Civil Services Examination (Prelim): Preparing for General Studies (Paper- II)

Civil Service Examination is the prize most examination of our country. Generally, fears reign supreme in this examination on account of the GS Paper- II. Majority of candidates can’t prepare well for this paper because they don’t comprehend the nature and tendency of this paper. As a result, their performance and success remains doubtful. In reality this paper is directed at evaluating the aptitude of candidates suitability expected from a civil servant.

The full mark of this paper is 200 out of which, 80 questions asked re of objective type.

Comprehension in the GS Paper

Comprehension is one of the sections of testing candidate’s aptitude for his suitability to the post. The candidates are expected to understand a given issue, analyse it and decide the difference of what is relevant and what is irrelevant. This section of General Study Paper-II is utterly important.

In the examination of 2011, 30 questions asked out of 80 were from this very section. Under the scheme of things of this, a passage is given consisting generally of 200-300 words. Normally, 2-5 questions are asked based on this. The answers to all the questions should be based upon the passage give. It could be on varied subjects namely social, economic, political, moral, cultural, and scientific and based on current event events etc.

The best way to prepare for this section is to hone up the skill of studying as many topics as is possible for candidates to do.

Keep your focus pointed towards the important points of whatever paragraph you read. Increase the stock of your vocabulary. The richer your word stock would be, the more distinctly shall you be able to comprehend the meaning hidden beneath the paragraph and in between the lines. Increase the speed of reading to prepare for comprehension.

Try to read to the maximum extents for this paper. Make uses of your forefinger or the ball point pen while reading the paragraphs. Your reading speed shall augment up. Practice on maximum of model sets. Expand the horizon of your studies.

Reasoning/general aptitude

About 30 questions are asked from this section. This section in the simpler terms could be understood thus- reasoning and common mental aptitude and basic mathematical capacities. Questions from years are being asked from this section. For this, regular practice to the maximum possible extents is required. Questions are generally asked from the portions of arithmetic, geometry, reasoning and graph etc.

For the preparation of this section, first of all make any standard book as the basis, and soak up all the important formulae in your memory. The begin practicing on the model questions making some previous questions as the basis. Several such model sets are provided in monthly magazines like Pratiyogita Darpan etc. As much more your practice on such model questions would be, as much your chances would be there for you to answer as many questions accurately and correctly otherwise the questions would remain unanswered by you. The standard of the questions of this section would be equivalent to the 10th standard.

The comprehension capacity of the English language in the GS Paper

Whereas the question of comprehension is asked in both the English and Hindi language, nevertheless this section contains the question of comprehension in only the English language. The standard of the question of this section is also of the 10th standard. The students of Hindi medium should regularly a national daily of some standard without worrying over on account of their lack of knowledge of the English language to prepare for this section.

All the rest points are similar to the preparations for the comprehension. Look at the previous year’s question papers to have the inklings of the nature and trend in circulation at present.

Interpersonal/communication/decision making/problem solving

The questions asked from this portion are aimed at to gauze the interpersonal qualities of the candidates. Hone up a notch up or two to develop administrative traits while preparing for the examination, Coordination such as

Coordination,
Cooperation,
Transparency,
Leadership qualities,
Accelerated decisions,
Accurate and correct decision making during the most difficult times etc.

What is expected of a civil servant?

Just as you prepare remaining fully alert and attentive to give answer to any question while preparing yourself for the interview board, similar type of preparedness is expected of you in the civil services examination in your performance through the medium of the above sections. Hence adopting an analytical approach, develop a distinct sort of assumptions on all subjects and aspects. In 2011 i.e. the last year round, 8 questions were asked from this section of decision taking and problem solving alone in which, there was no provision of negative marking, whereas, there was certainly the provision of 1/3 negative marking for the wrong answers of other sections.

Summing up with an overkill

To sum up, after examining minutely the General Study Paper microscopically, we arrive at the conclusion that now the changes have been brought into the pattern of the question papers. It’s expected of the aspirants to develop their practical skill besides the knowledge of the subjects. The work of a civil servant is highly challenging and hugely multifarious. And this second papers aims at find out those qualities in you.

One suggestion from me too: Be very casual in the examination hall. Read the question calmly and with a very cool mind. Just think and Ponder over the questions. Analyse the questions and then begin giving the correct answers. Your success in the first phase of the civil service examination is assured. Good Luck from me too!