Should I join a Crash Course for the UPSC exam or go for a regular Course?
UPSC aspirants are usually torn between joining a crash course for the UPSC exam or joining a regular course to get their journey started. Of course, whether you should join a crash course for UPSC or a regular course depends on where you are at your learning stage. Therefore, we will first shed light on the difference between these two.
| Table of Content |
| 1. What is the difference between a crash course and a regular course
2. Who should join a crash course? 3. Benefits of a crash course 4. Benefits of a regular course 5. Conclusion 6. Frequently Asked Questions |
What is the difference between a crash course and a regular course?
A regular course covers everything from the root on, i.e. everything from the ground level to the higher level. Such courses provide a detailed analysis of everything i.e. the subjects and topics you need to cover, past papers, mock tests, and so on.
In other words, the learning process is a step-by-step process and is ideal for those who have no knowledge about the UPSC Exam and are in dire need of assistance.
On the other hand, a crash course helps an aspirant practice everything he or she has learned in the past and boosts his or her accuracy in solving questions and speed.
Moreover, a crash course for UPSC is not a substitute for self-studying. It acts as a guideline to aid you with your preparations.
Who Should Join A Crash Course?
There is no simple answer to this but if you answer ‘yes’ to any of the following questions below then it is a sign you should join a crash course.
The questions are:
- Are you finding it hard to complete the UPSC syllabus?
- Are there topics you find quite difficult, despite constant preparation?
- Are you unable to answer questions despite completing the whole syllabus?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then yes, a crash course is for you. It is important to understand that UPSC is not as difficult if your concepts are clear. Additionally, your mental agility plays a crucial role in the same
The effectiveness of a crash course before the UPSC exam
As mentioned above, a crash course for UPSC should not be a substitute for your regular preparation. It is a course that provides recommendations in addition to substantive substances to aid your learning/ preparation process.
Benefits of a Crash Course
Simply put, crash courses improve your understanding of a subject or topic in a short period. A crash course for UPSC covers material that otherwise could not be addressed due to a lack of scheduling or a demanding work/academic schedule.
Additionally, crash courses provide an aspirant with a better chance to review all of the crucial topics and crucial concepts that you learned during your exam preparation.
However, practice is the key to passing your exams. With the help of a crash course, you have access to several practice tests and previous question papers that aid your learning.
Let us now take a look at some of the benefits of crash courses
1. They are Quick and Efficient
If your goal is to improve your understanding of a topic in a short span then a crash course is for you. Such courses can complete the material/ topics that could not be addressed owing to poor time management skills or a demanding work/academic schedule.
2. They Reinforce Learning
With the help of a crash course, aspirants can reinforce their learning process which helps with knowledge absorption. It is important to note that these courses do not only serve weaker students but also cater to academically inclined students who want to revise and reinforce their learning.
3. Improves Information Retention
If information retention is an area of concern for you then you will be surprised to know that with crash courses you can learn to recall content for weeks. Just like when a student practices every day, their odds of remembering what they learn are significantly higher than when they need to retain new material for a few weeks.
4. It has a Higher Success Rate
Crash courses have a high success rate and have proven to help students clear their prelim exams due to their rapid and challenging learning nature.
Benefits of a regular course
A regular course is the foundation of preparation for the UPSC exam. This is because it covers each subject and important topics past papers, mock tests, and important tips and tricks, especially if you go for a regular course offered by top players like Physics Wallah, Rau’s IAS, or Tarun IAS.
Some of the benefits include
1. The syllabus is covered in detail
Because the trainers and teachers are people who have cleared the UPSC exam, they can guide you better on what topics to cover in detail and which you can merely skim over.
Additionally, they also provide their notes and resources that are essential to complete your preparation.
2. Mentors provide tips and tricks for better learning & attempting questions
With regular courses, you can learn tips and tricks to solve questions and improve your learning process.
3. Provide Past Papers and Mock Tests
Another advantage of joining a regular course is that you have access to every year’s past paper and mock test which is beneficial when preparing for the exam.
Conclusion
It is quite normal for aspirants to be confused between choosing a crash course for UPSC preparation or a regular course. What many fail to consider is that a regular course is important to attend a crash course for a crash course only aids and builds up on what you have learned and aids to improve your understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Which crash course is best for UPSC?
Ans. Physics Wallah’s crash course is the best for UPSC preparation.
Q2. Are crash courses effective?
Ans. Yes, crash courses are effective and in some cases have yielded better results.
Q3. How many hours a day is a Crash Course?
Ans. Generally, a crash course can last between two to five hours a day. It depends on what kind of crash course you are taking and which platform you are taking it from.
Q4. How can I study for UPSC at home?
Ans. To study for the UPSC exam at home, you need to create a proper schedule or timetable. Refer to the syllabus and resources that you can easily access.
Ideally, joining a crash course or online learning platform for the UPSC exam is ideal because it gives you a better insight into the syllabus, and important topics and also gives you access to past papers and mock tests. Additionally, you have access to tips and tricks from experts which can help you in the long run.
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