✦ Strategy & LearningsPreparation approach, subject-wise strategy, and interview mindset - compiled from public interviews and coaching-institute features.
ⓘ AI-generated from Jatin Kishore's public interviews & coaching-institute features - not written or reviewed by them.
2018
Attempt 1 - Failed
Could not clear the Prelims stage.
2019
Attempt 2 - AIR 2
Cleared the exam with All India Rank 2.
📈Prelims Strategy
Optimizing for accuracy and volume
Jatin emphasizes the importance of balancing the number of questions attempted with the risk of negative marking.
Attempt count
After failing his first attempt by only answering 70 questions, he increased his attempt count to 85-90 in his second attempt.
Mock tests
Use mock tests to experiment and find the optimal range of questions where you are comfortable and achieve a good score.
📰Current Affairs
Consistency over volume
Jatin advises against making exhaustive notes for current affairs, as it is difficult to maintain daily.
Newspaper reading
Read the newspaper daily without fail, but do not feel pressured to make notes for everything.
Magazines
Use monthly magazines for revision; only make short notes for topics you feel are highly relevant.
Timeframe
One year of current affairs is sufficient; do not over-invest time in going back multiple years.
📝Mains Answer Writing
Content-first approach
Jatin stresses that answer writing is the most important part of the exam but requires a strong content base first.
Build content first
Do not start writing answers from day one; build a solid understanding of static subjects first.
Note-making
Create crisp, 1-2 page notes for every topic in the syllabus to facilitate quick revision before the exam.
Practice
Once the content base is ready, practice answer writing consistently to improve speed and structure.
📚Study Material
Depth over breadth
A minimalist approach to resources is recommended to ensure thorough revision.
Limited sources
Stick to one main source for each subject and revise it multiple times rather than reading three different books once.
Revision
Repeated revision is key; ensure you are not just reading but internalizing the material.
⚖️Ethics & Essay Strategy
Application-based learning
These papers require a different approach than standard GS subjects.
Ethics
Do not get lost in jargon; focus on having a small, clear definition for each syllabus term and 1-2 practical examples.
Essay
Plan your essay for 15-20 minutes; treat it as a combination of 10 mini-answers covering different dimensions (political, social, economic).
“One book read three times is better than three books read once.”
— on his revision philosophy🎯 If You're Starting Out
- Do not try to follow someone else's rigid timetable; find what works for your own learning style.
- Focus on covering a substantial portion of one subject at a time rather than trying to study multiple subjects in a single day.
- Don't panic if you have a backlog of current affairs; it is natural and happens to everyone.
- Be constructive in your criticism of government policies; always provide a balanced view with potential solutions.
Where this came fromBiography and marks corroborated across 1 coaching-institute profile; strategy details drawn from 3 interview/strategy videos.