#6: How to make notes for UPSC?
Learn how to make clear, concise and valuable notes to ace UPSC CSE exam
Only 0.1% of the students who apply make it to the final list of CSE. ~0.01% make it to IAS.
One of the things that separate these 0.01% is their ability to make concise notes.
So, how to make clear, concise and valuable notes?
1) Know your aim (and syllabus)
You are in this game of UPSC to not earn a PhD but just have 'General' Idea. The subjects are called 'General Studies' for a reason. Which means, if you have 1-2 page notes for every topic of Mains syllabus, you have an edge on exam day.
2) Be smart!
A lot of students waste pages (& years) by filling notebooks of notes thinking it will help them sail. End result? Name not in list!
Note making is an art and you need to learn it before you waste 1-2 years writing and failing UPSC.
3) Use A4 sheets
Why?
- Value addition possible
- want to add more notes? Add an extra page and staple!
- Clean notes on paper, cleaner visual memory
4) How on A4?
- Fold the A4 sheet as shown in the image below
- On top left, as shown, write the Subject, Topic, and Page No.
- On top right, write name of topic
- Leave left margin for the value addition
- Main body only in the segment shown
- bottom left for some formula or mnemonics.
- bottom right for writing it in your words
5) Example
Here, an example of real time notes of Federalism
I have summarized entire Federalism in just one equation: F=2Φ J
F: Federalism, 2: dual polity/govt, Φ: constitution & J: Judiciary
Note: Know that this alone won't take you far.
These notes will need constant upgradation and revision. But these will surely help you learn, revise, and remember the key details on the day of exam.
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