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Let’s Have a Quick Look at How to Make Notes for UPSC 

Notes for UPSC: UPSC exams are conducted in three phases namely: Prelims, Mains, and the Interview process. The Mains consists of descriptive types of questions and answers. This phase of the exam is designed in such a way that it tests the candidate’s critical, analytical, and communicative ability.

It is very important to manage time in these examinations; your answers must be descriptive as well as limited when it comes to periods. Hence the candidates are required to answer all the questions using minimum words in the given time. 

It all depends on how well you have prepared yourself for the UPSC examination. We will learn the tips and points to consider while making a note for the UPSC examination in this article. 

Making notes for UPSC:

1. It is nearly impossible to clear the civil service examination without preparing your notes and doing an intensive study. You must learn to make short notes that cover the main and important points. Just making notes will not be enough to clear the toughest exam of India; you must revise it on regular basis. 

• The exam will test the candidate in various ways like the answers they write will tell a lot about their views, clarity, thoughts, and perception about the topic asked. Making short notes now and then will sharpen your memory and help you in increasing your writing speed. 

• When you start preparing for the exam, you tend to follow a particular author and read the study material. But, it would be beneficial if you understand the material and write the concept in your own words. This will help you to express your thought beautifully in from of the examiner. However, this can be achieved only through practice and hard work.

• Candidates must plan out on covering the important topics of the syllabus first, if you plan your schedule you have the aim to work on it. Without planning and preparation, you cannot fix your schedule hence there is a chance that you might lose most of your time. 

• The other important point to consider here is making notes by following the previous year’s question papers. Make sure to follow a specific book related to that topic. This doesn’t mean you need to copy-paste the content in your book, the more precise you become while writing the notes the better you can create content related to the topic given.

• For covering the syllabus it is very important that you read newspapers, listen to the news and follow government magazines. These are the best sources to cover current affairs and the latest information. It is a known fact that UPSC examinations are majorly based on the current topics and developments; hence you must be updated with the latest trends. 

• While studying, make sure to highlight important points and prepare short notes then and there, not necessarily every answer needs the same perception hence make sure to apply deep knowledge where ever necessary. This part will help your notes making skills over a while. While making notes you need to work on developing some strategies as well, structuring your notes, and making use of common abbreviations where ever necessary. 

Some tips to consider while making notes:

• Keep different books for every subject; don’t mix the notes as they might confuse you.
• Always keep a pen, pencil, and highlighter in your pencil box. 
• Don’t write every line; try to catch the important sentence only.
• Paste sticky notes to make a note of updates related to that context.
• Revise your subjects regularly, just making notes is not enough. 

• Paste sticky notes to add recent updates.
• Make use of What, Why How, When and give conclusion where ever necessary. 
• Make a note of previous year’s questions to relate to the topic, this will help you in making relevant notes. 
• Try to use headings, subheadings, and bullets for answers. 
• Make a note of Principles, concepts, and theories related to the topic.
• Make use of simple diagrams and charts as and when required.
• Try to give real-life situations as examples to give more weightage to your answers.
• Try to use new but not difficult words in your notes.

Once you are done making notes by referring to various sources, now is the time that you prepare for the exam. Revise on regular basis, try to keep yourself updated with news and articles. 

Take one subject at a time and finish it on the set deadline, don’t try to mix and match the subjects as it will cause only confusion. In this way, your preparation will be time-saving and easy to understand. 

With hard work and thorough preparation, you can clear the UPSC exam, just believe in yourself and do your best!