

Discover more from UPSC CSE Why Newsletter
Join in to develop an IAS mindset for cracking UPSC CSE exam!
Over 13,000 subscribers
Continue reading
Sh. Anupam Sharma is an IFS officer of MP cadre who’s currently serving as DFO Burhanpur. He has shared ~70 tweets documenting Logical Tips and Tricks to solve UPSC CSE Prelims Questions.
I was revising them and realized that the compilation on twitter needs better platform. Therefore, I compiled all of these for myself and now making the compilation public for all to learn and benefit from!
In this first part, I am compiling 35 of his tweets. Rest in part 2.
1.

Some aspirants had messaged regarding #UPSCPrelims strategy.
Apart from traditional strategy, there were some logical #Tricks which helped me score >130 in almost every #UPSC attempt (2015,16,17,18).
So, will keep on sharing those tricks.
Trick-1: Surname
Image: 2018 Question

2.

Logical Tricks for #UPSCPrelims
Trick: #UPSC is a highly reputed organization of India. Obviously question-setter must have text-based evidence(s) showing or refuting the option(s) given by them.
So, think if any option is probable in any quality textbook or not.
Qs. Pre 2019

3.

Logical Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
Sometimes, multiple tricks are applied together:
* Checking Hindi Translation for difficult English words
* Elimination techniques
* Smelling the #UPSC logic behind asking the Question
Disclaimer: This is risky, not for Freshers
Image: 2021 Q


4.

Logical Tricks/Tips for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
Often, connecting the dots (of our prior/existing knowledge) can help us in arriving at the correct Answer.
Image: 2021 Q
#UPSC

5.

Logical Tricks/Tips for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
We need not possess exact or complete knowledge about #UPSC Pre Question to solve it. Often we can solve some questions using common sense & basic knowledge.
Disclaimers: It's not for Freshers; Some prior knowledge required
Image: 2021 Q

6.

Logical Tricks for #UPSCPrelims
Trick: #UPSC is a highly reputed organization of India. Obviously question-setter must have text-based evidence(s) showing or refuting the option(s) given by them.
So, think if any option is probable in any quality textbook or not.
Qs. Pre 2019

7.

7. Logical #Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
Looks like, the last Question tricks (6) were somewhat heavy for some aspirants. So, this is a simple one, using the most popular tricks/tips.
* Elimination of options
* Checking extreme statements/words carefully
Image: 2021 Q #UPSC

8.

9. Logical Tips for #UPSCPrelims
We may not always get correct answer using Logical #Tricks. Reasons: our carelessness, faulty application of logic, or, even proper application of tricks may give wrong answer.
Still, in my experience, overall impact remains (+)
Image: Q 2020

9.

9. Logical Tips for #UPSCPrelims
We may not always get correct answer using Logical #Tricks. Reasons: our carelessness, faulty application of logic, or, even proper application of tricks may give wrong answer.
Still, in my experience, overall impact remains (+)
Image: Q 2020

10.

10. Logical #Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
Image: 2020 Question, GIB
Btw, one surprising fact. Contrary to its name, Desert National Park (DNP) is actually a Wildlife Sanctuary, not a National Park.
#UPSC


11.

Logical Tricks/Tips for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
Sometimes we have ZERO knowledge about a specific #UPSC Question, yet it may be solved.
#Tricks
* Try to be in the shoes of Question-setter
* Science has vast possibilities
Disclaimer: These are risky, not for Freshers
Image: 2021 Q

12.

12. Logical Tips for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
Don't be afraid 😱 of lengthy questions/statements and seemingly complicated words/phrases. Atleast give it a try (in 2nd round of solving).
Often, such questions are easy to solve using basic knowledge & simple logics.
Image: 2020 Q
#UPSC

13.

13. Logical #Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
Carefully check extreme statements with words like Always, All, Only.
You just have to think of 1 exception, & that statement can be rejected.
Disclaimer: "All statements with extreme words are incorrect" is also ❌, by same logic🙂
#UPSC

14.

14. Logical #Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
* Psychology of Question setter
* Practicalities in framing Questions
Check initial Tweets also for better clarity.
Disclaimer: Risky, not for Freshers
Image: Q 2020
#UPSC

15.

15. Lateral Thinking for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
Taking ideas from Words/Names: Name is not assigned randomly, often it has some logic behind it. We may think that to get help in some Questions.
Disclaimer: Risky, not for Freshers
Image: Q 2018
#UPSC

16.

16. Logical Tips/Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
* Checking the options or statements properly
* Elimination
Disclaimer: Risky, not for Freshers
Image: Q 2020
#UPSC

17.

17. Lateral Thinking for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
Sometimes, correlating question & options may give us the answer.
Image: 2021 Q
I won't call it a "Blind Guess". At worst, it may be called a "Thoughtful Guess".
Disclaimer: It's risky, not for Freshers.
#UPSC

18.

18. Logical Tips for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
* We may acquire knowledge from any source (books or movies), more important is it's application in Question(s)
* In most of the Questions, clarity of Basics is important even to apply the logical tricks
Image: Q 2021
#UPSC




19.

19. Lateral Thinking for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
* Practicalities in framing a statement
* Psychology of Question-setter
Disclaimer: Risky, not for Freshers
Image: Q 2021
#UPSC

20.

20. Logical #Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
* Empirical Observation: There are good chances that data/organization are changed in statements, coz it's very easy for Question-setter.
* Practicalities in framing Questions
Disclaimer: Risky, not for Freshers
Image: Q 2021
#UPSC

21.

21. Lateral Thinking for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
* Like I told earlier also, don't be scared of lengthy questions. Handle them with open mind.
* Check Hindi translation (On an average, it helps in ~1 Question each year)
Disclaimer: Risky, not for Freshers
Image: Q 2021
#UPSC

22.

22. Lateral Thinking for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
DIY
* Check if any statement shows just a possibility
* Imagine if statement can be true
* Sense the practicality of finding a statement or its negation in any textbook
*Check which statement has Data/Organization & is very easy to tweak

23.

23. Logical Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
Do It Yourself (DIY)
Will post explanation tomorrow.
Image: Prelims 2019 Question
#UPSC

24.
25.

25. Tips for #UPSCPrelims
Not all Questions have to be attempted. If any candidate isn't having any idea about a Question (particularly a factual one), then Leave it without wasting much time. Number of such Qs may be 5-10.
Image: 2021 Q, Unsolvable (But, easy for Rajasthanis)


26.

26. Logical Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
In a few Questions, thinking why the Question has been asked might be helpful.
Disclaimers: Risky, not for Beginners
Image: 2019 Q
#UPSC

27.

27. Tips for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
There are some "easy to prepare" areas/topics from which 1-2 Questions are asked almost every year. They have to be memorized properly.
Ex. Major Rivers of India
Images: 2021 Q, PYQs on Rivers, Useful map @MapsofIndia (poor colour contrast)
#UPSC



28.

28. Logical Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
* Empirical observation on framing of statements by #UPSC Question-setters
* Elimination
* Lateral Thinking should be combined with Knowledge for better accuracy
Check earlier posts for greater clarity
Disclaimer: It's Risky
Image: 2021Q

29.

29. Empirical Observation on #UPSCPrelims 🧐
Sometimes if in a Question with ≥2 statements, 2 statements have some related idea/content but have different keywords (organization etc), then contents & keywords are interchanged between those 2 statements
Disclaimer: VERY Risky☠️

30.

30. Logical Tips for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
Empirical observation/pattern that Data & Organization are usually tweaked to make the statement ❌ should be applied only if you have a supporting Logic or Knowledge. Otherwise, it will be extremely risky.
Image: 2021 Q
#UPSC

31.

31. Logical Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
Elimination of seemingly incorrect options, based on Logics &/or limited Knowledge, is the most useful strategy to solve Questions.
Image: 2020 Q
#UPSC

32.

32. Logical Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
* Thinking about the location/region of name/word
* Elimination of seemingly incorrect options
Image: 2020 Q
#UPSC


33.

33. Logical Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
* Extreme statement may be ❌. But it's not a rule. So, think logically everytime.
* Elimination
This Question also reminded me of a saying😅
अति का भला न बोलना, अति की भली न चूप,
अति का भला न बरसना, अति की भली न धूप।
Image: 2020 Q
#UPSC

34.

34. Logical Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠
In Science-Tech questions, if a Statement is telling just the possibility (ex. "can be") and you can also think/imagine that possibility, then it has high probability of being ✔️.
Disclaimer: Risky, not for Freshers
Image: 2020 Q
#UPSC

35.
Link to Part 2
#93: PRELIMS LOGICAL TRICKS | Part 1
Great collection and tricks 👍👍👍👍