He cracked the UPSC Mains code | Ayan Jain (AIR 16 in 2023 and AIR 87 in 2022)

Summary

In this insightful video, Ayan, a successful UPSC candidate, shares his journey and strategies for cracking the Mains exam. He contrasts his second and third attempts, highlighting his shift to a quantity-over-quality approach in answering questions and emphasizing time management. Ayan also discusses the importance of concise, organized notes, regular revision, and using topper copies for content extraction. He stresses the need for persistence, efficient time management, and mental resilience during the preparation process. Ayan's practical tips and personal experiences offer valuable guidance for future aspirants.

Takeaways

• 📈 Ayan improved his Mains score significantly from the second to the third attempt, highlighting the importance of learning from previous experiences.
• 📝 In his GS preparation, Ayan emphasized 'quantity over quality', writing numerous points and examples for each answer to ensure comprehensive coverage.
• ⏰ Ayan's time management strategy involved allocating specific minutes to each question, ensuring all questions were answered within the allotted time.
• 🌟 He incorporated value addition such as SDGs, landmark judgments, and best practices into his answers to distinguish his responses from others.
• 🔄 Ayan stressed the importance of revision, especially through writing answers and using topic-wise notes to reinforce learning.
• 📚 He used topper copies as a source of content and to understand the question-answer format, which helped in formulating concise and relevant points.
• 📋 Ayan created micro-notes for easy reference and quick revision, focusing on conciseness and usability over comprehensiveness.
• 🧘‍♂️ Mental preparation was crucial for Ayan, who managed self-doubt and anxiety by staying in touch with peers and reminding himself of his preparation.
• 👨‍🏫 Ayan's clear exposition and communication skills are highlighted as a superpower that would be beneficial in any career, including as an educator or service officer.
• 📉 Despite a lower score in GS this year, Ayan attributes the difference to writing style and rigorousness, suggesting continuous improvement is key.
• 💡 Ayan's approach to dealing with 'waste' such as tiredness and distractions was through ruthless prioritization and endurance, accepting that not all problems need to be solved but managed.

Q & A

What was Ayan's rank in the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2023?

Ayan ranked 16 in the CSE 2023.

What was Ayan's rank in his second attempt at the CSE?

In his second attempt, Ayan had a rank of 87.

How did Ayan's marks in the essay paper change between his second and third attempt?

Ayan's marks in the essay paper were below average, 104 in his second attempt and 111 in his third attempt.

What was Ayan's strategy for General Studies (GS) preparation in the Mains exam?

Ayan's strategy for GS preparation was to focus on quantity over quality, writing a large number of points with many examples, and adding value with current affairs, landmark judgments, best practices, and SDGs.

How did Ayan approach the time management during the GS exam?

Ayan managed his time by dividing it proportionally for every question, giving around seven minutes for every 10 markers and around 10 minutes for every 15 markers.

What was Ayan's approach to revision for GS preparation?

Ayan focused on revision by making topic-wise notes and revising them multiple times. He also used topper copies as a source of content and organized his notes in a point-form manner for better usability.

How did Ayan improve his score in the Maths optional paper between his second and third attempt?

Ayan improved his score in the Maths optional paper by 68 marks, going from 103 marks in the second attempt to a score of 171 in the third attempt.

What advice did Ayan receive from his seniors regarding the GS exam?

Ayan was advised by his seniors that one cannot mess up GS as it is very different from prelims and that persistence is key during the exam.

How did Ayan manage mental pressure and self-doubt during his preparation?

Ayan managed mental pressure and self-doubt by staying in touch with friends who were also preparing for the exam, enduring doubts rather than trying to overcome them, and reminding himself of his extensive preparation.

What was Ayan's score in the interview in his first attempt?

Ayan scored 187 in the interview in his first attempt.

How did Ayan deal with the 'waste' or negative byproducts of his high-efficiency mental and physical systems during preparation?

Ayan dealt with the negative byproducts by ruthlessly prioritizing, anticipating future tiredness, boredom, and distractions, and managing doubts by enduring them and staying strong.