Shubham Satyam (AIR-497, CSE-21) Detailed Prelims Strategy

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Hi All, Need of the hour for UPSC Aspirants is to get their Prelims strategy right. Thanks to Shubham Satyam, who secured AIR-497 in CSE-21, that Aspirants have right example to follow. Following is Shubham’s strategy in his own words: I, Shubham Satyam, secured AIR 497 in the Civil Services Examination 2021 in my 3rd

The Importance of a Sound Prelims Strategy for UPSC Aspirants

The need of the hour for UPSC aspirants is to have a well-thought-out Prelims strategy. With Shubham Satyam securing AIR-497 in CSE-21, aspirants have a strong example to emulate. Following is Shubham’s strategy in his own words:

Background of Shubham Satyam

Shubham Satyam, a mechanical engineer by profession, secured AIR-497 in the Civil Services Examination 2021. He had completed his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from VIT, Vellore in 2016. Post his graduation, he worked as a Programmer Analyst in CTS for two years before resigning to prepare full-time for CSE.

Prelims Strategy

Persistence and Patience

If one were to ask in a single line, what studying for Prelims is like, Shubham would describe it as:

Studying for Prelims is like throwing pebbles into a pitcher filled partially with water. Instant gratification and impatience will lead nowhere, but with consistent effort, the water level will rise.

Shubham has cleared all three Prelims in his three attempts. This year’s marks have not been revealed yet because he had also applied for the Indian Forest Service (IFoS).

Key Pointers for Aspirants

Shubham shares several pointers that helped him clear Prelims in every attempt:

Standard Sources: There is no alternative to standard sources. NCERTs and some important reference books are the bare minimum.
Inquisitiveness: Develop a habit of questioning and finding answers. Common sense often helps arrive at correct answers.
Correlation and Connections: Learn to ponder over what you read and find interlinkages between different topics.
Reading Newspapers: Read the newspaper daily but avoid getting overwhelmed with Current Affairs compilations. Focus more on static topics (75% of your time) and current affairs (25% of your time).

Effective Revision Strategies

Backward Revision: Think backwards—what would you revise 3 days, 7 days, 10 days, 15 days prior to Prelims. A solid revision plan is key.
Note-Making: Without notes, efforts will not bring commensurate results. Read Shubham’s answer on Quora about note-making.
Randomness of Prelims: Some questions will come from standard sources and others may not. However, if you’ve mastered the content, your knowledge base will help you arrive at answers.

Relative Performance

In Prelims, what matters is your relative performance vis-a-vis other candidates. Difficult questions are for everyone. It’s the performance in easy and moderate questions that determines selection. If you’re above average at all stages of the exam, you’ll ace it.

Connecting with Shubham Satyam

For aspirants looking to connect with Shubham, here are the following platforms:

Blog: https://drowningice.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/satya_shubh
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shubham-satyam-25494167/
Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Shubham-Satyam
Telegram: @AzadHindFauz
Forum Community: https://forumias.com/user/AzadHindFauz

Other CSE 21 Topper Strategies

For a comprehensive view of various strategies from top CSE 21 aspirants, refer to the following links:

This comprehensive strategy from Shubham Satyam and other successful aspirants should guide UPSC candidates in shaping a robust Prelims preparation plan.