IAS Toppers Interview: EESHA PRIYA Rank 75 First Attempt

Education

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

EESHA PRIYA: Planning , Focus and Hardwork

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

EESHA PRIYA: I tried to merge my preparation for prelims and mains. Referring limited number of books , reading each book 5 times helped..I preferred IGNOU, National open school materials along with online websites like pib.com , prs.in etc

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

EESHA PRIYA: No..it being my first attempt, I integrated the preparation.

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary)

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

EESHA PRIYA: I enrolled in for the online test series @ GSSCORE…Manoj sir’s remarks on d answer sheets helped me improve.

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

EESHA PRIYA: No….just that I attempted d case studies first to get ample time to think

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

EESHA PRIYA: I searched materials as per requirements of syllabus ..along with previous years questions in mind.

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

EESHA PRIYA: Mark important points in books….compile them precisely in d notes.

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

EESHA PRIYA: Tried to curtail wasting time, gave up social networking sites…divided the time into revision hours and fresh topics to study…writing essay on weekends etc.

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

EESHA PRIYA: I stuck to the point format. Enrolling in a test series helped my develop proper structure and style for writing.

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

EESHA PRIYA: Test series for prelims helped me get accustomed to the MCQ format in a time bound manner. Enrolling in a mains test series helped me develop proper structure and style for writing.

GK Today and SRIRAMS IAS for prelims

GSSCORE for mains

I found all the tests very useful in developing conceptual clarity and analytical thinking.

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

EESHA PRIYA: A strong internal Motivation is very important to maintain zest and vigour during preparation. 100% Focus helped me maintain my tempo and avoid distractions. Talking to parents and friends helped me break monotony.

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

EESHA PRIYA: I guess working professionals r more successful because they r accustomed to long working hours, performance targets and delivery during stress. Making CSAT qualifying has reduced the advantage that engineers had..But analytical skills and application based approach desired by UPSC is inherent in science subjects.

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

EESHA PRIYA: Newspaper -The hindu and Indian express, online sites , Civil Services Chronicle etc

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

insightsonindia.com

iasscore

prs.com

pib.in

mrunal.com

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

EESHA PRIYA: Devote yourself totally towards this exam , Maintain Self Confidence that you can crack this exam…and above all Have faith in GOD that he will definitely reward your efforts one day!

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants

EESHA PRIYA: Develop a habit of reading the Hindu…early on…if you are planning to appear in CSE someday…Dedicated hard work is surely rewarded!

EESHA PRIYA Mark sheet

Download test copies of EESHA PRIYA