UPSC preparation: how to make notes that make revision easier

In preparing for the UPSC Civil Services examination, making the right notes is as important as reading books and study material. As the exam nears, there is no time to read the whole syllabus again, and these notes prove the most useful. But if notes are too long, scattered and made without a method, they can make revision harder instead of easier. Aspirants should therefore make notes that can be read again in a few hours when needed.

First, decide what to write. Every line need not be noted down. Avoid copying information already present in a book or article as it is. First understand which information matters for the UPSC and which is only general knowledge. Important facts, figures, causes, impact, examples, government schemes, reports and the different aspects of an issue should be kept in the notes.

Keep the notes on one topic in one place. A single topic may have to be read from several sources. The biggest mistake then is to keep writing information on the same topic in different notebooks or files, which wastes time hunting for it during revision. Try to keep adding all the important points on a topic in one place. When new information comes later, add it there instead of rewriting the old notes.

Keep notes short and in points. The aim of UPSC notes is not to rewrite the book. Use short points, keywords and short sentences instead of long paragraphs. For example, when making notes on a scheme, its objective, year of launch, the ministry concerned, beneficiaries and main features can be written as separate points. This helps the whole topic come across quickly during revision.

Linking current affairs with static subjects, rather than memorising them separately, can be more useful. If a news item relates to the environment, related environmental concepts can be added to its notes. Similarly, while reading about a new government scheme, the related constitutional, economic or social issue can also be added.

Add examples to every topic. Instead of only writing down facts, keep good, short examples with them. If a social issue, government scheme or environment-related topic has a real incident, report or case study, note it in a line or two. Such examples can make an answer more effective when writing the Mains paper.

Make notes differently for Prelims and Mains. For Prelims, facts, figures, places, institutions, schemes and important terms matter more. For Mains, the causes, impact, challenges, government steps and the way forward on an issue matter more. While making notes, therefore, make clear which point is for Prelims and which is for Mains.

Leave blank space in the notes too. UPSC preparation runs for many months and sometimes years, and new information on old topics may turn up in that time. Leave some space between topics, or in digital notes keep the facility to add information later. This removes the need to make fresh notes every time.

Most important, notes should be easy to revise. Good notes are judged not by how long they are but by how quickly the whole topic comes back to mind. After the notes are ready, try to make them shorter and better with each revision. In the end, the notes should let an aspirant read them in little time before the exam and recall the main points of the whole topic.