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This blog is an attempt to share my experiences of the UPSC Civil Service Exam

Strategy for Psychology by Ms. Shena Aggarwal (AIR-1)

Vote of Thanks
Ms. Shena needs no introduction. She has aced the UPSC exam and I am sure that her words are inspiring for
all of us. I can not thank her enough for penning down this writeup on Psychology preparation for the blog. She
has been extremely busy with her training at Nagpur but that could not dampen her zeal and enthusiasm to
help new candidates in their preparation. I am convinced that her tips will go a long way in guiding aspirants in
the right direction. She will try and reply to any queries you post but please bear with the delays in her replies. I
thank her profusely on behalf of all the candidates once again.
Strategy for Psychology
Psychology is widely preferred as an optional subject for civil services examination. The usual reasons for the
same include- it is an easy subject, it is a safe subject, it is considered a scoring subject etc. I would advice
someone to chose this subject not for these secondary reasons, but if you develop an interest in the subject
and wish to know about it more. This is the most important thing because only if you enjoy studying it, then
you can give your best efforts.
The subject has 2 papers- paper 1 deals with the theoretical aspects and basic principles of psychology, while
paper 2 talks about applied psychology and its use in various fields. After knowing this, the first step one
should take is open the syllabus and go through it thoroughly. UPSC tends to limit itself to the syllabus and so
should us while preparing for the exam. Also, knowledge of the syllabus gives us an idea of what is expected
of us, and how much we have to cover.

STUDY MATERIAL- Next come the most asked about questions- What books to study, whether to join coaching
or not, which coaching? My approach towards this has always been to study one book multiple times, rather
than multiple books one time. The usual books followed areNCERT Psychology- class 11, 12
Morgan and King- paper 1
Baron- paper 1
Ciccarelli- paper 1
Applied psychology by Smarak Swain- for paper 2
There is no need to study all of these books. I would suggest all to read the NCERT and any one of the other
books for paper 1. Try to read NCERT books cover to cover, these would help to develop an understanding of
all the basic concepts and would cover most of the topics in the syllabus. After that, one can also do certain

topics from one of the other books- usually Baron or Ciccarelli. The book on Applied Psychology is a concise
text by Smarak Swain, especially for the purpose of paper 2 . It basically covers all the topics.
Apart from these text books, notes of MukulPathak sir are almost read by everyone who takes up this subject
and are usually considered quite comprehensive. So one may either join coaching classes of MukulPathak or
get this material from the market or some friend. Whether or not to join coaching is a very personal decision
one has to take- consider various factors like availability of time, your study schedule and most importantly
your method of studying. Some people can grasp better in a classroom setting in the presence of a teacher,
while some prefer to study by themselves from the books. So try to identify your individual style and go
according to that. In my opinion, coaching can only provide guidance and provide one a competitive
atmosphere to study. The real effort has to be made by you only.

PREPARATION PHASE- Ideally, one should start the preparation around 1 year before the prelims, and
complete the syllabus by end of December. Then one can start with revision of the subject right after prelims,
and complete it in time for mains. Go through the syllabus topic wise, and try to complete one unit at a time.
Refer to the standard books and notes and try to develop a basic understanding initially. Dont try to mug up
the figures or names, focus should be on the concepts. After completing basic psychology for paper 1, start
with applied psychology for paper 2.Try to develop a timeline and decide how you aim to complete your
syllabus. I used to prepare broad frame, and then develop a monthly and daily schedule and would try to stick
to that. It helps to maintain the focus and doesnt allow any deviation from the task at hand. One can also
make use of various articles in the newspapers and magazines or the internet to gather more material, but this
should come at a later stage. For many topics of paper 2 like gender psychology, military psychology, terrorist
psychology, environmental psychology, work psychology, education psychology, social psychology etc, try to
use contemporary examples from the Indian context to make the answers more relevant. This will highly
enhance the value of the answer and fetch much more marks.
It is advisable to revise the same material multiple times. You can also make concise notes in your own
language to help in easy revision later. Try to develop the gist of every topic in the form of a flowchart or
diagram. This will save time later and help in making the answers more effective.
Practice answer writing to ensure that you can convey your answers in an effective manner. Every good
answer has two components- content and presentation. First read the question thoroughly to understand the
demands of the question- what is it asking about, whether the details of any theory, or its comparative
advantages and disadvantages with another, or if it is asking about the application part. Just jot down the
points you would want to cover in a few seconds and only then start writing. This will make sure that you dont
lose track of the question and cover all the points asked. Most of the people do well on the content part but
lack in presentation. Always try to put yourself in the examiners shoes and then youll realise what kind of
answer you should write- it should be crisp and clear, in a legible writing, and preferably with some diagrams or
flowcharts to make the same answer more effective. Try to highlight the important points and avoid repetition.
Thus effective answer writing is an art which can be only mastered by regular practice. Try to make such mind
maps and diagrams while studying and recapitulating the information. One can either join the test series of any
coaching institute for the same or practice writing answers at home. Go through the previous year question
papers and test your knowledge and practice writing answers to those. It would be better if you can get these
checked by a teacher so that youll get a better idea of your mistakes and further improvements that can be
made. I had joined the test series at Vajiram and Lufe institutes. This helps to analyse ones answers and
improve them the next time.
Another thing to keep in mind is to make efficient utilisation of the exam time of three hours. Spend the first

few minutes going through all the questions and deciding about the questions you know best and would
attempt. This exercise should not take more than 5 or 10 minutes. Then divide the time equally amongst all the
5 questions, while keeping 10-15 minutes in the end as reserve or extra for revision or unseen situations. So
youll have approximately 30 minutes per question. Try to stick to the word limit, with some deviation on either
side. These days in psychology, we dont generally get 60 mark questions, but 10, 20 or 30 mark questions. For
a 10 marker, just stick to the points and give the information asked. For a 20 or 30 mark question also, first
focus on the content required and then you can just supplement it with a brief introduction or conclusion with
regard to word limit and time availability. This time management skill and speed improvement can also be
developed with repeated practice.

EXAM TIME- The last few days before the exam should be spent wisely in revising the syllabus covered earlier.
Dont try to learn new things in this time. One day before the exam, try to finish the revision on time and then
relax for some time. A fresh mind will have a better memory recall and will help in writing fresh and innovative
answers.

So, in the end, make sureGo through the syllabus and collect the relevant study material.
Make a long term plan and complete the syllabus in time, topic wise.
Focus should be on understanding rather than rote learning.
Do multiple revisions of the same material.
Try to enhance the answers by including contemporary examples from newspapers, magazines and
internet.
Read the question carefully to understand the demands of the question.
Practice answer writing and make use of flowcharts, graphs and diagrams to make your answers more
effective.
Make efficient utilisation of the time and stick to the word limit.
All the best..!!
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Related

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Strategy for Medical Science

by Dr. Piyush Singla (AIR-84)
With 19 comments

54 Replies

June 20, 2012

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Dr Bashar on September 15, 2012 at 01:36

first let me congratulate u on ur grand sucess n thanx shena 4 such a wonderful work up of
psychologym first yr opthal pg n giving d mains dis yrregardin ma preparation,i hv learnt all d basic
concepts of psychology vry well bt findin it difficult to cope up wid applied portion due to vast n erratic
naturemy 1st optional is med.scienceplz advice,it is feasible to read smarak swain only for paper 2
m confused???
Reply

Jameel on September 14, 2012 at 23:13

@Shena..
Apparantely you have not replied to atleast one of the comments in here.
I wanted to put forward my views after reading psychology for 3 months and leaving it.
At the outset it seems very interesting. The way NCERT has explained or Morgan & King have done it, it
seems there cant be another subject. But when I got so engrossed into the subject and finally after
completing the syllabus once, I had a look at the previous year question papers. To my surprise, I could
not write more than 2 lines and that too not more than four questions were understandable. Moral is
that I left psychology and now hunting for other optionals
The reason why I wrote here is to know if at all there is any other way. I mean to fully get the grief off my
mind(of wasting the 3 months) and not being able to answer any question, is there a way I can improve
my understanding on the subject and be able to write answers? And since I cannot move to Delhi and
meet the expert Mr. Pathak and neither can get his notes, can you suggest some alternative? I hope
you read this and guide.
Thank you in anticipation.
Reply

Jay on September 14, 2012 at 15:17

Hi Sheena mam ,

Thanks a lot for this informative post.

Just wanted to know about your views on examrace notes
for psychology .
Thanks in advance.
Reply

Jameel on September 14, 2012 at 11:14

HI Prince,
I had posted a comment to seek an advice on Psychology.. Apparently it has got deleted. Is there a way
you could retrieve it?
Reply

princedhawan on September 14, 2012 at 18:53

Please post your query again.

Reply

jnsn on August 23, 2012 at 08:28

many many congrats shena on your grant success. please do share your strategy on medical science,
it will be highly beneficial to all the medicos please help
Reply

Priyanka Naik on August 22, 2012 at 22:23

Hello Ms.Shena.Congratulations on your success..Maam kindly suggest me the websites to browse

updation in Psychology(helpful for paper 1 n 2)
Kindly reply
ThankYou..
Priyanka Naik
Reply

shailja rungta on August 9, 2012 at 19:03

Hello sir/madam,
My hearty congratulations to both of you. God bless you.
I am doing my last year BMS right now and I am from mumbaiand later on planning to do for IAS
studies from delhi.
If you could please help out for best coaching institutes in delhi which i could join. As i am really

confused about it.

Waiting for your reply
Thank you.
Reply

princedhawan on August 14, 2012 at 14:09

Thank you so much for the good wishes.

There is no such thing as a best coaching institute. Each institute has its own plus/minus points. I
have replied to similar queries on coaching in other comments. Perhaps you can read them and
gain some perspective.
Reply

rahul chawla on July 29, 2012 at 02:47

i would like to congratulate both of you for your success. I wanted to ask shena mam regarding medical
science preparationi m a final yr medical student from vmmc, delhi and will be giving cse nxt year.
1.mam, should i refer harrison, bailey n other core books or manipal and mathews etc. Is it possible that
studying acc to pg entrance exam can meet the requirement of medical science optional? Coz i want to
be on a safer side plus we have internal pg seats bt getting into pg wouldnt be easy if leave pg
preparation n just concentrate on ias preparation. So can they both go hand in hand?
2. I havent prepared any notes n i also dont have time for it. Is it necessary to make notes for medical
science?
3. My performance in proffesionals has not been good n i have startd studying seriously only few
months bak. I havent joined any coaching for gs nor my syllabus for gs is complete. But I read
newspaper regularly and make notes too. I had solved this years prelims n was able to score 180/400.
from your experience, any advice regarding preparing for mains gs and medical science you would like
to give.
4. tips for writing answers of medical science in mains. if we dont know the correct answr, writing any
thing about it can fetch us some marks? is word limit tightly followed or can we exceed if we know
some extra points. do we get some extra marks for writing something relavant related to the question
but not directly asked. e.g. writing major side effects of the drugs in a question of management or
adding some points given in mcq level books. and i never draw diagrams in proffs. is it very essential to
draw diagrams even if not asked?
well the query is very longbt guidance on medical science is not easily available. thats why lot of
confusion.
plz replythanks in advance. congrats again and wishing you more success in future. Alsowould it be
possible for you to give your email id so that i can contact you in future if needed. My email is:
rahulchawla001@gmail.com
rahul, vmmc, new delhi
Reply

rishabh on July 5, 2012 at 11:48

@Shena aggarwal mam

A huge bunch of congratulations to u mam. Mam, there are rumors that it is becoming really tough to
score in psychology these days. People even believe that 318 is the highest marks. Plz do the favor of
sharing your marks and also if u know somebody who has scored more than u. As i psychology
optional student it becomes very demotivating to here that after all that hardwork, no one is getting
more than 318. It ll be soothing to have a veterans word on this. Thanx in advance.
Reply

Shena on July 7, 2012 at 01:02

My score in psycho was 180, 136

Reply

shashi. on July 1, 2012 at 17:49

where is lufe institue for psycho.

Reply

Shena on July 7, 2012 at 01:03

It was a small institute, newly opened at that time. Located at old Rajendra Nagar.
Reply

Vivek on June 27, 2012 at 07:06

Sir can you provide strategy of History and English Literature of other toppers? Thanks.
Reply

princedhawan on June 27, 2012 at 22:47

I am sorry, this may not be possible at the moment. I will try though.
Reply

Vivek on June 28, 2012 at 06:21

O.K.
Reply

Sanjay Cherwa on June 27, 2012 at 01:33

hi Dr.shena, congrates for ur success. Madam i want to know that did you join any coaching centre
during ur preparations ???
Reply

Shena on July 7, 2012 at 01:04

went for psycho and GS test series.

Reply

Peiyatosh on June 25, 2012 at 20:12

sir,
kindly tell me how to get IJPA articles and how to go through them. Is the whole journal is to be read or
selected articles
Reply

princedhawan on June 26, 2012 at 17:04

Please read only selective articles.

Reply

Medic on June 23, 2012 at 18:10

Maam is there any difference in answer writing for medical science as compared to humanities such as
writing in point etc.though every medico knows which books to follow for medical science but still it
would be of great help if u are able to write a blog about certain basic ideas about preparation and
answer writing in med sci as info regarding it is not there anywhere on the net.this will be of great help
to all students.
Reply

princedhawan on June 23, 2012 at 20:41

The strategy for Medical Science will be available on this blog by next week. It has been written by
Dr. Piyush Singla (AIR-84).
Reply

Medic on June 23, 2012 at 21:00

Thank u sir
Reply

Jithin on June 25, 2012 at 00:21

Thank u sir !
Reply

Shena on June 27, 2012 at 21:34

There is not much of a diff, u can write in either points form or paragraph depending on ur choice
and time available. Books would be the same as in ur graduation, no need to go into too much
details.
Reply

Sachin on June 22, 2012 at 09:17

Hi Prince , congrats for your stupendous success in your maiden attempt.

Plz provide your marksheet and interview strategy in coming posts.
Reply

princedhawan on June 22, 2012 at 10:08

Will do that
Reply

aditi on June 22, 2012 at 11:48

congrats mam..
can u plzz share strategy for geography
Reply

swayam on June 22, 2012 at 00:11

sir im a btech 2nd yr student.want to be ias officer.ive told u about me but u did not replied.pls tel me
the stepwise plan by wich i can be able to crack ias after 3yrs
Reply

princedhawan on June 22, 2012 at 10:39

Please choose your optionals and prepare for them and then prepare for GS. You may find the
different posts on this blog useful for your purpose.
Reply

ranjan on June 21, 2012 at 18:26

hello shena ,
i would like to congrats you for your grand success .
i am from engg. background (iit d) ,and decided to take psychology and pub. ad. as the optional. do you
think it would be better combination for optional ,as i have inner interest to study psychology and i have
also taken psychology from humanity deprt. during previous semester.
i would also like to request you to write next blog here ,mentioning about topic wise strategy which you
had followed during your preparation.
Reply

Shena on June 27, 2012 at 21:32

Thanks. Both of these are usually preferred optionals and its even better if u have interest and
some background information in it. so its a good choice.
Reply

Jithin on June 21, 2012 at 13:41

Hi sir/madam.. Pls help me select the best among these Morgan and King, Baron or Ciccarelli.
Reply

Shena on June 27, 2012 at 21:35

Morgan and King is a bit too detailed. Baron or Cicerrelli are both equally good for beginners.
Reply

ravi singh on June 21, 2012 at 09:24

sir i m student of b.a. program 1st year i want to know all the books , magazines, coaching you took 4
gs pre and mains plase tell ur marks in gs how much time it took u 4 completing gs same question for
other toppers please dont ignor.
Reply

princedhawan on June 21, 2012 at 22:30

Please refer to the other posts on this blog.

Reply

ravisingh on June 22, 2012 at 12:04

sir i know that u r busy but answer my previos post thanks nd congrats for deserving ur
desires
Reply

princedhawan on June 23, 2012 at 16:48

Thank you. Please post your query again.

Reply

sesha on June 21, 2012 at 09:10

Hello Sir,
Thanx for your valuable posts.
Can you please try to post the strategy for Anthropology ?
Reply

reddy on June 20, 2012 at 19:18

hi prince, provide for geography also so many r waiting for that

Reply

Hemant on June 20, 2012 at 14:50

Hi Shena, first congrats and thanks to both Prince and you.

May you tell us about showing any sample answer esp. how to write an introduction.
Reply

Navneet on June 20, 2012 at 12:08

Hey prince, when are you posting the strategy for electrical engineering
waiting from a long time
Reply

Prince Dhawan on June 21, 2012 at 00:53

I will do it by the end of this week.

Reply

Arif Ahsan on June 20, 2012 at 10:58

Thank you Sir for this very initiative. I read your blog regarding strategy for Public Administration. I am
trying to prepare accordingly. Sir my 2nd optional is Geography. Sir if you can arrange the same for
Geography it will be very helpful to me. Waiting for affirmative reply. Thank you Sir.
Reply

vatsla on June 20, 2012 at 09:44

Hello sir.
This blog is veru heplful civil services aspirents. Sir my optionals are geography n public
administrations. For geograpgy i havr joined nitu singh classes n for pub ad mohanti sir classes. Sir
what is ur opinion how to manage two optionals at the same time. I wrote pre2012.getting score around
190.m very tensed n not able to utilize my full potential.
Reply

princedhawan on June 21, 2012 at 00:44

Managing two optionals at the same time can be difficult but do ur best. Please try and maintain
pace with class. That way u wd hv atleast covered everything once by the time your coachings get
over.
Reply

vatsla on June 21, 2012 at 08:18

Thanks sirbut to b honest its becoming difficult for me day by day..now i bunk my
geography clasesn preparing for test..now m planning to write every test of botu the sub
Reply

princedhawan on June 21, 2012 at 22:30

Please avoid bunking classes.

Reply

Ravi on June 20, 2012 at 06:58

Hey brother Can you provide strategy of Law and Pol Sci of other toppers? Thanks..
Reply

princedhawan on June 20, 2012 at 09:10

I am trying for commerce and geography presently but will certainly also try for the subjects you
mentioned. However as you may understand it is difficult to give any guarantees.
Reply

Vivek. on June 20, 2012 at 14:40

Would be helpful if you can try for History optional too.

Thanks
Reply

ramana on June 20, 2012 at 04:19

Thx
Reply

Ravi on June 20, 2012 at 10:00

no problem prince. thanks.

Reply

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Strategy for History by Ms. Surabhi Malik (AIR-51)
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Strategy for Economics by Ms Harshika Singh (AIR-8)
Strategy for Medical Science by Dr. Piyush Singla (AIR-84)

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