#93: PRELIMS LOGICAL TRICKS | Part 1

Compilation of Tweets shared by IFS ANUPAM SHARMA SIR

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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

17.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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

20.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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

24.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

24. Logical Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠 Prelims 2019 Question Do It Yourself (DIY) #UPSC

25.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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

33.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

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.

Anupam Sharma, IFS @AnupamSharmaIFS

35. Logical Tricks for #UPSCPrelims 🧠 Do It Yourself (DIY) Image: 2020 Q #UPSC

Link to Part 2