Second Article: Technique for making notes

As we all know that there is no limit to the available sources of preparation for Civil Services, and with the growing competition, it has become even more important to plan and choose your sources carefully.

Respective sources for different papers - Preliminary, Mains (GS-1, 2, 3, 4, Essay) will be discussed by respective toppers, however in this article i will be focussing on how to make notes out of diverse sources.

Now, i would take up two different situation to set the context of this discussion:

1. You have a pile of NCERTs, Reference Books, Note Books, Other Study Material to revise before you go for   examination (Though you have read them before)

2. You just have a set of short notes (40-50 pages) for each Paper to revise before you take up your exam.

Though the second option requires a lot of time, sacrifice, hard work and consistency, as preparing short notes out of NCERTs, Reference Books, Class Notes and other sources is not a cakewalk. But this is what differentiates a topper from other contenders. It is all about survival of the fittest.

Now, when you take up any book, say an NCERT, the primary focus in your mind has to be, “I am not going to open this book again once i finish it.” While you have this in your mind, ensure that you do not miss a single thing, and write down important things in your personal notes in the shortest possible way.

Your next step has to be revision of your short notes, and making them more precise.

Do this for all subjects and make a set of your self-made notes. Now these are your notes, and you have to revise them time and again before going for examination.

The art of making your notes self-sufficient, effective and inclusive is something that will develop on your own with practise and time. There is NO short-cut.

Do refer to previous year question papers to see if your notes are helpful. Make additions or deletions wherever required.

And the most important key to success is, “have faith in your notes”.

At the end, i feel this poem of Harivansh Rai Bachchan has been inspiring me throughout my preparation and will do so for you as well -

लहरों से डर कर नौका पार नहीं होती

हिम्मत करने वालों की हार नहीं होती

नन्ही चींटी जब दाना लेकर चलती है

चढ़ती दीवारों पर सौ बार फिसलती है

मन का विश्वास रगों में साहस भरता है

चढ़ कर गिरना, गिर कर चढ़ना न अखरता है

आखिर उसकी मेहनत बेकार नहीं होती

कोशिश करने वालों की हार नहीं होती

डुबकियां सिन्धु में गोताखोर लगाता है

जा जा कर खाली हाथ लौट आता है

मिलते नहीं सहज ही मोती पानी में

बढ़ता दूना उत्साह इसी हैरानी में

मुठ्ठी उसकी खाली हर बार नहीं होती

हिम्मत करने वालों की हार नहीं होती

असफलता एक चुनौती है, स्वीकार करो

क्या कमी रह गयी, देखो और सुधार करो

जब तक सफल न हो, नींद चैन का त्याग करो तुम

संघर्षों का मैदान छोढ़ मत भागो तुम

कुछ किये बिना ही जय जयकार नहीं होती

हिम्मत करने वालों की हार नहीं होती