UPSC exam tests your analytical skills at a different level. No other competitive exam in India seems to be that tough. They expect you to understand the topics in depth.
So, you must perform a detailed analysis of all the important topics according to the syllabus. This is why civil services exam is considered as the most challenging one.
IAS aspirants take a long period to complete the full preparation. Also, you will need a 100 percent dedication to find success. In this blog post, I have tried to give you a complete idea about improving your analytical skills.
Importance Of Analytical Skills In UPSC Exam
I have accumulated a few reasons to prove why analytical skills are important for the UPSC exam.The question paper equally tests your knowledge as well as analytical skills.
Basically, the candidate must learn excellent answer writing skills. Holding the comprehensive knowledge in all the subjects is also important. Do you agree? Both of these factors go hand in hand.
However, you can simply write what you know. Knowing everything is quite necessary. Without having complete knowledge, it is impossible to write analytical answers. It is as simple as this!
Nowadays, UPSC is asking dynamic questions more than static questions. So, prepare for indirect questions. Such question types force you to think deeper. Ensure that your preparation is also at that level.
Do you want to analyze the questions deeply? It demands a clear understanding of concepts. Expand your knowledge base through the smart study approach.
UPSC examdoes not want to scare you. All they need is an intelligent civil servant. Based on the requirements, they intend to test you.
Let’s assume you are an IAS officer. You will have to face critical situations. Sometimes, you will have to make immediate decisions. Also, the whole nation is affected by your actions.
The responsibility given to you is very huge. Only the analytical skills will help you stand out from the crowd. Above all, you should be confident to handle such emergency situations well.
Tips To Develop Excellent Analytical Skills
Let us think from the perspective of learning. This skill is learnable. How to think analytically? Is it possible to write comprehensive answers? How to acquire all-round knowledge? How much time does it take to prepare completely?
Keeping these questions in mind, we have listed the following tips. Do go through them and implement in your preparation period.
Build The Strong Foundation
An IAS aspirant must have a strong knowledge base. It is of high priority. Always remember that there is no substitute for a robust foundation.
For example, let’s say there is a question regarding the pros and cons of GST. You would have studied about this topic from many study resources.
It is also possible to directly memorize from the reference books. What if you do not know the fundamentals of taxations? Whatever answer you copy and write, it will not have any value.
You are not the only one who is preparing from the standard books. So, what is the difference between your answers and others? How do you stand out in the crowd?
Here comes the need for an independent analysis of each answer you present on paper. For this to happen, you will require strong basics.
In the above example, you are expected to be familiar with the following things:
- GST requirements
- Earlier Tax Regimes
- Need Of GST
- Hurdles During The Implementation
When you possess knowledge about the above few topics, your answers will be considered as the best. Narrate the supporting points. Keep the information unbiased. Expect the good score!
Check Out: 5 Things You Should Know Before You Start Preparing For Your IAS Exam
Ask As Many Questions As You Can
As soon as you read a question, ask some more related questions before answering. All the questions are linked to the main questions. The easy way is to use these 6 words and then frame each question.
- What?
- Who?
- When?
- Why?
- Where?
- How?
So, whenever you study about the new topic. Break it down into these set of six questions. Find answers to each. Ultimately, you will be able to frame a comprehensive answer.
Moreover, it helps you to analyze the issue in a quick manner. Be systematic and perfect while framing the answers. Follow this procedure. Nobody can beat the quality you give.
Ultimately, you have covered all the sub-issues with ease. Apply the same concept to all the subjects. Use the same strategy while answer writing practice. You can also make notes based on the same structure.
Learn How To Interconnect
There are multiple issues in UPSC syllabus. Multiple subject areas cover all of them. Let me explain you with an example. GST is an issue. It comes under various subjects like Polity, Economy, Science, and Cybersecurity.
Did you understand the complexity? So, you must learn to interconnect the same issues under different subjects. How to prepare for the entire syllabus in the same manner?
Prepare a checklist of topics based on the syllabus of General Studies. As and when you complete the specific issue, tick them up in the checklist. So, you will know where and all the same issue have appeared in the entire syllabus.
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Understand Carefully Before Responding
Just be like a sponge while preparing for the UPSC exam. Absorb all the information you come across during the preparation. It can be from standard UPSC reference books, newspaper editorials, magazines, notes, videos, etc.
Try not to arrive at any conclusion before only. Analyze and judge only after you get complete information. Forming opinions before receiving complete information is dangerous.
Firstly, gain enough matter about the issue. Otherwise, you will lose the track and end up with the wrong judgement. Even if the single matter is missing from your answer, it paves the way for fewer marks.
If you repeat the same mistake for all answers, you might end up in a big failure. Sometimes, students have failed in their first attempt. In turn, you would have to appear for exam multiple times.
Check out: How to start preparation for IAS exam without coaching
Read The Hindu Newspaper
The Hindu is the most recommended newspaper for UPSC preparation. You must have heard about it by now. In this newspaper, pay greater attention to the editorials.
You must not forget to study this important page. Read it on a daily basis. Make sure you have a fresh mind. So that you can absorb everything you read. Be curious to explore the depth of every concept.
The editorials page present you with the biggest issues of the nation. Observe the writing style. It helps you to frame better answers in the exam.
Check out: Top 5 tips to Crack the IAS Exam in the First Attempt
Participate in Brain Games
I recommend you to participate in brain games. Something like sudoku, crossword puzzle, etc should be a good choice. Playing such games will sharpen your brain.
Get ready to polish your analytical and logical skills. Now, you can be more confident about your thinking ability. These brain games make you a perfect person to take up the UPSC exam.
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Go Beyond Theory
Do not read the subjects just for the sake of academic knowledge. Only knowing the facts and figures will not serve the purpose. UPSC examination expects something more out of all the IAS aspirants.
You are supposed to learn the details of all the topics. Can you do it? Make up your mind today! Please do not prepare from the perspective of theory. It really doesn’t work.
Be aware of the applications of every topic. It plays a vital role in letting you score the top rank in the civil service exam. I would like to explain this with an example.
Suppose, you are studying about the President’s Rule from the Polity subject. How can you study this topic practically? Learn about where the rule was implemented. Also, under which circumstances was it implemented?
When you study the same topic in a practical aspect, it should provide you with huge benefits. Why don’t you begin this style of preparation?
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Combine Your Analytical Skills With Writing
It is not enough if you just analyze the concepts well but have bad presentation skills. You must also develop the writing skills that comprehend your analytical skills.
In the first place, do not frustrate the examiner by beating around the bush. Come to the main point directly. Give your opinion in the first two lines itself.
Make sure you divide the answer into a number of compact paragraphs. As a result, it is likely to be understood well. Write the headings in the same pattern throughout.
Please do not repeat the information just for the sake of filling up the gap. Organize your answers well. Let your analytical skills be presented in the proper format.
Final Words
Hopefully, the above tips should help you grasp the analytical skills required for UPSC exam. Ensure to create the best impression on the day of evaluation. Let the evaluators know how well you have organized the thoughts.
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