#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.
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
Great collection and tricks 👍👍👍👍