Things to Know Just Before CDS Exam

UPSC is going to conduct CDS 2 2015 on November 1st 2015, all the candidates are on their last minute preparation now. In this article we are sharing some important tips that may help you in your last moments of preparation before the CDS written exam.

Things to Know Just Before CDS Exam

• Go through the important notes and formulas that you have made while preparing with a fresh mind, if you dont have any notes take the familiar topics of CDS syllabus and search for important facts and formulas on internet.
• It will be better if you only read known topics, dont touch any new topic.
• Map out all your transport facility and route to the exam centre so that no confusion occurs at last minute.
•  Arrive at exam center about half an hour before the scheduled commencement of the exam.
• Avoid bringing any prohibited accessories like mobile or calculator etc in side the exam center premises.
• Take a black ball point pen with you for the exam. This is very important because you have mark your answers on the OMR sheet, and on the admit card it is written that you must carry a Black Ball point pen, hence it becomes very important.
• Dont forget to bring any photo ID card with you like Aadhar, Passport, DL etc.
• Be careful while filling the OMR sheet because any silly mistake may lead to rejection of the candidate OMR sheet.
• Though they give whitener when asked for in centers to correct your mistake in terms of choosing wrong option, yet it is advised to not commit a mistake anyhow. Though if you commit it then don’t hesitate and ask for a whitener.
• It is advised to keep marking your answers alongside and not leave a bulk to mark in the end. Many people leave the answers to marked in end, but you should do it simultaneously as it will lessen chances of any mistake.
• Make sure you remember the exams you have to appear for. There had been a few cases where people have applied for IMA/AFA/NA but thinking that they are appearing for only OTA they have not attended Mathematics papers. Yet again there have been cases where people have applied for OTA only but have appeared for Mathematics; in this case your Mathematics paper won’t be evaluated.
• If you get struck in a question then move ahead and do not waste time on that question.
• Some questions in CDSE are long, hence be focused while you read the question. Be careful and avoid silly mistakes, better if you read the question twice.
• Do not plan to read the question paper once then start solving it. Solve while you read.
• Read and understand and listen to all instructions very carefully and remove any doubts in the beginning only.
• In the end it is all about passion. I know everybody who gives this exam has passion for ‘Fauj’ as they put in a huge amount of hard work. Believe in yourself and you will surely crack it!
• Have a strong hold of basics and today is the day to revise just the basics with no more knowledge addition at this instant.
• Time management is essential and could help in scoring more. Each and every question need not be solved as there is negative marking. Select what you are best at and try solving it.
• Previous year papers should be checked to know what kind of questions appear and one mock test can be taken on the last day to see what could be the strategy that could help in the flow of solving.
• Reviewing question initially once you get it can help in identifying areas where questions that you are stronger in and could be definitely solved by you may help and then only the flow of solving should be decided.
• If you are stuck at a point just try moving ahead and don’t waste time too largely on any question.
• Speed and accuracy can only help in getting the exam clear and being called for the SSB.
• Mugging up things doesn’t really help in such standard exams but if basics are clear you can win the battle easily.
• You must be in possession of all the required study materials by now. Whatever books you wanted to refer, whatever study material you wanted to study from and the past year’s papers, you must have all of them by now.
• You must have notes made by yourself with you. If you don’t have it then start making point wise notes from now. It is definitely not possible to cover the entire thing in such a less duration of time, but you can note down point wise whatever you can point out to be important.
• Get hold of the past years solved papers. They are very useful and helpful. You must read each one of them. Since they are solved they help you a lot, you can get important content for general awareness paper from these solved papers. Thus they are of great use for preparing general awareness, antonym and synonym etc.
• Solve the model papers; this will give you an idea about your preparations. It’ll also make you come across with some important questions that might appear in this year’s paper.
• With the little time you have you can refer to the year book for General Awareness. Year Books are great source of mastering over General Awareness. They have everything important in nutshell. In fact they are like your hand made notes. They cover all the important topics and are very simple to refer to. So make sure that you can go through one year book if possible.
• There are some general questions which follow a trend which are almost sure to be given in CDSE. Some of them are important award winners, important sports event winners etc. So follow up with previous year’s paper and ensure that you don’t leave them.
• Mathematics is not very high standard. You need to be thorough with the formulae in particular. Write every formula in a sheet of paper so that you can refer to it whenever possible (of course do not take it to the exam hall). You can learn the formula by writing it again and again. They key to success in mathematics is practice. Give time to practice as mathematics will help you score.
• Do not rush to complete the un touched portions. Now the time is to strengthen whatever you know. Many candidates do the mistake of leaving the portions which they consider easy to refer at the last moment and rush to do the difficult portions. In the end they end up not answering the easy portions also. Do not do this mistake.