Gautam Singh (AIR-549, CSE-21) Psychology Strategy

Gautam Singh cleared UPSC CSE-21 with AIR-549. Following is his strategy for Psychology Optional

“The crop of success grows on fields of sacrifice and struggle” – my own line

Hi readers,

It’s my pleasure to share with you my CSE experience. First of all I would like to introduce my self. I belong to Distt Jalaun (UP). And completed 10+2 from UP SAINIK SCHOOL LUCKNOW. It imparted in me values like discipline, patience and perseverance. These values helped me to sustain for such long time in preparation.Then I completed my BTECH in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from BBD college Lucknow And about to complete MA in Psychology from IGNOU.

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1st attempt: 2015; missed prelims cutoff by 6 marks

2nd attempt: 2016; missed prelims by 1.5 marks

3rd attempt: 2017; missed mains cutoff by 130 marks

4th attempt: 2018; missed mains cutoff by 100 marks

5th attempt: 2019; missed mains cutoff by 7 marks

6th attempt: 2020; missed prelims cutoff by 9 marks

7th attempt: 2021;

This time efforts payed off and I made it. Continuous improvement kept my motivation high. It is the consistency which has been the most important virtue for me.

COACHING??

I didn’t join any foundation course but I joined pre and mains test series from vision ias and Psychology test series from Vajiram. Also joined M PURI sir’s GS 2 online classes in Dec 2020 when I failed to clear prelims in my 6th attempt. As I have been staying in Delhi since Dec 2016 I have benefitted from group discussion and suitable environment. I would like to thank my flatmate Sishir Kumar Rai (Psychology optional) for providing me intellactual company. We peer reviewed each other’s scripts. We both benefitted from this journey.

Why it took 7 attempts?

Not joining any foundation course/ coaching was a mistake. If one’s pocket allows one must join good coaching. Psychology optional is bit tough so guidance is definitely required. Being a first generation learner and from agrarian background there was no one to guide me in this process.

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Strategy for PSYCHOLOGY optional Sources

Ncert class 11 and 12 ( Indian aspects we’ll covered)
Baron ( Std book must read)
Morgan ( few chapters well covered like Personality, Motivation, Learning and Psychotherapies)
Smarak Swain ( comprehensive and very useful for P-2)
Open lectures of Yale University by PAUL BLOOM sir (conceptually good but lacks Indian context)
Open lectures of MIT by John Gabrelli (lacks Indian context)
AK singh (only few chapters, can be avoided if one takes mukul sir classes)
Mukul pathak sir notes (very comprehensive and refined notes but need to be supplemented with examples,flowcharts and diagrams)

Should one join MUKUL PATHAK SIR classes?

Though I have not joiined his classes but got chance to hear him when I joined Psychology Test series in 2018 at Vajiram and Ravi. In my view if one’s pocket allows one must definitely join his classes. He explains Psychology in easy and funny manner.

Lessons for future aspirants

Cover whole syllabus throughly before making an attempt
Repeated revision is compulsory
Make short notes and very short notes
Limit your sources
Keep one selves engaged even when one fails to clear prelims.

“Hope is weapon and survival is victory”

The above quote has been my guiding force in this long journey. The lesson is it is very crucial to atleast clear prelims to give hope to our friends and family and survive in this prolonged battle. Thanks and good luck.

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Other CSE 21 Topper Strategies:

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