Short notes-making is a technique that every UPSC aspirant must know. How well you make notes can play a big role in your readiness with the end goal that it will help choose whether or not you succeed at proficiency. Bibhash Sharma, (Mentor) Elite IAS Academy tells the importance of structured and intelligent note-making. Mostly for those who are enrolled in top UPSC coaching in Delhi. Hey guys, this is the step-to-step approach of how to create useful short notes for UPSC Civil Services Exam.
Understanding What to Note:
To create good notes, the very first and foremost one is to understand what we need to note. When you prepare, either with classes or books for the matter, always highlight points. This can include descriptions, dates, singular occasions and key principles. We intend to filter out all the junk and get straight to particular aspects of videos or content related directly with your UPSC syllabus.
How to make notes effectively?
1. Bullet Points and Headings: Use lists of bullet points to organize information simply for break complex data down into simple chunks. This makes the retention of facts better and helps in faster revision period.
2. Mind Maps, Flowcharts: Use mind maps for subjects like history and geography to show how different events/places are connected. FlowCharts are paramount especially when it comes to processes in polity and economics.
3. Tabulation: For subjects such as Economics, polity where we need comparative analysis tabular representation helps in clear juxtaposition of different ideologies or policies and their implications.
4. Write down your abbreviations and symbols: Something you'll keep personal because they reflect how you think of that term or concept. This not only saves time with taking your own notes, but also allows you to have more concise notes when reviewing.
Use of Technology in Note Making
Nowadays, with penetration of digital resources those who go for online coaching for UPSC has advantage of using technology in making notes. Evernote, OneNote and Google, keep among others help you organize your notes neatly in digital form so that they are never go out of reach. Editors like this also offer more features (tagging, searching) which assist with revision.
Regular Revision
Writing notes can only be useful if you rewrite theses regularly. Translate short-term memory to long term by scheduling several days out for review your notes. This will also help identify any knowledge gaps that should be addressed with future study.
Customizing Notes
Make sure your notes are tailored to the way you learn. For example, some students have to take long notes while others like me write down a fewer number of keywords and diagrams. Make your notes fit the way you remember things best.
Sample Notes Creation
For example, suppose you have to make notes on an Indian Polity topic "The Preamble of the Constitution", then:
• Keyword: 'Preamble'
• Points to Note:
o Definition and importance
Keywords e.g Sovereign, Socialist, Secular etc.
o Changes to the Preamble
• Landmark rulings relevant to it.
Chart: Flowchart explaining to what extent each word from the Preamble works today, in India.
To conclude, the art of making notes improves with the progression. The more you do it, the better you get at knowing what info to write & how to organize that information. The most useful notes are the notes that aid you in revising your courses quickly and easily. Ultimately, always hone your note-making plan as per what suits you the best. With proper guidance from stalwart mentors, such as Bibhash Sharma sir and optimum use of given resources make this skill achievable for every UPSC aspirant.
You can find address of one of the recommended Civil Services Academy below. It provides UPSC CSE courses in Online and Offline mode.:
Elite IAS Academy, 103 & 105, 1st Floor, Mall Rd, Kingsway Camp, GTB Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110009
