CSAT and Civil services exam

Introduction

The New Pattern of Prelims: An Overall Perspective

The Significant Changes

The year 2011 is a watershed year for civil service aspirants as the UPSC is set to user in significant changes in the Civil Services Preliminary Examination (C.S. Prelims). A new ‘Aptitude Test’ is to the replace the paper on the optional subject in vogue up till now. In the new scheme, the CS Prelims will comprise to compulsory papers, which will be of objective type with multiple choices. Each of these papers will be of two hundred marks and of two hours duration. Paper I will the ‘General Studies’ paper, with ‘Environment and Ecology’ introduced as additional topics in the syllabus.  Paper II will be the ‘Aptitude Test’. Paper I and Paper II are now together called the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test).

Why the Change?

The stand objective of bringing in such a major change is twin-fold.

(a)   To test the candidates on the basis of their innate abilities and intelligence rather than on their ‘knowledge quotient’. The logic is that the ‘knowledge quotient’ is being tested in the Main Examination.

(b)   To design a common test for all candidates rather than evaluating their performance in separate optional subjects, thug bringing all candidates on common platform.

The pattern of examination and nature of questions have been finished after seeking inputs from several experts and committees. The expert have often opined that aptitude and abilities of a person are for more important in deciding how good a civil servant he/she turns out to be, rather than his/her specialized knowledge in a particular subject. This forms the basic philosophy of CSAT.

Nature of the change and its Significance

As mentioned earlier, the obvious change is introduction of the paper on aptitude test. The Syllabus of the general studies paper has also been revised to incorporate the topic of ‘Environment’ and ‘Ecology’ besides, the emphasis in General Studies is now to be on questions which involve application of the knowledge/information. Rather than on questions witch only test factual knowledge. But, equally significant, though seemingly less important, are changes in the weightage/marks of Paper I and II.

Earlier, Paper II comprising the optional subject was allotted 300 mark and the General Studies (Paper I) only 150 marks. The 2:1 weight age purportedly gave an undue advantage to some papers, perceived to be scoring ones. This lead to the point weather normalization of scores of different subjects was done will evaluation of the answer paper.

This of course, is now to become a thing of the post. More importantly, since previously, optional papers ware allotted double the mark of GS, it meant that many candidates concentrated their efforts largely on the optional paper (and rightly so). They cloud clear the examination on the basis of their optional score, even though they may have neglected the GS to some extent. Now, with equal weight age to both the papers, this imbalance has been set right.

The reduction in duration of both the paper from three to two hours should also come as a welcome relief to the spirants. Now the CS (prelim) is likely to become more a test of aptitude, awareness and application and less of factual knowledge and rote learning.

What is Aptitude and What are Aptitude Tests?

The term ‘aptitude’ refers to the innate ability and intelligence of a person, that determines his/her overall competence and his/her capacity to perform a specific kind of work at a certain level. It is distinct from knowledge and understanding which are more in the nature of information and knowledge gained. Aptitude test aim at evaluating the innate ability of the candidates with a view to assessing his/her suitability for certain kinds of tasks. Usually these tests appraise a candidate’s linguistic ability, comprehension skills, numerical aptitude, logic and reasoning, abstract thinking, visuospatail abilities, intra-personal and inter-personal skills, sense of rhythm and kinesthetic abilities. The CSAT also aims to evaluate most of these attributes, though not all owing to the limitation of it being a paper-based classroom test.

What CSAT will Entail

The notification Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) dated 18.10.2010 and press note of U.P.S.C specify the following topics to be included in paper II.

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision making problem solving
• General mental ability.
• Basic numeracy (Class X level), and interpretation (Class X level)
• English language comprehension skills (Class X level)

The press note of UPSC further clarifies that English language Comprehension skills will be tested by means of passages in English for which no Hindi translation will be provided.

How to prepare

In each section, tips and the techniques about preparing that topic have been given. In the following paragraphs some salient points about overall preparation of the aptitude test are being discussed.

When to being preparation

Ideally. The preparation for CS (prelims) should being three to four months before the preliminary examination. Prior to that, candidates understandably want to prepare at least one subject of the Main Examination. But considering the change in the examination pattern and introduction of the new paper, commencing the preparation a couple of weeks earlier than the aforesaid time, would be beneficial.

Prepare a plan

Prepare a plan/schedule for preparation, ear-marking days/weeks for specific topics and sections. Check out your progress regularly. Keep the last two weeks prior to the examination free for solving model question papers, working on weaker areas and revision. A well thought out preparation plan helps to keep your preparation on tight leash and prevents you from becoming complacent.

Need for concentration

In various chapters of this book the need for contraction and mental alertness has been emphasized upon. Although contraction is a key virtue for the being successful in any examination, it is more so in an aptitude test.

In a test of a specific subject what is important is whether or not you know the right answer or the technique to solve the question. But in a aptitude test, even if you know how to solve a particular question, your focus and attention will be important in enabling you to pick the right choice. Techniques like Pranayam relaxation exercise etc., are tested methods to improve concentration.

Coping with anxiety

During the entire course of preparation, some degree of anxiety and nervousness is likely to be felt. A bit of anxiety is normal and helpful, as it peps up our system and prevents us from becoming casual. But it is important not to let anxiety besiege us. Techniques such as talking walks, listening to light music, mild exercising or simply taking a break from studies for a sort while can be helpful to some. One has to find for oneself what suit and helps him or her.  But, it is important to build is some activity in your daily routine which helps you to cop up with your anxiety and help to relax.

Taking Care of Health

Never take entire course of preparation, specially during your preparation schedule. A bout of illness can make your plans go awry and pin you down psychologically. Take proper and timely meals. Incorporate some physical exercises and activity in your schedule. Drink sufficient quantity of water. This is specially true as the day of the examination nears. If you are pursuing some course, have joined some coaching or go out frequently for pursuing your job, then make it a habit to carry a bottle of drinking water. Avoid talking untreated drinking water or eating temping unhygienic food, from the market place.

Dos and don’ts before and during the examination

• Read very carefully the documents sent with the admit card. These often contain information about the examination, a sample answer sheet, particulars of the examination center, things permitted to be carried in the examination hall and the time for reporting.
• Prepare a small, pouch/box before going to the hall and place all relevant documents, pencils, pens, sharpener, eraser, admit card, etc..
• The answer sheets mostly are machine read and require the candidate to shade the right option. Use dark and round tip pencils to do so. Sharp pencils can pierce the sheet. Besides you will take much more time to shade with sharp tipped pencils. It is always advisable to carry two to three such pencils in the examination. Lest you lose one or break its tip.
• Have a good sleep, especially the night before the examination and preferably since a week prior to it. Researchers have shown that a good night’s sleep has profound impact one mental alertness and efficiency. Place remember that the questions in the aptitude test will not be like solving a word out example or picking the answer of an identical question which you have already encountered. Perhaps you can manage such questions even with somewhat compromised mental alertness levels. But each question in the aptitude test is going to be akin to a freshly encountered problem requiring you to thik. As such your focus and mantel alacrity, in the last few days and especially on the day of examination, is really going to matter.
• On the day of the examination do not skip your breakfast or have a heavy one. Take normal breakfast, preferably of fruits and cereals. In case you are in hurry to reach the examination center, then at least carry some fruits you which you can much on your way or during the ‘paper break’.
• Do not carry mobile phones or other such items which are expressly prohibited.
• Ascertain beforehand the location of your examination center and reach at least 20-30 minutes before the reporting time. Keeping sufficient time margin is essential lest your vehicle break down, you are caught in a traffic jam or you take more than the anticipated time in locating the examination center.
• At the examination center. Locate the examination hall, check the seating plan and take your seat as and when the time permits. Do not keep waiting till the last moment, lest you find that your chair is broken which need to be changed or you have entered the wrong room, etc.. All these small niggles can be a bit upsetting at the last moment.
• If you have a problem with your seat/table or are confronted with any such issue, then bear with it. Do not fret over it, upset yourself mentally or waste your valuable time on during the examination.
• If you feel the urge to answer nature’s call, do not feel awkward or try to hold it. It is important to relieve yourself mentally and physically before you enter the examination room.
•  During the examination, read the question paper and the directions given therein very carefully and fallow them. In case you have been asked to shade the right option then do not tick or encircle it.
• Read each question and all the options very carefully before deciding which the right option is.
• Keep the tab on the time you are talking and the progress you are making. Remember that a question worth three marks should be solved within two minutes (120 minutes for 200 marks questions). If you are getting stuck on a question, then it is prudent to leave it and come back to it if time permits. What matters is that how many questions (worth how many marks) you have solved right and not which ones you have solved.
• In case you intend to come back to a question/attempt is later, put a distinct mark on it like a bullet/circle etc. The questions about which you are clueless how to solve/do not intend to solve later, should be given another mark, like a cross. This saves time towards the as it helps you in identifying those questions which you wanted to solve.
• In case you are not able to pick the right option straightaway then apply the technique of ‘selection by elimination’. Cross out those option which you are confident are incorrect. Even if you cross out two out of the four given choices, decision making becomes simpler and quicker. If you are unable to further narrow down your selection then make an intelligent guess (provided there is no negative marking).
• In case you are unable to complete the paper, then at times it is advised that you should choose the same option {(a) or (b) or (c) or (d)} for the all of the remaining questions. After all, you could get one fourth of such guesses right. But in case there is negative marking, then this cloud badly boomerang on you. The UPSC has not clarified anything (till this book going to press) regarding negative marking in CSAT. It has neither affirmed nor denied it. As such, take a considered view before attempting such guesses.
• If the paper appears tough to you; then do not be unduly perturbed by it. The paper will be tough perhaps for everybody. In such moments, maintain your composure and try to do your best.