With the syllabus of UPSC being so vast, it is very easy for anyone to get lost in studies. There would be days when you read the newspaper for hours, but still won’t be able to recollect any important news of the day. You will end up buying many books but not manage to read even one of them completely.
Let’s read the article and understand where you can face problems, why you need a mentor and the best mentor for you to ace UPSC.
Why Do You Need a Mentor for UPSC Preparation?
The UPSC Preparation process continues for months which is more detrimental than useful. You will not only be more confused conceptually but also can’t articulate the thoughts on paper.
Some of the common problems faced by students are:
To Study or Not to Study, That is the Question
Firstly, they do not know what to study. With so many books in the market and so much information available online it is really difficult for new students to really differentiate between useful sources and useless sources. He ends up buying all the books and getting lost on the internet.
UPSC is Like Running a Marathon
The preparation for UPSC is stretched over a very long period. It is pretty common for a student to lose steam. In such a case the student needs to be motivated so that he keeps studying for a long time. Sometimes internal motivation is not enough, but he also needs external motivation.
Every Great Journey Needs Course Correction
While preparing for UPSC one needs to constantly keep correcting his course. This can be done only with constant third-person evaluation. The right approach is “study – test – feedback – evaluate”. For this, we need someone who is highly experienced by our side.
Practice, Practice and Practice
Practice is the key to success in UPSC. Write as many answers as possible, solve as many questions as possible to hone your writing skills. But it’s not just about writing but also about getting the right feedback for your answers. Always keep your sources of feedback limited but authentic. It can be anybody from some friend, relative etc.
Also Read: Which is the Best Online Coaching for UPSC? A Comparative Study to Help You Make the Right Choice
Importance of UPSC Mentor
Aspirants desirous of acing the UPSC exam can greatly benefit from having a mentor who takes a personal interest in their progress and gives them their undivided attention and focus, just as an athlete on a running track needs a coach to train with – setting measurable targets each day and training hard together with the intent of improving performance on the field, both in terms of speed and technique.
There is no substitute for dedication. To stand out from the crowd, however, you must direct your time and effort in the right direction and squeeze the most value from your efforts. In the following ways, a mentor can assist you.
Charting a Plan
It entails the following:
#The procedure for making notes for topics on the syllabus.
#On a daily basis, you will read current events.
#Setting aside time to go over each section of the syllabus.
There is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” approach to completing a syllabus. Each student has his or her own set of time and availability constraints that must be accommodated. A mentor considers these factors and connects with aspirants to develop a strategy that works for them.
Information is Wealth
There is a wealth of information available on subjects and topics for the IAS exam; however, the number of sources available and the fact that new data is added on a daily basis makes it difficult for aspirants to make sense of it all. However, with the help of a mentor, this task becomes much more manageable.
Guidance for Choosing Books and Other Materials
There are some texts that, when read, add a level of clarity and edge to topics. For example, for general studies topics, referring to government press releases, NCERT books, government publications (such as the India Year Book, Economic Survey), and reports, etc. Mentors can assist aspirants in developing strategies to effectively cover these sources.
Also Read: Is Coaching Necessary for UPSC Exam Preparation? Know the Pros and Cons of Coaching and Self Study
Mentors Know Topics Weightage
A mentor can assist students in determining the importance of each topic in the civil service syllabus in terms of examination weighting. For example, did you know that the prelims contain approximately 8-9 questions from ‘Modern History’ alone?
Revision and Optional Subject
Mentors can assist students in developing an action plan for revising important sources and topics as the exam date approaches.
A mentor can assist in narrowing down the options when it comes to selecting an optional subject.
How to be Successful with a Mentor?
It is critical for a candidate to devote a significant amount of time to a mentor. Only choose the one who is a natural fit for your needs.
Finally, you should be able to openly discuss your exam fears and objectives. Only then will they be able to assist you. Please don’t expect the mentor to help you with your immediate needs.
Is there any aspect of your area that you find particularly challenging? Tell the mentor about your failures and difficulties. Never be hesitant in this regard. Otherwise, you’ll be doomed to fail.
Pay attention to your mentor’s advice. After you’ve listened, do some research and put what you’ve learned into practice. In any case, do not abuse your mentor’s relationship.
Also Read: Do I Really Need to Join Classes for UPSC? List of Best Coaching Centres in Delhi
UPSC Pathshala: Top Mentors for UPSC Preparation
UPSC Pathshala offers a solution…
We at UPSC Pathshala offer such mentors to the students. These mentors conduct one-to-one sessions with the students two times a week for 30 minutes duration. Our mentors are ex-civil servants or at least have reached the interview. The mentor conducts sessions on video calling where he covers broad aspects like:
Solution Offered by Mentors
Personalised day-to-day study plan as per the student requirement based on the time he can dedicate to studying.
Regular subjective questions solving from day one to ensure the student develops answer writing skills.
Regular doubt solving sessions with the mentor reducing the waiting time in the studies.
Ensuring that the syllabus is completed on time with sufficient revision and practise tests for both prelims and mains.
Also Read: IAS Dr Vikas Divyakirti Wiki: Read about the Man Who Founded India’s Famous IAS Coaching Institute
Conclusion
As outlined above, a mentor assists aspirants in becoming “exam-ready” from the first day of preparation, giving them a competitive advantage over those who do not have access to quality mentorship and rely on a “trial and error” approach to preparation that yields little to no results.
To experience this unique teaching methodology first hand, enrol for a trial class with our mentor.
Also Read: UPSC Exam Subject List: The Ultimate Preparation Strategy for the Civil Service Examination
