- Having a strategy beforehand will calm your nerves and helps you to not panic at bouncers and also helps you to search for the easy doable questions and solve them.
Also take care of all the other basic things like preparing a checklist of items beforehand that have to be taken to the exam and also eating good but light food between the two exams. Do not discuss GS paper during the break.
All the best! Do well!
Any other doubts for mains, do follow my telegram channel (ARR_AIR7)
Summary:
Last 5 days matter the most. Focus on revising your static and PYQs and be mentally prepared for bouncers during the exam. Having a fixed strategy for solving the paper also helps.
Edit: This part is getting edited out by the bot moderator. So adding here: be active during the 4 hours (examination hours) during these 5 days, so that your brain gets accustomed to solving mcqs during this particular time.