Is enrolling for a Test Series required in the first place? Dynamicity, is not only the virtue of life but has become the part of competition too. One has to be dynamic (not necessarily dynamite), to be in the race. Though we all speak of changing the rules of the game but what we seem to propagate are the same rules with the new name. Still there have been claims of questions being repeated in final examination from the sources and test series.

It is important to understand at the first place, “What should be the motive of Test Series”? If it is, to have more and more questions being repeated then perhaps best would be to take all sources and compile the questions in a government of India like report which at times is so bulky but in reality has very little substance. Question is not that few of our questions appeared directly or indirectly in the exam (Preliminary+Mains) nor should it be the objective of an aspirant before joining test series. The important and perhaps the only question is how have you trained your mind to respond to the main and the final event.

So we believe, enrolling for test series is justified if it serves the following purposes: Be it Prelims or Mains – first prerequisite is “Training of Mind”, if that is achieved half of the battle is won. And the primary purpose of the test series should be this. One can do this in 10-15 tests or 25-30 Tests. This choice is yours. Second important purpose is to act as a “Priming factor”. It has to ready you for the final event and act as a close rehearsal. Here comes the importance of comprehensive tests. As in our Mains test series, we suggest you to go for the comprehensive tests from the very beginning once you are done with basic preparation. As it’s a proven fact that our first Learning is something that often stays with us for a longer time. So, going for large number of sectional tests will set your mind in a definite framework. And it starts working in a manner that is different from the demand of the comprehensive pattern. Third purpose of Test Series should be to give you a platform to “revisit important issues” and also topics that might have skipped your gaze. Also to implement what you have learnt over time and see where you stand as comparison to others. Here, the important is right feedback.

And that’s the reason “What we need is not just guidance but honest guidance”. We call it honest guidance, to emphasize the point – that in the current pattern when we have more attempts at our disposal, it has become a double edged sword. It can be a boon for aspirants so as to improve their mistakes and make their career as a Civil Servant. And at the same time it can act as a bane, as when lot of time is invested with no back up, it may leave the aspirant shattered. Hence, one has to be told honestly of his/her lacuna and his exact standing as compared to others. That’s the reason – honesty has to be shown by both the parties i.e. “Teacher and the Taught”.

We believe one should not be kept in false perception that you can clear or for that matter be given so abstract feedback that at the end of the day the purpose of joining a coaching or test series gets defeated. At last we would say -the oft repeated statement, “Quantity begets Quality” could be true in some field, but not in the arena of UPSC. It’s practically not feasible to solve every question under the Sun about everything under the Sun. We need to hit a balance between information gathering and information retention. Don’t collect information and material like a Nomad – be an intelligent and aware aspirant. Misguidance, in the past had broken many dreams and will continue to do so in future. Therefore, You Gottta Make Right Choices!!