No one can make it without test practice, says Dr. Shalini V Singh (UPSC CMS Rank 77)

PrepLadder congratulates Dr. Shalini V Singh on securing Rank 77 in UPSC CMS. We wish her all the best for her career and future ahead. In this exclusive interview with PrepLadder, she shares the plan that worked for her to help you succeed in UPSC CMS. Hello, please tell us something about yourself. Myself Dr. Shalini V. Singh.I did my MBBS from MLBMC, Jhansi. My UPSC CMS 2016 rank is 77. What do you think is the correct approach to study for UPSC CMS? Only Medical content or Medical content + General ability? Medical content is most important as you have to be clear with all final Part 1 and Part 2 subjects. Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology and PSM have to be focused mainly for solving questions from previous 5 years question papers. Revising topics asked in the previous year’s question papers helps in improving your speed and accuracy. Easy points have to be focused more and they should not go wrong as UPSC CMS paper is overall easy and so making silly mistakes will give a negative marking of 33%. Giving incorrect answers will make you go out of the race so keep revising all simple concepts from the important subjects. General knowledge questions are in day to day current affairs. It doesn't matter much even if you don't prepare for general ability topic separately. When should the preparation ideally be started? I think preparation for written part should be done at least 4 months in advance of the examination. Please list the books you studied for each subject. I used the following books for study material:

• Mudit Khanna for Medicine,
• Pritesh Singh for Surgery,
• Sakshi Arora for Obgy,
• Arvind Arora for Paeds,
• Vivek Jain for PSM.
• Arun Yadav and Tapas Koley’s UPSC Rapid Digest

Have you attempted UPSC CMS previously? If yes, what did you do different this year that lead to your success Yes I had attempted for UPSC CMS 2015 exam too and I was selected for the interview but I could not make it to the final list. This year I focused on being really awesome with my written part as interview itself is unpredictable, so I revised subjects thoroughly. I solved each and every question paper twice at least and minimized blunders which usually happen during every exam and voila I was able to make it to rank 77. How big is the role of practice and revision while preparing for UPSC CMS and how much time should be dedicated for it? Revision is the key to success to each and every exam because the questions being asked are simple yet lack of revision traps a student into making easy blunders and thus throwing one out of the competition. So just revise, re-revise until it just moves from your hippocampus to cortex and converts to long term memory, this is the only key to success. Did you use a time table/study plan to keep your preparation on track? Yes I did have a time table and I tried to finish my subjects according to it. Were you a topper or a mediocre student during MBBS? No I had always been a mediocre student. List the most difficult and easiest subjects for you. I believe no subject is difficult or easy, it's just the amount of hard work you put on it and how sound you are with the basics in it. Do you think Online test series is required for UPSC CMS exam preparation? Well it's very important to give test regularly as it helps to know your weaknesses and which topics you need to work more. I would recommend candidates to opt for an online test series which will help them assess their weaknesses. Distinct features of PrepLadder’s UPSC CMS Pro Pack

• 15 Full Length Mock Tests with 5 Previous year solved papers
• Same software platform as the real UPSC CMS exam for real exam day experience
• Access to PrepLadder’s app downloadable from App store for Offline Revision

 Complete UPSC CMS Pro Pack Schedule will be released on 8th April 2017 at 12 noon.

• For more info, feel free to drop a mail at medical@prepladder.com

One mistake that you believe everyone must avoid while preparing for UPSC CMS. Don't lose your marks on simple questions because they are the ones which can make you a ranker. Some last tips for our readers preparing for UPSC CMS?  Revise your subjects thoroughly again and again because our subjects are really volatile and revision is the only key to success. Learn the important topics of the syllabus and revise them thoroughly. Apply the elimination rule while answering the objective questions. If you are not 100% sure of the answer, skip the question. Clear your doubts with your friends, seniors, and teachers. Play by your strong points and work upon your weak areas. Create a study plan in advance and stick to it for full effect. Solve as many sample papers as you can, both in offline and online mode. Do not spend too much time in solving one question. Set time for each question and follow the time. Also read: Everything you need to know about UPSC Combined Medical Services 2017 Exam More topper tips coming soon, keep following this space.