A guy in need of desparate help from senior members

[Communist]

Dear members, Assalam u Alikum.

I am a candidate for CSS 2013. I have two questions on which i want suggestions of senior members (especially those who have qualified the exam).

1)- Now a days i am making notes of Pakistan Affairs. My method of making notes is that i collect all the important material from books under particular headings (so that i don't have to reopen my books). As a result my notes for a particular topic comprises of 20 to 25 pages. Am i on a right track or should i limit my notes to fewer pages say 7 to 8. I am consulting Ikram Rabbani and I.H Qureshi. Will they suffice my need?

2)- My optional subjects are:

Arabic
Geography
US History
International law

but after observing low scoring trend of US History and I.Law in CSS 2011, i am thinking of switching US History or I.Law with Punjabi. Should i Keep US History or I.Law?


Please seniors, do answer my queries. I am in a serious need of your guidance.

Thanks.

[khanbaba512]

Originally Posted by Communist

Dear members, Assalam u Alikum.

I am a candidate for CSS 2013. I have two questions on which i want suggestions of senior members (especially those who have qualified the exam).

1)- Now a days i am making notes of Pakistan Affairs. My method of making notes is that i collect all the important material from books under particular headings (so that i don't have to reopen my books). As a result my notes for a particular topic comprises of 20 to 25 pages. Am i on a right track or should i limit my notes to fewer pages say 7 to 8. I am consulting Ikram Rabbani and I.H Qureshi. Will they suffice my need?

2)- My optional subjects are:

Arabic
Geography
US History
International law

but after observing low scoring trend of US History and I.Law in CSS 2011, i am thinking of switching US History or I.Law with Punjabi. Should i Keep US History or I.Law?


Please seniors, do answer my queries. I am in a serious need of your guidance.

Thanks.

first of all i would say that you have so much time for the preparation.If you start panicking in early hours ,then i don't think that you can keep yourself together in last month where every aspirant is in immense pressure of exams.So chill man..Take a deep breath ..Now about your optionals..dude their is no low or high scoring subjects..some perticular subject have degree of advantage but still one can manage with hard work.your optional are good as far as my opinion is..

For making notes..my suggestion is just collect important points.if u write all the points then what benefit is of making notes.clear your concepts rather than working on notes.

[candidguy]

Originally Posted by Communist

Now a days i am making notes of Pakistan Affairs. My method of making notes is that i collect all the important material from books under particular headings (so that i don't have to reopen my books). As a result my notes for a particular topic comprises of 20 to 25 pages. Am i on a right track or should i limit my notes to fewer pages say 7 to 8.

If I were you, I would make pattern notes rather than linear notes(the ones you're making) at this point of time.

Pattern Notes:

For pattern notes, you have to begin the topic at the centre of the page. Each line radiating from it represents a branch of the main idea. Each point is written as briefly as possible using a key word or a phrase. It is a better method to adopt because it is more flexible than making Linear notes. One can add extra information to it at any point without any problem. Second advantage is that we can see the whole pattern at one go without actually turning the pages. Thirdly we can indicate the links between different topics more easily than we can do in a linear method. Another advantage of pattern notes is that it is exceptionally useful when making notes from memory for revision as you keep jotting down points as and when they occur to you. This makes it easier to revise for exams and writing out essays as only brief key words are used. Lastly, it is easier to remember as notes is made in a shape format.

Source: (TIPS) IAS Papers : Method of Making Notes | UPSCPORTAL.COM - Online Community for UPSC, IAS, CSAT, PSC, Civil Services Aspirants.