In this article, I present my opinion on why self-study and smart work are essential for competitive exams. If you are appearing for any exam, you need to do smart self-study and smart work. This applies to any competitive exam, such as UPSC, SSC CGL, Railway recruitment, IBPS banking, IIT JEE, and NEET exams. The toppers of every exam don’t use any different strategy, but they rely on smart work and self-study.
First, let’s understand what self-study and smart work are. You will have to try to cover the syllabus on your own, without relying solely on coaching classes. For competitive exams, simply studying the books or notes from a coaching class will not suffice; you will have to read renowned books on those subjects. If all students are using the same strategy or study materials, you will have to make some changes according to your comfort level.
It is said that the more difficult the competitive exam, the more effectively you need to use smart study and smart work.Simply solving practice tests is not smart work; it is important to solve them within a time limit and analyse the questions you got wrong.
Rote learning or simply memorising is not important; what is important is to reflect on, think about, and write down what you have read. It is not important to follow the booklist suggested by a UPSC topper or any other exam topper exactly; it is necessary to add books that you find suitable to your own booklist. This, too, is a type of smart work.
If you are preparing for the UPSC exam, watch the speeches of 20 to 25 successful UPSC candidates. Create a list of the books they read and include the books that you find suitable in that list. If you don’t agree with a book recommended by a successful UPSC candidate, remove it from your list. This same formula applies to other exams as well.
In India, students from IIT and IIM colleges are the ones who mostly do smart work and smart study. That’s why IIT and IIM students easily succeed in any competitive exam.
The traditional method of studying will not be enough for you. Simply sitting in the library and reading books all year won’t suffice; you will need to revise and also solve practice tests.
What is Self-Study?
In simple terms, self-study means studying on your own without relying on or joining any coaching class. However, even if you have joined a class for an exam, you can still do self-study. Let’s see how: A student who has taken admission to a coaching class for the Civil Services Exam (UPSC) goes to the coaching class for 2-3 hours every day. He doesn’t join any other coaching classes. For the remaining 7-8 hours, he studies on his own in the library. This means he doesn’t join multiple classes.
Many students join multiple classes for the same exam. For example, a candidate preparing for the UPSC exam takes admission to one class for the preliminary, main exams, and interview. Then, based on someone’s suggestion, he again joins another class for preliminary, main exams, and other subjects for 2-3 hours. Doing this reduces the time available for self-study. Joining multiple coaching classes for the same exam is a foolish decision.
Even if you have joined a coaching class for any exam, you shouldn’t rely solely on the class. This means you will have to start your preparation by conducting detailed research, analysis, and strategizing on your own. The UPSC exam has many subjects, so many students join separate coaching classes for optional subjects, mains answer writing, CSAT paper, and essay writing, which leaves them with less time for self-study.
Therefore, while preparing for competitive exams, you should dedicate only 2-3 hours a day to coaching classes, if you have joined one. The remaining time should be dedicated to self-study. Review what was taught and what you understood in the coaching class. If you didn’t understand something, you should study and research it yourself.
What is smart work?
Smart work means writing, reading, and creating your own study material in a short and smart way, instead of traditional studying. Instead of reading 2-4 books on the same subject, reading just one book, revising it, and creating self-made notes for future reference is also a type and method of smart work. Simply reading a famous traditional book on a subject won’t suffice; you will also need to effectively use the internet for additional information and study. Now, smart work is essential for every competitive exam.
A successful topper of the UPSC 2024 exam said that he read a 400-page book 10 to 12 times and created only 15 pages of notes containing the important points from that book. He also mentioned that instead of underlining and highlighting extensively in the book, he created short, self-made notes.
For current affairs, instead of relying solely on newspapers, weeklies, and magazines, you will have to study current affairs online on the internet. Similarly, simply studying for 14-15 hours a day is not enough; you will also have to revise and solve practice tests. Revision, self-made notes, and practice tests are fundamental parts of a smart work strategy.
Reading fewer books, practising, and revising frequently is what smart work is all about. Remember this formula for smart work: Read less, revise more, and write more.
The benefits of self-study and smart work –
- Time will be saved – By not depending on any coaching class and by doing smart work, you will have plenty of time available before the exam. Students who haven’t done self-study and smart work will be studying under fear and stress even on the day before the exam. On the contrary, due to your self-study and smart work, you will be able to study comfortably a month before the exam. You will also have time for yourself. You will not be under exam pressure because you have done self-study and smart work, and you will not be confused.
- Better preparation will be achieved – Due to your self-study and smart work, you will understand which subject is difficult and which is easy. Also, through self-study, you will understand in which subjects you are weak. You will be able to give equal importance to both the preliminary and main exams. Because of self-study and smart work, your syllabus will be completed before the exam, and you will be able to dedicate sufficient time to revision and practice tests.
- There will be no fear of the exam and the results – Due to self-study and smart work, you will have no fear of the exam. Because you will have already completed the syllabus, practised, and revised through self-study and smart work, you will not feel any exam pressure. Self-study and smart work will give you a unique confidence, and you will be able to overcome the exam pressure.