Mangoes or Prelims ?

It's that time of the year when people who  have taken to recluse venture out for a day out to bubble a 100 (*2)  times on the neatly ironed and presented OMR . Yes it's the season not of just mangoes but also of UPSC Prelims . 

There are many factors beyond one's control in Prelims .

When I was taking the Exam , after solving around 25 questions , I had applied a lot of mind and I was happy and comfortable . I usually solve the paper in three or four rounds . Round 1 - Absolute sure ones , Round 2 - 50/50 etc .This paper ( UPSC 2019 ) was excruciatingly time taking .

I checked time and I had consumed 25 minutes already . On extrapolation it would mean 100 minutes for 100 questions and 20 minutes for bubbling which means second round of reviewing questions doesn't exist anymore .

I went into a dilemma if I must increase my speed or continue with the flow . Paper was lengthy but at the same time I was happy with the way I marked and came at conclusion on what's the right answer.

At this point there began  a  loud noise of  band music from outside ( My centre was in the middle of the city - Bangalore) , a small PU college surrounded by busy streets ( A perfect example of what an examination centre must not be )  and simultaneously two women from adjacent buildings started their loud gossip while washing clothes  ( That's their daily chore while we were the intruders this time ).  I got nervous for a few minutes , I lost focus and the noise subsided only when I reached the 40 th question .

This paper needed high focus but with that kind of noise and disturbed, agitated mind , I thought Game Over - Khallas . But I regained my composure back and carried on and fortunately after around 15 minutes ,things came to normal .

The ladies continued but by now my brain differentiated their noise and filtered it out for me ..

I continued my Paper and I couldn't come back for Round 2 . There was no Round 2 .I had just 20 minutes to Bubble and I panicked a bit and was bubbling , my hands were shivering as I am a slow Bubbler ( Apart from being a slow Witer ) .

That's how I marked all of the 100 questions .

I found my name in the Mains Eligible list but missed IFoS Cut Off.

This time I was sure I would clear CSE Pre and was in border for Ifos Pre.

Probably I lost 5 to 8 marks due to the noise and missed IFoS cut off and I had got 22 of first 25 Questions right this time !

My learnings :

There are many factors around Pre , anything may happen. Thing is we must not lose our cool . This is really really important .

I was overall in a surprisingly relaxed mood before Pre, this helped me sail easily .

Edit : And I haven't included Invigilators' Speech Orgy and an aspirant who was shouting all the time asking for help from invigilator , as to how to fill OMR etc (I Guess he wasn't that mentally sound ) and at one point I felt like telling the invigilator to call UPSC and get that person out as he was disturbing the whole class . She didn't handle him well and attended all his queries . He didn't even possess a pen .Two or  three aspirants in my class told invigilator in a loud manner , to ignore the person . There will be many people like this irritating you in the real exam scenario and you can't do anything about it.

The afternoon paper  invigilator scolded him and he behaved as he should .She handled him well .

Because of all the above distraction , one may lose 5 to 10 marks and the whole game changes ( Mostly because if things not under your control ) . In my case I believe I missed Ifos Cut off because of this .

The main takeaway thus is that the Exam is highly highly Uncertain . Don't make it a question of Life and death . Develop other skills which you can monetise . Stay healthy . Stay Happy .

If life doesn't give you UPSC , enjoy the Mangoes Instead .