Let me enumerate a few truths about Mains Test series -
- The bulk of the population of UPSC aspirants goes crazy about Test series just because it appears to be a ritual. Everyone apparently advises taking a test series. So they start researching and buying Test series without much application of mind.
Nowadays, the first question that a fresh aspirant asks is ‘Which test series?’. The question arises in his mind because he sees everyone around him discussing the same thing. And it is one of the things in the UPSC community, which is easy to discuss and waste time on.
- The majority of those who opt for one or the other Test series have no idea how to use it properly. They waste their money and time with these test series packages. Many do not write the tests at all. Some write tests for fun, or to show off their cursive writing skills. They get nothing productive from such efforts.
- Many people routinely buy Mains test series packages 7 months before Prelims. And then they run from pillar to post to sell these off once they know they are not going to clear Prelims. This is a complete wastage of time and money.
- There is a minority that does not treat test series as a holy grail. They know that writing fancy tests as such is useless unless the experience is used well in subsequent tests. So, they treat test series as one way to “improve” their writing skills. They are not bothered about the marks in a test. Instead, they focus more on ‘improvement’ in marks from one test to the next.
Now, let me address the minority which comes in Point 4. People in this group know the purpose of a test series. And they are not taking it up as a ritual.
(1) Most of the ‘well known’ institutes offering Test series will lure you with over-the-top words like “personalised interactive guidance”, “creative interaction sessions”, etc. In reality, most of them take 2 to 3 weeks to evaluate your papers. And especially when Mains is closing in. You may be left high and dry just a few weeks before Mains, when you find that your last 5 answer scripts are yet to be evaluated.
(2) Most institutes use the system of keeping a standard set of answers for their tests. And their evaluators just put those standard points in your answer sheet, without even reading what you have written. Such below-par evaluation is becoming more common these days.
(3) Marks scored in Test series is usually not a good yardstick to gauge your preparation. Many people write these tests for 5 to 6 hours (in test centres or at home) and score very high marks. You might write within 3 hours and score poorly. It’s difficult and unfair to compare the two sets of people.
Now, what is to be done -
(1) Realise the “purpose” that a test series serves if you treat it seriously -
(a) It prepares you to finish your papers within 3 hours.
(b) It teaches you to write quality answers at blazing speed.
(2) Learn the art of writing first. If someone tells you that it is possible to just write a few tests and fly through Mains, then he is just lying. You need to have some idea about ‘writing’ before you can compete in a writing competition. Check my
answer to know more about that.
(3) Before subscribing to any Test series of any institute, check some of the toppers answers scrips available on the internet. Don’t just zoom past the pages, but spend time reading and analysing their style and content. It helps. I started my UPSC preparation by reading toppers answer scripts, and not with books and test series.
(4) Be thorough with the syllabus. Unless you are completing and revising the syllabus on time, you will never have the confidence to write answers. For example, if you have not prepared International Relations, you will never be able to answer even the current affairs based questions on IR. No test series can help if background preparation is shaky.
(5) Only when you are done with Points 1 to 4, start thinking about spending money on Test series. The period between Prelims and Mains is usually the time when serious answer writing happens. However, you should prepare the foundation for this period before Prelims.
(6) I have no specific suggestion of any institute’s test series. If you can take the pain of reading the whole answer, you will realise that it is futile to debate on institutes. The two things you need to take care of is the time within which you get evaluated answer scripts and the time you are taking to write the tests. Check the reputation of the institutes in timely evaluation of tests, and only then go for one.
Source -Qoura
