Having quality notes for UPSC exam is the most important thing that any aspirant must have before starting their full time preparation. According to Bibhash Sharma, who is a Director of Elite IAS Academy, that organized and short notes are essential for students preparing in the coaching classes like IAS Coaching in Delhi. This blog presents a comprehensive study plan for the candidates and how they can make short notes to help them prepare well.
Identifying Key Information
The first foundational step in note-taking is to figure out what information needs a note. Get in the habit of highlighting key terms, dates/ names/events and theories when you are reading or during lectures. Through this method, you get the required profile on a topic without entangling yourself in loads of information while matching your content exactly to UPSC’s holistic syllabus.
Effective Note-Making Methods
1. Headers and Bullet Points: Keep the information well-structured with headers, sub-headers and bullets for easy readability. This format is ideal for speedy review and easy learning. This style of writing is preferred by UPSC in Civil Services mains examination, especially for General Studies subjective writing.
2. Draw Diagrams: Use Mind Maps for subjects that contain huge amount of data and relationships i.e. History or Geography. Flow charts are very effective in handling sequential or process-based information, which is often found in topics related to economics and science. Finally, the flow chart should be briefly discussed. This is appreciated by the examiner.
3. Table Comparison: Use tables to compare and contrast different aspects (Mostly in polity & philosophy). This is also effective in economics.
4. Symbols and Abbreviations: Develop a set of abbreviations as well as symbols for frequently used words so you can easily take notes in shorthand. This helps in retaining the topic or subject for long time.
Using Digital Note Making Tools
Applicants joined online UPSC coaching can get help by coordinating advanced devices with note-production. Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, Google Keep are the apps that never fail to organize and sync your notes across all devices. They feature search and categorization capabilities which come in very handy, especially during revision time.
Importance of Regular Review
Notes are only as useful the number of times you review it consistently and frequently. Develop a habit to go through your notes at regular intervals, which improves the retention and gives you an outline if something needs deep understanding.
Tailoring Notes to Your Needs
You must modify it according to your way of learning. Some applicants may want precision notes, while others simple lists and diagrams. Reformatting your notes to the method that suits you best for recall, comprehension.
How Make Effective Notes
For example- Probably you should think of any topic from Indian Polity say ‘The Preamble of the Constitution’.
• Main Heading: ‘Preamble’
• Key Notes:
o What Is/Definition and Intent
o Justice, Liberty and Equality etc.
o Changes and modifications affecting the Preamble
o Judgments of the Supreme Court to Preamble
Picture telling: Map out a diagram that relates the concepts and ideas in the Preamble to how they are practiced by cooperation.
Lastly, we can conclude that like all skill sets, note-making is an art that one can only ever get better at. Invest your time and effort in reading better, Smarter Study Skills Techniques, engaging actively with the material as you read it so that when you make notes they are useful afterwards. With expert insights from mentors like Bibhash Sharma at Elite IAS Academy, combined with the perfect strategies and tools can take them a step closer in mastering their UPSC preparation.
You can find address of one of the recommended Civil Services Academy below. It provides UPSC CSE courses in Online and Offline mode.:
Elite IAS Academy, 103 & 105, 1st Floor, Mall Rd, Kingsway Camp, GTB Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110009