Improving memory power and retention ability is crucial when preparing for the UPSC exam, a highly competitive and comprehensive examination. Firstly, adopting a structured study schedule that includes regular breaks is essential. Short, focused study sessions are more effective than marathon sessions, as they prevent mental fatigue and enhance information absorption. Utilizing mnemonic devices, visualization techniques, and creating mind maps can aid in retaining complex information. Additionally, practicing active recall by testing oneself on the learned material reinforces memory consolidation. Adequate sleep is another key factor, as it allows the brain to process and store information effectively. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and a balanced diet contributes to overall cognitive function. Connecting new information with previously acquired knowledge can facilitate understanding and retention. Finally, staying organized with concise notes, highlighting key points, and revisiting them regularly ensures a constant reinforcement of the learned material. By incorporating these strategies, UPSC aspirants can optimize their memory power and retention ability, leading to more effective exam preparation.
Tips to Improve Memory Power and Retention Ability While Preparing for UPSC Exam
Conducive Environment
In the first place, if you have already decided to appear for the exam, you must be knowing that clearing the exam needs deep, deliberate, and keen preparation. For your study, you must maintain a peaceful and calm study environment to be more concentrated. You might have to choose a study place whether a library or your study room etc. for at least an hour at a stretch to focus better. For that, your study place plays an important part in focusing and studying better.
Know your strength and find a purpose
Before going down the road of UPSC preparation it is always better to first distinguish what strong grips which you can put on them at your target point. Likewise, once you identify your weak points you could work hard on them to improve yourself from failure in exams. Knowing your strengths and weak points, getting your half work done. That means it will help you to find your core point while preparing for the exam. Of course, you should know your purpose, and why you want to become an IAS officer! If you find your purpose that gives you the reason to prepare well every day until you accomplish your goal.
Making notes and Revision
During your UPSC exam preparation, it is an intelligent way to understand and make concise notes, especially in the Mains test. Self-notes help you before the exam to revise again and again so that you don’t need to go back to the syllabus again. Without hard work, preparation, and continuous revision of one’s notes, one cannot expect to succeed in the Main examination. With a vast syllabus like UPSC, it’s understandable to forget what you read once or twice. Most of the time it’s kind of frustrating also to forget what you have already studied. So, revision is the key to retaining everything. Do make a revision schedule as per your convenient time on a daily, weekly, monthly, and before the exam. That certainly helps to cover and understand the entire syllabus.
Visualize
Whatever you’re studying, maintain learning and visualizing in mind after you’ve finished reading. This can help you absorb more effectively. Wherever possible, use diagrams, maps, photos, and videos to visualize the material you’ve learned. This will not only make your studies more exciting, but it will also assist in your memory retention. Techniques like acronyms, picture palaces, and mnemonics can also assist you in remembering more.
Taking Break
Typically, in many cases, our peers encourage students to study for long periods, but this is an awful notion. The greatest thing to do is keep your study periods brief because studying beyond your ability reduces your retention power. Take rests in between and resume with a fresh head each time. Make sure you have a brief but effective study session to ensure that you understand all you read.
Teach and test yourself
Another method of learning is to teach. When you teach someone anything, you are also learning it. We are not suggesting that you become a teacher, but you can teach your UPSC friends the subjects in which they are poor if you have a strong command of the subject. You can polish your knowledge and pass it on to others in this way. Teaching strengthens your knowledge and memory, as well as your self-confidence, which acts like a magic wand while confronting test pressure. The test is an important aspect of the learning process. You must assess what you believe you have learned and determine whether or not you recall it. You might reap double benefits by taking regular tests and self-quizzing. One is that you discover your errors, and the other is that you may repair them while also remembering them for longer because we don’t quickly forget our blunders.
Maintain Daily Routine
Discipline plays a key role in preparing UPSC exam. But our routine has been changed by using the internet, social media, YouTube, etc. Before the Internet revolution, the world was a lot more organized than it is now. We are not implying that the internet is terrible; it is, after all, a really valuable tool, but it is also a double-edged sword. According to studies, almost 75% of Indians check their phones before and after sleeping. You may be wondering how it has anything to do with UPSC or memory-boosting, but what if we told you that it is disrupting your routine, which should be on track to help you pass examinations like UPSC and keep your memory alive? Wake up early, go to bed on time, get a full night’s sleep of at least 7 to 8 hours, eat on time, consume good food, and be healthy.
Balance your emotions
We are all not happy, but we have found ways to be content despite our difficulties. However, if you want to be a civil servant and view yourself as an IAS, forget about everything and focus on three things every day: eat, sleep, study, and repeat. You lost your efficient memory and filled it with disappointments and anguish when you let your difficulties outweigh your desire to become an IAS. Throw them away and remind yourself that everything is fine and will be fine if you become an IAS. Although this argument may not apply to everyone, most of you will be able to relate to it.
FAQs
Q: Is Memory Power Required in UPSC?
Yes, remembering all of the content you have learned after understanding/studying a great deal is highly significant in UPSC. Furthermore, the CSE’s overly broad syllabus makes it significantly more challenging. As a result, an IAS applicant is often reminded of the need to improve his memory.
Q: How can I Motivate myself to Prepare for UPSC?
Motivation is a short key for every one of us. However, to clear the exam, you must work hard and earn the reward of being selected by UPSC. Almost all candidates experience a slew of external circumstances during their preparation, all of which serve to both motivate and demotivate them. If you want to clear UPSC, you must stay motivated at all times and in every way possible. The most important thing is to get rid of the negative influences in your life. There will be a lot of people who tell you that you aren’t good enough. Eliminate the naysayers from your life the day you notice them. Surround yourself with positive people who believe in you and think you can do it. People who encourage you and make you happy. And make sure you’re surrounded by people who believe in you. People who push you forward and bring out your greatest qualities. So, it’s very important to spend time with your well-wishers, near and dear ones.
Q: Is Studying 6 hours a day enough for UPSC?
Many candidates are out there who claim to study 16-18 hours per day, while others claim to clear the exam after only studying 6-7 hours per day. There is no ideal solution to this issue, and candidates must determine the number of hours of study every day based on their capabilities and needs.
As a result, it is one of the most frequently asked questions, as well as one of the most frequently answered. Look, how much you can read and comprehend in a given timeframe is entirely up to you only. It also depends on mental capacity, aptitude, and the ability to memorize.
Q: How can I Concentrate on my Study at IAS?
Make a mindful effort to keep your thoughts from drifting. We understand that it is to say but difficult by doing it. This may take some time to master, but if you put in the effort, you’ll see results within the first month. Writing down your negative thoughts often helps you to stop wandering around to getting distracted.
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